In Search of Single Track Roads

[Boomer]

Just call me Das Limpett!

[teckla]

Google earth is an excellent tool. Google Maps though, allows you to rubberband routes so that you can plan based on "where" you want to go, not "Present Position Direct."

I use Google Earth/Maps to do a high level survey (pun intended), then I plot it in Expert GPS.

Link to Expert GPS

It will talk to almost any GPS and has a very robust set of terrain, satellite, and road maps. The interface is not particularly user friendly, but the tool is powerful. I then upload directly from Expert GPS to my Garmin.

Nice thing is that they have a free trial on the software so you can give it a spin (to the left, three turns, normal upright). Plan on some time to download the maps when you set the program up for the first time. I am running on a HP netbook and it doesn't hog up computer resources.

The maps on my previous posts were screen shots on Expert GPS after a reloaded my tracks to the software.

[BMWBob]

(05-12-2012 07:37 AM)teckla Wrote:  Google earth is an excellent tool. Google Maps though, allows you to rubberband routes so that you can plan based on "where" you want to go, not "Present Position Direct."

I use Google Earth/Maps to do a high level survey (pun intended), then I plot it in Expert GPS.

Link to Expert GPS

It will talk to almost any GPS and has a very robust set of terrain, satellite, and road maps. The interface is not particularly user friendly, but the tool is powerful. I then upload directly from Expert GPS to my Garmin.

Nice thing is that they have a free trial on the software so you can give it a spin (to the left, three turns, normal upright). Plan on some time to download the maps when you set the program up for the first time. I am running on a HP netbook and it doesn't hog up computer resources.

The maps on my previous posts were screen shots on Expert GPS after a reloaded my tracks to the software.

Thanks for that tip.

[Lanix]

(04-10-2012 07:48 PM)teckla Wrote:  Well since my last post I have purchased a new 2011 BMW R1200RT at the end of November and am just getting ready to pass 6,000 miles; not bad for a winter in Cleveland, Ohio!

I am getting ready for a ride to Nova Scotia (and back) this summer and needed to determine if I could really ride that far. I just got my endorsement this last summer and have only ridden a little of 10,000 miles. So . . . with a need to be in Wilmington, DE this week and a few days off last week, I decided to ride down. On the way through Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware, I discovered some fantastic roads. I managed to stretch a 427 mile trip to over 1,100 miles.

Great Post T.
The first leg from Cleveland Hopkins Airport to Port Clinton, Ohio to just east of Columbus was uneventful, flat, and traffic filled. A rest in a hotel and strange looks as I filled a luggage cart with pannier's, top box, and extra gear from "just one motorcycle" and the next morning I was off in 35 deg F weather for somewhere not here. Stopping in Chillicothe, Ohio the trip leaped from first excitement to interesting. Hearing about the Indian Mounds, I did not understand the significance and extensive layout they represented from 2,000+ years ago. A stamp in my NP Passport book and I was off.

Route 50 to 327 to 32 to 93 to 233 to 131 and finally Huntington, WV.

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/l6...directlink

A great 1 to 2 lane ride with no traffic. Open valleys with tight turns, but a few surprise gravel experiences, which raised my heartbeat and slowed my corners.

A stop at Hillybilly Hotdog (very friendly and tasty)

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/sk...directlink

Off to explore West Virginia.

Rt 52 to 119 to 10 to 99 to 3.

The section of 52 contained compound curves and moderate traffic.

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Qo...directlink

No gravel - big smile.

A tour through this section reminds me how dependent this part of our economy is on coal, and more coal, and piles of coals, and holes of coal.

A night in Beckly, WV and up early and waiting for the temp to get above 33 deg F. I have already had one encounter with black ice - it is really embarrassing to have to wake your wife at 0630 in the morning to help you pick your bike up at the end of your driveway. A pulled hamstring and 7 days without riding and I had learned my lesson.

While this thread is the dedicated to "Single Track roads" This trip has a fantastic segment on I-64 through the hills of WV. Big sweeping turns (Speed limit posted at 70) past the exit for the Greenbrier and exiting at Covington. This started glass smooth sweeping turns past southern farms. Past the Homestead on RT 220 and North to RT 250.

My track on the map demonstrates the great twisties found on this road through George Washington National Forest.

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/vu...directlink

RT 250 to the entrance of SkyLine Drive through Shenandoah National Park. Early in the season the traffic built during the day. Restricted to 30 mph (ish...) and an officer waving at me as I rounded a turn at 42, limits some of the fun, but the view was fantastic. 2,500' above the valley and blue sky. The challenge was finding the Park office with the Passport stamp. The address on the NPS map took me off Skyline Drive after 60 or so miles and down to Luray to an empty parking lot.... no building... no stamp. Back up the mountain on 211 and the Ranger at the entrance back onto Skyline had the stamp... duh - should have asked earlier.

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/14...directlink

Tooling north I was done with 30 mph and ready to pick up speed at the end of the park. I am glad I did it, but wouldn't do it again - too much traffic and too slow.

9 1/2 hour day and I was ready to rest in Frederick, MD. Just a few hours from my destination the next day, I had driven almost 1,000 miles and wasn't ready for the trip to end.

Morning found me on my to Gettysburg and my third NPS Stamp in three days. Fantastic new visitor's center and a 24 mile drive around the parameter of the battle field and I was left reflective. First time I saw another RT on my travels. In the perspective of history, it was not long ago that we were killing each other on our own soil. We are still figuring out this way of government.

An international perspective at Lee's Diner

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/wh...directlink

Omar the owner and I had an interesting conversation about the Palestine state and Jewish state.

Traffic increasing and closer to my destination, I stopped at the Shine to the Lady of Lourdes out of curiosity. The challenge of the visit was balancing my bike in the parking lot. Being somewhat vertically challenged, I can't quite sit with my feet flat footed , so the addition of an incline required a Cirque like balancing act... At least I wouldn't have to wake my wife up for help getting the bike back up.

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/G1...directlink

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/-C...directlink

A final cruise through amish country toward Wilmington, across Harper's Ferry and an very cow fragrant diary country of Eastern PA.

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/xz...directlink

1,100 miles and over 4,000 turns. I am looking forward to the next trip! Unfortunately, the trip home will be up to NJ and then a quick ride home.

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The E's are doing the 2013 E-Sweep end of August.
Let me know and I will post more detail. In the meantime you can check out the website: http://www.e-nthusiasts.org/E-vents.html