I went on my first adventure on my motorcycle (K9 GSX-R 1000):frantic. I left Tuesday evening from Bel Air, MD to spend the night at my sister's in Vienna, VA (80 miles). Wednesday, I rode to Harrisonburg, Va (115 miles) where I stopped at my cousin's had lunch and visited for a couple of hours. I than made my way out Rt. 33 towards Seneca Rocks (65 miles). This was the main purpose of my trip, to ride this road. I got to the Seneca Shadows Campground around 4pm, set up camp, ditched my gear and continued on Rt. 33 for another 25 miles until it turned into a boring freeway around Bowden. I spent the night in my tent and rode straight from Seneca back to Bel Air (275 miles) Thursday morning.
Rt. 33 was fantastic
unk-
Starting right before the West Virginia line, there are about 50 miles of motorcycling bliss. The first 7 miles are insane! The ride out was a little intimidating, I was by myself and didn't know what to expect. I didn't push too hard because of this and there seemed to be clay on the mountain road that gave me concern for traction. I think this was from heavy rains the night before. I've never experienced turns like these on my bike. The 160 degree /40 ft elevation change turnshmy made my stomach flip and my adrenaline flow profusely. The road is well maintained. It was very smooth with hardly any bumps. There is some gravel on some of the turns, so be very careful. I would say that 90% of the turns were perfectly clear the days I rode. There was little traffic on 33 and I didn't see a single police officer. West Virginia drivers are actually pretty good. You really don't need to pass them. If you just slow down for the straighter parts, you can nail the turns. I did make sure to slow down through every town I went through. I always try to save it for more open roads. Also, the suggested speeds for turns is not the same as we do in Maryland. I can easily double Maryland's suggestions and once I get to know the turn, I triple them. Don't do this on Rt. 33. They are closer to the real limit of that turn. I was only doubling them. I'm sure someone who actually knows how to ride a motorcycle could go much faster, but don't go there with a closed mind.
I was a little nervous about riding long distances on my Gixxer. I usually get pretty tired after about 100 miles. That's why I broke up the first day like I did. It turns out that highway riding is a lot easier than riding hard on the country roads around my house. The 275 miles home was a piece of cake. It doesn't put all the strain on your wrists and legs from all the stopping and going that I usually experience. I was also pretty happy to find out that cruising between 80-100mph, my 160 HP super-sport gets around 42-45 mpg. I was worried that it would get the 28mpg or so that it does around town. Next time I go, I will probably pick different roads than US 81. It was pretty boring, but I really made great time.
Seneca Shadows was a very nice campground. It had a nice bathroom and shower. It might get a little cramped after the camping season really gets going, though. I had to pay $19 for the night. I couldn't use the $13 sites, because I wouldn't be able to put up my hammock tent. I just stopped at the first campground I saw. There are much cheaper campgrounds all around, but I didn't get a chance to check them out -too busy riding:biggrin.
Packing the Gixxer was a little bit of a challenge. I know a little better for next time. I borrowed a tank bag from a friend but found on the way to Vienna that it inhibited my steering way too much. I ended up strapping it to the tail over my sleeping bag and sleeping pad. I also had a bookbag because my sister wanted me to bring her something. I could have done without one of those bags. I had:
-Tent (hammock tent -2lbs, no poles -needs two trees to work)
-Sleeping bag
-Sleeping pad (wasn't needed, but keeps me insulated from the cool air)
-Rain gear
-Little bit of food
-Headlamp, pocket knife, lighter, etc.
I would have much preferred to have a friend with me, but it's hard to coordinate schedules. I love the idea of just being able to take off whenever I have off from work and weather permits. Camping by yourself kind of sucks. It's very lonely and I couldn't sleep because I was so freaked out by all the noises in the woods. There was only one other couple a few hundred yards away from me. I never saw them after they drove past.
Here's my ridiculous donkey ass going down to Vienna. I told the Ft. McHenry toll collector that I was going away for a long time. I was embarrassed to tell her this was for one night -lol.
![Image]()
This shows my revised packing job. I still had the backpack on. It didn't inhibit too much, but I couldn't move off the seat as easily when hitting turns.
![Image]()
Here's the first turn up the mountain after you get through George Washington Forest :banana:woot. This one is actually a little tame compared to others. It doesn't have the drastic elevation change that some of them do.
![Image]()
![Image]()
Rt. 33 was fantastic
unk-Starting right before the West Virginia line, there are about 50 miles of motorcycling bliss. The first 7 miles are insane! The ride out was a little intimidating, I was by myself and didn't know what to expect. I didn't push too hard because of this and there seemed to be clay on the mountain road that gave me concern for traction. I think this was from heavy rains the night before. I've never experienced turns like these on my bike. The 160 degree /40 ft elevation change turns
hmy made my stomach flip and my adrenaline flow profusely. The road is well maintained. It was very smooth with hardly any bumps. There is some gravel on some of the turns, so be very careful. I would say that 90% of the turns were perfectly clear the days I rode. There was little traffic on 33 and I didn't see a single police officer. West Virginia drivers are actually pretty good. You really don't need to pass them. If you just slow down for the straighter parts, you can nail the turns. I did make sure to slow down through every town I went through. I always try to save it for more open roads. Also, the suggested speeds for turns is not the same as we do in Maryland. I can easily double Maryland's suggestions and once I get to know the turn, I triple them. Don't do this on Rt. 33. They are closer to the real limit of that turn. I was only doubling them. I'm sure someone who actually knows how to ride a motorcycle could go much faster, but don't go there with a closed mind. I was a little nervous about riding long distances on my Gixxer. I usually get pretty tired after about 100 miles. That's why I broke up the first day like I did. It turns out that highway riding is a lot easier than riding hard on the country roads around my house. The 275 miles home was a piece of cake. It doesn't put all the strain on your wrists and legs from all the stopping and going that I usually experience. I was also pretty happy to find out that cruising between 80-100mph, my 160 HP super-sport gets around 42-45 mpg. I was worried that it would get the 28mpg or so that it does around town. Next time I go, I will probably pick different roads than US 81. It was pretty boring, but I really made great time.
Seneca Shadows was a very nice campground. It had a nice bathroom and shower. It might get a little cramped after the camping season really gets going, though. I had to pay $19 for the night. I couldn't use the $13 sites, because I wouldn't be able to put up my hammock tent. I just stopped at the first campground I saw. There are much cheaper campgrounds all around, but I didn't get a chance to check them out -too busy riding:biggrin.
Packing the Gixxer was a little bit of a challenge. I know a little better for next time. I borrowed a tank bag from a friend but found on the way to Vienna that it inhibited my steering way too much. I ended up strapping it to the tail over my sleeping bag and sleeping pad. I also had a bookbag because my sister wanted me to bring her something. I could have done without one of those bags. I had:
-Tent (hammock tent -2lbs, no poles -needs two trees to work)
-Sleeping bag
-Sleeping pad (wasn't needed, but keeps me insulated from the cool air)
-Rain gear
-Little bit of food
-Headlamp, pocket knife, lighter, etc.
I would have much preferred to have a friend with me, but it's hard to coordinate schedules. I love the idea of just being able to take off whenever I have off from work and weather permits. Camping by yourself kind of sucks. It's very lonely and I couldn't sleep because I was so freaked out by all the noises in the woods. There was only one other couple a few hundred yards away from me. I never saw them after they drove past.
Here's my ridiculous donkey ass going down to Vienna. I told the Ft. McHenry toll collector that I was going away for a long time. I was embarrassed to tell her this was for one night -lol.
This shows my revised packing job. I still had the backpack on. It didn't inhibit too much, but I couldn't move off the seat as easily when hitting turns.
Here's the first turn up the mountain after you get through George Washington Forest :banana:woot. This one is actually a little tame compared to others. It doesn't have the drastic elevation change that some of them do.
