After enjoying the almost professional quality trip postings of all over the world here I'm almost embarrassed to even share my little 3-day ride a couple counties away.
23, 24, and 25 Sept.
Five of us, Jim and Bob on KTM 690 Enduros, Dave and Jeff on DR650's, myself on a Tenere' 700, began by leaving Friday from Preston County WV to ride south a few Counties to Pendleton County where we stayed the night in a "modest" motel in Brandywine. There is a nice little National campground nearby but it doesn't take reservations, first come basis only. We were concerned it might be filled so decided to book rooms at the "Brandywine Motel-Foxes Pizza-Trailer Court". We did check out the campground and in hind site should have camped because it is nice with water and hot showers and was only 1/3 occupied. And the $20 cost per site would only be $10 with our Senior Passes. https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/gwj/recarea/?recid=73617
This was on the way up to Spruce Knob Friday which at 4,800' is the highest point in WV.
Hunters tend to vent their frustration on road signs.
The ride to Brandywine took most of the beautiful day which was sunny and 60-65 (18c) degrees. After checking in to our rooms we decided to have "Foxes Pizza" for dinner before partaking in beverages.
Saturday was another beautiful day and we spent it riding local roads in Pendleton and Grant Counties.
After stopping for that last pic I rushed after my buddies but coming to a T intersection they weren't around? After waiting a few minutes I went left (as it turned out they had turned right).
I eventually came to a paved road and while pulled over to remove the heated jacket liner and snap a pic here they came from the right.
We had no set route we simply would take lefts and rights from one road to the next road that looked interesting.
Lunch break at this convenience store near Big Bend National campground.
Yours truly in the suit with hi-viz.
Back on the road we had only gone maybe 6 miles when we came on a distillery on Rt 220 north of Franklin, needless to say we stopped. There were only two people working the cider and bourbon tasting room but they were drop dead gorgeous young ladies, one with black hair the other a redhead. I wish I'd had thought to take pics of the place, and them! I was more interested in them (and their 3 bourbons which offered by the brunette) so I chatted with her while sampling all three, which were surprisingly tasty and smooth. They are all aged 4 years and the corn is grown on the farm next door. There's a 100 proof, cask strength 117 proof, and 117 proof aged in sherry casks, I bought a bottle of 117 proof for sipping over ice that evening and a bottle finished in sherry casks. Bob, and Jeff eventually left the redhead after sampling her ciders to sample bourbon and they both bought the same as I did. I shifted to the redhead but didn't have enough room in my panniers for cider.
Back on the bikes and feeling wonderful, we meandered back to Brandywine mostly on gravel roads such as:
Just south of Brandywine is Sugar Grove which had a Naval Base (it was closed around 8 years back). Given that WV doesn't border the Atlantic it always seemed an odd location but supposedly it had something to do with submarine communication. It's a fairly large complex with over 90 houses and many other structures all securely fenced in. My understanding is someone purchased the whole works for 12 million dollars but somehow the deal fell through and the latest is some other federal agency plans to use it.
Saturday dinner at the only restaurant in Brandywine.
We all went with the $21 "special" which was 1 pound of shrimp, a 12 ounce rib eye, and baked potato. My dog Sophie is still feasting on the leftovers I brought home.
Dave needed to be back Sunday by 1:00 so we took a more direct route on pavement at a faster pace so I didn't stop to take any pics Sunday.
23, 24, and 25 Sept.
Five of us, Jim and Bob on KTM 690 Enduros, Dave and Jeff on DR650's, myself on a Tenere' 700, began by leaving Friday from Preston County WV to ride south a few Counties to Pendleton County where we stayed the night in a "modest" motel in Brandywine. There is a nice little National campground nearby but it doesn't take reservations, first come basis only. We were concerned it might be filled so decided to book rooms at the "Brandywine Motel-Foxes Pizza-Trailer Court". We did check out the campground and in hind site should have camped because it is nice with water and hot showers and was only 1/3 occupied. And the $20 cost per site would only be $10 with our Senior Passes. https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/gwj/recarea/?recid=73617
This was on the way up to Spruce Knob Friday which at 4,800' is the highest point in WV.
Hunters tend to vent their frustration on road signs.
The ride to Brandywine took most of the beautiful day which was sunny and 60-65 (18c) degrees. After checking in to our rooms we decided to have "Foxes Pizza" for dinner before partaking in beverages.
Saturday was another beautiful day and we spent it riding local roads in Pendleton and Grant Counties.
After stopping for that last pic I rushed after my buddies but coming to a T intersection they weren't around? After waiting a few minutes I went left (as it turned out they had turned right).
I eventually came to a paved road and while pulled over to remove the heated jacket liner and snap a pic here they came from the right.
We had no set route we simply would take lefts and rights from one road to the next road that looked interesting.
Lunch break at this convenience store near Big Bend National campground.
Yours truly in the suit with hi-viz.
Back on the road we had only gone maybe 6 miles when we came on a distillery on Rt 220 north of Franklin, needless to say we stopped. There were only two people working the cider and bourbon tasting room but they were drop dead gorgeous young ladies, one with black hair the other a redhead. I wish I'd had thought to take pics of the place, and them! I was more interested in them (and their 3 bourbons which offered by the brunette) so I chatted with her while sampling all three, which were surprisingly tasty and smooth. They are all aged 4 years and the corn is grown on the farm next door. There's a 100 proof, cask strength 117 proof, and 117 proof aged in sherry casks, I bought a bottle of 117 proof for sipping over ice that evening and a bottle finished in sherry casks. Bob, and Jeff eventually left the redhead after sampling her ciders to sample bourbon and they both bought the same as I did. I shifted to the redhead but didn't have enough room in my panniers for cider.
Back on the bikes and feeling wonderful, we meandered back to Brandywine mostly on gravel roads such as:
Just south of Brandywine is Sugar Grove which had a Naval Base (it was closed around 8 years back). Given that WV doesn't border the Atlantic it always seemed an odd location but supposedly it had something to do with submarine communication. It's a fairly large complex with over 90 houses and many other structures all securely fenced in. My understanding is someone purchased the whole works for 12 million dollars but somehow the deal fell through and the latest is some other federal agency plans to use it.
Saturday dinner at the only restaurant in Brandywine.
We all went with the $21 "special" which was 1 pound of shrimp, a 12 ounce rib eye, and baked potato. My dog Sophie is still feasting on the leftovers I brought home.
Dave needed to be back Sunday by 1:00 so we took a more direct route on pavement at a faster pace so I didn't stop to take any pics Sunday.
Looks like a good trip. You're lucky having all those trails.
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