Enchanted Creek (Buena Vista, VA)

After an eventful summer of adventure since our last moto trip, my buddy Whit & I decided it was time to load up the trailer again and head west to explore some asphalt & gravel within the Blue Ridge Mountains.



For this outing, we decided to haul the motos and mountain bikes to our friend Chris's property near Blue Ridge School near Stanardsville, VA. We arrived on a Wednesday night after work and were met by another friend, Brian, the next morning. From there, the three of us set out toward the Blue Ridge Parkway to criss-cross the scenic byway.

Within the first hour we were met with couple of closed gates, but eventually did find a route which allowed us to detour from the paved roads. This section of our ride was through the Bald Mountain Jeep Trail - a rocky climb from Coal Road to the Parkway.













Another section that I'd hoped to ride was the Shoe Creek Trail. Whit informed me, though, that parts of the trail that cross over private property have been closed to the public, so we abandoned those plans and rerouted.



Eventually we reached our destination for the day - Enchanted Creek Trail & Tunnel.



After passing through the tunnel we spotted a sutiable campsite to call ours for the night. Hammocks & tents were setup before convening by the fire to share stories of the day and assess our plans for the return trip.



On Friday morning we loaded up our gear and finished the Enchanted Creek Trail to meet the Blue Ridge Parkway at its terminus. Our aim was a breakfast stop at Beltie's in Nellysford. It was my first time there and WOW - I was blown away by the food!

After enjoying our meal in the sun, we chose to boogie back via paved roads. We wound our way through the farmland and were soon back at Chris's.





Brian hung out for a bit, then headed back to Richmond while Whit & I gathered wood for that night's bonfire. Later in the afternoon Chris arrived to join us by the blaze. A classic film (Young Einstein) serenaded us to sleep once the bonfire was extinguished.

On Saturday the three of us rode mountain bikes at Blue Ridge School. Whit was giving a first-ride to a bike he'd recently assembled and was happy to find the fit suited him and would only need a slight change in handlebar width to be totally dialed. After the ride we returned to the house for pizza & beers. That night another classic movie (Real Genius) lulled us to a deep slumber.

Sunday morning we took our time loading up before setting our sights westward, scheming over the next trip as the miles ticked by.

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Canaan Loop Road (Davis, WV)

I've been looking forward to a return to the Canaan Loop Road since our last trip in the Crosstrek.

Early on Thursday morning, I loaded up the bus and headed west. By the early afternoon I was in Thomas, West Virginia.

I left the bus near the Thomas City Park and rode the KTM to the Loop Road to scout whether I'd encounter any issues bringing the large rig. It seemed to be possible and one large campsite was still available, so I high-tailed it back to hop in the bus and return!

I lucked out and found the site still vacant upon my arrival. Within a few more minutes I had the bus parked and unloaded for the extended weekend.





That night Rebecca arrived and we set to making margaritas to celebrate our second trip together in Big Blue!

The next morning we woke to a cool, eerie fog and pink hue welcoming us out to explore.



Since we'd been experiencing quite a bit of rain, Rebecca & I were unsure what the trail conditions would be. One of the dryer trails is within the Canaaan State Park network, called Promised Land. We loaded up the gear and dogs into Rebecca's Corolla Cross and drove down to the park. Our hunch was correct - although other areas were a boggy mess, the trail we chose was relatively dry and as enjoyable as always.

That night we visited The Billy for dinner. As always, the cocktails and food were delicious!

For our next day of riding I suggested we try riding from the bus to one of the offshoots from Canaan Loop Road - Pointy Knob Trail. After a quick warmup on the fire road, the trail began with a steep, rocky, rooty climb. Rebecca amazed me with how well she navigated the ascent! It was a heart-in-throat sort of challenge - especially so considering that we were both still dealing with a lingering sinus & respiratory cold.

Eventually, though, the bogs appeared (during our climb, no less). We pushed through the saturated trail for a bit, but decided the descent would be even wetter - so it'd be wiser to turn around than continue. Although the conditions got the better of us, we were still able to enjoy bombing down the trail we'd just climbed.

After our ride we returned to the bus to enjoy snacks in the sun before enjoying another cozy night with the dogs.



The next day Rebecca headed home, with a stop near Baker, WV at her brother's property. I accompanied her to TipTop for breakfast before sending her on her way east on Corridor H. Since we'd emptied the [partially filled] freshwater tank, I swung by Blackwater Bikes to see if they'd let me use their bike-wash hose to fill up. They obliged and within a few minutes the tank was back in action!

Since the errand had me situated in town, I decided to park the bus and get in a ride at one of the Camp 70 trails - Moon Hoodoo Rocks!

The ride is one of my absolute favorites in Davis. Even with all the rain, the trail was in good condition and I crossed paths with several groups of hikers out enjoying the trail.

Once back at the bus I derobed from my muddy riding gear and headed back to camp to enjoy lunch and a Big Timber after a hot shower due to the refilled tank.



On my final day I chose to swap to the moto. I rode from my campsite to the end of the Canaan Loop Road & back.





After the ride I broke camp, loaded up the KTM, and headed down the fire road back to civilization. It was a great way to spend five days in the beauty of the Canaan Valley!



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