Day twenty-eight, loop ride out of FRont royal, va

The planned route for today had been a rather tedious but probably interesting 355 km loop out past Seneca Rocks, touted as an excellent circuit.

The consensus however was that it was hot and a light day might be better, followed by a swim in the afternoon.

I therefore prepared a 130 km shorter loop , ran it past the troops, and they all agreed that distance was perfect.

Monday dawns sunny and warm so we’re off to Strasbourg on the 55, then turn left on the 48 and climb over the Range through the bush and down to Wardensville. What a pleasant surprise that was, an awesome twisty mountain climb and down the other side. Coffee in a cute little bakery at Wardensville then on down to Baker where we hang a left on Route 259, West Virginia.

On the 259, We drove past a massage therapy place on a farm out in the country called “Almost Heaven”, had to laugh, brilliant, a take on John Denver’s song since the business was in West Virginia. I like it.

Route 259 was pretty much all farms, dairy, cattle and for the first time we saw a number of broiler chicken farms of a significant size as well. Also, first time in the USA I spotted one of those tall cattle farm silo,s that was seriously on the piss and at risk of taking a dive, worst than the leaning tower of Pisa. Bet their Insurance broker hasn’t been out these parts in a while…… just saying.

The 259 finished at a town called Broadway and from here we took the 211 East, another awesome surprise as we climbed over the Shenandoah National Park. This was a cool ride, it was a two laner our side, climbing up with great sweepers, synonymous with climbing up the Kaimai’s. Horse man was in his element again. Down the other side was just as good , then we took a left on Route 522, a quite wee country road that sidled along over Chester Gap and back down into Front Royal.

Just as we turned onto the 522, a bumblebee found its way into my unzipped jacket and dealt me a nasty sting right in the middle of my tummy. It was so severe that over a period of hrs that afternoon, there was considerable swelling combined with very uncomfortable itching. The swelling has refused to abate…Serious. In consultation with our in house , on tour nurse, Janelle, we have diagnosed categorically that I am highly allergic to the bumblebee sting. Therefore, If you spot this, refusing to abate tummy swelling in any team photo’s, clearly it is bumblebee venom and not a beer gut……….Got that? Excellent…..as long as we are clear on that.

Moving right along.

The troops gave me shit when we arrived back, as my agreed 130 km loop was 220 kms, but hey, what’s 90 kms amongst friends. I blamed Mr Google maps and pleaded ignorance. My credibility on daily distance estimates took a hit though and I sense some on going credibility issues in the way they look at me……..you know what I mean about that look eh?

As planned, the 130 km that turned into 220 km loop had us home by about 1300 hrs, so a couple of couples did some retail therapy, Tracey now has a flip front helmet and can see scenery now instead of just Marks shoulders and jacket. This is a good thing.

We had a swim and that evening treated ourselves to dinner out across the road at an outfit called “Pave Mint” like its an old servo converted to a bbq joint and boutique beer bar. We met the owner Christian, who had seen our tee shirts and already looked at our blog before he introduced himself. We told him we were from the boutique beer capital of the world, Kiwi land and subsequently sampled some of his tap beers.

Our waiter was a bloke called Kevin. Kevin is ex Arlington and came out, aways back, to Front Royal to visit his Dad on a wee farm in the mountains and never went home. Loves Front Royal and the slower pace. Did a cracker job tending our table so we tipped handsomely of course.

Now we promised Christian and Kevin we would market the hell out of “Pave Mint “ so all you bikers reading this blog and taking us up on our advice to ride Route 50, West Virginia, when you stay in Front Royal, get your saddle weary arses over to Pave Mint on South Converse street, opposite the Quality Hotel/ Sheetz servo, sample some top craft beers and get a burger down you. Ask for Kevin, say the kiwi team sent you and Christian might even shout you the first beer free……….maybe…… Done deal?

Hows that Christian ? Don’t mention it mate…..