I have to take whatever opportunities I can to ride, or I won't get it done. Even though that means further delay in completing Phaedrus, it also lends to my state of mind about working on it.
Months ago, we'd babysat for a friend's dog while they took the family on vacation for 10 days. To pay us back (you know what it costs to board a dog?!) they invited us to stay in a cabin they were renting on the Ohio River. We accepted. Knowing what great roads there are down there i asked the missus if I could ride, and she could hitch along in the hosts mini-van. Its been brutally hot and while i don't care it woldn't have been any fun. And the girls would likely rather talk and maybe sip a few anyway.
So I took 37 S to Bedford (boring), 50 to Shoals (nice warmup) 150 back to Paoli (eyeopener) 37 S thru the Hoosier Natl Forest (great) and finish off with 66 Ohio River Scenic Highway (greater).
Ohio Side
Roadside
4 couples altogether. Saturday, I got going early with the hope I could cross paths with the Odyssey as they set out sightseeing. First stop Leavenworth IN and the Overlook Restaurant, favorite destination of motorcyclists. FJR in the parking lot, coal barges inthe river. There were actually 3 barges in view, but i couldn't get them all in one shot.
One of the best views on the whole river I think. Riding on east on 66 to Corydon, Indianas Pioneer Capital (pre-Indianapolis)
Back N to Hoosier Natl Forest where i called the Girls (and guys). They had made it to West baden Springs Hotel. The restored 8th Wonder of the World. They were smitten with its charm and coolness, and were making plans for a vacation there. I hightailed it up there and caught them for lunch in the Atrium.
http://www.frenchlick.com/hotels/westbadenI was there in 1978 with a group of bikers. We let ourselves in to the then abandoned hulk, weeds growing up thru the floors, walls on the verge of collapse, holding up barely that magnificent dome. Ghosts of the gangsters and gamblers that would take the trainride in the 20s from Chicago and St Louis to FrenchLick to elude the Feds and prohibition.
I took off down 145 to Tell City on the river. This is about the straightest place I cold find to pull off and take a picture. The rest was too curvy to be safe.
Then the Locks and Dam at Cannelton. Quite an operation.
The last leg of 66 was about the best of all but I was so tired I just limped back to the cabin.
No pics on Sunday coming home, but for those SOHCs on the Fall Ride last year, I took 450 home which was the final icing on the cake. After weeks of draught and high temps, within 20 miles of home, I got hit by the hardest, windiest rainstorm I've ever ridden in. Luckily I got off the Interstate to city surface streets, and the rain let up in about 20 minutes. But it was really something.
