Pet Cock Tip....errr, I mean here's a petcock tip

Ha! got your attention. No this is not pornographic. It is the part of a non fuel injected, or carburated bike that controls your fuel flow.

Off, Run and Reserve are the three positions. O.K., Still sounds kind of pornographic talking about three positions. Stay with me, there is a point cumming, I mean coming.

While in Colorado on storm duty, I was on my way back to the airport rental to return my rental vehicle. It was about 97 degrees, with no breeze, and no clouds. I spotted a guy on the side of the freeway sitting on a guard rail next to his motorcycle. He was not on the phone, and not doing anything, which led me to believe he might need a hand. (Of course I stopped).

I asked, "Are you just resting, or is the bike giving you trouble?"

He said, "I'm out of gas."

Me,"I gotta ask the obvious, how bout the reserve?"

Him, "I tried it. No gas. Won't start."

Me, "Let me run through the scenarios. Were you riding, realized you ran out of gas, and hit reserve, and ran that out too?"

Him, "No."

Me, " You had it on reserve when you left, not realizing you were on reserve, and drained all of the gas?"

Him, "No, I ran out of gas, coasted to this spot here, turned on the reserve and tried to start it a couple of times. It won't start, so there must not be any gas."

Me, "There's gotta be enough gas in there to get you about 20 miles or so. You have a pressurized petcock. You need to give your throttle about two to three full turns while the bike is off, hit the choke, and she should start right up. Mind if I give it a try?"

Him, "Sure, go ahead."

I gave it a try, and she fired right up.

Him, "Thanks a million! You are a life saver. Where the hell were you 45 minutes ago?"

I followed him to the Airport area nearest gas station, and was then on my way home.

I posted this story not to boast about what I did for this guy, but to share a little knowledge for those of you who might not already know this. Hopefully I can save someone else the headache of thinking they are screwed when they are really just fine.

Happy trails!

Country Roads in Dixie, West Virginia Style

Last week found me riding the hills and dales of West Virginia. I’ve made it my mission to ride as much of Dixie as possible before I die. My undertaking is to find as many of our national “Scenic Routes” (designated by our government), ride as many as possible, take great photos…and tell anyone who will stop to read…about the places I have found and the impressions I have taken away with me…I’ll tell you of the road, the people who inhabit the area…and of course…a little bit of history as well.





If you’re still with me now, I’m going to assume the pictures caught your eye. It’s a lovely area, and I am not exaggerating when I say it’s worth every ounce of energy you expend to get here…to stay here…and to ride.

I rode so much of West Virginia in the last five days that I believe we will be best served at this time if I were to keep my ramblings to the ride home. From Hico, West Virginia to Johnson City, TN. I will be trying to keep you focused on this beautiful ride through West Virginia.




I stayed at the campground of new friends, Len Hanger and his girlfriend Lee. The place isn’t actually JUST a campground! He provides whitewater rafting adventures for his guests! The property boasts of VIP cabins, richly furbished with pine floors and appointed with two bedrooms upstairs (with double beds), and a bedroom downstairs that is arranged with bunks that will sleep six. There is a kitchen with every modern device one would want while on vacation. The cabin also includes a living room with a nice sofa-bed, an overstuffed arm chair, television with DVD to keep you entertained in the evening. The entry way is a large screened in room that includes a table and four chairs…ohhhh and let’s not forget the Jacuzzi.


If the VIP treatment is not fitting your taste or budget, you can rent the “basic” cabin. This is 12X12 one room building, containing a bed a night stand and an air conditioner. It is recommended you bring your own sheets, blankets, and pillows for this accommodation, but don’t fear…if you do need the above amenities, Len and Lee will accommodate you!





Let’s say you would rather camp than have the deluxe accommodations of a fixed roof? Not a problem! Camping here is encouraged…I think the ground might even be softer here in West Virginia. That may only be this writer’s weird perception of how happy all those Boy Scouts appeared to be from Florida…

I left Songer Whitewater Rafting early in the morning and headed for a route planned out for me by my host, Len. Jumping on US-19 South, I travel one mile to US-60 East. This road is a long and varied path, mountainous and twisty in the first half of the ride, while dropping down into the gentle sweeping hills and farmlands of Southern lands on the second part of Route 60. I was to join up with US 219 after a bit of mountain jogs… I was excited about this course home…300 miles of extreme riding. In my thoughts, it’s hard to get much happier than what I was/am when riding through country like this!

Between Hilton Village and Rainelle you will be running through mountainous terrain. At one point you will be on the tallest elevation of any mountain in W.V. General Stonewall Jackson received his famous war horse “Little Sorrel” on top of this mount, and that auspicious occasion is marked by a Historical Roadside marker on Route 60.





Moving a bit further east, you will find more roadside markers, but none as intriguing as this one on the outskirts of the town known as Sam Black Church, in Greenbrier County. Here you will find the cemetery that has one Zona Heaster Shue. Her ghost helped to convict her husband of her murder.






Also in Greenbrier is this quaint little covered bridge known as Herns Mill. It spans Milligans Creek, its builders are unknown and it was restored in 2001 by the state of West Virginia. To find it, you will leave Lewisburg and travel 2.6 miles west on Route 60. You will then turn left on 60/11 passing some very lovely farms…and these hounds!








Once you return to Route 60, you will begin to encounter sights like this one, farms with rolling hills in the foreground, and mountains to the rear. Cattle grazing peacefully and creosote soaked fence posts. This scene leaves me with such peace…how can it not with this kind of Iconic and Idyllic beauty?








Around Ronceverte, is where Route 60 will intersect with US 219 South. Ronceverte is a French word, who’s meaning translate to “Greenbrier”, the name of the river this town is situated on. As you can imagine, Ronceverte has a long and interesting history. Its downtown district offers great architecture for those of us who enjoy early to late 19th century buildings…and some eclectic shopping opportunities! If you are a photo nut like me…you will enjoy taking time strolling along the main street with your camera at the ready, the bridges of this town, as well as the main historic streets are of great value to the visitor who wishes to experience a once great boom town that featured railroads and lumber!

Leaving Ronceverte, crossing the steel bridge straddling the Greenbrier River…you will head up a small mountain, pass some coal moving facilities and head into real farm country. All the while here…we enjoy roads that are in great shape. Pot holes are practically non-existent! I’m looking forward to finding the town of Union,



in West Virginia…Here, I was told of a memorial erected August 21st, 1901, in an effort to honor the soldiers of the Confederate Army. The dedication of this monument attracted 10,000 people.










The farmland soon gives way to mountains and hills once again. You will begin to encounter such sights as these mountains…how beautiful…with twisty roads, and fire towers.








I’ve run out of US-219 in West Virginia…it will soon intersect with US- 58 in Tennessee….which is another great over-nighter road to feature! I’ll see you soon, traveling the roads of Dixie…
Be well, ride well…

Wow, wild week...glad to be home!

View Larger Map

Hey y'all...
Many of you don't know, I was away for the last 7 days. I was invited by the West Virgina Board of Tourism, to attend a tour of West Virgina, on motorcycles. We (11 other moto-journalists and I) rode motorcycles through 4 sections of West Virgina, guided by experienced motorcyclists who were very enthusiastic about showing us the sights of their wonderful state.

I am not able to tell you more or show you pictures at this time about the "FAM TOUR" as they called it...I have promised to save this for WWW.bikernet.com

What I can show you is my trip back home...the map above is my route...exactly 300 miles back home....

In the next few days, please watch for the pictures and the story of my ride back home...I will also let you know when you can find the story at Bikernet....
Thanks...everyone of you for coming to see what I'm up to...I will try very hard in the next few days not to disappoint...
So for now...
Please be well...
Chessie

Rocky Mountain High

My absence can be explained yet again by storm duty. I've just recently returned from a tour of storm duty, handling tornado and hail claims from Colorado. Within about one months period of time there have been over 9 significant storms. Several of which had tornados and all that produced hail. It seems ironic to be sitting in your vehicle writing up a hail damage estimate for someone's home or auto while it is hailing at that very moment. It's happened to me once. I've also been on an auto "drive in" assignment once where as we were driving to the drive in location it hailed on the vehicle we were driving three different times.

This time handling hail claims in Colorado there was a tornado one night within a neighboring city to where I was staying at. It too produced lots of damaging winds and hail. This is crazy shit. I'm glad to be home. I only hope I can stay here. Hopefully they won't need me again for awhile. Maybe I can actually get caught up on some of your blogs.

Anyway, I didn't have much time to really get out and see the sights so much, which really bums me out, because it is such a beautiful place. While on storm duty you work a minimum 12 hour day. This leaves no time for anything else but to eat, sleep and shit. Sometimes you feel like all you do is eat, sleep and shit hail. The Rockies are truly breathtaking. At times while driving along from one home to the next, I'd get beautiful glimpses, but no place to really take the photos that would do the Rockies justice, because, well, work got in the way and so did the other moving cars flying by on the freeways.

I got one shitty picture while driving. That's it. Oh, and my camera's zoom sucks, especially while driving down the freeway.

I did get an interesting set of photos that I thought I'd share.

Nice trailer huh?. See anything interesting?

(I altered the picture so you don't really see.)

Yup, That is a mighty big trailer for a motorcycle.

Another angle to show you that the bike is truly pulling that thing.

Oh wait is that actually a Fido in that trailer????? WTF! I thought it was kind of cool, and yet at the same time, kind of cruel. I got mixed feelings on this one. Keeping in mind it was in the middle to upper 90's. Although at the same time as much as I love to ride, and as much as I love my dog, and he loves me, It would be nice to take him with me sometimes.

.

Ain't he cute?

P.S.

Scroll back two pictures and look at the guys checking this out.

HIstoric Auto Attractions Part III Superman, Batman, Funny Cars, and Movie Stars

Quick note and correction...in my blog Part II of this museum, I incorrectly ID'd Elvis's car as a Caddie....OPPPSSSY me...it's a Lincoln.

Having left off in the Presidents and notable dignitaries room...we shall now pick up where we left off...Starting with Lyndon Johnson's car....





Then onto Harry Truman's....






Now onto the limo that carried President Kennedy's Secret Service Detail...directly behind the President's car in TX. that fateful day.











This museum dedicates quite a bit of space to the Kennedy Assassination...in this room is the infamous ambulance that carried Kennedy's killer to the hospital after he was shot in the gut by an off duty policeman....









And a room all unto it's self...with the flag that draped the coffin of President Kennedy.






Let's get out of this somber mood, and enter the world of fast cars, fast women, and faster guys....whose car is this? Come on y'all...it's the king of NASCAR's first race car...RICHARD PETTY....sheesh you guys...come on....









I would love to have Ned Jarrett's car today...what a cool "hot rod"...






And what do you think of Ray Thompson's roadster? Yummy....






Here we have Jerry Kizer's funny bike racer...man I love fast motorcycles...








Check out this classic race car...oh...it brings me back to the funny papers...that's where I first saw cars designed like this....I so love these babies...this is a 1929 Indy Race Car....yummy






You say you like formula cars? How about this Jag...I guess it's a Jag...it says it's a Jag on the front of the car....low slung and sexy...another great motor vehicle...don't you agree?









This is a Rail Car...I tried to give you and idea of exactly how long these things are...but I ran out of light before the car was done....








This is Joe Armoto's Dragster...I've always called them rail cars...is that wrong?












This is a midget car...I had an uncle in California who raced these...I understand he was quite good at it too...HMMMMMM






One last look as I leave the race room....






Walking into the next room, you start to smile...look here...the Back to the Future car...It was one of the first movies I took my daughter to that wasn't a cartoon type.





Here is a close up of the Flux Capacitor.









Then we come to the wax figure of Christopher Reeve...the only REAL superman in my opinion.






Now we have one of the original Batmobiles...from the TV show...cool








Then we have the Batmobile from the first movie...














And the Batmobile from Batman Returns....notice the Penguin in the background...???





Now tell me, what collection would be complete without the Ghost Busters rig? HUH?











Here, we have the Mayberry squad car, signed a few years ago by many of the surviving cast members.








You remember National Lampoon's Vacation? Well here she is...Notice Grandma is still tied to the roof of the car? So funny!





Look closely...yes folks...they even have Fred Flintstones car...





Last, but not least....the Sanford and Son car...




I want you guys to know, they also have a VERY good collection of Abe Lincoln memorabilia...but I forgot to bring another memory card...you'll just have to go see this collection for yourself!