A Few thoughts...yesterday's ride

A short walk from my home...

I wasn't sure about riding yesterday...the weather started out gray and dismal with showers...I don't mind riding in the rain. I actually like it...but I like being fairly alone on the roads when I do it...and I don't like it when my aim is to get some pictures and write some thoughts for you guys here....so I really was hoping something would break and I would get on my bike....

early morning shot of the Watuga River

The weather did break...kinda...I whacked some weeds in spotty drizzle...then sun came out and I mowed the entire yard...things are looking up.

When I was done, I didn't even change clothes...I mounted up my little girl...with grass clippings clinging to my pants and boots...I opened the petcock...twisted the throttle....turned the key...pushed the button...and cranked her to life...she was kinda sluggish...cold blooded gal...she grew up in Florida...still likes to think she's still there I guess...but she came alive...and so did I....

An old Asbestos factory...a block away from MR's work....

Off to see my MR. at work...I always stop in, let him know I'm off on another adventure...He is my rock. Doggie was sleeping, Mom was comfortable...I was going riding. Be home in about 2 hours.

a view of the past...and the future...side by side...sad it won't be there much longer.

I choose a route I have been on more than a dozen times times I moved here in '06, though I didn't discover the road until '08....It's my favorite "short-timer" road. The one I take when I don't really have much time...but I need to blow out some of the nastiness that tends to accumulate if I don't ride....

Leaving the MR's place of employment...I head off toward Roan Mountain. I don't go all the way...


View Larger Map

Come on y'all....check out some more of Tennessee's Dixie Roads...and really see what Tennessee is all about....
These pictures come from County Road 173....Like said above...it's my favorite local road....now you'll see why!



I believed for the longest time, this barn was derelict....I always thought I would stop and find a way into the barn to photo it...well, I stopped for the first time yesterday...started photographing from the fence line...when I heard mules braying...WHAT? Someone is keeping two mules in this old barn!





If you look at the cut out window on the side...you will notice a small white dot...that is the white blaze of one of the mules...watching me...





Still moving along CR 176...you will notice, the farmers have been busy cutting hay...





And always...along these country roads...you will find housing long deserted....





By taking time to travel on one of the side roads...you will find cool old buildings like this one....it's an old barn or equipment shed converted into a tool shed...





Sometimes if your lucky...a little guy like this one will be friendly enough to ham it up for your camera...This guy has character!





I don't know what breed of goats these guys are, but their coats are shiny and beautiful...not rough like most breeds I've seen up close.





This is not a barn, but rather built and used to shelter livestock in the fields...look closely...see the two horses in the shed?











That about does it for where I stopped on CR 176 on this day...but there are a few more stops I did make on a service road that runs along I-26...after leaving Erwin TN.


On the other side of the tunnel lies a rock quarry...I can see the mountain wall that they have been blowing away to get at the rock they want...beautiful rock not slate, but breaks off like sheets of slate...I want to call them and ask if they would allow me access....it's beautiful...even if they have to destroy the mountain in order to get at it....





I turned to leave the quarry...and came to face this...it's funny how these things just kind of "pop up" around here...or perhaps, I was just so enjoying my ride...I didn't notice the advent of bad weather coming upon me...I dunno...don't care...I still like to ride in the rain...and on this service road...it aint bad with traffic.





On both sides of this road...are steep rock faces...like this one....lovely for pictures....





Climbing up into the rock...and looking up....





For some reason...this reminds me of the song by Frank Zappa...called "Billy the Mountain". I lived within view of that mountain when I lived in Rosamond CA.




I had to put my camera away after this shot...it's raining....time to head the wheels home...by the time I was to get home, I would have spent 2 hours going about 48 miles....

Nothing beats this kind of ride really....nothing.

Mrs. Motorcycle Bolted on me!

The other morning as I was getting ready for work, My wife comes back in the house after leaving for work herself. She said, "Mr. M., Something is seriously wrong with my Saturn. I need you to come look at it. I was driving along, and heard a pop, then clunk, clunk, clunk. I stoped and looked, but no flat tire! I want you to look." I took the car for a drive, and noticed it when I was pulling out the driveway. I needed to go no further than 1/2 of a block away from my house to realize there was something wrong with the left rear wheel. I pulled it back into the garage to see a bolt stuck into the tread at the back side on the line of tread, and sidewall.

This is what I found!

This put an interesting spin onto my day.

I got a plug put into the tire, drove her vehicle for the day. She took mine, and I got a new set of rear tires on it during the day.

I got my wife to get me a case and a half of beer later on that day for being such a good boy!

Ariel Motorcycles...It's another history lesson

Ariel Motorcycles....




Ariel started life as a manufacturer of air inflated rubber tires for horse drawn carriages around 1847. By 1885, Ariel, under the leadership of William Hillman and James Starley changed gears, turning the factory toward the wave of the future, the bicycle.

Ariel decided to ride with the design known as Rover Safety Bicycle, with it's wire spoked wheels, chain driven propulsion and it's all metal body....as opposed to the "penny-farthing" bicycle design of the times.

Photo from Science Museum, London

Photo from Photo from Science Museum, London

By 1900, Ariel being the progressive company and thinkers of the day, had begun to shift their mechanical attentions toward the motorcycle. It all started with their de Dion-Bouton powered vélocipède tricycle in 1898.

Photo from Motorbase.com

Then in 1901 a motor driven bicycle....

Photo from the http://home.scarlet.be/~md1945/history.html website

from the http://home.scarlet.be/~md1945/history.html website

Early Ariel models used 3rd-party engines manufactured by J.A. Prestwich Industries Ltd. in Middlesex.

Photo from/by Denis Gosney. Thanks to David Withers for pointing out that the DL registration is from the Isle of Wight. And also thanks to Alf Ashbrook for identifying the bike as a 482cc Ariel of around 1910. VintageBike.co.uk

To learn more about JAP Industries be sure to click on the above link!


In 1927, Ariel put into production: The Ariel Red Hunter. This bike was designed by Val Page, who in 1925 became Ariel's chief designer. According to Wikipedia

Page had to wait until 1927 before a suitable frame and cycle parts were designed. These formed the basis for what was to be the Ariel Red Hunter, which continued successfully until Ariel ceased production of four strokes in 1959.

This photo is from: http://www.vintagebike.co.uk/Bike%20Directories/Ariel%20Bikes/pages/Ariel-Red-Hunter-37.html and is the property of Alistair Godfrey of Bristol

From here on out...the information is so good, I could only copy and paste, I don't think I could write it as well as these folks....
http://motorbike-search-engine.co.uk/classic_bikes/ariel-motorcycle-history.php The only contribution to the storyline from here out... I found the related pictures and posted em here...Sigh...




The introduction of Edward Turners OHC Sq 4 500cc occurred in 1931.

The Sq was enlarged to 600cc for sidecar use in 1932, but shortly after this, the company went in to liquidation following the depression of the early '30's. The phoenix that arose from these ashes went on to rationalize the range back to upright singles and the 600 OHC Sq4, all installed in a more or less common frame.


Towards the end of the 30's the Sq4 became an OHV pushrod motor of,

VB600 From http://www.vintagebike.co.uk/Bike%20Directories/Ariel%20Bikes/pages/Ariel-VB600-46.htm

first 600cc then the 1000cc Iron engine 4G of the Pre and Post-war era. Late in the 40's Ariel introduced a 500 OHV twin designated KH.

This photo belongs to Andreas Melcher

At the beginning of the 50's the Iron engined Sq4 was developed into an Alloy engined model, the MK1,

1951 Ariel Square Four 4G Mk I Photo from Vintagebike.co.uk

which was itself superseded in 1953 by the classic 4 pipe version, the Mk2. For the next year the range of Ariels were produced in the Pivoted Rear Fork frame option, except the Sq4 which remained in a plunger frame until production ceased in 1959.

In 1954 Ariel produced the 650 Huntmaster,

Ariel Huntmaster 650cc 1959 Thanks to Martyn Roberts for this picture of his 1959 Ariel Huntmaster 650cc.

the engine of which was based on the BSA 650 A10, with which it shares many internal components, and also a small 200cc four stroke machine, the Ariel Colt.
The Ariel LH Colt model was built from 1954-59 and was essentially a copy of the BSA C11G model.



From Vintagebike.co.uk



The revolutionary 250cc Ariel Leader was produced from 1958 until 1966, being joined by its undressed sibling, the Ariel Arrow, in 1960. A smaller 200cc engined version came on the scene in 1964.

By the early 1940s, British industrialist Sir Bernard D.F. Docker (1896-1978) became chairman of BSA. Docker was also chairman Daimler Motor Company during roughly the same period. Under Docker's leadership, BSA acquired Triumph Motorcycles in 1951, making them the largest producer of motorcycles in the world. He also acquired the motorcycle interests of British manufacturers' Ariel, New Hudson and Sunbeam.

Part Three...White Water Rafting...OWWWW

In the last installment...we all left the ATV Little Coal River Trailhead...fed and ready to visit with Len and Lee at Songer White Water Rafting....but before we turned our wheels into the driveway of Songer...we had a few pit stops....absolutely lovely.





I believe almost everyone likes waterfalls....they are not esoteric, they are available to all. You don't have to be in fit condition to enjoy getting to them...they are right here...off the road...available for you, me, and the rest of the world to enjoy....look at these!











After a brief period, Len Hanger appeared with his partner Lee...they arrived to lead us back to Songer White Water...but first he wanted to show us a famous grist mill that was on the way...I really do like grist mills, water wheels...stone wheels to grind grain...I've always enjoyed these types of buildings....

















The parking lot where we all pulled in, the grist mill is across the creek!








This is just one of many luxury cabins...my hot tub was indoors...LOL It was a great time....





I had a blast on the water...even though one of my fellow journalists lost balance and we ended up butting heads....I got the back of his head under my eye on cheekbone...next day...bang...I had one hell of a black eye starting up. I still have a lump of blood pooled next to my nose under my eye...it's just not noticeable now...thank you lord for the favor!

I want to show you some pictures I took from the land tour Len took us on...you do have come and see the area for yourself...enjoy the rafting trip...or if your one of those rock climbing nuts...you'll find some challenging rock faces to climb here!













This is the New River Bridge. When you ride out onto The New River Gorge Bridge You'll be riding over one of the oldest river gorges on Earth. By most accounts, the New River Gorge is about 345 million years old. That makes it the top contender for being the first river in North America.


The New River Gorge in West Virginia averages between 700 and 1300 feet deep. The gorge was formed solely due to erosion; there were no glaciers in the area like those that carved our similar gorges in other parts of the world. This part of the gorge is characterized by steep walls, huge boulders, and an exposed cliff band along the gorge's rim.

By the way...if your going try to go on Oct. 17th, 2009. It's bridge days, and you will be watching base jumping, repelling, and high line....be there for the excitement and the heart stopping fun! http://www.officialbridgeday.com/events

The night before we went rafting, we were the guests of Len Hanger and Lee...at the Highwater lounge....we got drunk....stinking drunk...thank God for the school bus ride back to our cabins...no one would have found their way back....

















Oh my God...I had so much fun during this ride...everyday we saw and did something so spectacular... so much fun....I am coming back to West Virginia....look out...oh and by the way...there is more to come...pictures...fun...what a great event!