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Mid-Atlantic riders do Willville

Posted: Mon Oct 23, 2006 6:50 pm
by wncbmw
I have had the date circled on my calendar since August, not knowing where I would go but as fate would have it, this weekend 4 board members met up at the Willville Motorcycle campground in Virginia. Willville is about 1 mile south of the Blue Ridge Parkway at the Meadows of Dan exit and it isn't our first time there! :)

Having been notified I am accumulating too much vacation time, I skipped work Friday took some state roads to the Blue Ridge Parkway at Linville Falls and rode the Parkway part of the way. Cloudy, damp and wind gusts in the 50 mph range made for some high pucker factor moments on the Linn Cove Viaduct but I managed some pictures at an overlook anyway.

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I later got off the Parkway to some lower country for improved conditions but ended up back on it later in the day. Much better!

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From Highway 614 on a loop I did off the Parkway.

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Having managed to successfully turn a 4-hour ride into an 8-hour ride, I arrived to an empty campground.

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Soon Brian (DSKYZD) arrived and after he set up, we departed for supper. We were nearly done when in walked Carlos (Arbreacames) and joined us. A few minutes later, in walked Michael (machew01) and our group was complete. Back to the campground where Will, our host had the group fire going and joined us and the only other campers, a couple on a HD for some campfire story telling and conversation.

The next day we awoke to 32 degrees and after bisquits and coffee supplied by Will, in true Hobbit fashion, we set off for 2nd breakfast, ending up at Tuggles Gap. This was as much a way to let it warm up as it was to eat! :lol:

Then we started riding! Scenes from the road:

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Too cold to take anything off. Check out the Power Rangers!

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Brian lead to a road he had wanted to check out, a thing gray line on the Virgina map. Turned into a steep winding, lane and a half track with a lot of sharp technical turns. As Michael said "Not bad for a goat path!"

I rode ahead and at great danger to myself, but with no thought to my safety, perched on the top of an embankment to shoot some pictures on one of the straighter sections of this road!

Brian:

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Carlos:

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And Michael:

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We rode Highway 52 to the top of Big Walker Mountain. Michael checks out the view:

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Four amigos on Big Walker:

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Back to Willville after supper for more campfire fun.

Michael and Brian:

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Carlos:

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No Ranger Love sightings (inside joke) but their were other sightings of interest but since what happens on the trip stays on the trip, I won't tell.

Next day we headed our seperate ways after what was probably the last camping trip of the year. I thank the guys for the great company and thank Doug for providing this board which enabled me to meet all the fine folks I have discovered though this place!

Link to all the pictures:

http://h2oman.smugmug.com/gallery/2037035/1

Enjoy!

Posted: Mon Oct 23, 2006 8:29 pm
by DSKYZD
...and here's Vann:

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Killboy doesn't have a thing to worry about! :lol:

The others are here:
http://DSKYZD.smugmug.com/gallery/2038181/1/104593965

Good job Vann! A great way to finish off the season.

DSKYZD

Posted: Mon Oct 23, 2006 8:32 pm
by Boxer
Looks like you fellas had a little bit of a chilly campout. I came thiisss close to joining you on Saturday night. Thanks for the pics!

Posted: Mon Oct 23, 2006 9:18 pm
by R4R&R
I wish I could've met up with you guys - you had great weather (hey - it didn't rain!)

Thanks for sharing the pics.

Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2006 6:50 am
by wncbmw
Killboy doesn't have a thing to worry about!
But then, 638 ain't exactly a knee-dragging kind of road either! :lol:

Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2006 8:22 am
by Arbreacames
Vann,
I was deeply grateful for selflessly risking your life on the edge of a cliff to attempt to take some pictures of us. Now that I have seen the results, I can assure you that the risk was well worth it! :D
Thanks!!

Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2006 8:51 am
by GypsyRR
Thank you for the pictures and report, Vann. You guys are so lucky to live so close to places like that! The fall colors are beautiful and you did a great job capturing and relating the sites and the fun you guys had.

BTW, I've heard of "puppy love" but what the heck is "ranger love"? Maybe I shoudn't ask. :oops: Nevermind.

Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2006 8:57 am
by Boxer
Gypsy, not "ranger love", but "Ranger Love"...as in park ranger. Love is her name and love is her game. There now I've said it. The cat is out of the proverbial bag. But she's really JB's girl.

Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2006 9:02 am
by GypsyRR
Boxer wrote:Gypsy, not "ranger love", but "Ranger Love"...as in park ranger.
:oops: Oh!. Yes, Well, of course.......my bad. Sorry, JB :oops:

Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2006 9:32 am
by jb44
Boxer wrote: But she's really JB's girl.
Thanks Phil, I needed a chuckle this morning....have some more cabbage soup... :)

jb

Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2006 11:52 am
by DSKYZD
wncbmw wrote:
Killboy doesn't have a thing to worry about!
But then, 638 ain't exactly a knee-dragging kind of road either! :lol:
Not slagging your riding, slagging my photography. And did you intentionally post the wrong road number? :lol:


DSKYZD

Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2006 12:32 pm
by wncbmw
And did you intentionally post the wrong road number?
Who me? 8)

Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2006 11:17 pm
by MikeCam
You're as transparent as the oil check glass on a Roadster.

Posted: Wed Oct 25, 2006 9:10 am
by DJ Downunder
Great pictures and great report...you guys are having too much fun..you lucky buggers.

GypsyRR...maybe you should not have asked..you've caused me to post these pics of a sign that I came across on my last Mt Hotham ride.

Sorry to those who don't think it's a funny sign..... :D ...you wouldn't want to be the ranger that lives in this area would you.

DJ

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Posted: Wed Oct 25, 2006 9:34 am
by Valueman
Looks like a great trip!! Thanks for posting.

VM

Posted: Wed Oct 25, 2006 10:43 am
by yjleesvrr
Sorry I missed it guys. Wish I would have been in the pictures.

Posted: Wed Oct 25, 2006 6:43 pm
by wncbmw
Yong - next spring - same campground! I am already planning camera angles for the next ride on '638'!

Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2006 12:30 pm
by machew01
Vann and Brian, thanks for taking the photos. I rarely find the discipline to make myself stop, grab the camera, and let it do its thing. About that road, wasn't it 483?

JB44, tell Ranger Love I said hello!

mac

Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2006 6:22 pm
by wncbmw
I am about to order on of these to try and get some quick shots while riding, hopefully without crashing! :?

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Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2006 7:39 pm
by GypsyRR
Vann,
Can you send me the link to the site where you are going to buy that? I have all of those components except for the base that threads into the camera. TIA.