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Another Saddlesore 1000

Baltimore- 5/20 05:09

As I had ridden section of US-50 from Winchester to Grafton, WV, I figured I'd hit I-70-68-79 and then pick up the Route near Clarksburg, WV. I wheeled out of the barn to the Beltway for the starting receipt and then headed west on I-70 in light drizzle. I didn't put my Widder on as I expected temps to rise throughout the day- escpecially after I rode out of the weather.
Around Frederick, the skies decide to open up a bit. I almost bagged the ride as I don't enjoy riding in the rain, but the west was supposed to be clear, so west I headed on I-68.

A fuel stop in LaVale, MD- the man at the service station wondered if we were the only people riding today [he had a CB750? in the one service bay]- I told him I saw a few Wings back near Hagerstown. The skies are still grey, the west looks clearer and the sun's out in Morgantown he tells me.

Around Keyers Ridge, the skies clear and the sun comes out- yahoo. South I go on I-79 to Clarksburg, WV. Here, I pick up US-50 west and the MD20-20 Route.

The 27 mile Section of 50 from Grafton to Clarksburg are unridden at this point, but I'm not worried. US-50 is a dual lane highway that has basically wiped out the old road- of well. The route is a very nice road with excellent high speed sweepers. At Ellenboro, I head north on WV-16 to St Mary's along the Ohio River. This is an excellent bike road as it drops into the river valley. As Davenport, WV [an unconfirmed IBET stop] is somewhere up river from here, I head north on WV-2 towards Sistersville. If I get to Sistersville, I've gone to far and Davenport doesn't exist. 12 miles later- Davenport Unicorporated- wow! the shoulder's a little too narrow for my liking so I head to the north end of town for that sign.

Back down to St Marys for fuel and a Baby Ruth at the Go Mart. This day is looking up despite it only being in the mid-50's. South from there, I catch the brigde to Ohio. This is twice in three weeks I've been in Ohio- which is amazing considering I've only ever been in Ohio once on a bike prior to this past month. Anyway, north on OH-7 to the town of Fly to catch OH-800. What a great little road- other than in town traffic, only 4 cars pass me going the other way.

In Malaga, OH, it's east for a short spell on Ohio 145 and 148 to catch OH-9. Ohio Route 9 is a true gem. As it heads north from the River, it crosses numerous old strip mines and the rolling farm land of eastern Ohio. I stop for a phone call in St. Clairsville and continue north. All I can say is, "Thank You Todd" who put this road into the MD20-20 Route.

Somewhere in Salem, I miss 9 making a right turn and wind up on US-64 about 3/4 mile from where I should be- oops. When I get home, I take a look at the Salem local maps on Yahoo! and see that 9 turns right at the intersection with OH-14 then turns left about 4 blocks later. I make a note of this for us non-GPS folks on the MD20-20. US-62 runs north to Canfield, where a turn onto US224 east puts me right on OH-11 for the sprint to the Lake. I get fuel again as I really need to piddle.

I realize that as I head north then east, the temps will drop- I didn't bring my Widder and now I can realize the error in my ways. I'm also about an hour behind my "schedule" but still ahead of 1000/24 speeds. I start the mental shopping list- sweat shirt and pants [I'm wearing shorts under my Motoport's], heavy gloves, and heavy socks. OH-11 is basically a straigh, flat road once your north of I-80. This was a nice change from the roads I had just been on and I needed the mental break as well. I think the section of US-50 west on Clarksburg will do the same thing for us as a break between the real twisties.

I keep looking for some type of "-Mart" as I will need this gear regardless of whther it's a 2 day or 1 day trip. Near Ashtubula, I head east on I-90 and at Erie, I exit at US-19 to find a Super K-Mart - perfecto. Mental note for Rally- if this is a fuel stop, use the stations to the right (south on US-19) of I-90. It took 20 minutes to get back on the Interstate after leaving the K-mart (2 blocks).

I-86 has "replaced" PA and NY 17. It's just a rename more than anything. In NY, I decide to grab Panama [an IBET stop] as it's a mere 5 miles off the exit. After I take my picture, I check over the maps- hey it's 19 mile to Pittsfield [also an IBET stop]. So back into PA I go looking for Pittsfield. Now Pittsfield has a Post Office and that qualifies for me.

Decision time- it's 17:50 and I'm 640+/- miles into the route- hmmm. That leaves just over 11 hours for the remaining 360 miles if I want the Saddlesore. However, I am now off track for the MD20-20 Route and running back north to NY looks foolish. Taking a gamble that I can work something out, I continue east on US-6 to Kane, PA for fuel and a call home.

Jean and I work on a 1000 mile solution. From Kane, I head south to I-80 and then east to I-81 at Hazleton, south on 81/83 to home. 1030 miles+/- I come up with in my head and that's good enough for me. I promise to call when I fuel up in Hazleton- eta to home 3am ish. A local asks why my "tank bag" notes say Binghamton when I'm in Kane. I let him know that's a rally route sheet I'm working on and we chat a bit about riding- turns out he's got a 1978 XS-11 and really loves it. He reminds me of the short way back to I-80 from here.
So I mount back up and head south through Johnsonburg and Ridgway, then the shortcut (PA153) to I-80 near Dubois. Bingo, it's all slab from here just as it's gettinrfecto.

I pull into the Snow Shoe rest area for another piddle stop and briefly chat with an unchatty H-D rider. I put 2 pair of the heavy socks on and make sure everything's in order. I head back out on I-80 and crank up the rubberband. The CB is full of the usual trucker chatter- there are a few smokies out there, but I check my speed in their areas. As I-81 approaches, I long for the next fuel stop. At the first Hazleton exit, I take the off ramp to the Turkey Hill Minute Market. First fuel, then hot chocolate and a call home. It's now 23:00 and I have 160 miles to go. Piece of cake. I figure one more rest stop before the final receipt at the Beltway Amoco.

Unfortunately, Mother Nature must have known about my plans because as soon as I start south on 81, the fog envelops the highway. It's really thick. I tag along behind cars and 18 wheelers as they go by, figuring as long as I can see their tail lights, I'm safe. Nearly 1 hour and 48 miles later the fog lifts; I'm tired and my first yawn of the day comes. Glad I'm nearly home.

Another stop in Strinestown for a hot chocolate. The local cop asks what I'm doing out on a night like this (it's in the mid 40's and drizzling)- I let him know I'm just heading home from Hazleton [hey, it's not a lie, I was in Hazleton]. I press on.

Just about the Mason Dixon line, the trip odo goes over 1000- everything from here on is bonus miles. Continuing on 83 to the Beltway and around to Exit 13- Frederick Road.

Baltimore- 5/21 02:05

1046 miles in 20:56 including nearly 400 miles of double yellow highways. This makes it very comparable to the MD20-20 route. Although I didn't stop for dinner, I did piss away that amount of time between my K-Mart stop and getting back on I-90. It was a very enjoyable route, despite the rain and fog.

I head home, unplug the electic gadgets, grab the phone and my logs. Jean is waiting at the back door for me- what a wife. She signs my Ending Witness Form and we chat about my Widder mistake- lesson learned, never leave home for a long trip without yor Widder.

I get 5 hours of sleep and feel pretty good considering what I put myself through, unplanned.