AdrianNKY
Well-known member
Be relatively kind...I'm not a great photographer.
Well, I have planned on heading out on Sunday morning early to hit a planned route with 9 covered bridges in NKY. Woke up to rain and projected thunderstorms most of the day. Decided to head out anyway but on a shorter trip to two of the closer covered bridges. To my surprise, as I headed southeast despite what the weather map showed, it stopped raining about 45 minutes into the trip and remained sunny and 85-ish for most of the trip (damn humidity was high though).
The first 15-ish miles was a quick slab ride down 75 to essentially the eastern route on 22 to the infamous Shell station at Falmouth. At one point on 75 I look over to see a girl sitting in the back seat of a 4 door with some friends who was making some "interesting" gestures towards me and I thought, "man, it's going to be a good day". I gave her the "thumbs up" and headed for the exit towards Hwy 22 East.
A few miles up 22 it stopped raining and the Zumo performed flawless. Gotta love seeing a road like this on your GPS. Fun, fun, fun.
If you've never had the opportunity to run Hwy 22 I must say that you are missing a great road. It's basically a racetrack (from what I hear) east of Falmouth but quite possibly due to the crappy weather forecast I essentially had the entire road to myself. Here's basically what the whole road looks like:
Several miles down the road I came upon this little tidbit. I thought it quite funny so had to get a photo of it. No trick angles or whatnot, thats exactly how it looks from the road.....wonder how many people go through here scratching their heads...
Of course the pavement seemed to dry with every mile closer to Falmouth so naturally the velocity increased.
Heading south off of 22 onto 27 I took it easy and hovered around the posted limit and low and behold I get a patrol car magically spring up behind me. He followed me into town and parked out behind a pole all the while I sat have a nice refreshing beverage at the Shell station. He literally just sat there "hiding" behind that truck and pole until I left. He was probably pissed that he couldn't get his normal *cough*quota*cough* selection of bikes due to the rain:
He followed me for a few miles out of town and then turned around and headed back in. I gave a thank you wave and reflected att having felt so special that I managed to get an escort from such an FJR fan. It's going to be a good day, I'm thinking. Heading south down 27 through a couple small towns on my way to bridge #1 on Colville Rd was pretty uneventful although enjoyable. One exception turned out to be a guy who was in front of me for approximately 11 miles or so who's car was missing more panels than it had left who kept giving me the thumbs up out the window. I kept thinking, first a police escort and now a local escort through town yet again. Man, it's going to be a great day.
I did stop on some bridge to snap this shot (sorry forgot to check where I was)
Off again and soon a right turn on Colville Rd and shortly there after my first bridge. This was the road essentially leading up to the bridge, quite lovely.....
The northern side of the bridge which is one of the few remaining which still carries traffic.
The south entrance to the bridge which shows a better shot of the foundation. While quite lovely, the repaired foundation (basic poured concrete from what I can tell) took away from some of the splendor of the renovated bridge itself. Got this shot of the sign near the bridge
Onward south and east to Millersburg. On the way, I came down a one laner to a guy standing next to his horse. Looked like he was adjusting the saddle so I prepared to stop so as not to spook the horse and he took a step back and gave me the "go ahead" wave... As I make the pass at a brisk 2mph he gives me a "niiiiccee ride". To which I responded with an honest, "you to". I think to myself, "man it's going to be a good day"
I enter Millersburg (first time there) and spot a cool looking RR bridge off to the right...I tried to find a good spot for a pick but essentially had to stop in some guys garage driveway. Not the greatest shot but it was a pretty cool looking bridge.
Saddle back up and head to main road to check in with Zumo. At this point another FJR with Harley in tow go by heading back west. We exchanged waves and they were gone. I continued east until I saw this sign a mile or two up the road....actually turned around to get a quick pic of it. Not sure why but it seemed quite funny at the time.
Well, mister FJR with Harley in tow happen to head back by again going east so I made a quick u-turn and promptly caught up to them. Ran with them for a bit (68 north?) until I spoted another landmark to grab a picture of. This spot was in front of the Blue Lick Battlefield State Park which you can read about here
Was actually pretty interesting. Just behind the platform there was this little path which I took a nice walk up to stretch the bones. Was quite lovely.
A few cars pulled up for the photo-op while I was there and at one point a nice couple walked up and the wife gives me the nod followed by a, "...I bet that thing is fun". I admit, I was thinking the same thing about her all the while contemplating on, "man it's going to be a great day".
A short burst west on 165 I think it was brings me to bridge #2 which crosses over Johnson Creek. I didn't realize but the bridge has actually been torn apart as it was next in the line for state restoration. A brief pucker moment as I pulled onto the gravel road to the construction site brought me lights to face with a rather tanked site steward. He was quite friendly and let me walk out on the bridge which looked like it would collapse at any moment.
I was pleased to see that you could still see what I presumed was the original 3 supports for the bridge. Even though it was in a state of restoration I still found it to be quite lovely and well worth the trip to see.
This was as close as my tanked friend would let me get the feej so no pics sorry to say. But here's the site from the bridge looking back with tanked site steward just exiting the trailer with fresh beer in hand. Naturally I declined the offering. Something about the banjo off in the trees and a tanked steward with no shirt on and shorts that were "way" to short got me a bit nervous. So, grab another pic and off I go.
Running short on time now, I backtracked west down several great roads towards the west side of Georgetown to the Switzer Covered Bridge. Was almost taken out here as I pulled into the short dirt drive to the parking area by a rather large van with bikes on it whom almost backed right into me (someone at EOM remind me to get that horn farkle please)
Due to the layout of the area I could get a really good view of the side also...
A short jump over 1286 I think it was puts me on 227 near stamping grounds. North up stamping grounds which I swear is one of the best roads in the area (similar to Hwy 22) and then back out 22 east to the slab and a short run back home. As I exited the freeway on Mt Zion Rd I was sitting at the light waiting to turn left and a Sheriff pulled up about to turn right and gave me the "thumbs up". I'm thinking, "man it's going to be a great day".
10 minutes later I pulled into the driveway and my daughter walks out with a cold glass of water and says, "I was tinkin bout u daddy". Excellent ride for most of the day especially considering that I started out in the rain and the forecast called for spotty showers most of the day. I sipped my cold water and thanked Mrs. Zumo for not leading me astray. Kissed my daughter on the forehead and thought... man, what a great day.
Well, I have planned on heading out on Sunday morning early to hit a planned route with 9 covered bridges in NKY. Woke up to rain and projected thunderstorms most of the day. Decided to head out anyway but on a shorter trip to two of the closer covered bridges. To my surprise, as I headed southeast despite what the weather map showed, it stopped raining about 45 minutes into the trip and remained sunny and 85-ish for most of the trip (damn humidity was high though).
The first 15-ish miles was a quick slab ride down 75 to essentially the eastern route on 22 to the infamous Shell station at Falmouth. At one point on 75 I look over to see a girl sitting in the back seat of a 4 door with some friends who was making some "interesting" gestures towards me and I thought, "man, it's going to be a good day". I gave her the "thumbs up" and headed for the exit towards Hwy 22 East.
A few miles up 22 it stopped raining and the Zumo performed flawless. Gotta love seeing a road like this on your GPS. Fun, fun, fun.
If you've never had the opportunity to run Hwy 22 I must say that you are missing a great road. It's basically a racetrack (from what I hear) east of Falmouth but quite possibly due to the crappy weather forecast I essentially had the entire road to myself. Here's basically what the whole road looks like:
Several miles down the road I came upon this little tidbit. I thought it quite funny so had to get a photo of it. No trick angles or whatnot, thats exactly how it looks from the road.....wonder how many people go through here scratching their heads...
Of course the pavement seemed to dry with every mile closer to Falmouth so naturally the velocity increased.
Heading south off of 22 onto 27 I took it easy and hovered around the posted limit and low and behold I get a patrol car magically spring up behind me. He followed me into town and parked out behind a pole all the while I sat have a nice refreshing beverage at the Shell station. He literally just sat there "hiding" behind that truck and pole until I left. He was probably pissed that he couldn't get his normal *cough*quota*cough* selection of bikes due to the rain:
He followed me for a few miles out of town and then turned around and headed back in. I gave a thank you wave and reflected att having felt so special that I managed to get an escort from such an FJR fan. It's going to be a good day, I'm thinking. Heading south down 27 through a couple small towns on my way to bridge #1 on Colville Rd was pretty uneventful although enjoyable. One exception turned out to be a guy who was in front of me for approximately 11 miles or so who's car was missing more panels than it had left who kept giving me the thumbs up out the window. I kept thinking, first a police escort and now a local escort through town yet again. Man, it's going to be a great day.
I did stop on some bridge to snap this shot (sorry forgot to check where I was)
Off again and soon a right turn on Colville Rd and shortly there after my first bridge. This was the road essentially leading up to the bridge, quite lovely.....
The northern side of the bridge which is one of the few remaining which still carries traffic.
The south entrance to the bridge which shows a better shot of the foundation. While quite lovely, the repaired foundation (basic poured concrete from what I can tell) took away from some of the splendor of the renovated bridge itself. Got this shot of the sign near the bridge
Onward south and east to Millersburg. On the way, I came down a one laner to a guy standing next to his horse. Looked like he was adjusting the saddle so I prepared to stop so as not to spook the horse and he took a step back and gave me the "go ahead" wave... As I make the pass at a brisk 2mph he gives me a "niiiiccee ride". To which I responded with an honest, "you to". I think to myself, "man it's going to be a good day"
I enter Millersburg (first time there) and spot a cool looking RR bridge off to the right...I tried to find a good spot for a pick but essentially had to stop in some guys garage driveway. Not the greatest shot but it was a pretty cool looking bridge.
Saddle back up and head to main road to check in with Zumo. At this point another FJR with Harley in tow go by heading back west. We exchanged waves and they were gone. I continued east until I saw this sign a mile or two up the road....actually turned around to get a quick pic of it. Not sure why but it seemed quite funny at the time.
Well, mister FJR with Harley in tow happen to head back by again going east so I made a quick u-turn and promptly caught up to them. Ran with them for a bit (68 north?) until I spoted another landmark to grab a picture of. This spot was in front of the Blue Lick Battlefield State Park which you can read about here
Was actually pretty interesting. Just behind the platform there was this little path which I took a nice walk up to stretch the bones. Was quite lovely.
A few cars pulled up for the photo-op while I was there and at one point a nice couple walked up and the wife gives me the nod followed by a, "...I bet that thing is fun". I admit, I was thinking the same thing about her all the while contemplating on, "man it's going to be a great day".
A short burst west on 165 I think it was brings me to bridge #2 which crosses over Johnson Creek. I didn't realize but the bridge has actually been torn apart as it was next in the line for state restoration. A brief pucker moment as I pulled onto the gravel road to the construction site brought me lights to face with a rather tanked site steward. He was quite friendly and let me walk out on the bridge which looked like it would collapse at any moment.
I was pleased to see that you could still see what I presumed was the original 3 supports for the bridge. Even though it was in a state of restoration I still found it to be quite lovely and well worth the trip to see.
This was as close as my tanked friend would let me get the feej so no pics sorry to say. But here's the site from the bridge looking back with tanked site steward just exiting the trailer with fresh beer in hand. Naturally I declined the offering. Something about the banjo off in the trees and a tanked steward with no shirt on and shorts that were "way" to short got me a bit nervous. So, grab another pic and off I go.
Running short on time now, I backtracked west down several great roads towards the west side of Georgetown to the Switzer Covered Bridge. Was almost taken out here as I pulled into the short dirt drive to the parking area by a rather large van with bikes on it whom almost backed right into me (someone at EOM remind me to get that horn farkle please)
Due to the layout of the area I could get a really good view of the side also...
A short jump over 1286 I think it was puts me on 227 near stamping grounds. North up stamping grounds which I swear is one of the best roads in the area (similar to Hwy 22) and then back out 22 east to the slab and a short run back home. As I exited the freeway on Mt Zion Rd I was sitting at the light waiting to turn left and a Sheriff pulled up about to turn right and gave me the "thumbs up". I'm thinking, "man it's going to be a great day".
10 minutes later I pulled into the driveway and my daughter walks out with a cold glass of water and says, "I was tinkin bout u daddy". Excellent ride for most of the day especially considering that I started out in the rain and the forecast called for spotty showers most of the day. I sipped my cold water and thanked Mrs. Zumo for not leading me astray. Kissed my daughter on the forehead and thought... man, what a great day.
