Christmas Tree Hunt (Monongahela National Forest)

Last year I discovered the ability to obtain a forest products permit specifically for individuals seeking Christmas trees from the Monongahela National Forest. Although it was too late to take advantage of then, I decided to give the process a try this year.

On my way west, I swung by Charlottesville to pick up my friend Jeremy. He was intrigued by the search for Christmas trees, so he obtained a pass as well and joined me on the trip.

Our activity for that afternoon was target shooting at the Bath County Shooting Range. Jeremy brought his shotgun and a .22 revolver, while I shot my XD-S 3.3 9mm.



After a quick session there, we hit the road with hopes of setting up camp before dark at Blowing Springs Campground.



Early (like 5am early!) the next morning we brewed coffee and struck our campsite before heading toward the Highland Scenic Highway where we planned on finding our trees. The road soon revealed itself to be completely covered with ice, but the Subaru did well to navigate the road, especially with its winter tires I'd wisely swapped two days before.



Within a couple minutes, we spotted two trees relatively close to each other and were soon trudging through the snow toward them. A simple bow saw was all it took to fell the trees, but considerable effort was expended to drag them back to the road. Once there, I wrapped mine in a moving blanket, cinching it with several cam-straps. Jeremy and I hoisted the tree to the roof, but almost immediately decided that TWO were not going to fit. With that revelation, we stashed his tree off to the side and decided he'd come back for it later.



Next, we pointed our sights toward Snowshoe Mountain where my friend Tony was set to meet me for a day on the snow.



Right on time, Tony and I rendezvoused and began shredding the slopes to kick-off the resort's opening weekend! Although east-coast resorts are primarily icy, we always seem to find plenty of soft stuff on the edges of the slopes. That was no different this time as we had a blast knocking off the cobwebs from last season.



Follow my blog with Bloglovin
Follow

Dollar Ride Day (Goochland, VA)

The riding in Goochland County is really improving. Our first glimpse into the new trails there was at Leakes Mill, and now a summer camp just a few minutes down the road is opening its land to the public for $5/day riding. They kicked off this new arrangement with a discounted rate to introduce the area.

For this ride, I invited my friends Lory and Ryan. Around 10am we met at the parking area, paid our $1, and set off. Lory had two other friends join us, one of which had already lapped the course and was willing to show us the ropes.



Although the ground was soft and slow where new trail had been cut, my overall impression of the trail network was positive. Once we reached the established trails the speeds increased and I know that it's only a matter of time until the new trails are compressed from use.



Follow my blog with Bloglovin
Follow

Wave Daze (Virginia Beach, VA)

The first time I took my Jet Ski out on the water, someone spotted me in the parking lot and clued me into Wave Daze - a freeride event in VA Beach held each Spring & Summer.



Although I've been wrenching more than riding this "new to me" ski, I decided to trailer the shitbox there in order to get a feel for riding in the surf - even if I am still a SUPER NOVICE on the standup!



The week prior, I yanked the engine with hopes of boring the block and rebuilding the top end. I wisely decided, though, to toss it back in so I could ride "as is" and complete the rebuild after dunking the ski in the salt water.



I'm still having issues with the ski filling itself with water. Unfortunately, the bilge pump ALSO decided to stop working, so I only got a few minutes in the water before having to bring it back in.

I'm hopeful, though, that I'll work out the rest of these issues over the winter and have a fully-functional, semi-reliable boat by next season!



Follow my blog with Bloglovin
Follow

Silver Creek Trails (Snowshoe, WV)

Rebecca and I decided to try the XC trails in the Silver Creek area during our trip to Snowshoe. Our expectations were exceeded, with an abundance of beautiful moss-covered ground and rocky, rooty technical singletrack.



Follow my blog with Bloglovin
Follow

Ruff & Tumble Trail (Snowshoe, WV)

One of our favorite rides at Snowshoe Mountain has always been Ruff & Tumble. This is primarily because of its unique challenge as it's continually off-camber. The entire ride down is a balancing act, further complicated when conditions are wet.

This most recent visit to the park featured dry conditions, so we were able to let loose more than we have been accustomed to.



Follow my blog with Bloglovin
Follow

6,000 Steps Trail (Snowshoe, WV)

Every great day at Snowshoe Mountain should start with a ride to the fire tower! There, I said it!



Follow my blog with Bloglovin
Follow

Blackwater Falls State Park (West VA)

For our final ride in the Canaan Valley, Rebecca and I decided to explore Blackwater Falls State Park. I was able to find a figure-eight loop on mtbProject which totalled about 6 miles. It was the perfect length for a quick ride on our way out of town.



Follow my blog with Bloglovin
Follow

Thomas (West Virginia)

After our first trip to the Canaan Valley area of West Virginia, Rebecca and I vowed to return to stay in Thomas. Since its inception as a mining town, the city has transformed into a progressive art hub within the mountains of West Virginia.

We decided to explore the local city trails on our first morning there, choosing the short three-mile loop as a fitting circuit to let the dogs roam before continuing to the main attraction - the Moon Hoodoo Rocks trail in nearby Davis, WV.





Follow my blog with Bloglovin
Follow

North Bank & Buttermilk Trails (Richmond, VA)

Follow my blog with Bloglovin
Follow

Jamestown Moto Ride (Virginia)

A group of four of us set off from Richmond on Sunday around noon, heading east toward Jamestown on a meandering route with offshoots to either side of Route 5.

When we reached Charles City Courthouse, two of our friends doubled-back to town and Lory and I continued toward the destination, stopping at Jamestown Pie Company for lunch.

Our final destination was the marshy loop around Jamestown Island. Lory had never seen it, so I wanted to show him the uncanny resemblance it had to the Everglades.

Follow my blog with Bloglovin
Follow

Leakes Mill (Goochland, VA)

Rebecca and I dicovered a new riding spot this weekend a mere 45 minute drive from our house. It was tight series of singletrack among pine trees, with some newly-constructed bridges and features. This will certainly be the first of many trips to the park, as we left at least two trail sections unridden.



Follow my blog with Bloglovin
Follow

Crabtree Falls (Virginia)

Rebecca and I were looking for an escape from the city without too much time on the highway, so we opted to try to find a campsite near Crabtree Falls. At first, it seemed we were not going to have any luck, due to the busy Labor Day weekend. Eventually, though, we found a spot to spread out and enjoy one night in the woods.



Follow my blog with Bloglovin
Follow

East End XC (Richmond, VA)

It's easy to take for granted the trails I've got literally out my door. Richmond has a great outdoor community, with trails being built that zig-zag throughout the downtown area wherever there lies even a small patch of woods. Consider this video "part one" as I'll produce another sometime soon which will continue westward to the Buttermilk and North Bank trails.



Follow my blog with Bloglovin
Follow

Big Woods WMA (Wakefield, VA)

Whit and I finally got our friend Lory out to join us on a ride, and he dusted us!



We tried riding to Hog Island Wildlife Management Area [WMA], but were turned away at the Dominion Surry Power Station. Instead, we rode to Big Woods WMA and discovered some decent sand & gravel roads to explore.

Follow my blog with Bloglovin
Follow

Standup Jetski Practice

For anyone who hasn't experienced it, riding a standup jetski is a completely different feeling from a sitdown version. Turning is a learned skill, and I've got PLENTY of learning to do!



Follow my blog with Bloglovin
Follow

Vstrom Chain & Sprockets

I've been on a roll lately, editing video I've had sitting dormant for a while. This footage is actually from January 2019! I've changed the sprocket and chain another time since then.



Follow my blog with Bloglovin
Follow

JetSki on the water (James River, VA)

View this post on Instagram

Ski's finally running!

A post shared by Dennis (@sweetschoolbus) on Aug 9, 2020 at 3:12pm PDT

The number of parts I've thrown at this ski is starting to add up:

Jet Ski Solutions Stator
Regulator/Rectifier
SBT Crankshaft Seals
SBT Starter
Starter Relay
Intake Grate

Finally, though, I got it running and called my friend, Ian, to see if he'd like to join me on the water with his boat, since breakdown was surely inevitable 😉

He agreed and we set out to the nearest boat ramp...



The ski started and ran well. Once we reached a calm cove off the side of the James River we decided to uncover the engine compartment to check for water, since I knew the [non-waterproof] toggle switch to the bilge pump wasn't working. WOW! That's a lot of water!



I decided to cut the wires and jump them to get the bilge pump to run, emptying the engine compartment of most of the water.



One apparent source of the water was a crack in the exhaust pipe, which is injected with water to help cool. I'll remove the pipe, weld the crack & swap the toggle switch (installed by previous owner) with a waterproof unit. After that, another trip to the river to identify the next repair needed 😄



Follow my blog with Bloglovin
Follow

CA Superbike School (VIR)

My first experience on a sportbike was one to remember!



Since visiting VIR to watch MotoAmerica races in the past, I've always wanted to ride the course. Aside from a leisurely parade lap, though, there wasn't much opportunity.

This spring, however, my friend Mike mentioned the CA Superbike School. He was enrolled for an advanced class and asked if I'd like to join him the same day at the entry-level.

The instructors were great and I really appreciated the format. You'd have a classroom session, followed by a chance to implement the drill on-track. Groups of two or three riders were assigned an on-track coach to observe, then take the lead and instruct with hand signals to show proper execution. It really did work well.



My only complaint was the number of riders, especially the slower ones, that we had to navigate through every lap. Only a handful of corners were ridden at maximum speed as I was typically stuck behind someone inching their way around the course. It almost certainly became a lesson on proper passing etiquitte than anything else.

With that said, I suppose the most logical next step will be re-enrolling next season in a more advanced level - perhaps even inquiring about enrollment numbers and dropping out if I feel I'll be stuck in another bloated field of riders.



Follow my blog with Bloglovin
Follow

Cape Lookout (North Carolina)

Three years in and we're still loving this destination for our annual beach trip!



This year we invited an additional couple to join us, but one of them tested positive for COVID-19 the week before the trip, ending their hopes of coming along. Still, our original group had another wonderful visit to the island, soaking up the sun for four days while we watched rain clouds and heat lightning in the distance.



The day before our trip, I received a car-mounted awning from eBay. I was impressed with how well it held up to the high winds and just how quickly and easily it deployed.



One thing that we realized quickly was just how unusual it was last year to enjoy such crystal-clear water. This season, the shore break was a typical mix of sand and shells, creating a more muted appearance. In the distance, the waters were turquoise, but nothing like we'd experienced the prior year.



Our last night there we decided to play a game of dominoes on the beach. Surprisingly, the fold-out table and string lights worked!



While sitting on the beach reflecting on the years past, we decided we'd mix it up next year - bringing sea kayaks and fishing rods with the hope of catching some fresh fish to enjoy for dinner one of the nights there. Here's hoping!

Follow my blog with Bloglovin
Follow

Vstrom Upgrades

After riding a fair amount out of the saddle, I decided it was time to improve upon the Vstrom's cockpit positioning. The stock position isn't bad, but I find myself holding the handlebar with fingertips or crouching over the front to lean down to them when standing. Wider, lower foot pegs and a raised handlebar should solve this issue. The parts ordered for this upgrade include:

SW-Motech Ion Dual Position Foot Peg Kit
SW-Motech Handlebar Riser Kit - 25mm Rise
Adventuretech 2" Extended Braided S.S. Top Hose

The first to arrive was the foot peg kit. Installation was relatively straightforward, as is the case with most SW-Motech products which arrive with accompanying instructions and easy-to-follow illustrations.

Removing the stock peg went smoothly. One pin held by a C-clip is all that holds it in place. In order to protect the C-clip for reuse, I made sure to pry it carefully from the pin using a small pick. I instinctively popped the clip in my mouth while removing the rest of the hardware so it wouldn't be lost ;-)



SW-Motech's instructions made identifying the correct adaptor for each side of the bike a breeze and I was soon ready to install the new pegs.

The only tricky part was the combination of the stock spring and the additional spring provided by SW-Motech. The new spring must be fished THROUGH the original in order to fit them within the adapter.







Once in, I made sure to recess the stock spring into the indentation on the bracket.



After that, it was onto the other side to repeat the process.



The next day I had a chance to test the feel of the new pegs. I was surprised how noticeable the drop in location was. I could notice immediately that my handlebars felt closer as soon as I stood to ride out of the saddle. I think the riding position will be PERFECT once I've received and installed the bar risers!

Follow my blog with Bloglovin
Follow

Moto Ride (Buena Vista, VA)

Just another exciting outing following the fearless leader!



With the 4th of July weekend approaching, and some much needed PTO on the calendar, I rounded up a group of four friends for a ride to Dyke, VA to camp at our friend's land near the Blue Ridge School. Just days before, though, two of our buddies had to cancel. Luckily, I noticed some riders on RVAmotorycles looking for company on a ride to roughly the same part of the state, so we filled the vacancies with two new riders and decided to meet on Thursday afternoon at Aw Shucks.



From there, we headed west along a route Whit had devised, taking us along some winding roads until we reached our destination just west of Charlottesville.



There, our two new friends headed back to town while Whit and I continued on to Dyke.



Our destination was our friend Chris's tiny home on his family's land. We relaxed there for a moment before dropping some of our gear and aiming our sights on some lesser-traveled gravel roads nearby.



We definitely found what we were looking for - loose gravel, mud, and rocks.



I did drop the Vstrom once, but it only suffered minor injuries and was back in action in no time.



The next morning Chris treated us to a breakfast of omelettes & coffee before we headed west in search of more adventure. We began our ride on the Skyline Drive, following it from Swift Run Gap to Rockfish Gap.



From there we departed the Blue Ridge Parkway and used lesser-known roads to complete our ride toward Buena Vista, VA.



One of the highlights of the day's ride was a section of "road" that traversed some farmland. It showed up on Google Maps, but was obviously a section of road no longer in use. It was funny looking down to see our GPS right on track, while knowing we were simply riding through a field.





As the temperatures rose, we chose to seek out a watering hole to cap off the day's ride. We landed on a section of the Piney River.



All that was left at that point was to head east again, with a few more great sections of road between us and home.

Follow my blog with Bloglovin
Follow

Greenbrier River Trail (Cass, WV)

In what has become an annual tradition, Rebecca and I met my brother, his girlfriend, my mother, and stepfather in Cass, West Virginia to take on the 25 mile ride to Marlinton.



On Friday we rendezvoused with my mother & stepfather in Cass before heading to the Locust Hill Inn for dinner. We discovered the Inn two years ago and have been coming back ever since. It's a great setting for outdoor dining, especially with our recent adoption of social-distancing.



This year we had one additional participant - our dog Lola. She'd overheated the previous weekend, so we decided not to send her to the boarder with her brother, Ruprecht. Instead, we brought along the bike trailer and I towed her, taking stops every so often to let her swim in the river and maintain a low temperature.



The frequent stops were a welcome change. Sometimes taking a moment to enjoy the surroundings is key to capturing the full extent of the experience.



In particular, we spent more time cooling off in the Greenbrier and its tributaries than ever before, discovering a hidden waterfall on the side of the trail.



Once we reached Marlinton, we ate lunch at the newly relocated Dirt Bean before loading up the bikes and driving back to Cass.

Once back, Rebecca and I walked down to the river to soak in the cool water.



That night we played dominoes before calling it a day. The next morning we cleaned up, loaded our respective vehicles, and set off toward home. Rebecca and I took two detours on the way to look at some properties for sale in the neighboring counties. It's a long way out, but eventually we'd like to buy a small plot of land to build a tiny home and homestead.

Follow my blog with Bloglovin
Follow