Day 5
I feel the speed that a few of the locals insist on driving at are taking some of the fun out of this trip. You lose one insane driver to only have another tailgate you. Blowing through a 35 mph curve at 50 mph with a gravel strewn roadway is unnerving. The large number of roadside memorials I feel are attributed to this speed. Everyone is so much in a hurry that they can't spare a few moments to save a life. The first part of today's ride was the best ever. 39 east form Summersville pass through Richwood. A typical backwater town. Seemed nice en ought. Couldn't seem to find the Falls of Hills Creek. I suspect where I should have turned off - but there wasn't a specific sign for it - something to do with 'Overlook'.
Found the Cranberry Biologic Reserve. The solitude that the guide book described was foiled by a maintenance crew cutting the lawn around the parking area. Even in the glades themselves I could hear the screams of the small engine weed wackers and lawn mowers. Ugh - I can't seem to escape these maintenance crews. This is a beautiful spot and good area for photography.
Leaving the Reserve I tried to backtrack to the falls - learning my lesson from the day before. I had more time on my hands and there was no hurry in getting anywhere. I went back a few kilometers but didn't see anything. Then did a U-turn and headed over to the Nature Center but it was closed. I did find FR150 - this is an awesome motorcycle road - very few cars, still have to watch out for those deer. I was able to ride this road in complete freedom without being pushed by a car. The views are awesome and the hiking looks incredible. FR150 meets up with 219. 219 is windy and sinuous - another decent motorcycle road. Very challenging, lucky for me no pushers.
Drove through Marlington. Saw the sign for the museum 1/4 mile ahead. This museum was described in the guide book as being a collection of eclectic objects and worth the hour to peruse the objects. I kept looking for the museum and slowed down a bit, checked the mirrors - no cars, not there, not there - oops there it is, put on brakes - car right on my ass - no idea where it came from. I drove off the road immediately luckily the car did not follow me. Fudge moment for sure - left me in a queasy mood. Trying to figure out how I could have done this better and avoided that car. I just couldn't figure out where it came from!
The museum was a musty collection of artifacts from the local area. Basically, it looked like several families had unloaded their attics and dumped it off at this location. I moved on from this location to the Pearl S. Buck museum down the road. Again, foiled by maintenance crews. I pulled into the parking area and the lawn mowers and cutting crews were all over. I was told by a woman in the parking area to no park on the grass to allow the cruise to do their job. I was frustrated at this point and didn't bother to look for another spot. Between the incident at the last museum and being faced with ANOTHER maintenance crew - I just motored on. Another pusher also soured my mood.
I saw signs for a 'Lost World Caverns' but never could find the location in Lewisburg and gave up. I headed back to the camp site even though it was early. I was rewarded by following a professional pair of HD riders but we were hounded by another pusher. Some rewards in this day but a few lousy moments too - have to look for the bright spots.
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2 comments:
Gosh, there's a lot of places the guide book describes that are either hard to get to, or closed! Also, you've had a lot of people on your butt so to speak. Do you think that's normal or perhaps they were messing with the out of towner? I can see why and how that can take a little away from the trip. But your photos are great, I'm enjoying them. I really like the perspective piece, the vanishing point one from the Reserve...
That incident with the car appearing--sometimes that happens. I don't think you could have done much differently. The major problem was that the car was right on you. Yes, you always want to know what around you 360 degrees. But if you happen to be looking in anyone of thse other degrees and someone comes barreling down at you, it makes reacting in the most ideal way, rather difficult.
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