Weekend Trip
Green River Lake – Hammock Camping
Some background first – I have been looking and wanting to try hammock camping for a while. Being in the Smokey’s most of the time for overnights (KY in general, TN, NC) there is no shortage of trees for hanging a hammock. It wasnt that it would be a cheaper than a quality tent, but that I would not have hotspots from stones, twigs, roots or whatever was on the ground, even with a sleeping pad. So, I have been on the lookout for a good hammock that would last and not break the bank. Read the rest of this entry »
2016 AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days
Last week I headed north after work (at 3PM) to the Mid-Ohio raceway in Lexington, OH for the 2016 AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days. This marks my 2nd trip to this event, and one that will stay on my yearly calendar for a long time to come. I was supposed to go up Thurday night, however things came up that were not expected.
The whole week, and all Friday, I was watching the weather, and keeping my fingers crossed for the rain to skip over and miss me for the ride up. Early in the afternoon, there was a downpour, however once I left, I only encountered some sprinkles just outside of Jefferson county. From there on, it was dry roads, and overcast skies (which is ok for me.)
There will be photos at the bottom of the story.
Derby Escape Ride 2016
This was the 2nd annual trip from Louisville, KY to Red River Gorge and Natural Bridge state parks in eastern KY. I started it as a way to get out of Louisville during the Kentucky Derby and miss all the crowds and issues that come with an extra few hundred thousand people partying all over the city.
First Overnight Camping Trip
Since the weather was going to be so nice over the weekend, it was time to try out the kit again and tweak what I have. I got everything packed up in the bags over the week, and put everything on the bike Saturday morning. I had already packed up the pannier bags and the top box, leaving only my backpack and clothes roll to pack Saturday morning. I didn’t set any alarms on Saturday to get up, considering the route was only to be about 140 miles, give or take. I also had no set leave time. I did finally leave some time around 11:30 AM.
Fun was had at the cost of a bruised ego, shoulder and hip.
Came home this weekend from Indiana with a couple bruises and a pulled muscle. Raven needs an adjustment on a front turn signal and one helluva bath. She is more brown than black. My most excellent street tires did most excellently poor in the mud and left Raven and I on our sides 1/2 way up a muddy slope. There are many thanks that need to be given to those who helped me push her the rest of the way, nearly dropping her again a couple times because the tires just would not find purchase in the slick mud. Rained half the day, but the beginning was great, nice and cool and a lot of fun.
Land Between the Lakes
This past weekend, Labor Day Weekend, was the last hoorah for summer. For the last 9 years I packed up and headed north to the Ohio Renaissance Festival for the whole weekend. It has been a lot of fun, but also very tiring at the end of the weekend. This year, because of reasons, I decided to head south and way west and see the Land Between the Lakes. I had not been down there in well over a decade – I was still married at the time. Besides, I knew there were some well-maintained forest service roads in the park that could offer some fantastic, albeit slow, riding for me. Keeping in mind, I have street tires on, not dual sport or knobbies.
2015 AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days#butch
This year, due to some terrific timing with the Renfair, I was able to go up to the American Motorcycle Association Vintage Motorcycle Days at Mid-Ohio Racetrack in Lexington, OH (#AMAVMD). It was about a 5.5-6 hour drive up (and back) from Louisville. We headed out early (about 7:45 or so) and arrived around 1:30 at the camp ground. The AMA had Louisville Vintage Motor Works set up in the far back corner of the campgrounds, based on the legendary (if not before, they are now) parties we throw each night on site. From the Beer-Can Slalom to burnouts, it is a great time after hours. But I am getting ahead of myself. I have attached a map of the site so that the scale can be seen on how big this place is, and the need for access to a pit bike. Also, please note, I am attaching the photos after the write up in a gallery.
Derby Escape 2015 – Red River Gorge, Slade, KY.
This past weekend was the (soon to be annual) Derby Escape ride down to Sky Bridge Station in Red River Gorge. We had riders from 3 different states join up; Kentucky, Indiana and Texas. Yep, we had a guy ride up from Galviston, TX to ride around the Gorge and then head home. Retirement must be nice… Along on the ride were 4 NC700X’s, a Honda Rebel and a Suzuki SV650. There were more NCs there than I have seen in one place together since I got mine. It was great. Now, I also got video, but have not processed it yet. It will probably be short, as I have posted this particular ride before, but there are a couple neat features we had this time over last.
Moonshine Lunch Run, 2015
So this weekend, on basically a spur of the moment decision, I headed out to a tiny location in the middle of the farmland of Illinois. Literally. If I didn’t happen on the coordinates, I would have not made it. That isn’t entirely true, but as of Friday night, it was. Moonshine Store, at the intersection of 2 tiny county roads in the middle of the farmland of middle Illinois. There was not much to look at out there, much like Kansas. The population 364 days of the year is 2. Yep, 2…
Icebreaker 2015
Apparently there is a yearly ride in March made by some of the Indiana and Kentucky ADV riders to, well, break the ice and give the new season an official start. This past weekend was that ride. There are a couple groups that ride in from different areas and finally meet up in Cave City. This year, there were 4 who came in from Indiana, and 7 of us from Kentucky. The final destination was a small, but nice, campground which had a few cabins on it located just outside Mammoth Cave. It was Rock Cabin Camping.
Adventures of Raven 
You must be logged in to post a comment.