10 October 2016 - Monday
Dear Cheryl,
Brrrrrrr. You would have donned your Mobile Warming heated jacket this morrning for sure. It was about 39 degrees at our original planned start time of 8:00, but warmed to a 'balmy' 44 by 9:00am. Sunny and dry, though, and it got into the upper 60s by the afternoon, so really a perfect day for our trip to Seneca Rocks. When we were gearing up, Laura or Judy found a flower on the ground next to my bike and placed it on my bars. It stayed there for quite awhile, but eventually blew off. For the short time it was there, it reminded me of you.
I was so sorry to learn of Chris' dad passing. I know he had been sick for a long time, but he and Chris were so close that he's probably having a hard time, especially with Kristin being in NC and he being in IL with his mom. In one way, it stinks that you have to cut your vacation short, but but in another way it's a bit of a blessing for Kristin that you are there to share the ride back to Illinois. Please send my condolences to both of them and to their kids when you see them all at the funeral. I'll send off a text to Chris when I'm done with this letter.
So, it turns out that Seneca Rocks is a prominent crag in the eastern part of the Monongahela National Forest. In fact, it's the highest point in West Virginia. It is in the Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area which is a little bit south, but mostly due east of where we are staying in Elkins. Needless to say, and in typical fashion, our route for the day had us heading west then northeast before sliding back south to our day's destination. The fastest route from our hotel to Seneca Rocks and back is about 50 miles. We rode about 175.
Mike's route for the day. [I missed the turn for Old Route 219, but I managed to get us the rest of the way without any unintended U-turns.]
Note: The red blotch is Seneca Rocks and the red line at the top is roughly the borderline of Maryland--another state notched, for me at least.
We ran into a snag at the very start of our ride. Some major road construction stopped us almost immediately after we exited "new" US219. We wound up waiting for maybe 1/2 hour for the flagger to let us go and even at that we had to follow a pilot truck for several miles. The one good thing is that we were at the very front of the stopped line so, once things opened up, there was no traffic ahead of us for miles and miles. Had I not missed the turn for Old 219, we almost assuredly would have been at that back of a 1.5 mile line of cars and trucks.
US219 through West Virginia is just an amazing stretch of highway and Mike had apparently called ahead to make sure that it was freshly paved for our visit. Apparently, at least parts of 219 were laid over an ancient Indian footpath called "The Great Indian Warpath", sometimes "The Great Indian War and Trading Path", or "The Seneca Trail". Google maps even identifies it as Seneca Trail. I'll have to read more about the trail when I return home, but it appears that the trail, whatever its name, runs from Alabama to New York. Pretty cool.
Lots of curves and elevation changes and, since a good portion of it is through the national forest, we had ample opportunity to witness trees chameleoning into their fall skin. Judy and a couple of the others, along with some locals with whom we spoke, felt that the colors were not at their peak. Looking at the pictures, I suppose they have a point, but there was plenty of orange and gold mixed the remaining green. More than once, we bathed in the golden half-light of an autumn forest as we traveled beneath a canopy of hardwood trees which stretched fully across the road. Oh, and honey? The battery on Mike's point-and-shoot died, a point which I wanted to make before you ask me why there are no pictures of this gold aura of which I speak.
Our original plan was to stop in Red House, MD at an old historic inn where we could have an early lunch and possibly fill my supercool growler with a few pints of local brew. It turns out that the inn is more of a museum/historical marker than an actual inn and so we made our (only) U-turn and headed east, now on US50, which would take us to WV42 (our Maryland stay was extremely short-lived) and then to WV28 into Seneca Rocks.
The elevation changes and sweeping curves made for a spectacular ride. Mike and I separated a little from the rest of the pack, but not by much. My bike handles SO much better when it is not burdened with a week's worth of duffle-bag fill strapped over the rear suspension. I'm beginning to embrace the idea of traveling to one spot and doing day rides from there in the future because that will allow me more days of riding my bike the way it is supposed to be ridden.
It didn't take too long before I felt hungry, but by my reckoning, which turned out to be incorrect, we would be at the visitor center in maybe 1/2 hour or 45 minutes after Red House. I was off by about 100% which was not-so cheerfully pointed out by Laura when we reached the intersection where I could turn left to the visitor center or right to the little "town" (three or four stores and a campground). "I'M HUNGRY!!!" was shouted, although at the time I just heard an indecipherable scream akin to what I imagine a banshee would make. At this same time, Mike G., stopped immediately to my right, needed a bladder relief stop and, tiring of my lack of decisiveness, darted across the intersection into the town's parking lot. We followed and I was informed that this would be a pretty good time to get off the bikes and enjoy a meal together. I am 99% certain that there would have been no banshee sounds had you been my stop sign partner since you would have just pointed to the restaurant and I would have dutifully lead everyone there. Have I mentioned that I miss you?
The "town"
Judy and me at the Front Porch Restaurant (very good food)
Visitor Center with Seneca Rocks behind. Seneca Rocks has the tallest peak in West Virginia
After lunch it was over to the (closed on Mondays) visitor center so we could all go for a hike. You know, of course, that "we all go for a hike" means that Judy and Laura go for a hike and the guys find a spot with a lovely view of the peaks and brake out the cigars. Which is what we did.
It was here that we met Travis and Linda. We had seen this couple at the restaurant and they caught our attention then because Travis was explaining to someone that he had found a mouse in the trunk of his Goldwing. I don't believe that any of us took time at the restaurant to introduce themselves, but since we didn't have much else to do except smoke and gaze, I thought it would be a good time to engage the couple as they walked past our station.
"Hey, aren't you the folks with the mouse in your Goldwing?"
"Yep, that's us"
Introductions all around. Travis and Linda were from Virginia and just out for a ride. They may or may not have been heading toward Pennsylvania, but I have been so intrigued by the mouse conversation that I don't recall their destination as I write this.
"How'd the mouse get in your trunk?"
"I think it got in through where the wiring runs. They've gotten in there before" replied Travis
"Maybe you need a cat."
"Well, let me start by saying that I HATE me a mouse", he explained.
Continuing, "I hate me a cat, too, but I really HATE me a mouse. In fact, I'd rather come face to face with a black bear than with a mouse"
To which Linda offered "And he has come face to face with a black bear, so he knows"
Well, that just lead us into a whole other story about Travis' black bear encounter. It seems that he forgot a wrench (or something) in his tool shed and walked out to get it about about 2am, dressed in nothing but "underpants and boat shoes". When he came "out the shed" there was a black bear standing "tween me and the house". He said that he made a lot of noise and the bear took off. I turned to Linda and asked, "Did you see this bear?"
"No"
"So, ummmm is it possible that maybe there was no bear and that Travis just needed to come up with an explanation for why he was in your driveway at two in the morning with a wrench, a pair of boat shoes, and his underpants"
"Hmmmm....I never thought of that!", she laughed.
The conversation morphed into a discussion of other wild animals who have visited their home, some of whom needed to be dispatched with the use of various forms of weaponry from broom to 12-gauge. We decided not to ask for too many more details, but asked them to take our photo and then they went on their way. You would have gotten a kick out the two of them. And despite, or because of, their stories, I liked them. Of course, had you been there, you'd have missed it all because you would have been hiking with the girls. You always say how much nature we miss by not hiking with you. I contend that we encountered quite a bit more nature in their stories than we would have ever encountered on the hiking path. Incidentally, all the guys agree that we HATE us a hike!
The guys' version of a "bike and hike"
Obligatory selfie
There's a bike and rider missing in this picture
I LOVE me a CB1100 pic
Another fantastic ride to get back to Elkins via WV28 to US33. Again, not extremely technical, but twisty and hilly and beautiful.
At the intersection of US33 and US250, about a mile from our hotel, sits Hiawatha's Country Store. It's one of those touristy gift shops that you love, in part, because they sell Minnetonka Moccasins. I have grown to love your weird obsession with moccasins and these silly little stores. Laura wanted me to buy you a ring because she knows that's what you would do if you were with us. I thought about it and decided against it mainly because I think your "motorcycling ring" collection should only include items from places you have actually visited. We'll just have to come back to Elkins, I guess.
Judy and I assumed that the giant statue in front of Hiawatha's was Hiawatha herself. Both Mikes and Glen (pretty sure Laura, too) were quick to point out that Hiawatha was male and was married to Minnehaha who is represented proudly in front of the store.
Mike was just a little curious about what the ancient Indians wore in terms of undergarments.
We had dinner at CJ Maggie's in Elkins. We ate there last night, too. Food is ok. They don't know how to make a mixed drink. The driver of this Mercedes is also staying at the Hampton because I saw it parked there earlier today.
One of my favorite collector cars.
Cub's game is on now, but it's about to head into extra innings. We can't get the game in our room because MLB decided only to broadcast the game on their network to which no hotel subscribes. Grrrr. I'll get a web update on my computer later. It's late and I don't want to fall asleep in the lobby. Off to Malinsburgh or Marlinville or Marlinton or some such place tomorrow. Elkins as been great!
Go Cubs!
Love you and miss you.
Matt