MABDR 2018

Mid Atlantic Back Country Discovery Route
April-May 2018

Our first day on the BDR was a wet one-------we rode almost all day in the rain. But it just wasn't that bad and didn't rain
hard and caused us no problems. So the next few pictures are a little fuzzy.

For gps tracks of this ride go to the Back Country Discovery route website for a free download---thanks guys !!!!!

This was a few hundred feet off the route but I wanted to show the guys the bicycle creeper trail that me and my wife rode
2 years ago in Damascus. It's a 37 mile old railroad grade that goes over about 100 tressels and it is spectacular.

Me riding the Trail---the white bike is my wife's.

My wife Debi
This is one of the fondest memories I have out of all the stuff we've done together.
Look at the scenery---it's like that for 37 miles.

And now our first stop at this waterfall-----and let me introduce my buddies for this ride.
On the left is Jerry (Road Dad) on his WR250R.
On the right is a very longtime buddy Roger Hayes on his KLR.
This waterfall is only about 12 miles into the ride.

The countryside was gorgeous. We ran thru here on the way back.
The creeks were high---------and would get higher and would bite us in the ass.

We arrived at the Mountain Lake Lodge early evening-----man was this a cool place---this is where the movie Dirty Dancing was filmed.
Tucked away in the Blue Ridge Mountains, the stone lodge was built in the 1930s, and has charmingly rustic cabins and a lake
for practicing your dance lifts. Dedicated fans can
even rent out the Virginia Cottage where Baby and her family (including her father, played by Jerry Orbach) spent the summer.

Sadly the lake had a fault open up in it and drained it. They think it is filling up again.
It was one of the main attractions here.

Besides the main lodge----there are many cabins on the many acres.

It's weird---------there is no air conditioning in any of the main lodge---------don't seem to need it I guess ?

We had the nicest dinner here and sat around and just relaxed.
Roger----in the chair realized his chain and sprockets were worn way more than he thought
and went home the next morning. Man I wished he could have rode with us.

The yellow line is our path for the first day.

We left very early the next morning and headed North East---the ride ends in New York about 900 miles away and
we were anxious to ride it---------and had no idea what was in store for us tody. It wasn't good.

The countryside on this whole ride was just spectacular------not a technical ride---but nice none the less.

I remember this road being really nice-------a jillion mountain switchbacks on a tight one lane dirt road.

We saw the gps sign several times.
The sign is meant for truckers and maybe the ordinary traveler---as the roads could get you into a pickle.
We heard stories of semi's having to backup for miles to get out of some of these mountains.
Man that wouldn't be fun.

And this is where is went all wrong for Jerry--------the water was deep in the middle and was moving very fast.
You couldn't walk across it---it would take you down. I don't know how I made it across but I did.
I think I hit is so hard and fast I blew threw the fast current and big rocks. I was very lucky.

I don't know how we got his bike picked up---but we did---and we were exhausted fighting the current.
The motor was full of water so we had to inch it across---both of us hanging onto the bike on the down stream side.
We would coount 1-2-3 and push many times---sometimes only making it a couple inches. It took for ever to get it across
and we were spent.
It tooks us about 2 hours to get the water out of the motor (it was hydro locked)---and the air box---and get the bike started.
We knew we had to stand the bike straight up to pour the water out of the exhaust but we couldn't do it.
So I had the idea of pushing it off in the dish and letting the front wheel climb up the other side-----only then did we
have the strength to stand it up as a 1/2 gallon of water poured out of the exhaust and motor. The gas tank had to come
off for removing the spark plug and pumping water out. We took our time and did all we needed to--as we had to gt it running.
So the air filter was soaked and Jerry left it off completely till we got out of there.
But guess what ???? It was getting dark and about a mile further down the road there was another crossing that was much worse.
We didn't think we could get back across the creek going back---what were we going to do. It's dark and we are trapped between
2 un-crossable creeks.
And then it started raining----and we put up our tents beside the road in the rain---remember we are both soaked.
In our tents we hoped it would quit raining and the creeks would go down--------but it didn't. I was a sleepless night.
What would we do------we were out of food and not much water.

Day 2 Map

Again----the yellow line is our route. The purple is our return route.
Notice "drowned bike" waypoint--and too deep creek.
In a few days these creeks returned to normal and were fixed by a grader.

The next morning at first lite we packed up in the rain---we felt it was the only thing we could do.
Everything is soaked------everything---how are we going to get across the river that Jerry fell over in ????

After a bit of thought----Jerry said what he really thought.

Our tents were behind the bikes all nite.
So don't skip over the next bit--------it gets better.

After packing up we head back to that same creek---it may have went down an inch or two ????
We manned up and decided we'd push them across ---with both of us getting each bike one at a time.
Cept--------Jerry's bike quit in the worst part and would not start--water was rushing completely over the top of the motor
and we didn't think we cold hold it. We were famished. And once again---counted 1-2-3 and pushed---several times but probably
10 times the bike went no where. We were both about ready to pass out---but we couldn't quit. We had to get out---nobody was
coming down this road---the locals new better-------we didn't.
We did get Jerry's bike to the other side-------guess what-----yep-------battery is dead. We pushed it and got it started finally
and steam boiled out of the exhaust for 10 minutes.
Well that's fine---now we had my 690 to get across. If it went under it would take a crain and 10 mechanics all day to get that
thing running. I'd just leave it I thought !!!!!! By the way----------a lot of water was in Jerry's oil-----but we had to run it
to get out of there.

I don't how---my bike kept running and it was easier getting it across----but all the time I thought the water was going
to take all 3 of us down stream---------it was scary.
It's early morning---it's still raining---getting colder and we make it too Franklin WV to a motel and get an early check in.
Jerry jumps in the shower and it's about 30 minutes before he can feel his feet.
We are lucky to be alive--------and poor ole Jerry spends all day getting his bike sorted-----he had to change the oil 4 times.

Profanity Warning !!!!!! Over 18 only.
Me and Jerry aren't fond of profanity---but the extreme circumstances of what happens in this video is pretty extreme.

Jerry finds a laundry and everything is drying out.
And a little money laundering.
Nothing got past the water soaking.

We didn't ride far that morning---probably 30 miles to the motel.

So after spending a whole day and nite at this motel we hit the road----happy as can be !!!!
Everything is dry---and Jerry's motor seems fine------by the way it's got about 130,000 miles on that thing--a WR250R.
My KTM will be dead and buried long before that.

Dang-------Roger shouldn't have went home-------look what he missed.
Hell he has a KLR --------it would have been fine.

I bet Jerry was still a bit nervous crossing this easy creek.

Me and Jerry are both retired and we had tired long ago of speeding thru life in a hurry.
We just poked along enjoying life and the beauty of the country side.

This was not on the route---------but I like bridges----maybe they'll name one after me when I'm gone ????

It seemed most of this route had a creek flowing beside the road. All of them really flowing after the rain.

One of my favorite things we saw and experienced on the ride.
Horn Camp School--------I had no idea of what was to happen hear as we idled out in the road looking at the old school house.
Annabelle------runs out into the road and offers us a tour---"you guys want to see in the school" ???
Heck yeh.

She lives next door---her grandmother went to school here------it's just one room.
It's full of stuff----------and she knows the history of all of it.
The woodstove is the original---most of the other stuff just pieces from that era.

I was one year old on the last day of school here.

Original desks

Jerry almost fell asleep. It was just so relaxing.

Just across the road some funny stuff-------her husband did all this.
The fire hydrant is not hooked to anything------just planted in the ground she said.
I've installed many a fire hydrant in my day-------they are at least 5ft. long and weigh a ton.

It was just a place you don't want to leave. She had things to do and left us to look around on our own.
If you come by it's OK to park you bike in the school yard----we didn't as the ground was so soft it wouldn't
hold our kickstands. The door to the school is never locked. Mess with stuff------and you'll have Annabelle to answer to.

We had to pay 50 cents each to cross this toll bridge.
It was an honor.
Not sure if I'm getting my facts straight--but I think it was touted as being the last toll bridge in WV.
I'm not sure even what state we were in ???? Nor what day it was---or what time it was.
I gave that up years ago.
The old coot taking the money took one look at Jerry's bike------and said "I never heard of a "Road Dad" bike.
Thanks for paying my way too Jerry !!!

You may never heard of such a thing. This is a man dug canal that pulled barges with animals on the small
tow path to the right of the canal.

Our Route for the day

We did not go around this gate----but somebody did.
It only took me 5 seconds to figure out a way to by-pass this.

I had put the Mosko Moto Backcountry 35 saddle bags on my 690 before leaving on this ride.
Took them off my Africa Twin and didn't think they'd work on my oval Wolfman racks--but they did.
Man I love those things. At might I'd just lift them off like hard bags do. I hate hard bags and quit using them years ago.

We ended up at a motel in Mount Holly Springs---cool place.
Todays ride took us South to Harpers Ferry then back North.
Me and Jerry neither one enjoyed that South little jaunt one bit. Too crowded on busy bumper to bumper
rural traffic roads. Peope hurrying everywhere williing to run you over to just get somewhere 3 seconds sooner.
Why didn't you leave for work 3 minutes sooner ?????
It was the only thing that we didn't enjoy---but it was short lived----the rest was great !!!
My advice----take the Northern By-pass.

The next day leaving the Inn in Mt. Holly Springs we were sent to this recommended place for breakfast.

Oh man this was a superb day !!!!

I bet we went up and over 15 mountain ranges that looked just like this today.

The BDR guys didn't know this was not a public road.
After seeing some traffic on it they put up a sign on both ends. I think it was just maybe a half mile thru.
But we quickly found an easy short way around the private road. The BDR guys have now realized this and have
made a correction to the routing thru here.
This was not a case of some butthole claiming a public road-----it was his.

I wish that power line wasn't in this picture---maybe the best picture I took.
It was just amazing-----there was no wind---I've never seen anything like it.

So my buddy Roger does what I don't know how to do and removes all the "stuff"

Down in another valley and then over the mountain we'd go.
The road over was always a switchback climb and descent on a mostly dirt road-----great stuff.

Caption needed here.
Was he thinkin' he'd really like to own a KTM.
No--------he's wishing Yamaha would get busy and get him his T7 so he wasn't forced into riding a high maintenance KTM.

I had a waypoint in my gps of this spring--and sure enough there it was.

This sign is really confusing-------I know what it meant----------but it didn't say that.

It was so nice out and I really wanted to camp-------so I navigated us to Ravensburg state park.
It was closed and not open for the season yet----------what the heck.
So I found this private one.

Jerry on the other hand------luvs camping too--------"NOT"
He prefers camping in a motel.

I found several "rail trails" on this ride and marked all of them for a future bicycle ride with my wife---------and doggy.

More Video

The next day I pulled a rabbit out of my hat---------we left the motel without breakfast and had no idea what lay in store for us.
When in this very small town in Salladasburg PA------population about 400 people popped up this gem of the trip.
It was like that day in Baja when we rolled into a town all tired and dirty and found the coolest place to stay on the
Sea of Cortez--------but a bit different. They had pancakes and bacon here.

I thought I saw those all to familiar scrape marks on the chip and seal roads.
I live in heavy Amish country.

Seems we didn't take many pictures on the way back to Damascus--------but the route was frickin' awesome !!!
What route did I take you ask ??????. I have many methods of finding my way----and we used all of them---tools of the trade.
After all---------this is all I do.

1. I don't care where we go route.
2. Yeh---that looks good route.
3. Well it's kind of going Southwest route.
4. I'm hungry route.
5. I miss my doggy route. And I miss my wife route !!!
6. Were about out of gas route.
7. I have plenty of gas and we ain't lost route.
8. Where the hell are we route.
9. Lets burn up this road route as I'm feelin frisky.
10. I need a nap route.

I had to deal with this every morning------don't mess with a sleepy German.

I made a rollchart with the paper on the outside-----pretty handy for winging it-------or whatever.

Motel somewhere.

And my final route finding method.
Number 11.
11. the oh shit we are 40 miles from the end and I got a flat tire on this completely worn out tire.

A Nail you think ???? Not even close.

Popped off my saddle bags and we got to work.

Your thinking a nail still--------------nope-------wrong.
Kinda looks like part of a drill bit. But where is the rest of it ?????????
Note-------I never zip my pants up------too much trouble ---------and who cares ????
Sure is handy is a hurried situation.

Never seen nothing like it.
The bit went in and when the tire got low----the bit hit the rim breaking it into 2 pieces and one when out the sidewall.

When that happened-------blewy--------and I almost crashed.

Jerry helped-----------------a little-------I swear.
Why does it take 20 minutes to fix a flat on the side of a road---------and 4 hours in my shop ???

Saw Falling Spring somewhere on the way back

One Final Video