Well Slick and I just got about from the Honda Homecoming in Marysville Ohio. Man, was it a long but nice trip. Here is how the trip went.
Wednesday (Day 1)
We started off the trip heading from the house around 0830. Our plan was to try and beat the rain that was heading our way. We didn’t make it. The rain hit very quickly right from the start. Granted it wasn’t a down pour but just enough to make us slow down. We were not too concerned with how fast we got there. We just wanted to arrive safely. As we tootled up highway 52 toward Mt Airy, we noticed that the chance to enjoy the scenery was out of the question. The clouds were low and really reduced our visibility. We figured that if we were lucky we would get a chance to see the mountains of West Virginia. That didn’t happen. Did I mention it rained a lot?
Anyway, as we made our way into Virginia, we decided that if it was going to rain most of the day, why not eat. So we stopped at a local truck stop and had a pretty good breakfast. The coffee was great and we needed it. The rain was really coming down so we tried to wait it out. After about 45 minutes it was time to hit the road even though the rain was not letting up.
Soon we were in West Virginia and the clouds were slowly starting to break up. It rained on us off and on for most of the day. As we hit WV, we hit the toll gates. Those were a real joy. There were 3 of them. The biggest thing about the toll gates was the road conditions. As we prepared to pay we noticed that there was always oil in the lanes. Combined that with the rain, it was pretty slick. Each time I put my foot down to stop the bike, I could feel the oil on the bottom of my shoes. I was told by Andrew that I needed to watch for the oil and he wasn’t lying. Thanks Andrew for the tip. Actually, I was pretty proud of myself. I had 6 opportunities to drop the bike and I didn’t do it.
After entering Ohio we started looking for our hotel in Chillicothe. It was time to bed down for the night and get some rest before we completed the last couple of hours to Marysville.
Thursday (Day 2)
Once we finally got to Columbus Ohio, we took the I-270 loop west to highway 33. From WV to the loop the scenery was great. It was like riding in the back country roads (my favorite roads). As we got through the loop, we found our way toward Marysville, Ohio and to our hotel. We were finally there. After close to 500 miles, we were finally there.
Thursday was the day we were really looking forward to. It was the day we planned to hit Honda plant in Marysville Ohio and tour the plant. Both Slick and I were looking forward to seeing how our favorite bike is built. Hey, we were looking at the birth place of Big Red. I was also looking forward to the vendors even though I didn’t really need anything. There were also a lot of great bikes there that people were showing off. Heck there were even some Harley bikers there (you have to give them credit; they know where to go to see the best bikes, right?).
We noticed a lot of bikes but not as many as you would expect. I figured since it was a Thursday and first day of the event, it was going to be a low turnout. Once we got to the plant we meet up with a few members of our chapter. Slick and I checked in and took a tour of the plant.
The plant tour was great. We got to see how the Goldwing’s and VTX’s are built from start to finish. At that particular plant they build a minimum of 80 Goldwing’s a day and 120 VTX’s (1300cc and 1800cc) a day. Everything is so computerized and engineered. You could tell there was a lot of pride that goes into building the bikes. We were also amazed that the number of women that worked at the plant. We were told that each line worker is paid $23.00 per hour and the benefits were great. I got the impression that the workers liked their work. I wanted to take some pictures but cell phones with cameras and recording devices were not allowed.
After the tour we headed out to the parking lot and noticed that more biker had arrived. The food vendors were in full swing, the demo booths were set up and they even had other Honda bikes available that people could test ride. I thought that was pretty cool.
Below are a few pictures at the Honda plant:
Thursday (Day 2)
Once we finally got to Columbus Ohio, we took the I-270 loop west to highway 33. From WV to the loop the scenery was great. It was like riding in the back country roads (my favorite roads). As we got through the loop, we found our way toward Marysville, Ohio and to our hotel. We were finally there. After close to 500 miles, we were finally there.
Thursday was the day we were really looking forward to. It was the day we planned to hit Honda plant in Marysville Ohio and tour the plant. Both Slick and I were looking forward to seeing how our favorite bike is built. Hey, we were looking at the birth place of Big Red. I was also looking forward to the vendors even though I didn’t really need anything. There were also a lot of great bikes there that people were showing off. Heck there were even some Harley bikers there (you have to give them credit; they know where to go to see the best bikes, right?).
We noticed a lot of bikes but not as many as you would expect. I figured since it was a Thursday and first day of the event, it was going to be a low turnout. Once we got to the plant we meet up with a few members of our chapter. Slick and I checked in and took a tour of the plant.
The plant tour was great. We got to see how the Goldwing’s and VTX’s are built from start to finish. At that particular plant they build a minimum of 80 Goldwing’s a day and 120 VTX’s (1300cc and 1800cc) a day. Everything is so computerized and engineered. You could tell there was a lot of pride that goes into building the bikes. We were also amazed that the number of women that worked at the plant. We were told that each line worker is paid $23.00 per hour and the benefits were great. I got the impression that the workers liked their work. I wanted to take some pictures but cell phones with cameras and recording devices were not allowed.
After the tour we headed out to the parking lot and noticed that more biker had arrived. The food vendors were in full swing, the demo booths were set up and they even had other Honda bikes available that people could test ride. I thought that was pretty cool.
Below are a few pictures at the Honda plant:
After the visit to the Honda plant we decided to head to one of the vendors locations. There were vendors set up in two locations. One was in Bellefontaine and Marysville. We decided to hit Bellefontaine first.
At the Bellefontaine location we noticed the placed was pretty crowded. The bikers were coming in left and right. As we entered the vendor location we noticed our old buddies from ‘Old Bikers’ Clothing Company. Slick and I were talking about them as we entered the entrance. Slick asked me if I thought that the Old Bikers guys would show up there. I said I doubted it because it was a little too far to drive. I was wrong. The first vendors we saw was them and we had to stop and say hi. We really like the guys from ‘Old Biker’. Hey we must; we have bought about $400.00 worth of stuff from them in the last year. They have been really good to us too. They are always giving us a great deal and we do all we can to let others know about them.
Below are a few pictures of the vendor area and some bikes at the vendors:
As we toured the vendor area we looked at a lot of cool stuff. Most of the stuff I like, I already had. Soon we stopped for a funnel cake (good stuff) and then decided to go into one of the buildings at the site that had a display of old vintage motorcycles. So we snapped a few pictures of them.
Once we covered the vendors at Bellefontaine we decided to head back to Marysville and check out the vendors there. We were looking for helmet covers. No one at Bellefontaine had any of those. But guess what the first thing we noticed in Marysville was? You got it helmet covers. So of course we had to grab those. We also grabbed a couple of shirts too. There were fewer vendors in Marysville but it was nice none the less.
After the vendor tour we decide to walk up town a sit in a park area and watch all the motorcycles come through town. That was fun and very relaxing. After about an hour of that, it was time to head back to the hotel, grab some dinner and plan our Friday events for the day.
Below are a couple of photos I took at the Marysville vendor location:
After the vendor tour we decide to walk up town a sit in a park area and watch all the motorcycles come through town. That was fun and very relaxing. After about an hour of that, it was time to head back to the hotel, grab some dinner and plan our Friday events for the day.
Below are a couple of photos I took at the Marysville vendor location:
Friday (Day 3)
Since we did everything related to the Honda Homecoming on Thursday we decided to take a trip out of Marysville and do some country riding. So, on Friday we left Bellefontaine and continued west out into the country. We decided to go to a lake called at Indian Lake State Park. I have to say I was a little disappointed. I saw no Indians, but the lake was nice. Actually it was huge.
Below is a picture of Slick at Indian Lake State Park:
Since we did everything related to the Honda Homecoming on Thursday we decided to take a trip out of Marysville and do some country riding. So, on Friday we left Bellefontaine and continued west out into the country. We decided to go to a lake called at Indian Lake State Park. I have to say I was a little disappointed. I saw no Indians, but the lake was nice. Actually it was huge.
Below is a picture of Slick at Indian Lake State Park:
Slick and I decided to take a break from riding since we had been riding about 600 miles. We decided to stop at the lake and walk the paved walking trail around the lake. We got a little exercise for about 45 minutes and it was a good break for us. One thing we do remember about the walking trail is the dog crap. It was like walking through a mine field. We had never seen so much dog crap before and the bathroom at that state park was the worst I have ever seen.
Once back on the bike, we headed west and then toward Kenton Ohio. The plan was to circle the state park and then head to Kenton and then back south on highway 31 toward Marysville. Now that was a nice trip! We got the chance to enjoy the country roads and acre after acre rolling hills and farm land. There was very little traffic and we got the chance to drive some very small old towns. That road trip to and lake, Kenton and back to Marysville was one of the high lights of our trip. Slick and I really enjoyed that. After the country drive it was back to the Marysville.
Once at the hotel, I cleaned up Big Red, Slick and I went out to dinner and then planned our trip back home. We were kind of dreading the trip back. It was going to be a long one since we were going to do it in one day.
Saturday (Day 4)
It was Saturday and it was time to head back home. We decided to get an early start so we headed out around 0810. Not that heading out did us much good because about 30 minutes into our ride back we got off track. As we got on I-270 (my favorite loop) we headed east and I was looking for the exit to 23 South. Will for some reason we headed toward the city of Columbus (north). After about 30 minutes Slick and I realized that nothing looked familiar so we did what all good tourist do; we asked for directions. Now here is the funny part, when we stopped into a local donut shop for directions no one in the place could help us out. I asked one lady if we were on 23 south; she had no clue. So she asked 2 of her friends; still no clue. Luckily for us a guy (the sex that women claim can’t follow directions) came up and asked us if we needed any help. He helped us get back on track. I have to give Slick credit, she helped us get out of town and back on track. I did notice one thing about Slick and I. I am pretty good on getting us to the correct main roads and Slick is great at getting us through towns. Basically, we needed each other. We seem to always work as a good team. I guess that is why our marriage has survived for over 25 years.
Soon we were heading down the real 23 south and then on to 35 south toward WV. The trip from WV to NC was great. We had great weather and got to see the mountains that we failed to see on the way to Ohio. The only hassle was it looked like it was going to rain a few times; so we put on our Frogg Toggs 2 times. One thing I can say about the Frogg Toggs is they are great for help keeping your dry and they are pretty toasty in the summer time.
Finally we were home after 10 hours. We were 2 tired bikers. All in all we rode over 1200 miles in rain good and not so good weather. The trip was a nice and memorable one. We got to see Ohio and take our longest trip together. We got to see the mountains of Virginia, West Virginia, and ride through Ohio, tour the Honda plant, see our old friends from ‘Old Biker’, and see some great old towns. The trip was nice and we look forward to our next adventure, but for now, we are looking forward to relaxing and taking our 25th wedding anniversary cruise in 3 weeks.
Until next and enjoy the ride!
Pappy
Once back on the bike, we headed west and then toward Kenton Ohio. The plan was to circle the state park and then head to Kenton and then back south on highway 31 toward Marysville. Now that was a nice trip! We got the chance to enjoy the country roads and acre after acre rolling hills and farm land. There was very little traffic and we got the chance to drive some very small old towns. That road trip to and lake, Kenton and back to Marysville was one of the high lights of our trip. Slick and I really enjoyed that. After the country drive it was back to the Marysville.
Once at the hotel, I cleaned up Big Red, Slick and I went out to dinner and then planned our trip back home. We were kind of dreading the trip back. It was going to be a long one since we were going to do it in one day.
Saturday (Day 4)
It was Saturday and it was time to head back home. We decided to get an early start so we headed out around 0810. Not that heading out did us much good because about 30 minutes into our ride back we got off track. As we got on I-270 (my favorite loop) we headed east and I was looking for the exit to 23 South. Will for some reason we headed toward the city of Columbus (north). After about 30 minutes Slick and I realized that nothing looked familiar so we did what all good tourist do; we asked for directions. Now here is the funny part, when we stopped into a local donut shop for directions no one in the place could help us out. I asked one lady if we were on 23 south; she had no clue. So she asked 2 of her friends; still no clue. Luckily for us a guy (the sex that women claim can’t follow directions) came up and asked us if we needed any help. He helped us get back on track. I have to give Slick credit, she helped us get out of town and back on track. I did notice one thing about Slick and I. I am pretty good on getting us to the correct main roads and Slick is great at getting us through towns. Basically, we needed each other. We seem to always work as a good team. I guess that is why our marriage has survived for over 25 years.
Soon we were heading down the real 23 south and then on to 35 south toward WV. The trip from WV to NC was great. We had great weather and got to see the mountains that we failed to see on the way to Ohio. The only hassle was it looked like it was going to rain a few times; so we put on our Frogg Toggs 2 times. One thing I can say about the Frogg Toggs is they are great for help keeping your dry and they are pretty toasty in the summer time.
Finally we were home after 10 hours. We were 2 tired bikers. All in all we rode over 1200 miles in rain good and not so good weather. The trip was a nice and memorable one. We got to see Ohio and take our longest trip together. We got to see the mountains of Virginia, West Virginia, and ride through Ohio, tour the Honda plant, see our old friends from ‘Old Biker’, and see some great old towns. The trip was nice and we look forward to our next adventure, but for now, we are looking forward to relaxing and taking our 25th wedding anniversary cruise in 3 weeks.
Until next and enjoy the ride!
Pappy
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