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Well, that was a longer day than I expected, but in a good way. :)
Got up around 08, left for Coleman (Woodbridge) around 0830, arrived before 09, checked out the nice other bikes there--mostly Ducatis, one Aprilia, and an Aprilia scooter that joined us as we were pulling out of the parking lot. I believe the term given for how we were to get to Coleman (Falls Church) was "haul ass," and boy did we. All I have to say about that is that we didn't go as fast as 95mph on 95/495, that I was somewhat uncomfortable trying to keep up, and I was surprised that the scooter was able to. (He says that part was easy, but the handling was a little stressful.)
Once in Falls Church (by 0930), I checked out the many other bikes--about 10 from Woodbridge, at least 20 from FC--and the array of vintage bikes on display inside, grabbed a donut and Sunny D, and off we went, regrouping at a nearby gas station. The hasty departure from there almost left me behind, and as it was I missed the exit onto 495N, and spent the next 80-90 miles playing catchup to a group I knew was somewhere ahead. (I finally caught up with a subgroup of 4 bikes a few miles from the next gas station meetup, after skirting an accident in a roundabout nearby--apparently involving one of our riders, who wasn't injured.) The route to that point was 495N, 270N, 80W (south of Frederick), 85, 28, 15, 464, 17N.
One group of riders left well in advance of the second group; I left with that second group. The route from there took 17N to 77E through Catoctin Mtn/State Park, the most interesting/scenic part of the trip, and by the time it was time to return to that gas station, my group was down to five bikes. Try as we might, we couldn't actually find our way back to 17--overshot it, asked for directions, overshot it again, and eventually gave up and took 270 back towards Frederick, at which point I parted ways with that crowd--three of the four needed gas, which I didn't, and the ride was "over" anyhow. (About 220 miles, down, by that point.)
Dumbass riders of note: The guys who passed several cars via double yellow lines, repeatedly. I refused to break the law that blatantly, though I'll be first to tear on by once it's legal to pass. :P
Given the options of heading back to Lorton via 270-495-95, or Manassas via 15, I opted for the latter. (Note that by this point, my upper back and shoulders were sore--partly from the hike yesterday, partly from riding today--and I'd had a headache most of the day, compounded by tense neck/shoulders, so I just wanted to rest. I figured I hadn't seen my parents for a week, and needed to check on the old bike's fuel tank (now dry). I was pleasantly surprised to find my [dad's] cousin Nancy visiting, and I hung out there for the rest of the afternoon, rested up, and then joined them for dinner at Casa Chimayo.
And now I'm home, 294 more miles on the bike, and the bed is calling my name. (Photos from the various stopping points forthcoming, as well as the set pending from Old Rag.)
Got up around 08, left for Coleman (Woodbridge) around 0830, arrived before 09, checked out the nice other bikes there--mostly Ducatis, one Aprilia, and an Aprilia scooter that joined us as we were pulling out of the parking lot. I believe the term given for how we were to get to Coleman (Falls Church) was "haul ass," and boy did we. All I have to say about that is that we didn't go as fast as 95mph on 95/495, that I was somewhat uncomfortable trying to keep up, and I was surprised that the scooter was able to. (He says that part was easy, but the handling was a little stressful.)
Once in Falls Church (by 0930), I checked out the many other bikes--about 10 from Woodbridge, at least 20 from FC--and the array of vintage bikes on display inside, grabbed a donut and Sunny D, and off we went, regrouping at a nearby gas station. The hasty departure from there almost left me behind, and as it was I missed the exit onto 495N, and spent the next 80-90 miles playing catchup to a group I knew was somewhere ahead. (I finally caught up with a subgroup of 4 bikes a few miles from the next gas station meetup, after skirting an accident in a roundabout nearby--apparently involving one of our riders, who wasn't injured.) The route to that point was 495N, 270N, 80W (south of Frederick), 85, 28, 15, 464, 17N.
One group of riders left well in advance of the second group; I left with that second group. The route from there took 17N to 77E through Catoctin Mtn/State Park, the most interesting/scenic part of the trip, and by the time it was time to return to that gas station, my group was down to five bikes. Try as we might, we couldn't actually find our way back to 17--overshot it, asked for directions, overshot it again, and eventually gave up and took 270 back towards Frederick, at which point I parted ways with that crowd--three of the four needed gas, which I didn't, and the ride was "over" anyhow. (About 220 miles, down, by that point.)
Dumbass riders of note: The guys who passed several cars via double yellow lines, repeatedly. I refused to break the law that blatantly, though I'll be first to tear on by once it's legal to pass. :P
Given the options of heading back to Lorton via 270-495-95, or Manassas via 15, I opted for the latter. (Note that by this point, my upper back and shoulders were sore--partly from the hike yesterday, partly from riding today--and I'd had a headache most of the day, compounded by tense neck/shoulders, so I just wanted to rest. I figured I hadn't seen my parents for a week, and needed to check on the old bike's fuel tank (now dry). I was pleasantly surprised to find my [dad's] cousin Nancy visiting, and I hung out there for the rest of the afternoon, rested up, and then joined them for dinner at Casa Chimayo.
And now I'm home, 294 more miles on the bike, and the bed is calling my name. (Photos from the various stopping points forthcoming, as well as the set pending from Old Rag.)
