Summer Trip XIV

"...its about the journey, not the destination..."

Along US 60 in rural Kentucky. 

     The goal today is to ride from Lexington KY to Clarksburg WV, around 300 miles away,  mainly on US highways with as little interstate as possible. US 60 went right past my motel, and would take me all the way to West Virginia. The route would take me through many small towns, as usual, and, as usual, it would only take 5 or 10 minutes to ride through them. I mean we're not talking New York city here!

Uh, my driveway is just about as wide as this road. There are no lane markings on this road. Is this still US 119?

     Quickly after turning on US 60, known locally as Winchester Road, I am out in the country. There are a number of large farms here, both agricultural and horse farms. Most farms have gotten away from white fences, instead you find mostly black fences along the road. Winchester comes and goes quickly. Then I am out in the country, a two lane road with no shoulder, with twists and turns to make the ride fun.

My mid-morning stop in Grayson KY. There was so much room I could pull the bike right in  out of the sun. 

     I quickly pass through Mount Sterling, Owingsville, Salt Lick, and Morehead, where Phil Simms went to college. I wonder if he ever comes back to visit? Long stretches of the road are great motorcycling; lots of curves, the road goes up and down, left and right, the kind of riding you would be looking for if you were just going out for a ride for fun. I stop in Grayson KY for to work on my blog, with about 30 miles left to the WV border. US 60 goes up to Ashland KY and then back down towards Huntington WV. I decide to get on I 64 and run the 56 miles to Charleston WV.

The road has ended. Should I go right or left? Maybe I should ask the small black horse. 

     This is where the first adventure of the day begins. I glance at the map and see that US 119 winds its way up towards Clarksburg, and that it comes out of Charleston. I ride into Charleston on I 64, and then continue on I 64 looking for the exit for US 119...and I ride...and I ride... By this time I need gas, and it is lunch time so I get off to gas up, have lunch, and look at a map. I discover that I should have gotten on I 79 north for just a short time and then gotten off on US 119. I have ridden about 16 miles out of the way. Oh well, "...its about the journey..." After lunch, and gas, I get back on I 64 west and ride to I 79 north, ride it about 3 miles and get off on US 119. Soon I realize I have discovered another terrific road. The usual collection of curves and changes of elevation, often tree shaded. I run along at 60 mph with little traffic. If I do get behind some cars there are passing lanes to quickly dispatch them. In Clendenin WV 119 turns north towards I 79...and then the day's second adventure begins.

Notice the sign in the far right side of the picture. US 119 north. I'M SAVED!

     I leave Clendenin following three cars, but after 3 miles we get to I 79 and they all get on...I should have been paying closer attention. Within a mile or so there is no center line in the road...the surface begins to deteriorate...the road gets narrower and narrower...Toto I don't think I am on US 119 any more. Now a congenital issue crops up. I hate going back. I continue forward....the road surface is REALLY bad, some places half of it is gravel...get the picture? Up a mountain, down the other side. By this time I know I am REALLY lost, but I just don't want to back track. I reach the end of the road and there is a small horse tied there. I can go left or right. My sense is that 119 is to the right somewhere. I turn right, and soon the road gets even worse. There is little blacktop, now it is mostly gravel. I continue on. The road comes to an end at a road that has lines down the middle. This is progress. I turn right again and ride for a few minutes to a stop sign. I look left and see a sign that says US 119. Eureka! I've found it. I rode 119 until it joined US 33. Then riding towards Weston; its getting to be late afternoon, and it is hot; I'm tired... I decide to ride over to Burnsville and get on I 79 and ride it up to Clarksburg. In about 40 minutes I'm checking into my motel. Another adventurous day has come to an end.