You can see the pictures and also view the map of the trip.

LB and I met in a bar, several years ago. He had long hair and a respectably long beard, so I asked him if he rides a bike. His reply, “No, but I really want one”, is what most people respond with, but LB had this enthusiasm in his voice that left no room for doubt that he would indeed be riding. Soon. Within six months, he had a bike.

In late 2006, LB got a job in North Carolina and moved from Athens, Ohio. I knew we wouldn’t be able to ride together often, but he’s moving to a state full of incredible riding. He has a 26 mile ride to work, each way, and doesn’t have a car. His bike is his transportation (there is a coworker fairly close by with a car, when there’s no other choice).

This summer, I got to ride down and visit with LB. He’s living near Chapel Hill, where the University of North Carolina is based. A college town, set in the foothills, and just a larger version of Athens.

There were winding roads next to rivers, a few lakes, fun bars, and good people. He was a good tour guide, and it was a very relaxing vacation.

The first day there, we took a ride to Asheboro, to see a motorcycle museum. It was a Sunday, when many bikes are out on the roads looking for a destination. Well, this destination is closed on Sundays. Oh well… We had a fun ride on some backroads.

There is a farm in the area that advertises their ‘belted’ cows. It sounded like cattle that have been beaten, but they have stripes that run vertically across their chests. It was unusual and interesting. I got pictures.

The Bike Rally

The Smokey Mountain Smoke-out, is a motorcycle rally held in North Carolina each year. This is good sized event, centered around custom motorcycles. There are some impressive restorations, and some incredible engineer feats. Street bikes and ‘crotch rockets’. ‘Catalog’ bikes, like on TV, and ‘rat bikes’ that haven’t seen a bath or dealership since they were new. It’s really fun looking at the bikes.

A few friends from Athens, Ohio, ride down to this event each year, and we met up with them at a nice, shaded, campground, located just behind a bar. How convenient!

Back to Ohio

After the bike rally, LB and I spent another day in North Carolina before we started the ride back to Ohio. On our way through West Virgina, we came around a mountian and saw clouds. Very dark clouds. Just when we thought the road was going to take us away from the rain, it turns directly into it. It pours. Lightning. We manage to get shelter under a bridge. We wait for the front edge of the storm to pass, count the seconds after the lightning, then get back on the road. It’s getting late now, and we’re losing the light. A hotel is just ahead. We get the last room.

There’s a fast food place just across the street, but they are closed. We get back on the bikes, still in the rain, and ride a few miles into town. We find a Chinese buffet and stuff ourselves. I spend most of the night in the bathroom. Oh well. At least I’m not cold, wet, and hungry anymore.

We ride to Ravenswood, WV, the next day, and split up there. He’s going to visit family for a few days, then head back through Columbus on his way back to North Carolina.

I’m crossing the Ohio River on US33, and traffic is stopped on the bridge. Just eight car-lengths in front of me is a guy wanting to jump off the bridge. There are several officers there, and the man is arguing with them. He’s got swim shorts on, so it seems like he planned this jump. A barge crosses under the bridge while the cops get a motorboat in the water. A sheriff brings some people to talk to the guy. Traffic has backed up for about a mile. A few minutes after the barge has left, the guy jumps from the bridge. He survives, and gets hauled into the boat. I’m still not certain it was a suicide attempt, but at least he made it safely. Traffic resumes. I’m really glad that guy didn’t wait all day. I manage to make it to the next bathroom.

A few hours later, I’m home and in bed. By now, everything HAS to be out of my system. Please???