The West Virginia Trip - A Video Report

Eastern Continental Divide Trip Report Parts 1 and 2

Part 1

Part 2

The Delorme map files, and GDB files suitable for downloading to a GPS are linked below.

The GDB files contain a route, waypoints and the GPX track and are dividing into 3 sections:

• Section one is Highlands NC to Fancy Gap Va
• Section two is Fancy Gap to Bartow WVa
• Section three is Bartow to the finish at the triple point near Gold Pa.

The Microsoft Streets and Trips file is a turn by turn cue sheet with times between stops.


The PDF map files are exports from Delorme Street Atlas Plus that can be printed and a back up to the GPS.

File share on Google Drive - click link to access

Escape to Musterground Mountain

It was a damp, cool December morning, the breakfast at Chic-Fil-A was served friendly and hot. 4 guys gather and begin to plan the day's ride. We do not know each other. Our conversation is about our bikes, equipment and what we ARE going to encounter. The other conversations in the restaurant are about the past or dreams of the future. There is nothing better than living in the moment and enjoying it.

We roll out of the parking lot and it starts to rain. A quick stop under a gas station awning allows Jed time to pull on a pair of rain pants over his jeans and sneakers. The borrowed Ducati Hypermotard he is riding seems more suited for ripping through streets and mountain twisties than semi-technical gravel and steep grades. I have a feeling Jed can handle it.

A few pavement miles later and some minor traffic, we stop at the gas station at Highways 11 and 178 to top off fuel. The start of our gravel destination road is off of Highway 130 at the Bad Creek Access area.

Upstate SC ADV Riders at entrance to Musterground Mountain.

We hit the double track gravel, hard packed and dusty from the lack of rain during the past month. The trail begins.
No adjustments were made to tire pressure or suspension, so either we had it right or there was a lesson or two to be learned. Jed takes off, spinning wheels and kicking up gravel with Ricardo in pursuit. Robert grooves his way into it on the trusty KLR - smooth and calm. I am the sweeper for the first section. My big 1150GS lumbers along smoothly.

The first big test comes in a section of 20% uphilll. It is short and the 4 wheel users have churned up the gravel, cutting some ruts and washboard into the trail. I stand on the pegs to establish the perfect center of balance, gear down and begin the climb. Then the washboards take over. The supension it too stiff and the tire pressure is too high to keep me on the ground and I start to bounce, loose traction and fall. Robert is right behind me and immediately stops. We heave the 600lb black beast upright and I get her going again to finish the climb.

All smiles at the Thompson River Crossing

 After a quick break at the pipebridge over the Thompson River we continue up an ominous loose and steep section towards Musterground Mountain (pictured) and encounter more technical loose surface, steep sections mixed with pleasent, smooth double track. The easy sections blend well with the more challenging sections.

We arrive at Musterground Mountain Gap and are faced with decisions about which way to go. There are three roads to choose from. Maps come out, the GPS is consulted and we decide to explore all of the them. Robert plays with the KLR on a short run-up section.

We have not encountered anyone else yet.

Road option 1 is a short dead end.

Road option 2 is smooth and has berms that Ricardo demonstrates can be jumped on the V-Strom. I take them standing up and, with flexible knees, roll the big 1150GS over them, sticking to the ground. Road 3 ends and we turn around and trace our way back to Musterground Mountain gap. Robert is up front and when he returns to the short run-up section he hits it hard, launcing the KLR into a Rhododendron patch. We fish her out, dust her off and she starts up with a little extra cranking to move fuel back to the carbuerators.

Road 3 starts out sandy and Ricardo dumps the V-Strom. We quickly get her back up and going again and find out that road 3 is another short dead end.

We had explored all the roads on the maps and decide to head back out.

When we return to the parking lot entrance, we stop for a group photo and then begin our paved trip back towards Highway 11 and 178.

Lessons learned and skills improved = too many to count
Permanent damage = none
Friendships formed and experiences enjoyed = priceless

For more information about Jocassee gorges and the Jim Timmerman Wilderness area, go to [url]http://www.dnr.sc.gov/managed/wild/jocassee/index.htm[/url]
This area is opened seasonally and frequented by hunters.

18th Wedding Anniversary motorcycle tour video

Jan and I celebrated our 18th wedding anniversary by taking a day trip in the mountains of Upstate SC and Western NC. Linked is the video. Enjoy - we sure did !

Project 74 R90/6 - 08/19/2012

Photo Gallery of my Airhead project bike: a 1974 BMW R90/6

I inherited this bike from my late Father in January 2011. It is in good to excellent mechanical condition but a little rough aesthetically. My project strategy is to get it back to safe and reliable condition first and then focus on the aesthetics.  The over all goal is to enjoy local rides in the Upstate SC. It will stay in the family and is not for sale.

Records I found indicate it had 4793 miles in 1991. When my Dad purchased it in 1997 for $2615 it had 53,800 miles. When I got it, the odometer showed 64,000+ miles. My Dad rode it locally in Greenwood SC and trailer-ed it to Daytona Beach and some BMW Motorcycle Rally's in the Southeast. I estimated he rode no more than 10,000 miles  in the 14 years he owned it. As he aged he rode it less and less. He put one set of tires on it.

As with many of these classic BMW's, the instrument cluster was in rough condition (brittle plastic) and the odometer and trip meter do not work. During my rides, I observed the odometer actually running backwards! I replaced the instrument cluster with a reconditioned one I found at  Recycle BMW Parts. http://www.re-psycle.com/

At one time  in its history the bike was fitted with a large touring fairing and was used to tour the US between 1991 and 1997.  The fairing had its own wiring and turn signals. My Dad removed the fairing and returned the wiring for the ignition switch and front lights to its original configurations. The ignition key does not match the fork lock or the seat lock, leading me to believe the ignition switch used with the fairing was not original. I have replaced the main wiring harness and the engine wiring harness. All wiring is currently sound.

I add pictures as progress is made.

The items I have completed thus far are:

Replace main wiring harness
Replace main engine harness
Replace air filer housing cover
Replace tool box
Change oil in front forks
Replace rear shocks
Replace instrument cluster
Replace front turn signals
Replace fork boots
Remove large clear fairing and install smaller clear fairing (helps with aerodynamics)
Clean gas tank, petcock filters and replace inline gas filters (2).
New tires
Replace Speedometer cable
Replace rubber cable caps throughout
Carbs cleaned and balanced
Valve adjustments checked and validated
Installed large volume Touring tank, purchased off of eBay.
Replace gas cap gasket
Installed San Jose Fork Brace, purchased from Brad Phillips in Greer, SC
Installed Corbin Canyon dual sport /6 seat.