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
