Loveland Castle Ride

Today was just Susan C. and I riding, we decided to meet in Mechanicburg around 9:10.  I took the VTX and on the way to meet her the bike started chugging as I went around the big curve in Ewrin. I pulled the chocke and it was fine, so when Susan got there we talked about if it is smart to go that far with a bike that might be in trouble.  She said that is exactly how her bike acted when the gas pump messed up. So we head back for home thinking I would swap out bikes, but it felt so good on the way back that I changed my mind.  We got to 36 and headed for 68, the bike ran perfect the rest of the ride.  Maybe old gas in the tank from winter.
We took 68 to Xenia the 42 to 48 to rt. 3 into Loveland and then back little roads to the castle.  How fun, castle was built by on man by using the s&s ones for the little Miami river, which was very close to the castle.  When he need brick he made them himself by pouring cement in to orange juice boxes. This was his life long work.  Very interesting to see.
We left around 1:00 and found a nice place for lunch called Balance Cafe & Smoothie.  Good food very fresh.
Felt a few drops when we came out but no more. Yeah and it was much warmer for the trip home.  Came Rt. 3 to 380 to 42 we separated in South Charleston and we both got home around 4:10.  Good ride, one not though the road down to the castle was very steep and curvy, I was fine going to but had a scare coming up on one of the curves there was a pot hole that in trying to avoid I went way left of center thank goodness no cars were coming down.  It got my heart a racin!
Would be a good trip for the whole group some day to do.

X

Our trip to Michigan

Day 1. Aug. 1, 2014    We met at Kroger in Marysville and took off close to 8:00

We rode 400 miles I lead most of the way.  We stop near Baldwin, MI at Whispering Oaks campsite, very nice.  Had some guys next to us that were a bit noisy but no big deal.  We ate at restaurant next to campsite.  All u can eat fish and chips we both got Pollock, was a cute place with the daughter being the only waitress and the small place was packed.   Pictures of our first camp sight.

Day 2.    Next morning walked back to same restaurant  for breakfast.  Come back, loaded up camp  and leave by 9:20. Cathy leads today, we travel about 244 miles and stay at Wilderness State Park, cost us each 22$.  

We went through the tunnel of trees, awesome, on Rt. 119, and then we ate at Legs Inn, at Cross Village, in the garden, beautiful. Right on the coast of lake Michigan.

We were talking to some people and they thought we would have a hard time finding a place to camp and we could not get any signal on our phones, so I go to the host desk and they help me call WSP.  This guy that answered acted like he only had 2 openings for tent camping and we better get over there fast if we want a spot. So we had to hurry out of the restaurant rather then slowly leaving and getting pictures, I got two of the garden where we ate. 

Our second camp sight was a very busy place with a family surrounding us having their family reunion.   A very friendly bunch with much advice. 

We had a system when we get to a gas station one would go in right away and use the facilities and the other would pump, that way our bike were not left alone. 

Day3  I lead this morning, we leave early from the Wilderness State Park  sight and go to Mackinaw city for breakfast.  Then back on the bike to do Mackinaw bridge, wow I was nervous.  It didn't help that I almost got ran into when i pulled out of my parking spot with a van blocking my view.  I almost dropped my bike but held on tight.  So the nerves were really bad,  I had heard stories of how scary it is with the bridge being grated and wind coming up through.  Well that is only the fast lane, so we were good.  Great experience!

 Then took Rt. 2 around the coast  in the Upper Peninsula and did a loop.  We stopped at the Tahquamenon Falls  and walked around viewed the falls and got a drink. 

 We stopped at a few light houses, this was the first one and was free to go up into the tower.  

 Cathy eating some wild blue berries.

 We had lunch in Paradise and had a pasty for the first time in my life at a cute little restaurant that was so busy they had a hard time handling all the people. We ended up driving to Sault Saint Marie along the coast,  Advised by our waitress,  then to Walmart to get some supplies. It is clouding up. We travel the S. Mackinac Trails to get to St Ignace.  The Reddman sleepy Hollow campground was on a dirt road so we turned around and found hotel,stayed at the Pine motel due to the fact we rode thru rain. We ate next door at a gas station for supper. 

Day 4  Our hotel supplied breakfast ( a sandwich next door at the gas station).  Cathy leading, we take off around 8:00 cross back over the bridge in very foggy weather and got on23 south and traveled along the coast seeing a couple of light houses.  This one was a ghost light house because the light comes on once in a while even though there is no electricity connected to it.  We met a very nice lady that told us the whole story about it.

We come inland to get gas. We came in to Lincoln got gas and then for lunch we did Backwoods Bristo very good food even though it took a long time to get it.  

We were told that there is road work on 23, byanice talkative lady,( who was there with another lady that 102 yrs. old) in the restaurant advised us to take 72 over to 65 but another older man said we could take 30.  The lady said it was gravel and the man said no that has been paved for years, and it was curvy. So we took his advise.  Well we travel along and then all of a sudden the road is gravel.  Cathy stopped and asked should we turn around I thought we could drive through. Wish we had turned around, but we took off and then next thing I see Cathy fishtailing big time and then down.  I get there and two men behind me get there before I can get off the bike.  Cathy is up but has a bloody knee and pain.  The guys pickup the bike and move it up on to the other side of the road. The road has a huge curve and is slanted way up with a lot of loose gravel.  Cathy climbs back on after turning the engine a few times we head into town.  Glenna, they have no medical places but thought there was one in Hale, was closed so we went to Tawas hospital and she got 5 stitches.   After she picked up a script at pharmacy we ride for an hour or so.  End up at an econo lodge in Midland, MI.

Day 5  Woke up to rain, loaded up as it lightened up and left around 8:30.  Road the slab all the way to Findley to make it home at a descent time.  Good to be home, was a great trip !!

Our Trip to South Carolina

Mohican State Park

 I rode 212 miles up to Mohican State Park, walked around there and drove thru the park roads ended up on the other side of the park.  I figured my way back and then went to Malabar Farm.  Went into the visitors center and visited with an older lady.  She was so impressed that I had ridden all the way from Marysville in one day.  She was sweet.

 After I left the Farm I wanted to head out to Butler to get a bite to eat but there was Rt. 603 which I had visited for the first time on my Rebel. Was one of my first longer rides by myself.  Love this road really big hills.  So I took it got a couple pictures then my camera died.  Got gas in Lucas and then took 39 to 603 again and rode it back to 95, was beautiful. I then headed into Butler, stopped at the Whilffletree for lunch.  Nice little small town restaurant.

 From Butler I headed to Bellville, we use to go to church in Butler and this was the way we went home.  was fun to see these roads again.  From Bellville I took Bellville - Johnsville Rd.   fun little road took me to Johhnsville.  I went past our old (new) Highschool then past our old home.  The stone quary m brothers use to swim in is now a pond in front of a house.  It looked so small compared what I use to remember.   Then past our poor poor house that use to be so pretty.  Needs a paint job so badly.  Wish we could get that house and fix up.  Two men were working around the yard.                 I was going to go to Iberia and take 309 to Marion and then 739 to Raymond and then home.  But the clouds started to look dark and so I decided to just head home.  Took the road from our house to Mt Gilead and then 42 toward home but then took Cty rd. 24  since it was so windy there was much more protection from the wind this way.  Great Ride!

March 17 ride to Washington Courthouse

54">Beautiful ride to WC. to watch my nephew play his tuba in a band concert. The sky and the clouds were amazing on the way down and back. I did get sprinkled on and thought oh no not a year like last year. I got soaked so many times last year I lost count. I need to buy a new rain suite.
Any way the concert was good, I enjoy watching them all play reminds me of years passed. I met a friend of my sister, and they pulled up to me getting ready to ride in the parking lot. She said " You just went up a bunch on notches on the cool factor in my book". That was a nice complement.
I got the camera out for the ride home and had a fun time taking shots mainly of the clouds. They got darker and darker as I came home, the roads were wet but not one drop on my coming home. Yeah
This is the first I have used the iPad to do this blog and for some reason it will not let me up load my pictures. I will do that later on my real computer.

January 31, they are calling it Junuary.

The weather is great, got up to 59 at least. I have been sick with a cold in my chest, but could not resist this weather. So I started Shad up, he didn't want to start at first but then he did. The front tire was low so instead of going out to the shop and using the big compressor, I remember we had bought a small one that you plug into a cigarette lighter. It worked good, I need to use that more often. Then I filled up with gas, geared up and off I went, it felt so good just the freedom of the ride. Some times the fear would try to creep in, so you just slow down and get use to the ride. Loved it. Had to cough a few times in my helmet, did not like that. Rode for about an hour just around here and started to get cold so I headed home. Was great, I look so forward to riding season.

He asked How and Why did I get into Motorbikes?

Thanks Gary for the invitation of your question.

Years ago as a small child my brothers all had bikes. They would take me on rides and I loved it, but thought that only boys rode these things.
Well in 2007 (many many years later) I came home from visiting my children and grandchildren, out in CO and my husband had bought a Shadow 1100. I enjoyed riding on the back for the summer and then asked if he thought I could handle one for myself. He said sure, so Sept. of that year I found one I liked also a Shadow, a 750 Aero, on ebay. I won the bid and brought it home that weekend. It only had 3800 miles on it. So excited, once we got it home I jumped on without any training and rode up and down my road, but then on our first real ride, all geared up, I dropped it on the first big curve. Och, what a shocker, I decided to back off and I take the class. Got that done in Oct. but still scared when I would get on the 750. I would take to parking lots and ride and ride, but I could not conquer that fear. I found a 250 Rebel, and rode that the next year when ever I went out by myself and the 750 when riding with my husband. By 09 I only rode the Aero. I now have 30,000 miles on it and love the freedom of riding. I would love to hit every state here in the US some day. I am a 51 year old grandma of 9 beautiful grandbabies and 2 more on the way, that loves to get out and explore the roads less traveled.