extrememarine
Well-known member
My ride to the SE Ohio Ramble - May 2016
Work shortened my ride plans - I've fallen into this vicious cycle; do things well, manager takes note, moves large project from peer to me because peer is an *****. I was not able to depart LZ Detroit until noon on Thursday. I needed some serious two wheel therapy - to light the afterburner and burn it until it melted away the past 3 weeks. I left the house with no plans, no reservations until Friday night in Marietta.
I left the house at 12:05 Thursday afternoon. Sometimes, the open road is exactly what is needed to clear the mind, nourish the soul. 950 miles later I walked into a hotel. Friday morning, we danced across some familiar twisty bits and I was feeling pretty darn good.
I punched in Marietta on the Zumo and it reported that we were just under 500 miles from LZ Marietta. It was 3pm. Last fuel stop was around 1030p, a quick text, fuel and we were screaming north again. I rolled in right around Midnight. The parking log was full of motorcycles, and as I parked, there was FJRFarrier to make sure I arrived safely.
I slept well Friday night - the mental flush complete after about 1500 miles of what only the FJR can provide...
Photo credit: FJRFarrier
Saturday presented its gloomy self with overcast skies and incoming showers. Most rolled over and went back to sleep. I thought I could get east and south ahead of it. FJRFarrier took the bait and we rolled south on I-77 to WV-50 hoping to get to WV16 south ahead of the rain. It beat us there, so we found shelter, wi-fi, and a hardy breakfast at the Log Cabin Grill in Ellenboro, WV.
First stop – covered bridge on OH26
As the weather passed, we headed north on WV16 towards Ohio. Once we crossed back into Ohio, we zig-zagged between OH 7 and OH 26 on all the tasty bits as far north as Beallsville. We turned south and followed OH-26 back to Marietta. We had stopped for a quick break when 3 FJR’s cruised past. We gave chase and caught the Canadian Polar Express. We followed them rest of the way into town.
Lots of bench racing Saturday night as the cool (COLD) weather kept everyone inside the hotel lobby for the most part. It was great catching up and shooting the breeze. Awesome folks!! Hats off to the hotel staff for accommodating and tolerating ruckus.
Sunday morning was dry but cool again. We ventured north and slightly east, following 821 and stumbled across a few hidden treasures (that I will not share here…). We picked up OH-78 in Caldwell and followed that all the way to Nelsonville. What a great road!! We worked our way north enjoying the roads as they straighten and leveled off in front of us. We stopped at Mid Ohio and were treated to a few minutes of watching a Porsche club finishing their trackday. Wow!! Grabbed fuel and food in Findlay and then made the 2 hour dash home through Detroit.
I have GoPro footage to wade through – I’ll see if I can get something interesting compiled within the next week or so…
I rolled into the garage and shut down the FJR 3 ½ days and 2300ish miles after leaving Thursday afternoon. Exhausted, but refreshed and refocused.
Work shortened my ride plans - I've fallen into this vicious cycle; do things well, manager takes note, moves large project from peer to me because peer is an *****. I was not able to depart LZ Detroit until noon on Thursday. I needed some serious two wheel therapy - to light the afterburner and burn it until it melted away the past 3 weeks. I left the house with no plans, no reservations until Friday night in Marietta.
I left the house at 12:05 Thursday afternoon. Sometimes, the open road is exactly what is needed to clear the mind, nourish the soul. 950 miles later I walked into a hotel. Friday morning, we danced across some familiar twisty bits and I was feeling pretty darn good.
I punched in Marietta on the Zumo and it reported that we were just under 500 miles from LZ Marietta. It was 3pm. Last fuel stop was around 1030p, a quick text, fuel and we were screaming north again. I rolled in right around Midnight. The parking log was full of motorcycles, and as I parked, there was FJRFarrier to make sure I arrived safely.
I slept well Friday night - the mental flush complete after about 1500 miles of what only the FJR can provide...
Photo credit: FJRFarrier
Saturday presented its gloomy self with overcast skies and incoming showers. Most rolled over and went back to sleep. I thought I could get east and south ahead of it. FJRFarrier took the bait and we rolled south on I-77 to WV-50 hoping to get to WV16 south ahead of the rain. It beat us there, so we found shelter, wi-fi, and a hardy breakfast at the Log Cabin Grill in Ellenboro, WV.
First stop – covered bridge on OH26
As the weather passed, we headed north on WV16 towards Ohio. Once we crossed back into Ohio, we zig-zagged between OH 7 and OH 26 on all the tasty bits as far north as Beallsville. We turned south and followed OH-26 back to Marietta. We had stopped for a quick break when 3 FJR’s cruised past. We gave chase and caught the Canadian Polar Express. We followed them rest of the way into town.
Lots of bench racing Saturday night as the cool (COLD) weather kept everyone inside the hotel lobby for the most part. It was great catching up and shooting the breeze. Awesome folks!! Hats off to the hotel staff for accommodating and tolerating ruckus.
Sunday morning was dry but cool again. We ventured north and slightly east, following 821 and stumbled across a few hidden treasures (that I will not share here…). We picked up OH-78 in Caldwell and followed that all the way to Nelsonville. What a great road!! We worked our way north enjoying the roads as they straighten and leveled off in front of us. We stopped at Mid Ohio and were treated to a few minutes of watching a Porsche club finishing their trackday. Wow!! Grabbed fuel and food in Findlay and then made the 2 hour dash home through Detroit.
I have GoPro footage to wade through – I’ll see if I can get something interesting compiled within the next week or so…
I rolled into the garage and shut down the FJR 3 ½ days and 2300ish miles after leaving Thursday afternoon. Exhausted, but refreshed and refocused.
