Hillsboro, WV – Fletcher, NC
Moving time= 6:39
367 miles

I woke up this morning to fog and a thermometer that read 29 degrees. I guess I was getting out of the Northeast just in time.

Joel made me a nice breakfast, I followed him around taking care of all his animals, and I got the industrial tour of the farm. 11-ish I was back in the truck, across the river to retrieve my bike, and on the road.

My GPS got a devil in it when leaving Hillsboro, and kept trying to route me back to Joels to pick up the beginning waypoint, but several circlesa round town I ot a nice photo and got on the right road.

It was definitely fall, and a lovely ride.

West Virignia is a beautiful state, and while I had 350+ miles to ride that day, I was glad I took the scenic backroads for a while. Even I 64 was pretty scenic when I decided I had to make time to get to North Carolina.

One of the many mountain tunnels through the Appalachians.

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I was running late for my next stop: Rick and Joyce Tannebaum of Cogent Dynamics. Cogent dynamics (Fletcher, NC) ony does custom suspension on motorcycles, and with the load I was carrying, I needed better-than-stock suspension. Cogent customizs suspension for all bikes, though right now they’re most widely known in the Ducati (Joyce has one), KLR 650 and DR650 (Rick’s got one) circles.

Cogent had agreed to sponsor my ride (remember it’s a fundraiser and early detection awareness ride for breast and ovarian cancer CURES!!!) and am I grateful. The bike handles just great, despite the load ( I weighed my Trax boxes, with contents, on their UPS scale before leaving: Left pannier (45 litlres) 38 pounds. Right pannier (37 litres becaue that’s the exhaust side) 34 pounds. Top box=22 pounds.

Rick and Joyce has arranged an ADVrider dinner Thursday night at a restaurant in Asheville, NC. 20+ people turned out to wish me a good trip, and it was gret to meet so many more enthusiasts like myself. One person (thank Earl!) handed me a cash donation for my ride, I received a jar of honey made by motorcyclists (I didn;t catch your name but I am grateful nonetheless) and someone else brought me a fleecey thing for around my neck. Southern hospitality at its best.