Eastern North Carolina and the Crystal Coast/OBX

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tjbliley

New member
Joined
Jun 9, 2016
Messages
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Location
Richmond, VA
I took my new to me FJR out for its maiden trip a couple weeks ago. I put down 700 miles in 3 days. Took a nice ride which I have done before on a cruiser, and made it one of the most awesome rides for me ever.

I started out in Richmond, VA and ran like I was going to do what we call the "Nickel/Dime". I went down Rt. 5 and headed to the Jamestown Va Ferry.
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From here I went south through Smithfield, Va and grabbed some Breakfast. Once full I climbed on and let myself go towards Edenton, NC.

This is a gorgeous town I have visited before with my cruiser bike on a previous trip. At this point I decided this would be the trip where I would replace all the pics I have of me and my cruiser with my new bike love, my FJR.

I slowly got used to the weight and feel of this new-to-me bike and began to understand why it has such a following. Leaning into the turns and flowing down the roads, I understood all of it.

I arrived in Edenton and headed to the center of town and got a new pic to replace one from my previous trip at the town marina.

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I figured since I was here, I would stop for lunch and check the weather. Had an amazing crabcake sandwich at Emilio's. Weather did not look great so I plotted a course around it and headed to New Bern NC and my accommodations for the night at KOA. My plan was to get a tent site and hang my hammock,

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but when I got there the forecast called for lots of lightning so I opted for a cabin.

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The storm blew through and I got plenty of rest. Also had a good shower to wash away some of the miles. The next morning I headed to the Crystal Coast. Emerald Isle NC. I needed to have some sand therapy with a small dose of sunshine.

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I took a leisurely ride up the beach road and then headed to Cedar Island to catch a ferry to Ocracoke Island, NC. I headed up that way but stopped to see some of the sights along the way.

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Stopped on the Waterfront in Beaufort, NC

Had to stop at the Piggly Wiggly.

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I was not moving very fast so when I got to the ferry terminal I found out I had missed a ferry and would have to wait a little while.

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But I kept moving as soon as the ferry got there.

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After lunch at Howards pub on Ocracoke Island, I had to stop by and see the horses for my wife, and then get another dose of sun and sand.

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Heading north I was soon arriving at the Hatteras Island Ferry. This would be much shorter ride than the last one.

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Arriving on Hatteras Island I found my next stop at the Hatteras KOA. This time weather was in my favor so I got the tent site with a shelter. It was really nice and had everything you could need, mostly looking for a shower at this point.

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Timing was everything. I got there in time to freshen up, grab some dinner, and watch a sunset over the sound.

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The next morning after watching the sun rise over the Atlantic,

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I started north on Rt 12 and enjoyed the opportunity to ride along the dunes and have some open road if you know what I mean. I was now becoming real acquainted with my FJR and began learning some of her limitations.

Soon I was arriving near Nags Head NC and had to add another pic of my new FJR with a lighthouse.

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After leaving the Bodie Island Lighthouse, I headed north back through Elizabeth City NC and up to Smithfield VA again.

From here I returned to the familiar "Nickel/Dime" route and headed back up Rt. 10 toward Richmond and then to home.

In all I traveled 701 miles and never drove on an Interstate. My FJR carried me and all my stuff, without any issues and made me a new believer in this bike.

 
Excellent! Thanks, what a GREAT REPORT, especially for your first post to the FJRforum other than your intro post. Looking forward to more, sir!

BTW - I'm headed that way myself. Well, I've already been, but my ride report is now in progress. Stay tuned.

 
Excellent ride report! Welcome to the fold. All it takes in one ride on these things and you are hooked. There are a few of us in the area. You should check out EOM in September. It will be a great chance to meet quite a few people from here. It is in Wytheville 9/22 to 9/25.

 
I took my new to me FJR out for its maiden trip a couple weeks ago. I put down 700 miles in 3 days. Took a nice ride which I have done before on a cruiser, and made it one of the most awesome rides for me ever.
I started out in Richmond, VA and ran like I was going to do what we call the "Nickel/Dime". I went down Rt. 5 and headed to the Jamestown Va Ferry.
13501863_10153674073295233_5631252693970922948_n.jpg
Great ride report! Congratulations on the new to you bike. I'm glad you enjoyed the first trip on it. I love that Route 5 run on the nickel-dime route. Not a big fan of the "dime" side of it. I usually ride Route 10 until the Benjamin Harrison Bridge and then take that back over to Route 5.

When I saw your first photo, I knew it looked familiar
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......after reading the whole thing this is my takeaway......"I was now becoming real acquainted with my FJR and began learning some of her limitations. ".............
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.....What limitations!!???

LOL.....Great Ride Report!!

 
Thanks for the ride report; looks like you had a good time! :D

As Bob mentioned, there are a few of us around the NC/VA area...you ought to try for EOM!

 
What a fine adventure on a wonderful motorcycle. I could really sense your enjoyment in your writings. Hard not to love the FJR on a route like that. Any one of us can ride many hundreds (or even over a thousand) miles in a day. But about 250-ish twisty miles is a nice day, leaving plenty of time to stop and sniff around.

I've never been to the North Carolina coast. The sand is whiter and the water greener than I expected.

Not being critical, mind you - but perhaps a food porn shot or two wouldn't hurt for future ride reports? You know what they say... if at first you don't succeed.......

Well done, sir.

 
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I echo the sentiments above. You sir are good at the ride report thing already, and I know a little about ride reports. Like my friend Pants says, to get to the next level, you gotta take some food pictures.

For your first sortie into this arena, I am truly impressed. Keep it up. We all love living vicariously through each other's' ride reports. Additionally, it give us ideas of where to go and eat. I know I research all the ride reports before I head out somewhere and have gotten great info from the data in the reports.

Well Done! But you need more practice........get out there again and report back to us.
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Very nice! Thanks for taking us along. You should definitely consider EOM.

 
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What is EOM?? I usually do better with the food, but I was very focused on the ride portion. I have been doing these type things offroad with Jeeps for the last 15+ years, so the reporting is just how I do it. I thought about the food as I was writing, but did not take many pictures, I was hungry. Someone asked about limitations, I found the top end as well as how far I can comfortably lean in a turn. There will be more to come as I plan my next trip along the east coast toward Charleston or Savannah.

 
TJ, don't forget every Wednesday night at Mission BBQ at Broad and Glenside is Bike Night. I've seen 2 or 3 other FJR's there, but 1 of them was recently wrecked, so the numbers of FJR's is low. It's usually mine and one other one. Would be nice to see some more FJR's there. Some times it's 50 bikes there, some times it's 300-400 there, just depends on the weather.

 
What is EOM??
An annual event where a few FJR folks gather to drink moonshine and get reminded about it in perpetuity (re....sis.....ting......urge to repost....ph...oto). ;)

In all seriousness, it's an annual FJR event where we gather, ride, and socialize for a couple days in the mountains. Great fun, usually around 80-100 folks, if not more.

 
Great to meet you tonight at Bike Night TJ! GREAT looking bike too! So well taken care of. I'm sure she will bring you a lot of pleasure. I look forward to riding with you in the future.

 
......after reading the whole thing this is my takeaway......"I was now becoming real acquainted with my FJR and began learning some of her limitations. ".............
tonguesmiley.gif
.....What limitations!!???
LOL.....Great Ride Report!!
Yeah, like......... Just a 5 speed, no LED lights, 9200 rpm rev limiter, 6 gallon tank......... oh she's limited all right
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