Just home from a three day ride on the Mandello, with a buddy on his V-Strom. Both bikes ran flawlessly, and no issues with the V100 (I didn’t lose any hard bags or parts!
). We had dry conditions, but hot (nothing like the triple digits out west, tho!) - highest temp registered on my dash, was 96.
Left Cincinnati, heading south to Paris, stopped at the Cain Ridge Meeting House (built in 1791) - a cool historic place to check out. Largest log cabin in the US. Headed west on 60, then the excellent 32, to Louisa (on W Va border). Stopped in Blaine, KY to get a photo that I’ve wanted for a year, …since the last time I was down that way, and saw an old tractor in a field, being driven by a goat, with help from a pig, chickens and a mini donkey. I kid you not - see pic. The farm itself raises min donkeys. Kinda trippy.
Cain Ridge Meeting House (inside a protective structure built in the 60’s):
“The tractor” - I told ya…
My two passions in life - guitar and riding
… fill up in Louisa…
Day 2 - west to London, via 3, 40, 30 among others. 30 was very “North Carolina” like, in places. Stopped for lunch at The Old Bus Stop Diner in Booneville.
Day Three - north from London, via some real back roads, through some stunning Daniel Boone Forest scenery. We stopped for a photo op on a wooden slat bridge (you could see the river below through some of the slats!). This was a single lane section of rt 89.
Stopped at Fox’s General Store, on 974, in Trapp, KY…
Inside the general store is Fox’s Kitchen, where the locals come for lunch. The ladies that run it, make clear their policy…
All in all a great ride, with fun side stops, beautiful scenery and great roads! The Mandello has about 2400 miles on it now. Runs smoother the more I ride it (a lot like my Norge was). I plan to post some “thoughts” on (my) experience with the Mandello, thus far. For now, gonna clean off the bugs, and relax this weekend! Blessed!
). We had dry conditions, but hot (nothing like the triple digits out west, tho!) - highest temp registered on my dash, was 96.Left Cincinnati, heading south to Paris, stopped at the Cain Ridge Meeting House (built in 1791) - a cool historic place to check out. Largest log cabin in the US. Headed west on 60, then the excellent 32, to Louisa (on W Va border). Stopped in Blaine, KY to get a photo that I’ve wanted for a year, …since the last time I was down that way, and saw an old tractor in a field, being driven by a goat, with help from a pig, chickens and a mini donkey. I kid you not - see pic. The farm itself raises min donkeys. Kinda trippy.
Cain Ridge Meeting House (inside a protective structure built in the 60’s):
“The tractor” - I told ya…
My two passions in life - guitar and riding
… fill up in Louisa…
Day 2 - west to London, via 3, 40, 30 among others. 30 was very “North Carolina” like, in places
. Stopped for lunch at The Old Bus Stop Diner in Booneville.Day Three - north from London, via some real back roads, through some stunning Daniel Boone Forest scenery. We stopped for a photo op on a wooden slat bridge (you could see the river below through some of the slats!). This was a single lane section of rt 89.
Stopped at Fox’s General Store, on 974, in Trapp, KY…
Inside the general store is Fox’s Kitchen, where the locals come for lunch. The ladies that run it, make clear their policy
…
All in all a great ride, with fun side stops, beautiful scenery and great roads! The Mandello has about 2400 miles on it now. Runs smoother the more I ride it (a lot like my Norge was). I plan to post some “thoughts” on (my) experience with the Mandello, thus far. For now, gonna clean off the bugs, and relax this weekend! Blessed!
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