Ride Diary

Center of the Universe VFR Rally

Well, I'm back from COTU3, the Center of the Universe (VFR) Rally in Marietta, Ohio, racking up about 1,000 miles on the VFR. Considering all the meteorological mayhem (flash floods, heavy thunderstorms and tornadoes that flattened a strip mall not too far from here) that swirled around us, we came off virtually unscathed, just a little rain late on Saturday. On Friday, we elected for the extended scenic route. I met up with Levent (94 VFR) in Gainesville, Va., and we had a quick ride down to Gordonsville, where we met up with Tom ('02 BMW R1150R), my long time riding buddy from the Hampton Roads area. We had a great run over to Elkins on 33, through some of the prettiest mountain scenery this side of the Mississippi. 33 is more of the "fast sweeper" road than a tight hairpin style (in the mold of US 250) so we made pretty good time. Somewhere along the line, a hawk mistook Tom for a potential lunchtime snack and tried to dive-bomb him. VDOT really needs to fix the road on their side of the state line though! Here's Friday's route.

We stopped to refuel the bikes and stomachs in Elkins, and Levent headed back to DC, since this was a day trip for him. Tom and I continued on 33 to WV Rt. 47, which afforded non-stop thrills, pulling into the hotel with about 400 miles on the clock for me. Aside from some minor slab riding, very few of those miles had been in a straight line.

Tom and I met up with another friend, Don from Raleigh ('00 VFR), settled into the hotel, then went to ogle the bikes, including a veritable rainbow of colors available to our Canadian friends. The newest generation of VFRs was well represented too. And then a personal first. I've never had a bike side stand sink into the asphalt before, until Friday that is. Luckily I caught it before she went over. We also got a look at David "RoutemeiSTer" Thompson's Dynamo Humm Big Bore VFR840. "Resident List Squid" Hussey was on hand, with tight turns, wheelies and ABS demos on his big K bike. Various bikes put on an aural display as they rolled by on the highway to get to the access road into the hotel. The VFR sound (especially as uncorked by various aftermarket products) is unmistakable. We ate and turned in early, after meeting Dave from Keyser, WV, who left straight from work on his Nighthawk 750 to join in the festivities. The four of us would ride together on Saturday.

We were up sort of early, pigged out at Shoney's and then prepared to assault the roads of SE Ohio. I had pre-planned a route and we stuck to it for the most part. 275 miles of nearly non-stop roller coaster style twisties. Erik Halseth rode down from Columbus to join us for a bit and he brought his video camera. I wonder how the footage turned out? Elevation change was included in just about every turn. While that part of Ohio is not exactly mountainous, the roads follow every little hill and ridge and the turns are very tight, often off camber and blind to boot. We passed several other groups of COTUers and they seemed to be having as much fun as we were. And lots of grins when the helmets came off at rest stops, so I think our little group was having fun too. I must say I've also gained much more confidence in turning the VFR. After a year of ownership and 14,000 miles, I've gotten to know the bike very well. Right hand, downhill, blind turns (just like #14 at VIR) still trigger my "pucker" reflexes though. That would be an "SR" to you Keith Code aficionados. We returned to Marietta after a full day of cornering, just in time for the rain to pick up with gusto.

The list dinner at Damon's was good, although the service was a little on the inattentive side, but I enjoyed swapping riding stories with the VFR faithful and putting a few more faces with a few more names.

Despite a rocky start (being awakened at 0500 by heavy thunderstorms) Sunday turned out to be a spectacular day in the mountains. I dawdled a bit chatting with the other riders as I waited for the rain to move off to the east. After saying my good-byes to Tom and Don I had a splendid ride home on US 50, including some scenic daisy-picking (the overlook where WV 42 meets 50 should not be missed) and "spirited" riding on the sweepers and twisties of route 50. Some sort of "hero" in a mini-van seemed to be committed to keeping up with me, even in the straights! I never could shake that guy from my mirrors, but I'm not one to go balls out in the straights, usually. :-)