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According to an article that appeared in the January 26, 1959 edition of The New York Daily News, the first man ever to use a motorcycle to chase down a speeder and issue a citation was Willis Seaman of Nassau County, New York. He was riding an Indian. The fellow with the dubious honor of earning America’s first speeding ticket from a motorcycle cop was Charles R. Jones, a resident of Cold Spring Harbor, New York. He was traveling at the breakneck speed of 39 mph! The year was 1908. The article goes on to explain that no one knew the exact date of this historic event, but it cites an earlier article from The New York Daily World reporting that it was Seaman who originated a traffic ticketing system that was later adopted by New York City Police Commissioner Frank S. Waldo, a friend of Seaman. It reports that before Seaman retired
from his duties as Nassau’s first traffic cop, he was credited with issuing more than 10,000 citations, including speeding tickets to noted racing drivers Louis Chevrolet and Ralph DePalma. These and other hapless scofflaws apprehended by Seaman had the pleasure of appearing before the Mineola, New York Magistrate Franklin P. Seaman, Willis Seaman’s uncle.

Clearly, the Seamans were prominent in the region. In fact, their lineage can be traced to Captain John Seaman, who was deeded Jones Beach by the English Crown in the 17th century. He later sold it to the State of New York for $500, which was a considerably higher price than the State had paid for Manhattan Island. Willis was born in 1891, and during his teenage years became a dedicated motorcycle enthusiast. Future speeders would have no chance against him, because, according to local lore, his Indian could achieve 90 mph! He spent 16 years serving as Nassau County’s motorcycle cop, and was generally regarded as a colorful character. He even received national notoriety when he eloped with his wife, Helen, aboard a motorcycle. The Daily News story states, “It was probably the first motorcycle elopement in history.” Seaman died in Hempstead in 1957.

Motorcycles as law enforcement and pursuit vehicles caught on quickly with police departments all over the nation when it became obvious in the early days of the motoring age that speed and agility could lengthen the long arm of the law. American Police Motorcycles by Buck Lovell (Wolfgang Publications, 2002) includes photos of a constable aboard an Indian that looks to be a 1908 model, and of a policeman aboard a belt-drive Excelsior single which appears to be a 1908 as well. There is also a photograph of San Diego policemen posing with a Thor, which may be as early as a 1907 model. These photos are all undated, but another photo of San Diego motorcycle cops is reported to be from 1910 or 1911. The Los Angeles Police Department Motor Corps celebrated its centenary in 2009, but I have seen undocumented claims on the internet that the LAPD bought two motorcycles in 1905, and that a speeding citation was issued by a motorcycle cop in 1907. So we really don’t know whether Seaman was truly the first cop in America to chase down and ticket a speeder.

At any rate, we can be sure that as early as 1910, motorcycles came into widespread use by America’s local police forces. And we know that when Excelsior and Henderson left the stage in 1931, police sales became one of the many ways in which Harley and Indian played out their epic rivalry. I’ve had people in the industry tell me that police sales don’t earn much, or in fact can lose money for a manufacturer. But they definitely lend prestige and exposure to a brand. As for John Harley, I guess he could take some pride that it was a guy on a Harley- Davidson who kept the streets of Phoenix safe from speeders like himself, rather than a cop on one of the several offshore brands that cater to American police business these days. By the way, want some fun reading about hot pursuit and other motorcycle cop daringdo? Pick up a copy BCMC (Big City Motorcycle Cop) by Gary Smith.

IW My thanks to Bruce Seaman (grandson) and Melissa Seaman Atkinson (great granddaughter) for providing source material for this story.

Ed Youngblood is a motorcycle historian and former president of the AMA. He has written several books about motorcycle history and edits the web site Motohistory.net. “Motohistory” is a registered trademark
owned by Ed Youngblood.

Posted by Sam Kanish

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After a successful multiyear run of top speed racing at Maxton, North Carolina, the East Coast Timing Association (ECTA) relocated its operations for the 2012 season to an airport near Wilmington, Ohio, located Southeast of Dayton. The new facility is similar to Maxton in that it features a one-mile paved section in which to achieve your motorcycle’s top speed. The differences are that the track is straight (no slight curve near the start) and it’s much smoother than Maxton. I feel Wilmington is a big improvement over Maxton, and is a better place to do high speed runs. On June 2nd and 3rd, I traveled to the ECTA Wilmington speed trials in the company of Jeff Bailey and Gene Dlask from S&S Cycle with the goal being to assist Jeff in running his 1999 80-cubic-inch Buell.

(Editor’s Note: Tuner Mike Witt, IW’s Shop Time author and wrench from Chicago H-D, assisted in the Buell’s build and dyno testing. Mike travels with the team to Bonneville and will report on that event next time, putting our regular Shop Time story on hiatus till January.)

By the end of the weekend Jeff’s bike set three records and went as fast as 147.919 mph. We all thought the bike could have gone even faster (we really wanted a 150 mph run) but it was not to be. When the meet was delayed due to a rider running off the end of the track, we were unable to resolve a minor jetting issue in the remaining time available. We had the gearing worked out, but needed another run or two to really get the jetting just right. Here is a list of our runs and the changes that were made:

1.) 109.388 mph with a 74 main jet
and a 48-tooth rear sprocket.
The lack of airflow into the fuel tank (from
the inspector’s tape) caused the motor to
quit running part way through the run.
2.) 141.506 mph with a 74 main jet
and a 48-tooth rear sprocket.
3.) 143.527 mph with a 72 main jet
and a 48-tooth rear sprocket.
4.) 145.474 mph with a 74 main jet
and a 48-tooth rear sprocket.
5.) 144.161 mph with a 76 main jet
and a 46-tooth rear sprocket.
6.) 147.919 mph with a 74 main jet
and a 47-tooth rear sprocket.

Here is what Jeff Bailey had to say about how he approached the task of riding at speed: “I try to ride aggressively from the start. I do not launch like you would at the drag strip, more like aggressive street riding. It is important to fully rev out each gear to keep the rpm from dropping too far down the power curve when the shift is made. After that it’s all about making myself as small as possible on the bike and squeezing the bike with my knees, feet, elbows and chin. I have tried playing around with moving forward and back as well as rising up off of the seat. I have not been able to find a better position than just lifting off the seat a couple of inches.”

I would have to agree one hundred percent with Jeff’s comments. I always tried to ride “like I was paint” when I was doing top speed running at Bonneville. As this story was written, everyone was working on getting ready for Bonneville. The BUB Speed Trials run from August 25th through the 31st and Jeff was working hard to have a different bike, his 160 cubic inch S&S V-Twin, ready for the salt. Jeff will be in the record books—or not—by the time you read this. Warner Riley knows a thing or two about high-speed racing. He became a member of the Bonneville 200 MPH Club in 1971. He also worked on the Denis Manning/Harley-Davidson streamliner that Cal Rayborn rode to a land speed record of 265 MPH in 1970. In his racing career, Warner set a total of 24 records and clocked a best-ever speed of 212 mph—all on an Ironhead Sportster.

Specifications
● S&S Superstock 35⁄8” bore cases
with matching S&S cylinders,
35⁄8+.040” bore with stock 313⁄16”
stroke (1318cc/80.4”)
● Andrews V80 cams
Compression ratio: 11.3 to 1
● S&S Superstock heads with S&S
roller rocker arms
● S&S G carburetor with tear drop air
cleaner
● Stock Buell headpipe with handmade
megaphone muffler
● Stock H-D 5-speed trans with Baker
reverse pattern shift drum
● 38⁄56 primary (1.47 ratio)
● Primo heavy clutch spring with Alto
Carbonite plates
● 1999 Buell XL chassis with 4” extended
swingarm, stiffer front fork
springs and Custom Works rear shock
● Handmade low profile fuel tank
● EBC front brake rotor and pads
● Buell RR1000 custom front fender
from Tom “Santa Claus” Anderson
● Vortex clip-on handlebars

Jeff back at S&S doing dyno runs on Jim Fischer’s new 1650 cc Bonnevilleway. Quite a ride on pavement!

Jeff’s all-alloy S&S Cycle Sportster/Buell 4 cam displaces 1318 cc and runs in the open gas 1350 cc class. At 6800 rpm, it makes 104 HP at the rear wheel.

Posted by Sam Kanish

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Story by Vincent Stemp          Photos by Jeremy Bryan

IronWorks November 2012 45

So, maybe I’m doing all of this motorcycling stuff wrong. I have yet to make it to Sturgis, Daytona, or some of the other excellent motorcycle rallies that have been giving riders a place to compare bikes and lifestyles for decades. Don’t think I’m avoiding any of these rallies; quite the opposite. Suffice to say that patience has its rewards, and my time will come.

But I’ve been fortunate all the same to have stumbled across a host of other events, which struck me at just the right time and place. Call it complete combustion. A perfect example: the Orion Music + More festival that was held in Atlantic City, NJ, last June. While you could describe the weekend as a bike show, or a concert, or another specific yet incomplete label, you’d be selling the whole experience short.

Orion was the brainchild of the members of Metallica who decided they wanted to take a new approach to playing live music. Instead of the usual tour set, they chose the time, the place, and the music. But it was the “More” that really made this happening worth the trip. Held at Bader Field, a municipal airport near Atlantic City that has been closed to air traffic since 2006, the festival took over the grounds on June 23rd and 24th. Four full stages were set up, and there was a ton of great music playing from one in the afternoon to well past midnight each day. Hard rock, metal, and punk bands like Suicidal Tendencies, The Sword, and Avenged Sevenfold performed, and the crowds came out in the surprisingly bright New Jersey light to see the mosh pits swell and fade. The music was worth the trip, but the real treat came between the acts.

Given an entire empty airfield to fool around with, wouldn’t you want something else to do between watching shows and snagging beers? Thankfully, that tough question was fielded by the guys from Metallica themselves. They made a point of sprinkling Bader Field with things to see and do that reflected their own passions and interests. In between sets, you could swing down to the Hit The Lights Films tent to check out some of Lars Ulrich’s favorite films. Or you could browse Kirk Hammet’s collection of horror movie memorabilia, including rare movie posters, props, and other collectibles.

But that wasn’t all. The members of Metallica have eclectic interests, from surfing to skating and graffiti art. Over at the beach, half a dozen pro surfers from around the country took on anyone willing to paddle out, and Metallica’s Robert Trujillo and Kirk Hammett were on hand for that. Back on the field, the Vans skate team set up a half pipe and did demo runs all afternoon, including an appearance by Steve Caballero. And ESP Guitars had a booth with their newest instruments on display.  So there was plenty of cool stuff to do, but what the hell does any of this have to do with motorcycling, you ask?

That might be the wrong question. A better one would be, “What’s a motorhead to do?” That’s what I was wondering, until I got to the custom car and motorcycle show. There were about a hundred bikes and hotrods, from James Hetfield’s personal rides to a selection of other classic iron from around the northeast. Jody Perewitz was on hand with the bike she took to 200 mph, and Copper Mike brought out a couple bikes along with an incredibly cool copper-plated Dobro. I also ran into Rich Pitoniak of Pitoniak’s Custom Cycles, who had brought out Painkiller, his hard-ridden but recently refreshed hardtail Shovelhead.

There’s never enough room on the page to describe everything, but the selection of cars and bikes stretched across a broad expanse of American motor culture and history. Classy Thunderbirds, gas dragsters, and flatheads with anywhere from two to eight cylinders filled the field nicely. A few lucky folks even got to see James Hetfield stroll over to check out the bikes and cars then fire up a few of his favorite toys.

It was a helluva weekend, but not just because Metallica, The Arctic Monkeys, and Modest Mouse all kicked ass. And it wasn’t just because of the killer rods and bikes, either. Looking around, I saw people whose interests ran from quaffing beers and head banging to crafting custom motorcycles with their own two hands. And the coolest part? They were all there together, having a damn good time. Frankly, you should have been there, and if you want to be around for the next one, here’s your best lead… IW

*RESOURCE
Orion Music + More • Atlantic City, NJ
www.orionmusicandmore.comContents

Posted by Sam Kanish

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So I will just tell of the visit and let the images fill in the rest, chink the gaps, so to speak. Holdsworth and I were meandering aimlessly with a clear purpose in mind during our visit to Michigan. Seeing luminaries like Bert & Lisa Baker, Greg Gates from Gates Performance, Evan from Plymouth Cycle & Speed, Gary & Julie from Kustoms Inc were planned stops and there was one special visit I asked Paul to set up – and that was one to Ron Finch’s shop/ house/ art gallery/ land of wonder. I had a pretty clear agenda with most of the stops we’d made up until that point, looking for bikes, insight, wisdom and interest in working together and discussing projects – but the visit to Finch was a lone exception……

to read the rest of the story, go get the JAN issue of IronWorks!

Images & Words:                    Stephen Berner

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…read the rest of this story in the August 2010 issue.

words: Lock Baker
images: Stephen Berner

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I like starting my southern excursions in Erwin, Tennessee. From here there are several roads to choose from. You can head toward any of the compass points and find yourself on secondary roads that will thrill you. I’m about to send you on a trip that will do just that. It’s a grouping of roads giving you mountains, cities, valleys and so much more! Climb on board: it’s God’s country around her. Even if you’re atheist; you’ll have to admit something big has happened here in the Appalachian Mountains.

top of the mountain SR 197

Here is the route I ended up taking. Please keep in mind; I don’t ride with maps or GPS on these types of exploratory outings. I wing my way around the countryside working off memory and wander-lust. It’s a most gratifying way to travel. It leaves you with doubts and worries, but not of the everyday cares of your work-a-day world.  This is the cool worry things like: are ya going to make it to the next fuel stop. Or how about realizing the pavement ends and becomes gravel, but how far do ya have to ride that? Will the road become soft? Will it dead end? Will the pavement return?  Or how about those washed out bridges and new detours? Yes, this is a wonderful way to ride and explore the region! I can’t get enough of it.

Leaving Erwin on US-23 South, I cross over to the west side of I-26 where I flow easily into Tennessee on SR-352. This road runs a south-westerly direction through little rural areas such as Rocky Fork Tennessee. Eventually we will cross over the North Carolina state line, where the road becomes known as North Carolina SR-212. The road becomes very hilly here, with big sweepers and curves as you roll down the hillsides of Tennessee’s mountains. The terrain becomes less rocky and a smidgen flatter.  Farms are starting to dot the view. You have to remember; these are not your flatlander farms. These farms are slivers of land, plowed and no wider than a football field, but generally about a ¼ mile long or shorter. You’ll also be riding through National Lands, The Pisgah National Forest lies here. When you get to Belva, North Carolina, SR212 ends. You’ll be picking up SR-208 South into Hurricane, North Carolina. and once more the road will morph into something else, you want to be on US 25/70 South now since we are heading into Marshall, North Carolina. Marshall serves the mountain community and provides needed stores such as hardware and grocery, county services, neighbors in need, holiday events, and the home offices for the county libraries.

Instead of going into the town of Marshall, turn right after the Citgo Station and get yourself on SR-251 South. The locals call it River Road. It runs next to the French Broad River for many miles. This river is full of rock shelves causing whitewater rapids. It’s great for the camera, so why didn’t I take any pictures of this? I guess I thought I had too many pictures of water? Who knows? There are several county parks along the road to stop at, one has restroom facilities. They have real nice facilities. You’ll know it when you see the park. It has picnic tables and a walking trail. You’ll find this a good place to pull over and relieve your cramping muscles. Stretch your legs or empty the bladder. It’s a good rest stop for this leg of the journey. All along this route, you will find abandoned homes, businesses and great photo opportunities for wild life and river life. This is a wonderful river route to follow!

At the end of River Road, you will find yourself in Woodfin. It’s a suburb of Asheville, North Carolina. You’ll have to take US-70 south to I-40 east exit.  It’s also US-70 exit.  Staying on US 70 until you see the Blue Ridge Highway exit. Get off 70 and get on the Blue Ridge. If you’ve never been on the Blue Ridge, you’ll enjoy the fact you’re on a great scenic road running along the ridge lines of the Appalachian Mountains. If you have been here before, it’s the same old thing, over and over again. I want to get off as soon as I come across a road that appears promising. It wasn’t long before I came across an exit marked for Ox Creek Road.  Promising name, the signage also promised a landmark area known as “Vance Birth Place”. I didn’t know who Vance was, but what the heck. Let’s learn some history.  Ox Creek Road is a nice little road snaking up hill for about five miles before you connect (T) with Rheems Creek Road. More hilly roads leading north.  It’s here you will find Vance Birth Place.  Turns out Vance was an early Governor of North Carolina.  I didn’t do anything more than make a circle in the parking lot and leave.  The grounds appeared beautiful, with a large covered picnic area.  Up the little rise a bit is a log cabin with a few out-buildings surrounding it.  It all appeared too contrived, been there, done that.  I wanted to continue to ride.  But it’s a really nice place for a respite. The information building has bathrooms and cold soda.  You can stop here for a soaking of NC history, a bathroom break, and a cold drink.

Rolling north, still on Rheems Creek Road, you’ll come finally to the town of Beech.  Its here I see SR-197. I know of this road.  I’ve been on it a couple of weeks ago a bit further north.  It’s a great curvy, scenic ride as you cross into North Carolina from Tennessee.  I figured it would be just as good south of US-19E.  It was too…with a bit of a twist. There was the usual signage warning truckers to find another route due to hairpin turns.  Wait! There’s more to the warning! This road has sections of steep gravel grades! HUH?  OK, I figure it won’t last long, I can do this as long as this as long as the road isn’t “soft”.  I ride this road for about five miles, no gravel. I’m thinking the sign was wrong. That’s what I get for thinking. I come on the warning sign for gravel road.  Sheesh, ok here we go! It’s not that bad, it starts out hard pan graded road. I can do this easy. Then here come the washboard, damn, I should have pee’d back in Beech. Now I’m on a road with washboard ripples, my kidneys are ready to burst. So what do ya do? Quit yer whining and keep on riding.

After about a mile, I pull off the road.  There is a car behind me, and I can tell she wants to get around me.  She stops, rolls down her window and tells me I only have about two miles left off the gravel. I smile and thank her. I’m sitting at 66 miles on the odometer, and I’m starting to fret about gas stations. Although, with slow speed, I know I will get about 100 miles on the tank; without  a gauge, YOU NEVER KNOW! I smile and thank her for the information. I allow her to get a bit ahead of me. She’s leaving a dust trail behind her and I’m not willing to choke for no one on this ride. I travel about a 1/8 mile when I come across this waterfall. Yeah, this is what it’s all about for me!

After almost three miles of gravel road (with sections of huge rock the size of a child’s fist,) I finally arrive at a tarmac. It’s at the top of the mountain, and I’m heading down mountain! I soon realize this part of the road is like looking at how a bootlace winds it’s way up the eyelets. This road is a serpentine road. You can look down over the edge of the road and see it wind it’s way down the mountain side: right angle turn, left angle turn a hundred feet later, “Twist and Shout“, Chubby Checker was singing about this road!  What a fun ride so far! Great scenery, wonderful skills testing from the road! Great people met along the way! Now this! About six miles of serpentine roads. At the bottom of the mountain is a little general store and a derelict building.

Still heading north on SR 197 I found an old barn/antique store/derelict abandoned building. I am so pleased for the photo shots at this barn! For the photography end of this trip, well this made up for all the rest I had either missed or passed up due to no shoulder to pull off on. There was so much more to the ride, but I’m leaving ya here. Be sure to follow SR 197 to SR 226, where it will later turn into Tennessee 107 into Erwin and Johnson City TN.

By Marilyn Elmore Bragg

old bunkhouse Narrow Spit Farms

closed for business

gravel road

tumbling water

waterfall SR 197

closed store

country store Pensacola, NC

Chessie's ride

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If you like Scooters work (and who doesn’t) and are interested in going fast (and who isn’t?) you have got to take a look at the great images in Scooters book on Bonneville:

http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/1144874#author-bookshelf

Scooter says:

This is a photo yearbook of the 2009 BUB Motorcycle Land Speed Trials sponsored by Denis Manning and BUB Enterprises. There are 288 images at speed on the Bonneville Salt Flats, in the pits and the banquet. There is also a full listing of the AMA records that were set during the event. (AMA and FIM records had not been certified at time of publication)

You will see several covers made for riders and sponsors that made volume purchases but the insides of each book are all the same so you can take your pick on covers.

If you would like your picture on the cover just go to www.ScooterShoots.com and pick an image from the 2009 BUB Gallerys and send me an email with your pick.

It is my intent to make this book an annual offering so that we have a pictorial record of each event along with a listing of the records set during the event.

A PORTION OF THE PROFITS FROM THIS BOOK WILL BE DONATED TO SAVE THE SALT.

All images Scooter Grubb:

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I left the Blue Ridge around the town of Webster and started making my way back west toward I-81 and Route 11. I found myself heading toward the city of Roanoke on Route 221, I then switched to Route 460 West in the city of Roanoke. It’s not long before I find my way back to Route 11 and the small town of Salem. It was in Salem I had to assume something wicked had come my way. It was apparent to me that vehicles were staying too far back from my rear fender. Knowing before that I was about to lose my tail light assembly I figured that I finally had. I kept going, looking for an Auto Zone or something. Seeing one, I stopped, looked at my fender where my stop light assembly was and seeing that it was still there was a bit of a relief. What wasn’t there was my lens and light bulb. OK, this was much better than losing everything. Walking inside I find that the guy behind the desk is a biker too. He helps fix me up and now I have a nice red lens and a new 1157 bulb in the socket. I’ll make it home the rest of the way with no problems. My tent site was only a mile away.

Pulling into my tent site and since it was still daylight out I gathered an armful of wood for a fire that night. I drank about a gallon of water, ate a hotdog with a small bag of chips (which I bought at the campground store) and relaxed. I slept well through the night awakening only twice, once because of a thunder storm passing overhead and the second time was a nature call. I visited the natural outhouse rather than making that dreaded trek to the shower house since it was quite a walk away and my body was stiff as hell. I didn’t want to get chilled and besides I’m lazy cuss who doesn’t mind peeing in the woods.

I wake up the next morning refreshed and ready to ride! I pack up my stuff, bungee everything back on the bike and head south on Route 11. I continue on 11 until I get to Fort Chiswell in Virginia. At Fort Chiswell, I shoot on Route 94 South until I come across Route 619 at Porter’s Crossroads. Here I take 619 west to Route 69 west and keep on that till I hit US 21 South at Speedwell. Wow, all I can say is if y’all haven’t taken this route, you should. I took US-21 South to Route 58 west. It’s all great riding once you get on Route 58 west which is designated as a scenic byway and good Lord is it ever!

The road has as many bent crooks in it as a knurled and twisted grandfather oak. It coils around this stream and up that mountain. These two roads afford views of checkered farm lands and grazing animals
and of acres of primal forests. Route 58 west is not to be ignored. One really needs to take this ride!

Route 58 hooks up with Route 91 south, which will take me home. I cross the state line into Tennessee and realize the ride is almost over. In three days of riding I had put 1,023 miles on the odometer of my bike. It seems all too soon. Time to make plans for another ride!

Main Street, Radson, VA

Drapper's Valley

An unknown dam in VA

Tennessee line on Hwy 91

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I was up and out of the campground by 7AM the next morning.  I wanted to get in the swap meet early, get my pictures and interview the vendors and attendees early so I could be out on the road discovering Virginia and her little towns.  I was done with the swap meet by noon, so it was time to get lost.

Heading southwest on Tinkling Springs Road, I’m off to explore the world. Tinkling Springs Road. will eventfully dump you off into Route 340, which I crossed and hop onto SR 608 through a town known as Stuart’s Draft. Over the railroad tracks and down the road just a tad, route 1530 becomes known to the traveler through road signs, it appears to be a great route, not mention it appears to into a southwesterly direction. That’s just the way I was hankerin’ to head off to.

Locally the road is known as Cold Springs Road: it has a few nice little curves in it, as well as a nice hilly countryside to look at when you’re not navigating the curves. After a few miles you’re deposited into US-11 south, which meant I’m still heading in a tent-wardly direction. For those of you who don’t know, US-11 is a bit like the East’s version of Route 66. Before I-81 came along, US-11 was the main drag through VA., because you’ll find some pretty cool and interesting sights along the way.

I passed one location known as Natural Bridge. I was getting pretty excited about seeing a natural bridge…in fact I was willing to stop and pay to get in and see it up close as well as soak in some history about the area. I didn’t do it though. The road will take you right past the natural bridge, but they have walled it off with a very tall wood structure, thus preventing the passer-by from getting any kind of a gander at it all. Sorry little town of Natural Bridge. You lost me with that trick. I see nothing clever about blocking off a natural landmark from casual view. It struck me as being so unethical, I lost all desire to leave the road and see this piece of natural workmanship. I’m not sure, but I may have shot myself in the foot with that feeling. All the same, it felt as if the nature was being ransomed and it rubbed me the wrong way. They didn’t see any of my money as I continued moving south but I did come across this weird sight. It’s called “Foamhenge”  along Hwy 11 south near Natural Bridge, Virginia. There are actually tours of Foamhenge, but you should call ahead if you’re planning for a guided tour of the grounds!

Finally around Buchanan, I’ve had enough of all this and decided to roll to the Blue Ridge Highway. Talk about a scary 4 miles from Route 11 to the on ramp at the Blue Ridge? Good Lord! I was thinking heavily about turning back. They used chipped shale to keep the road graveled during winter and it was as slippery as gorilla snot. My shoulders, hands and teeth hurt by the time I got onto the Parkway. I slipped onto the “Ridge” and headed south, breathing a huge stress relieving sigh. Soon I was enjoying the spine of the Blue Ridge Motorway and it was beautiful, so beautiful.

"Foamhenge" near Natural Bridge, VA

Blue Ridge Parkway and Little Gal

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