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!

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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!

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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.

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