... So I'm sharing my little 3-day ride over 4-5 WV counties.


This last Friday five of us, Jim and Bob on KTM 690 Enduros, Dave and Jeff on DR650's, myself on a Tenere' 700, left from Preston County WV to ride south a few counties to Pendleton County where we stayed the night in a "modest" motel in Brandywine. There is a nice little National campground nearby but it doesn't take reservations, first come basis only. We were concerned it might be filled so decided to book rooms at the "Brandywine Motel-Foxes Pizza-Trailer Court". We did check out the campground and in hind site should have camped because it is nice with water and hot showers and was only 1/3 occupied. And the $20 cost per site would only be $10 with our Senior Passes. https://www.fs.usda.gov/recare...recarea/?recid=73617

This was on the way up to Spruce Knob Friday which at 4,800' is the highest point in WV.



Hunters tend to vent their frustration on road signs.



The ride to Brandywine took most of the beautiful day which was sunny and 60-65 degrees. After checking in to our rooms we decided to have "Foxes Pizza" for dinner before partaking in beverages.





Saturday was another beautiful day and we spent it riding local roads in Pendleton and Grant Counties.




After stopping for that last pic I rushed after my buddies but coming to a T intersection they weren't around? After waiting a few minutes I went left (as it turned out they had turned right).


I eventually came to a paved road and while pulled over to remove the heated jacket liner and snap a pic here they came from the right.


We had no set route we simply would take lefts and rights from one road to the next road that looked interesting.



Lunch break at this convenience store near Big Bend National campground.


Yours truly in the suit with hi-viz.


Back on the road we had only gone maybe 6 miles when we came on a distillery on Rt 220 north of Franklin, needless to say we stopped. There were only two people working the cider and bourbon tasting room but they were drop dead gorgeous young ladies, one with black hair the other a redhead. I wish I'd had thought to take pics of the place, and them! I was naturally interested in them (and the 3 bourbons which were offered by the brunette) so I chatted with her while sampling all three, which were surprisingly tasty and smooth. They are aged 4 years and the corn is grown on the farm next door. There's a 100 proof, cask strength 117 proof, and 117 proof aged in sherry casks, I bought a bottle of 117 proof for sipping over ice that evening and a bottle finished in sherry casks. Bob, and Jeff eventually left the redhead after sampling her ciders to sample bourbon and they both bought the same as I did. I shifted to the redhead but didn't have enough room in my panniers for cider.


Back on the bikes and feeling wonderful, we meandered back to Brandywine mostly on gravel roads such as:




Just south of Brandywine is Sugar Grove which had a Naval Base (it was closed around 8 years back). Given that WV doesn't border the Atlantic it always seemed an odd location but supposedly it had something to do with submarine communication. It's a fairly large complex with over 90 houses and many other structures all securely fenced in. My understanding is someone purchased the whole works for 12 million dollars but somehow the deal fell through and the latest is some other federal agency plans to use it.


Saturday dinner at the only restaurant in Brandywine.




We all went with the $21 "special" which was 1 pound of shrimp, a 12 ounce rib eye, and baked potato. My dog Sophie is still feasting on the leftovers I brought home.




Dave needed to be back Sunday by 1:00 so we took a more direct route on pavement at a faster pace so I didn't stop to take any pics Sunday.

Nice pictures, looks like great riding.

Very nice!! Good times. BIG eats....

Best time of year for a nice ride! I got back last weekend from several days in the Ozarks.

Ha! You guys look like you’re having fun. Thanks for the great pics!

What a glorious adventure!

Thanks guys. WV has a fair amount of hilly and curvy roads, in fact there are few that aren't. For whatever reason I didn't take pics of us on the delightful small paved roads we were on.

Very nice.
I was in that area on Friday as well, working.
Morning at Canaan Valley, afternoon in the eastern panhandle.
Back to Huntington at 11pm.
It was a great day to be on the roads in the NE part of the state!

I like that Tenere 700! If I was in the market for an adventure-class motorcycle, it would probably be at the top of my list.

Looks like y'all had a great ride!

This was a pleasure to read and to "watch". Thank you! God bless.

Looks like. Pretty fantastic adventure and a good time with friends. Thanks for sharing the photos and commentary. I really enjoyed it.

Looks like you guys had a ball!

I was part of the Naval Security Group (NAVSECGRU) for 22 years and tried like hell to get stationed at Sugar Grove. Never managed it.

It was communications-related but beyond that I can't say.

Nice post RideWV. I really enjoyed it. I hope the consumption of Swilled Dog happened at end of day and not start of day

Beautiful, timed just right, no wet, slippery leaves on the paved roads. Safe riding fellas!

Thanks for taking the time share your pics!

quote:

Originally posted by mod29:
I like that Tenere 700! If I was in the market for an adventure-class motorcycle, it would probably be at the top of my list.

Even though I just got a '22 Police Road King, I think the Tenere 700 would be it's perfect companion. I love the CP2 platform. Sounds great with a good exhaust. I've been searching for used samples and they just aren't around...yet.

Been too long ago but I've done similar rides in the Missouri Ozarks. Great times with some great friends.
Hope you had as much fun as we did.

What a trip. I especially liked the pic of all the guys chomping down a pizza in the parking lot!

What a great time with your friends. Thanks for sharing.

Great pictures and write up, thanks!

That reminds me of my younger days in Kali. I worked at a courthouse, and every weekend, a judge, a bailiff, a few lawyers and I would ride our motorcycles up in the mountains. We would visit little restaurants that served big meals, and just enjoy the scenery while riding. Great memories. I need to get another bike and start making some more .