Ride Report: 6-22-08 Trapp / Seven Creeks Run

sahasralah · **Posted:** Mon Jun 23, 2008 5:04 pm

Postaldave and I set off on Sunday afternoon, headed east. He was looking for some potential GS rides (off-road) as well. We thought we'd see if we could find a shallow water crossing on Seven Creeks Road (now called Kidd Road) over in Powell County. I was a bit apprehensive, because the ducati isn't exactly a BMW GS, but Dave was on his Honda VFR, so we weren't talking deep mud or anything...

We set off around 3:00pm, headed southeast and fueled up at the Athens/Boonesboro Rd exit. Then we took off towards the river. Taking the usual TNR route, we passed Hall's, the Waterfront, and the ruins of Banana's, and took Ford Road over the railroad tracks to Four Mile Road. Four Mile is a really neat, quiet road, but we had to pass about 6 cars along the way--hard to do on a one-laner with gravel in the shoulders.

At Seven Creeks, we found a spot under a tall railroad bridge to stop for a break. Dave climbed the supports of the bridge and posed for his advriders photo. When we continued on, we came to some dry creek beds. The road asphalt pretty much ends at the edge of the creek bed and then assorted rocks take over until you get to the other side. Light on the bars, weight on the pegs, and modulating the rear brake gets your sportbike through with no problems and a big grin on your face.

The water crossing we had been looking for has since been paved over with concrete. So much for your childhood memories, Dave. Just kidding. It's the sad toll of progress, I suppose.

We roamed around Clark and Powell Counties for the rest of the afternoon. A couple of times we hit a dead end. The GPS showed it, but hey, how would you ever know what was down there if you didn't explore?

When we took a break on Forge Mill Rd, Dave got a call from his wife that the weather back in Lexington was turning bad, so we decided to head back via 15.

We got as far as Winchester, hitting some light rain, so we stopped at Dave's dad's place, where we watched some of the Infineon race and talked bikes and iPhones. Dave's dad hadn't seen an iPhone before, so I played some of JW's Wildcat Riders highlight videos for him from Youtube. He loved it. Before long it was time to hit the road again.

After thanking Dave's dad for the hospitality and dry roof over our heads, and an obligitory twist of the wrist for the neighborhood kids, we took off down McClure Road, headed west. From there, it was Comb's Ferry. At the intersection with Athens-Boonesboro, Dave stopped. I pulled up next to him. "Ever been on Grimes Mill?" he yelled over the exhaust and earplugs. "Yeah, the one with the switchback?" I said, making a zig-zag motion. He nodded and we were on our way. Ahh Grimes Mill. The classic country switchback. After the hairpin turn, we idled over the one lane bridge, looking to both sides. There's something great about that section. You definitely feel you are in a different time and place...

Exhausts wailing, we powered up the hill, nearly scraping pegs up the alternating-camber curves leading up from the creek. From there we hopped Spears Rd over to Tates Creek and back into Southpoint via Ash Grove and the Brannon Crossings shopping center.

Back at Dave's, his wife grilled hamburgers and we talked about the day's events and other things. After dinner, we went indoors to watch the season premiere of Top Gear.

All it takes is some determination to make the most of a spotty Sunday afternoon.

See you out there.

Ride Report: 6-22-08 Trapp / Seven Creeks Run

Ride Report: 6-22-08 Trapp / Seven Creeks Run

Ride Report: 6-22-08 Trapp / Seven Creeks Run

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