The Skyline Drive Ride

I think only NASA puts in as much time and effort into weather study for their events, as we did for the ride to Skyline Drive. The issue was that of course we didn't want to ride in the rain but we did want to ride. September and October are pivot weather months, the heat of summer is leaving and winter is coming in. You never know if it's going to be hot or cold. This can create very intense storms. No matter how you look at historical weather trends, you really can't see what's going to happen until two or three days before an event, at least on the East coast. It takes about three days for weather on the West coast to travel east and hit us. During that time weather can build or dissipate. In our case two systems joined up in the mid-west to create a larger more intense front that was due to hit the DC-Baltimore area. The question was, "when would it hit"? As it turns out it hit Saturday evening making the ride to Skyland on Skyline Drive a great ride.

Although, the original invite list included seven people, three people couldn't make it. We had Billy "Reb Boy" R., Chris V., Kurt Z., and me Rick. We were coming from different parts of the metro area, Kurt in Glyndon MD, Me in Annapolis MD, Chris in Ellicott City MD, and Billy in Frederick MD. I think Kurt and I had the farthest to travel Billy the least. My trip would have been much shorter if I'd followed the google/gps route through DC. However, we all dislike 495 and riding though DC so I decided to extend my ride and meet Kurt just off route 70 at the Sykesville exit. We would then meet up with Chris and Billy later on.

I'm currently riding a 2000 Honda Shadow Sabre VT1100 C2. Kurt rides a 2012 Honda Goldwing 1800 the Cadillac of bikes. Chris has a gorgeous 1997 BMW R1200 RT (a bike I would love to own) Billy owns a classic mid 80's Harley Davidson. His is a wild bike. It got it's Rebel paint job from the guy who paints Jay Leno's bike(s). The historic license plate sports "REBBOY". The bike has what I think is called "open pipes", it's LOUD; you don't want to ride to closely behind Billy or you go deaf. As it turns out Kurt and I didn't end up meeting Chris and Billy until we were all inside the park.

We had originally planned to meet at White's Ferry on the Maryland side and continuing on to the Northern entrance of Skyline drive at Front Royal Virgina. With the bad weather moving in we jointly decided that getting to our rooms at Skyland as early as possible was prudent. For the most part we all took Rt 70 out to Frederick, South on 340 to Front Royal and then on to the Drive to mile marker 41.7. We got to Skyland at about 1:30pm which was a good thing as the rain started about an hour after we arrived. Our rooms weren't ready when we checked in so we decided to go down to the pig roast and get something to drink and eat.

They were having a wine and beer tasting along with the pig roast. Chris and Billy chose beer. Kurt and I aren't much on beer and local wine aint the greatest as I've found out from other tastings. We'd each brought a bottle of our favorite libation. Chris brought a bottle of Jose Cuervo Oak Cured Tequila, Kurt brought a bottle McClelland’s Single Malt Scotch, I brought my old favorite, plain old Mount Gay Rum. Billy eschews ruining the fine lines of a classic motorcycle and opted for carrying nothing on the bike and drinking what is available locally. Kurt and I each got a cup of ice and headed back to the bikes to dip into the private reserves.

The food at the pig roast was good. There was of course the roast pig, meat and veggie chili, corn on the cob, corn bread, and various slaws. The entertainment was provided by a local Blue Grass band. The dining experience became difficult as the storm rolled in and flipped paper plates and toppled cups. It was time to get into the rooms.

Chris volunteered to scale the mountain and get the keys from the main office to our rooms. I was very impressed by his efforts. Considering that he scooted right past the Japanese Assault team that established a base camp at the pig roast to mount ascent to the top of the mountain. They were part of peak bagging party. After, White Mountain in Vermont, Mt. Rainier in Washington, and Denali in Alaska, this was their last and most difficult climb. I think they were somewhat delayed by the local wine and beer and trying to sing Karaoke show tunes to the traditional beat of Blue Grass music. And, perhaps my memories of these events was somewhat clouded by Mount Gay Rum. But I know Chris did get the keys.

Our rooms had balconies that faced West and we could watch as the storm bands passed over the western peaks and the valley below. We of course had more libation as we settled in. We'd noticed that the band had stopped. (The assault team seemed to be passed out under the picnic tables) We were told that the band would continue playing up at the bar at the top of the mountain. Many of us wondered aloud why there was no cable car installed like they have in the Alps. I opted for hopping into the back of a pickup truck going up while the other guys did an unassisted, rope-less climb.

More to come

New front tire for the Sabre at 45,000 miles

While I was cleaning the bike about two weeks ago, I noticed that the front tire seemed to have some dry rot spots on the side walls. When the bike was inspected in February (2012) they said that the tread wear was close to replacement at 2/32, the replacement depth being 1/32, it wasn't a ding on the inspection check list. I decided that with the ride to skyline drive coming up I should probably replace the tire. The rear tire was replaced along with the rear brakes and rotor during the inspection at 42,000 miles.

Like many leasure riders I don't ride the bike that much. Kari and I ride it to the farmers market on Saturday mornings, which is a total of 8 miles. I like riding the bike I just don't like the hot weather. This summer was hot. If we had a cool morning or evening I would hop on the bike and do a little ride down bayridge which leads out to the bay. Again, a ride of only 6 miles.

The longest rides I've done were from the Sanford/Orlando autotrain station to our house in Juno Beach, about 180 miles. I took the bike down in February and brought it back in May. While in Florida I did some short rides into the interior of Florida to Lake Okeechobee, and then some short rides up and down the beach road. I don't really use the bike for a daily ride down there either. As most people know, Florida is jam packed with "the ancient and infirmed". Driving/riding in the heavy trafficked areas like Ft. Lauderdale and Miami is as bad if not worse than driving the DC beltway in rush hour. Fortunately, from West Palm Beach North things aren't quite that bad. And, from our area Juno Beach/Jupiter North things really slow down. Mostly because our area isn't as commercialized as further south. We don't have big hotels on the beach, actually we don't have any hotels on the beach. In Juno/Jupiter we only have 3 hotels, Best Western, Hampton Inn, and Holiday Inn Express. They each have about 50 rooms. So ours isn't a big "destination" vacation spot.

Old Dogs Motorcycle trip: Skyline Drive

I was contacted by a couple of my old cronies (We weren't old when we first met in the early 80's), about a possible trip down skyline drive on the second weekend of September 2012. I wasn't sure I could be ready to do the trip as Kari and I will be in Florida the previous weekend and I don't get home until the 6th, my birthday. As well I'd planned an extended photo trip for those weeks in September.

I've been wanting to get out to Montana, don't ask me why, it calls to me. I would love to do it on the bike, but being a responsible, sensible adult, I knew I'd have a hard time making that work. I have to face facts, when I drive to Florida, 1100 miles; I split the trip into 600 and 500 mile days, and I'm still beat after two days. The trip to Montana, for arguments sake is twice that. Even if I was able to make the same mileage, I would be almost five days out. Then I would have to shoot some pictures and turn around and come back. In a car, I thought I might be able to do at least 1000 miles the first day, leaving very early in the morning and driving at least 12 hours. Cooler heads have prevailed and for now an extended bike trip is on the shelf.

Even this trip through Skyline Drive can be a little daunting for me on my bike. The problem is I have a cruiser. Apparently in motorcycle manufacturing terms that means "cruise around the gas station and fill the tanks up again"! My fuel tank is only 4.1 gallons. My best consumption has been 44mpg. I like to calculate on 40mpg. I go on reserve at about 3 gallons, making my cruising distance about 120 miles.

Kurt has a Goldwing, I know the tank is larger. Kurt said he went to his house in Cape May non-stop; google says it's about 3.5 hours, 168 miles (pretty good moving). Chris, I believe, still has a beemer, which is known to have a large tank. The key is that both their bikes are alot more touring than mine. I know I'll have to stop for gas every two hours.

The trip to skyline drive, actually Front Royal Va, from Annapolis is 134 miles using route 70 to Frederick and then down 340. This is actually about 30 miles longer than if I cut through DC. I hate driving DC anytime, so that's out. From front Royal to Skyland is another 36 miles. For a total of 170 miles. Actually, that's not too bad. That's close to the mileage from the Autotrain station in Sanford Fl to our house in Juno Beach. This actually comes as a surprise to me. I thought Chris posted that it was another 1.5 hours from Front Royal to Skyland, about 100 miles. It's only 36 miles of easy slow riding.

Annapolis to Skyland Virginia

Driving directions to Skyland Resort

Via Reichs Ford Rd - remove

910 Monroe St Annapolis, MD 21403

	1. Head east on Monroe St toward Bay Ridge Ave
		207 ft
	2. Turn right onto Bay Ridge Ave
		0.3 mi
	3. Take the 3rd right onto Tyler Ave
		0.3 mi
	4. Continue onto Hilltop Ln
		1.3 mi
	5. Turn right onto Forest Dr
		0.6 mi
	6. Continue onto MD-665 W/Aris T Allen Blvd Continue to follow MD-665 W
		1.8 mi
	7. Keep left at the fork, follow signs for I-97 N/U.A. 50 W/US-301 S/Washington/Baltimore
		1.1 mi
	8. Keep right at the fork and merge onto I-97 N
		13.5 mi
	9. Take exit 14B to merge onto MD-100 W toward Ellicott City
		14.0 mi
	10. Take the exit onto US-29 N toward I-70
		3.3 mi
	11. Take exit 25B to merge onto I-70 W toward Frederick
		32.2 mi
	12. Take the exit toward Monocacy Blvd
		0.1 mi
	13. Turn left onto Monocacy Blvd
		0.2 mi
	14. Turn left onto E South St
		0.1 mi
	15. Continue onto Reichs Ford Rd
		0.5 mi
	16. Turn left onto Ray Smith Rd
		161 ft
	17. Take the 1st right toward Reichs Ford Rd
		217 ft
	18. Turn right onto Reichs Ford Rd
		0.5 mi
	19. Continue onto E South St
		0.1 mi
	20. Turn right onto Monocacy Blvd
		0.2 mi
	21. Merge onto I-70 W/US-40 W via the ramp to I-270 Continue to follow I-70 W
		2.4 mi
	22. Take exit 52 to merge onto US-15 S/US-340 W Continue to follow US-340 W Passing through Virginia Entering West Virginia
		24.4 mi
	23. Merge onto US-340 S/W Virginia 9 E via the ramp to Berryville/Leesburg Continue to follow US-340 S Entering Virginia
		25.8 mi
	24. Turn left onto US-340 S/US-522 S/Stonewall Jackson Hwy Continue to follow US-340 S/US-522 S
		9.4 mi
	25. Turn left onto W 14th St
		0.2 mi
	26. Continue onto N Royal Ave
		1.2 mi
	27. Turn right onto W Main St
		249 ft

134 mi – about 2 hours 37 mins

Front Royal, VA

	28. Head east on W Main St toward N Royal Ave
		249 ft
	29. Take the 1st right onto S Royal Ave
		0.4 mi
	30. Turn left onto South St
		0.5 mi
	31. Turn right onto US-522 S/Remount Rd Continue to follow US-522 S
		14.8 mi
	32. Turn right onto US-211 W/US-522 S/Lee Hwy Continue to follow US-211 W/Lee Hwy
		15.1 mi
	33. Take the exit toward Skyline Dr
		0.2 mi
	34. Keep left at the fork and merge onto Skyline Dr This road may be seasonally closed Destination will be on the left
		5.4 mi

36.5 mi – about 48 mins