The original idea for this latest Rambling Adventure is really a repeat of our very first motorcycle journey. I told you in a previous blog post that Mrs. Henry and I met on a blind date 35 years ago. I had just returned from a visit to Los Angeles with my friends Chuck and Rosie. I was determined that this was going to be the year that I visited both coasts on my motorcycle. My planned adventure was going to visit Virginia Beach, Virginia. I think my second sentence on our original blind date (after “glad to meet you”) was “are you willing to go to Virginia Beach on the back of a motorcycle?” Things worked out well for us and in the late summer of 1990 off we went heading East from what was then the Rambling Ranch in central Indiana.

We passed an Indian Motorcycle Dealership. Jana honked and waved. She reported over the intercom that she had to “stay in touch with her people”. That cracked me up.

I mentioned that in those early days, I planned the routes with the help of Mr. Rand and Mr. McNally. I’m not sure why the New River Gorge Bridge caught my attention but part of the course I plotted was to see that engineering marvel. It’s not really that far from home. On day 2 of our adventure I headed east on US-60. We were ready for a break when I saw a sign that said “Hawk’s Nest State Park”. It’s a beautiful little park with a great overlook of the New River. You are not able to see the big bridge from here but you can stop for a required potty break, eat some popcorn (which we carried with us), drink a Diet Coke, and smoke (which she did in those days). I must admit, the park looks different than it did 35 years ago (so do I).

The restrooms are located in this medieval looking tower. This hadn’t changed over the years. This structure was about all that was there. Now there is a great gift shop with all kinds of souvenirs and a very helpful docent on the site. Another magnet and hat pin have been added to our ever-growing collection.

The views overlooking the river are still spectacular.

The old Gold Wing Aspencade we were on has been replaced several times over. We are now on seperate bikes.

Funny thing about that white SUV you see in the picture, they backed out of that parking spot, out the exit then continued to come back around and park in the adjacent spot. It was strange that we saw this same phenomenon repeated by two other drivers. It must be a West Virginia thing.

I really was proud of my wife. US 60 is a pretty technical road for 2 “flat landers”. We don’t get to ride hairpin turns and sharp off-camber corners very often. She hung right in there as we completed the miles from Charleton, West Virginia to Hawks Nest State Park. Way to go Mrs. Henry.

We neared our hotel for the night and the GPS lost it’s little brain. It “forgot” where our hotel was. (I was sure it was nothing I did.) No problem. I punched in the address and proceeded to ride through half a dozen neighborhoods. I think we rode through some guy’s back yard. I forgot to turn my intercom back on so there was no way to communicate between us. Jana hung right with me through the guy’s back yard and we pulled in to the Hampton Inn in Beckley, West Virginia. I was really thankful to see a decent steakhouse next door to the hotel.

Food was good. Service was way over the top for us. Our server looked like she was 12 years old. Her name is Daisi. I bet she asked us 50 times – “is there anything I can get us?” “How is our food?” I’m not sure how Daisi’s food was but my steak was perfectly cooked and tasted great. She went from calling me “darling” to “sir”. I liked “sir” better but still her hundreds of visits to the table were annoying. I really wanted her to talk like an adult and not in the third person. How are we liking this blog post so far, darling?