Beckley WV - Morgantown WV
Miles = 1,073
 

We had a great trip planned for this October ride. Our friend Jim was planning to join us on this three day trip and then Hurricane Helene hit. We had planned to stay in Hot Springs NC and Damascus VA. in the same lodging from our trip in 2022. That was a great ride and much of what we planned was a repeat. Unfortunately both towns were dramatically impacted just before our trip was to commence. We ended up being able to cancel the lodging, but looking back at the devastation we told both locations to just to keep the money. The motel in Hot Springs, Spring Creek Hotel sat right on the creek which feeds French Broad River. The hotel was wiped out and the Big Pillow Brewery is still closed as of January 2025. So, we had to adjust and routed a more northern route in WV. We have been to both locations on more than one occasion but the riding around this area is always quite good.



Day One - 425 miles
We met Jim at the I-75 south rest area and chatted for a little bit and got going in fairly quick order. We exited at Williamstown and the ride was officially on. Riding on back roads in KY traveling east into the sun on wet roads is never a recipe for a good ride and it seems like we do this all too often but it wasn't long before the sun got high enough and the roads dried out. We crossed the South Fork of the Licking River and made a brief stop in Morgan just to make sure everyone was in good shape. We crossed the river a couple of more times as we stayed on the back roads. Just before we crossed the Licking River we began our run on US62 which is a more significant road and the riding is really good here. US62 breaks away to head north to Maysville which put us back on the state routes. We were on KY377 and made a stop at the Sheltowee Trailhead. It was nothing special but we were 163 miles in and it was time for a stop. We were enjoying riding so much we didn't see any place where we wanted to stop. Steve and I didn't get much riding in September and Jim hadn't been on a bigger ride for a while so we just kept going. We finally stopped for gas in Louisa and while there we thought we had better get something to eat. We saw a sign for the Down Home Grill and decided that would be good. The chicken livers were ok and they were out of the meatloaf Jim and Steve wanted but their second choice was ok. Leaving Louisa we stayed in KY on the west side of the Tug Fork River on KY3. We followed the Tug Fork for quite a few miles before crossing into WV at Kermit. We broke away from the river and rode on US119 for a short time before following Pigeon Creek on WV65. Just north of Delbarton we stopped at the historic Elk Creek Rainbow Arch bridge. This rare concrete arch bridge was built in 1923 and was taken out of service in 1990. We continued on to Pineville WV and rode through town and then took a truly back road that took us to the Marsh Fork Falls. This was a very well kept area and had some recently built viewing decks. The falls were not super impressive but it was a good stop and required a little walking which was what we needed after riding hard for 374 miles on all twisting roads. When we pulled into the Hampton in Beckley we were met by a group of riders mostly on BMWs. They found out we were from the Cincinnati area and began to rattle off the names of people in the BMW MOA in the area none of which we knew. We were able to share a little on the old BMW Tri-State dealership and of course the new BMW of Greater Cincinnati dealership located own Middletown. After checking in we walked down the street to eat at Pasquale's.

Day Two - 319 Miles
Bob Evans was right next door to the hotel so we were waiting at the front door when it opened. We were hoping the early morning fog would lift before we started riding but this would not be the case. Our first stop was going to be somewhere underneath the US19 bridge. When we rode across the bridge before going underneath it on the old road it was still very foggy and we could not see anything below the bridge. We rode down to the old bridge stopping twice but the fog was not cooperating. Once down on the river it got a little better but we hung around a little and walked the bridge before continuing on. Back up on top we once again rode over the big bridge and was able to see a little more this time. We rode on US60 through Lewisburg and White Sulphur Springs where we hoped to get a look the Greenbriar resort but it was pretty locked down and there was no place to catch a good glimpse. US60 is always a nice ride. Once in White Sulphur Springs we connected with WV92 which is right on the border with VA and a new road for us. It was very nice and in good condition. We stopped at a little area called Rimel Picnic Area. There wasn't much there but it was nice and private and the temperature had climbed to make it perfect riding conditions. We continued north on WV92 and stopped next at Seneca Rocks. This formation of rocks is quite nice but unless you are willing to hike some the views from the parking area are just ok. We stayed there for a short time before continuing on. We broke away from WV92 and rode US33, WV32, and US219 before reaching US50 and ultimately US119 which took us into Morgantown. This was our third stay in Morgantown, and there is really no reason for this other than it is just a good distance from home and lots of good riding in the area. Nothing bad about Morgantown but it being a college town it has a different vibe than other places we typically stay. We did manage to hit a new brewery on the way once in the city. We stopped at Mountain State Brewery which required some serious jockeying to find a parking spot but we stopped for a pint and continued on to the hotel. We walked across the street to the Mountaineer Taphouse for some wings and a couple of pints.

Day Three - 329
Not wanting a repeat of the crazy waitress at IHOP we opted for the Eat 'n Park for breakfast. We rode across WV7 and it certainly was not as cold as it was in 2020 but we did stop again at the Hannibal Locks and the scenery, with the fog, looked eerily similar. We basically rode the same route we did in 2020 stopping again at the Big Muskie Bucket near McConnelsville. We made one last stop at the Rock House in the Hocking Hills Park but just stayed in the parking lot and took a short break. We rode straight home there mostly on OH28 but we did make a detour to ride the Little Dragon.