Unexpectations: An Off-the-Beaten-Path Z4 Tour of WV & VA

Mr. ///M3 RD · 08-07-2011, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick F.

Rolf-Dieter,

I'm really glad you enjoyed the report. Do you live in Germany? I've enjoyed touring over there, as well.

Have fun planning your Vermont trip. I suspect you'll enjoy it immensely.

Rick F.

No Rick, I live in Canada and return to the old country every 5 to 7 years (more often now that I am retired). I normally do drive a lot when I am in Germany over 7K KM the last 2 trips. It is just so pictures driving the back roads. Not much to see if one only travels along the autobahn

My next new BMW will most likely be a ED and I'll tour Italy and Spain at the same time before returning home to Canada.

Caddyshk · 08-07-2011, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick F.

Endless,

Dang--you mean I made this same trip before, took the same pictures, wrote it all up, and now I don't even remember??

Geez, I am getting old!

And here I thought I'd never been to Smoke Hole Canyon before...

Rick F.

DaveL--2mnycars · 08-07-2011, 08:24 PM

Wow! sitting here making notes. Your storyis incredible! Came this way just to see if you had written again. Glad I did!
Took a tour yesterday in the bimmercab. We ended up in Elora. Pretty town. I shall post some pitures and share them with you.
Amazes me reading your tours! Thank you!
DaveL
Toronto

DaveL--2mnycars · 08-07-2011, 08:50 PM

Thanks for the link to your low-sider description. Glad you had the right gear on. Keep the shiny side up!

It's the things we do a million times that trip us up. (I have 2 plates/14 screws for the slow right turn I did after teaching skiing for 35 years--tib/fib)

bucko521 · 08-09-2011, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick F.

bucko,

Speaking of which, my wife read the story last night and spotted what she took to be the ghostly image of a woman outside an upstairs window of the abandoned house I photographed:
Rick

Sure...sure...now I won't be able to sleep at night...

yes, I have to agree with her....ghostly image for sure!

I'll have to remind myself to setup for some interesting pictures on my trip. 4-5 days and counting.

BTW.... are you using "raw" type of photos to do the HDR shots?

Rick F. · 08-14-2011, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by antennahead

If you ever get down this way, the Lowcountry (what they call the coastline from about Savannah to the NC border) is full of similar history. Obviously Charleston has an endless supply of old architecture, but once you get outside of town there are many smaller towns and communities that look similar to your pics ................... great stuff!

John

John,

I do get to Myrtle Beach every so often, mostly just to relax and enjoy the ocean. Next time I'll try actually looking around for a change!

Rick

Rick F. · 08-14-2011, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rolf-Dieter

No Rick, I live in Canada and return to the old country every 5 to 7 years (more often now that I am retired). I normally do drive a lot when I am in Germany over 7K KM the last 2 trips. It is just so pictures driving the back roads. Not much to see if one only travels along the autobahn

My next new BMW will most likely be a ED and I'll tour Italy and Spain at the same time before returning home to Canada.

Rolf-Dieter,

I've always wanted to do a European delivery for a new car. It used to sound a lot more complicated, but now the factories seem to have it down to a science. And your tour plans sound great--I'm envious!

If you haven't already been there, Siena was one of my most-favorite places in Italy. And driving in Tuscany was beautiful, naturally.

Be sure to get some good pictures when you go and to post them here. (Then we'll all be envious!)

Rick

Rick F. · 08-14-2011, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2mnycars

Wow! sitting here making notes. Your storyis incredible! Came this way just to see if you had written again. Glad I did!
Took a tour yesterday in the bimmercab. We ended up in Elora. Pretty town. I shall post some pitures and share them with you.
Amazes me reading your tours! Thank you!
DaveL
Toronto

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2mnycars

Thanks for the link to your low-sider description. Glad you had the right gear on. Keep the shiny side up!

It's the things we do a million times that trip us up. (I have 2 plates/14 screws for the slow right turn I did after teaching skiing for 35 years--tib/fib)

Dave,

Good to hear from you, mon ami. And thanks for the Elora photos, which I very much enjoyed. (I'm glad it's warm enough in Canada for bikinis!)

As for West Virginia and Virginia, I hope you'll get to do some touring there some day. Both are wonderful, but if you had to pick just one, I'd go with West Virginia. The entire State is nothing but mountains and mountain roads. Most enjoyable.

Rick

Rick F. · 08-14-2011, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bucko521

Sure...sure...now I won't be able to sleep at night...

yes, I have to agree with her....ghostly image for sure!

I'll have to remind myself to setup for some interesting pictures on my trip. 4-5 days and counting.

BTW.... are you using "raw" type of photos to do the HDR shots?

bucko,

Thanks for checking out the "ghost" for me. I passed along to my wife that you agree with her about the photo.

I don't use "raw" mode for the pictures I take, in part because that's about the only feature that my Canon SX-10 doesn't have. The other reason is that I can hold about 700 JPEG photos on a 2-GB memory card, which is (generally) enough for a 1-day trip. However, if I ever get really serious about HDR photography, then an SLR, tripod, and raw format are what the professor ordered...

So have a great trip (and be sure to post some photos for us).

Rick

1MOREMOD · 08-14-2011, 04:11 PM

nice camera work and a bit of history to boot.

Mr. ///M3 RD · 08-14-2011, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick F.

Rolf-Dieter,

I've always wanted to do a European delivery for a new car. It used to sound a lot more complicated, but now the factories seem to have it down to a science. And your tour plans sound great--I'm envious!

If you haven't already been there, Siena was one of my most-favorite places in Italy. And driving in Tuscany was beautiful, naturally.

Be sure to get some good pictures when you go and to post them here. (Then we'll all be envious!)

Rick

Rick

In 2009 I made the factory / museum tour in Germany (Dresden - Leipzig - Stuttgart and Munich) visiting VW, Porsche, Mercedes and of course BMW. It was a wonderful trip (boys trip left the wife at home). Something I highly recommend to everyone that is interested in the world of the automobile

One day when I find the time I will put together a nice photo-album of that trip.

Rick F. · 08-16-2011, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chriszeh

nice camera work and a bit of history to boot.

chriszeh,

Very glad that you enjoyed the photos and history!

Rick F.

DaveL--2mnycars · 08-16-2011, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick F.

Endless,

Dang--you mean I made this same trip before, took the same pictures, wrote it all up, and now I don't even remember??

Geez, I am getting old!

And here I thought I'd never been to Smoke Hole Canyon before...

Rick F.

Isn't there a movie coming out with another parallel (empty) Earth planet? Thought I saw a promo for it. Your writing is incredible, and I appreciate every new piece I see. And sure am glad you survived your low-side excursion on your 2-wheeler.

Best,

Rick F. · 08-22-2011, 04:05 PM

Dave,

I don't know about the movie, but I really appreciate your comment on my trip reports--thanks!

As for the low-side, it could have been worse. I thought my new tires were adequately broken in, but they weren't, and my GS slid out from under me at the first significant lean angle I gave it. We both slid along the road for quite a ways and onto a small bridge, where a relatively new guard rail kept the bike (and possibly me!) from going over the edge into the little stream below.

It was a lot more of an adventure than I needed. I felt a little better learning that there had been 34 other mishaps in this same turn over the prior 5 or 10 years, but I would have made it easily if I'd just left my old Michelins on the GS. Ah well.

I look forward to seeing the pictures from whatever your next trip turns out to be!

Rick

DaveL--2mnycars · 08-23-2011, 06:31 PM

Countless years ago we set off on a motorcycle trip. Kingston Ontario to Putnam Vermont. When we got there, we decided to go see Easy Rider in Boston. Saw it. Flinched every time we saw a pickup truck on the way back!

"Get a haircut" brought back memories too. Dennis Hopper, RIP

antennahead · 08-23-2011, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2mnycars

Countless years ago we set off on a motorcycle trip. Kingston Ontario to Putnam Vermont. When we got there, we decided to go see Easy Rider in Boston. Saw it. Flinched every time we saw a pickup truck on the way back!

"Get a haircut" brought back memories too. Dennis Hopper, RIP

Dennis Hopper was always one of my favorites, RIP

08-07-2011, 08:24 PM	#25
DaveL--2mnycars Iron Ring 11 Rep 316 Posts Drives: M3Cab/SMG/Dinan-Sold;335CabSld Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Hazeltown iTrader: (0)	Wow! sitting here making notes. Your storyis incredible! Came this way just to see if you had written again. Glad I did! Took a tour yesterday in the bimmercab. We ended up in Elora. Pretty town. I shall post some pitures and share them with you. Amazes me reading your tours! Thank you! DaveL Toronto __________________ DaveL///Toronto. http://www.ironring.ca/ *My wife's cars*: Had a few... I'm the Navigator, capable of getting us lost at any time! Drives are longer!
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08-07-2011, 08:50 PM	#26
DaveL--2mnycars Iron Ring 11 Rep 316 Posts Drives: M3Cab/SMG/Dinan-Sold;335CabSld Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Hazeltown iTrader: (0)	Thanks for the link to your low-sider description. Glad you had the right gear on. Keep the shiny side up! It's the things we do a million times that trip us up. (I have 2 plates/14 screws for the slow right turn I did after teaching skiing for 35 years--tib/fib) __________________ DaveL///Toronto. http://www.ironring.ca/ *My wife's cars: Had a few... I'm the Navigator, capable of getting us lost at any time! Drives are longer! Last edited by DaveL--2mnycars; 08-07-2011 at 08:50 PM.. Reason: sometimers*
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08-14-2011, 04:11 PM	#32
1MOREMOD - 11817 Rep 23,187 Posts Drives: Race car-> Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: check your mirrors iTrader: (5)	nice camera work and a bit of history to boot. __________________ 02 Tiag e46 M3\|6MT\|GC plates\|MCS c.o.\|GC bars\|GC race control arms\|GC bushings\|BW eng. & tran. mounts\|subframe kit\|BW race shifter\|BW Jaffster\|Euro header\|BW exhaust\|K&N c.a.i.\|Epic race tune\|Rouge pulleys\|Seibon CF hood\|CSL bumper\|apr gt 250 & splitter\|ST-40\|XR-2\|SS lines\|half cage\|Recaro profi\|Profi 2 harness\|BMWpedals\|BW studs\|
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08-22-2011, 04:05 PM	#36
Rick F. Lieutenant Colonel 948 Rep 1,910 Posts Drives: 2013 BMW 335i cabriolet Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Catonsville, MD iTrader: (0)	Dave, I don't know about the movie, but I really appreciate your comment on my trip reports--thanks! As for the low-side, it could have been worse. I thought my new tires were adequately broken in, but they weren't, and my GS slid out from under me at the first significant lean angle I gave it. We both slid along the road for quite a ways and onto a small bridge, where a relatively new guard rail kept the bike (and possibly me!) from going over the edge into the little stream below. It was a lot more of an adventure than I needed. I felt a little better learning that there had been 34 other mishaps in this same turn over the prior 5 or 10 years, but I would have made it easily if I'd just left my old Michelins on the GS. Ah well. I look forward to seeing the pictures from whatever your next trip turns out to be! Rick
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08-23-2011, 06:31 PM	#37
DaveL--2mnycars Iron Ring 11 Rep 316 Posts Drives: M3Cab/SMG/Dinan-Sold;335CabSld Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Hazeltown iTrader: (0)	Countless years ago we set off on a motorcycle trip. Kingston Ontario to Putnam Vermont. When we got there, we decided to go see Easy Rider in Boston. Saw it. Flinched every time we saw a pickup truck on the way back! "Get a haircut" brought back memories too. Dennis Hopper, RIP __________________ DaveL///Toronto. http://www.ironring.ca/ *My wife's cars*: Had a few... I'm the Navigator, capable of getting us lost at any time! Drives are longer!
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