WBGVA July 2007

I got to feel like a factory rider for a weekend... factory Team Turtle!

Got me a pimp'n chaeffeur and one hell of a factory Turtle CRF450. Decked out with a clutch harder to pull than Paris' Hilton's phone number.

I rolled up to the SA compound and got a nice tour of the crib. Kate has been doing a lot of good work taking care of Paul the Fastman!

We rolled out and met up with Tom, Ben and Torie (sp?). They had the trailer ready and we were gone to WBGVA!

The trip up was uneventful except Tom doing a complete engine diagnostic on a guys S-10 Blazer at the gas station when we re-fueled. Preliminary diagnosis is a bad water pump but the guy seemed confident he could make it to Myrtle Beach with just a bit of water.

Upon entry to the Ferrule campground we chowed down on some hotdogs and stuff that Pat's crew hadn't gotten to yet. We did a little BS then hit the bed. Ron, Steve, Keith and Pat in the cabin with the good air conditioner. Paul, Tom, Ben, Torie and myself in the other.

Up around 9am the next morning and in Wagon Wheel for breakfast. Nice quick chow, back to camp to get Wanda and Tony and off we went for some riding.

What can I say about WBGVA other than... ROCKS! Lots of rocks and hills.

Wanda led the 11 rider group through a way I haven't been on before. The riding was ok except I kept stalling the bike so I had the idle turned up but we hit a few hills that had me stuck and a log crossing that left me with a hot motor. I turned the idle down and kicked out a piece of the log that got jammed in my rear brake lever.

The rest of the ride was pretty good. Lots of rocks. Lots of hills and some crazy hill climbing by the Pat, Keith, Tom and Ben.

Torie was the first to lose it going up the first coal hill. Then Tom decided to get some air on the top of the coal hill. He got up around 8' or 9' and landed on a small knoll. It was the longest take off for a double jump I've seen :)

After some more hill climbs (and even I did one) Torie ended up with a rear flat (damn KXF's) so Pat, Ben, Tom and I ride with Torie back to camp on some roads. Torie was moving pretty good despite the flat.

I noticed some coolant chugging out of the overflow so I got a bit worried but back at camp we filled up the radiator and all was good. I asked Pat how concerned he was and his reply was one of concern when he said, "I could
give a shit if that thing blows up."

Good enough to tell me I can ride more later :)

While Tom changed Torie's tire Tony came up with a flat front on his XR250 so Pat and him swap the tubes in that baby.

We then head out for some lunchtime grub and then on for another run to the railroad bridge. However, after getting to a group check I stalled and didn't get it started too quick. Tony waited with me to make sure I would have an escort but I was pissed and when I got it started I took off.

The group, thinking I was with Tony and that he knew the way, took the turn and kept going before waiting for Tony and I. Only problem was I overshot the turn off and went another direction down the road. I was moving and
hauling and enjoying myself before I realized I was all alone.

I turned off the bike and waited 15 minutes or so. I didn't hear anything so I backtracked but couldn't find my way and got lost. Then I found a guy on a 4-wheeler and he told me to go this way, that way by the tree and then
left down the rocks and go straight.

He forgot to tell me about the fork in the trail and I decided to go left and fortunately I made it all safe and sound back at Wagon Wheel.

Then I headed up to camp to where Steve Justice was supposed to be. I was going to tell him where the group was headed and have him tell them I was ok and not to worry. But, he wasn't there so I just took a shower and watched
"Open Range" on Direct TV.

I heard that Tom and Pat were both doing some nice wheelies across the bridge. Hope there are some good pics!

Everyone got back a little before night and then Pat did some cooking and treated us right. The boys (Tom, Torie, Ben and Paul) kept running back and forth up the hill taking turns with Tom's phone since it was the only one
with service. Seems Tom got in trouble for not calling before Ben called his woman. Oh, the drama of being in your 20's.

Food was good. Conversation was cool. People were great.

After some talk the crew loaded up like Mexicans in Paul's van and headed to Rider's Paradise. I stayed back to relax b/c I need to stay away from the temptation to drink... it has gotten me in a bit of trouble lately and I feel keeping things slow is in my best interest right now. When they got back they told of Paul having his pick of the litter in the place.

They weren't gone long before they all came back and we crashed out. The next morning we all got up, loaded and hit the Bluefield Micky D's where Paul met yet another girl wanting him to talk... "just talk" she said.

Then we hit the road where nothing happened. Oh... we did wish Tom a Happy Birthday and gave him a nice gift as we drove by. Offered the same gift to Pat and Keith as well but they politely gave me the one finger salute in a
gesture of respectful rejection.

All in all it was a good weekend and everyone got back safe. Some bikes took a hit. Ron broke his handlebar clamp and Torie broke his front brake lever and messed up his pretty graphics.

Overall it was one good weekend and much needed.