GoPro Videos

Riding with Andy and Joel
Riding with Andy and Joel 2

Riding with Joel
Riding with Joel 2
Riding with Joel 3

Riding with Joel and Randy G

Riding with Randy G
Riding with Randy G 2
Riding with Randy G on rocky terrain

Riding with Bill Case
Riding with Bill Case 2
Riding with Bill Case 3

Riding with Randy M

Riding with Rick K and Randy M

Going through very Rocky Terrain with Andy

Going through the covered bridge

Water crossing

Riding after the waterfall

Arriving at end of the MABDR


Click HERE to see all the GoPro Videos

Day 8 - Bland, VA to Damascus, VA

Day 8 of our Middle Atlantic Backroad Discovery Route (MABDR).
Today was the last day of riding and we rode from Bland, VA to Damascus, VA for a total of about 97 miles. Closer to the end, we crossed for a bit into Tennessee.
We woke up at usual time but today we had something beautiful waiting for us, a glorious sunrise in the middle of a foggy morning.
Had breakfast and waited for the fog to clear a bit and made our way south.
The ride was once again very beautiful as we transversed through national forest trails and winding back roads.
We rode together as a group of 5 and I was able to take photos of the various members enjoying the ride.
I was pretty impressed with Damascus, VA. Beautiful little town which is a cross roads to the Appalachian Trail (a marked hiking trail in the Eastern United States extending 2,200 miles (3,500 km), between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine), Virgínia Creeper Trail (a 35-mile (56 km) multi-purpose rail trail that has been converted to a bicycle trail) and the Mid-Atlantic Backroad Discovery Route (a 1,080 mile (1,738 kms) scenic ride for dual-sport and adventure motorcycles that uses dirt, gravel and paved roads to wind through remote parts of Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania).
About 6 miles from the arrival point there is a waterfall that I stopped to take pictures.
We had lunch at the Damascus Diner.
We then loaded up the bikes on the trailer and had our daily showers.
Bought ourselves some nice red wine and just sat talking about motorcycles and this and other rides.
We are staying in a very beautiful bed and breakfast place with over 100 years of history packed on the various rooms of the house.
For dinner we were treated to a very nice spaghetti bolognese and heard about the history of the various rooms in the house. Probably the most interesting is a bathroom that has five doors because it was used by a girl (niece of the original owner) who was sick and was quarantined and this was the way she and her helper were able to get in and out of her room to the kitchen, outside and other parts of the house without crossing the house.
I have really enjoyed this ride where we saw so much of American history and its people. We bonded very well as a group and had many hours of great conversation. We rode our motorcycles through some fantastic roads and saw beautiful scenery.
For eight glorious days we have gathered many memories that we will dwell on in the many years to come.
A special thanks to Andrew Jones for the flawless organization, to my room mate Randy Gilbert for his company and always good disposition and to all the Kokopeli Motorcycle Riders for many moments of fun and adventure.

Make Life a Ride !

Facebook post with some photos of the day

Andy Jones view of Day 8

Joel Watson view of Day 8


Click HERE for all the photos and videos of Day 8

Day 7 - Covington, VA to Bland, VA

Day 7 of our Middle Atlantic Backroad Discovery Route (MABDR).
Rode from Covington, VA to Bland, VA and spent most of the ride in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests for a total of about 130 miles.
Unfortunately, because of a morning call I had to take, rode it alone as the group left earlier.
Encountered different types of terrains and the quality of the forest roads were not as good with many more ruts, which made the ride more technical and more fun.
It was a very enjoyable day and for me Virginia, of all the states we have done so far, has turned out to be the best to ride off-road. We go higher in escalation and have many more switchbacks to make our way up the mountains.
Temperatures were high but as we rode most of the day in shade there are quite bearable specially if you are moving. At places when you get close to cooler water, higher on the mountains, they are even pleasant.
Also enjoyed a lot the asphalt roads which were very well maintained and had a multitude of twisties with the right camber that makes one smile widely when riding them on a motorcycle.
For dinner we went to a restaurant about 12 miles away, the Log Cabin 1776, a quaint cottage with 18th-century origins serving formal Southern fare in early American decor. Food was good.
Tomorrow will be our last day of what has been a very interesting and pleasant adventure.

Make Life a Ride !

Facebook post with some photos of the day

Andy Jones view of Day 7

Randy Gilbert view of Day 7


Click HERE for all the photos and videos of Day 7

Day 6 - Moorefield, WV to Covington, VA

Day 6 of our Middle Atlantic Backroad Discovery Route (MABDR).
Today was supposed to be the big day and it did not disappoint.
Over 200 miles with most of it on dirt, lots of switchbacks and 3 deep (about 3 feet), and with current, water crossings.
We rode from Moorefield, WV to Covington, VA.
No food stops and drank water from camelback. Was probably over 7 hours on the bike most of the time standing.
Had a blast even though I got water in the boots 😉.
For dinner had a good Ribeye steak.

Make Life a Ride !

Facebook post with some photos of the day

Water Crossing Video

Andy Jones view of Day 6


Click HERE for all the photos and videos of Day 6

Day 5 - Sheperdstown, WV to Moorefield, WV

Day 5 of our Middle Atlantic Backroad Discovery Route (MABDR).
We rode 140 miles from Shepherdstown, WV to Moorefield, WV.
We crossed Maryland and saw the Potomac River a number of times.
Beautiful roads, mainly paved. We must have done only 20-30 miles off-road.
Stopped for coffee and for an overlook of the Potomac River.
Aldo visited a section of the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal at Lock 70 where we took a group picture.
Also did a one lane bridge with a toll of 50 cents per motorcycle.
Next stop was for lunch and then the Horn Camp Schoolhouse where we took another group picture.
Sleeping In Moorefield, WV.
For dinner we went to a steak house with buffet. Not too good.
Another interesting day where we had good riding and better camaraderie.
interesting day with great roads and, fun and historical sites to visit.

Make Life a Ride !

Facebook post with some photos of the day

Andy Jones view of Day 5

Randy Gilbert view of Day 5


Click HERE for all the photos and videos of Day 5

Visit to Antietam Battlefield and Cemetery

After arriving from the Day 4 of the MA BDR, we went for lunch and during the free afternoon went to visit Antietam Battle Field.
“Dawn approached slowly through the fog on September 17, 1862. As soldiers tried to wipe away the dampness, cannons began to roar and sheets of flame burst forth from hundreds of rifles, opening a twelve hour tempest that swept across the rolling farm fields in western Maryland. A clash between North and South that changed the course of the Civil War, helped free over four million Americans, devastated Sharpsburg, and still ranks as the bloodiest one-day battle in American history.”
There is so much to speak about this battle but for me the most interesting stories are how defending a bridge made all the difference even though later the Union soldiers found that they could have crossed directly over the creek somewhere else but by then it was too late.
The other is that even though a cemetery was approved for both Union and Confederate soldiers who died in the battle to lay side by side, today you see that the cemetery only has Union soldiers as Confederate soldiers were not allowed. They are buried in a different place.l and n the area.
I stopped at the Visitor Centre, got a map and then rode the motorcycle around the battlefield reading the material they gave me so I would understand better the battle.
It was a very well spent afternoon where I learned a lot and felt a lot.

Make a Life a Ride !

Facebook post with some photos of the day

Randy Gilbert view of Antietam


Click HERE for all the photos and videos of Day 4

Day 4 - Mt Holy Springs, PA to Sheperdstown, WV

Day 4 of our Middle Atlantic Backroad Discovery Route (MABDR).
The weather was the coolest today and we did get our first rain of the trip. Nothing too heavy and we stopped to put our rain gear on. The tracks were mainly forest roads and the rain ensured that there was no dust so we were able to ride closer together and make good time.
We stopped for ice cream at South Mountain Creamery.
Today we crossed the Appalachia Trail, the Potomac River and the Shenandoah river.
We still arrived early enough and had a very good German lunch (with great beer) at the Bavaria Inn in Shepherdstown, WV.
For dinner we had Mexican food.
As we had the afternoon free and the next day I would not be in the area, went to see the Antietam Battlefield (see other post) and ride the area.
Could not pass up the opportunity to take a picture of the bike by the Potomac River.
Finished up the day visiting a pretty advanced laundromat where you can pay and turn machines one and off using an app.

Make Life a Ride !

Facebook post with some photos of the day

Andy Jones view Day 4

Randy Gilbert view of Day 4


Click HERE for all the photos and videos of Day 4

Day 3 - Milroy, PA to Mt Holy Springs, PA

Day 3 of our Middle Atlantic Backroad Discovery Route (MABDR).
Started in Milroy, PA and finished in Mt Holy Springs, PA.
Today we rode through Mennonite country and had lunch in Kountry Kitchen which was outstanding. Lunch portions were extremely generous and you could taste the good quality ingredients they used to prepare it.
The farmlands of the Pennsylvania Dutch Country are supposed to be among the most productive in the nation and it shows. Everywhere you look there is a farm house as the Mennonites have long preferred farming as a way of life. They feel their lifestyle and their families can best be maintained in a rural environment.
Today must have been washing day as we saw lots of full clotheslines.
Today our ride was mainly on forest roads and small asphalt roads. There was not a lot of wind and when it was dusty, the dust did not blow away so we had to keep some distance from each other.
One of the highlights of the ride was a visit to the Greenwood Furnace State Park and look at the iron furnaces, which went into blast on June 5, 1834.
“However, changing economics, newer and more efficient fuels and processes, and the shifting of industry to larger urban-centered complexes coupled with the depletion of local natural resources led to the closing of Greenwood Furnace in December of 1904. The village and the way of life it represented became a mere curiosity, a fading memory of a time when charcoal iron reigned supreme. Greenwood Furnace soon became a ghost town. The workers moved away as the village and furnace were torn down.”
Another highlight was a visit and a ride through the New Germantown Covered Bridge which is “a historic wooden covered bridge located at Jackson Township, near New Germantown in Perry County, Pennsylvania. It is a 74-foot-long (23 m) King post bridge, constructed in 1891. It crosses Sherman Creek.”
Tonight we are staying in an Inn that is nearly 250 years old (since 1772) and decided to have dinner in the Inn’s restaurant and enjoyed the common balcony.

Make Life a Ride !

Facebook post with some photos of the day

Andy Jones view of Day 3

Randy Gilbert view of Day 3


Click HERE for all the photos and videos of Day 3

Day 2 - Lock Haven, PA to Milroy, PA

Day 2 of our Middle Atlantic Backroad Discovery Route (MABDR).
Started in Lock Haven, PA and finished in Milroy, PA.
We spent most of the day in the Bald Eagle State Forest.
We stopped at Penns View Overlook to see the bridge over Penns Creek far in the distance.
The early morning part of the ride just out of Lock Haven was very beautiful at perfect temperatures around 68-70F (20-21C).
One of the most interesting things we saw was a small town that had the Main Street lined up with the Red, White and Blue. Underneath each flag they had a picture and a name of a young person that lived in the area and had joined the armed forces. They called them Home Town Heroes.
Although temperatures were high, maximum of 91F (33C) as we spent most of the time inside the forest under shade, we found it easier to cope than yesterday.
Riding was in general quite easy but we did get a couple of gnarly sections to keep us awake.
Had lunch in Harvey’s Food Mart outside of Hartleton, PA and we had a “dumpster”. Not as smelly and much tastier though.
As we arrived early there was time to do a machine full of washing.
For dinner we went to the Bel-Vue Inn which was very good.

Make Life a Ride !

Facebook post with some photos of the day

Andy Jones view of Day 2

Drone Video


Click HERE for all the photos and videos of Day 2

Day 1 - Lawrenceville, PA to Lock Haven, PA

Day 1 of our Middle Atlantic Backroad Discovery Route (MABDR).
We are doing it North to South so we started in Lawrenceville, PA on the Pennsylvania/New York border.
We made our way South-East and past the Cowanesque Lake, with 1,085 acres (4 square kms) of water surrounded by forested ridges.
Our first stop was in Colton Point State Park to see the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania. The Canyon is 800 feet (240m) deep and 4,000 feet (1,200 m) across at this location.
Our pace was not fast but steady and gave us the opportunity to enjoy the “pretty country out here”.
The Canyon is nice but a bit small compared to the most well known Grand Canyon. The rugged overlooks offer good views of the Canyon.
We mounted our steeds and veered South past Little Pine State Park.
We also passed Woolrich, PA home to the original Outdoor Clothing Company. Inventors of the Buffalo Check Shirt and makers of the wool blankets that Union soldiers used in the Civil War and later for the Armed forces in the First World War, Woolrich has invested in this little town which is very beautiful.
Unfortunately there were no open restaurants on the way so we just stopped in a clearing and had our bars.
For the evening we are staying in a very nice Best Western in the town of LockHaven.
We did about 130 miles (210 kms) of pretty easy terrain.
It was a good day yo start the Route, to test our electronics, see how each one rides and take the cobwebs from the bikes.
In the evening we went to a local brew house and tasted the goods.

Make Life a Ride !

Facebook post with some photos of the day

Andy Jones view of Day 1

Randy Gilbert view of Day 1


Click HERE for all the photos and videos of Day 1

Start of the MABDR

Today we start our Mid Atlantic Backcountry Discovery Route (MABDR) which is is a scenic ride for dual-sport and adventure motorcycles that uses dirt, gravel and paved roads to wind through remote parts of Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania.

We will be riding over 1,200 miles (nearly 2,000 kms) primarily on forest roads and rural country lanes. We will ride through the Appalachian mountains, majestic forests, bucolic farming landscapes, Amish country, and locations that played pivotal roles in early American history.

As our ride starts in Erwin, NY we will be traveling over 1,500 miles ( nearly 2,500 kms) in two vans pulling 14 bikes on trailers and it will take us 3 days to do this.

Here is a bit more of information on the MABDR:

https://ridebdr.com/MABDR

Make Life a Ride !

Facebook post with some photos of the day