Camp Creek to Matewan/Gilbert 2010

I have to first give credit to Mike for always planning these trips and following up with such imformative ride reports. He definitely knows how to explain the legs of the ride along with great pics. It was also great meeting Mark and his buddies we met up with on the trail in the middle of NO where, while they were following our tracks from last year.

My wife tagged along this year and definitely endured what most wives wouldn't, she was a real trooper (most of the time ) She was able to take alot of the pictures and some video. She should be on her own rzr next year though!

The Matewan Bed & Breakfast was our of my favroite parts of the ride. They heard us coming down the street and waved us into thier parking lot, while it was raining. They were quick to get us settled in and were very hospitable. I could have stayed there for days.

The whole trip was a blast. If it wasn't raining and we didn't get off to late starts, I think we could have done alot more exploring. There's always next time....... and I woudn't mind 4 days next time! We enjoyed the down time & shooting the crap, relaxing at the B&B and cabins as much as riding. This is definitely a trip to remember with good friends.

Til next time.... ride. RIDE ON

simoniz wrote:

TBONE21 wrote:

I like that cover on the back of Kennys RZR. Where did he get that thing?

Garbage bag!!

It's 7 mil plastic. Its used under houses. It's pretty durable and didn't rip. After alot of rain, the plastic did seperate from the velcro. I made it in about 20 minutes. It's a rough draft and I noticed a few improvements to me made. It did serve it's purpose and kept most of the mud off of my gear. I'll definitely put some more time into it, using better material... once I have the time.

ride guys , now I'd like to do a ride like that some time!

This is the Tug Fork River, the boundry line between WV and KY, the creek running in to the river is the WV and VA boundry.


All of us lookin' toward the Tug Fork and gettin' ready to hit the 13 miles of railroad tracks to Freeburn Ky.


Before hittin' the tracks, I checked my voicemails. The Matewan House had called to check our e.t.a.! I returned the call, Pat answered and encouraged us to get a move on, he had the fireplace stoked. We turned our thoughts to hot showers, local grub and warm beds.

Of course, just when you set you sights and get a bead on the target, (the Matewan House) the wind shifts and the target gets a whiff of ya'.
I gotta flat on the tracks.

We ended up puttin' 6 or 7 plugs in a small gash between the treads, no evidence of the gahser.

The "trail" ahead.

that looks like a great trip...

After fixin' the flat, about a 20 min. delay, we rode the tracks out to the bridge into Ky and pulled into Freeburn after dark. We got fuel and a cigar and were all obviously happy to be so close to the days end point, now 7 miles of asphalt away.

The Matewan House is a great destination for anyone riding the area or for folks just wanting to get away from the same ole' motel scene. Like Kenny said, Sandy was standing out front in the rain waivin' us in when came around the corner!
The fire was kickin', the rooms were just like grandmas', and the host couldn't have been better. Snacks everywhere and a massive breakfast in the mornin'.
Pat did share plenty of stories about the houses' previous life as a mortary and funeral home. We didn't see any ghosts though, too bad.
They also provide a locked parking area and wash bay! This is the next am after we hosed down the horses.





Next we try to find outlaw trails to Gilbert...........

keep the story and pics coming.

Amarillo6oh wrote:

simoniz wrote:

TBONE21 wrote:

I like that cover on the back of Kennys RZR. Where did he get that thing?

Garbage bag!!

It's 7 mil plastic. Its used under houses. It's pretty durable and didn't rip. After alot of rain, the plastic did seperate from the velcro. I made it in about 20 minutes. It's a rough draft and I noticed a few improvements to me made. It did serve it's purpose and kept most of the mud off of my gear. I'll definitely put some more time into it, using better material... once I have the time.

7 mil thickness garbage bag from Wally World LMAO... Just picking Kenny!

Maybe a Canvas Tarp , take it to a person that does boat Upolstry and have them cut to fit and use rope or Velco to attach . Either way I was noticing that cover and liked the idea also .....

looks like a great ride ,great story telling keep up the good work

we were a day behind them and went to the same great bed and breakfast! very nice people and great rooms! will go again soon!

Now this is the type of ride I would drive the over 1000 miles from Iowa to do. I have done simaler rides in Utah in the past but we tented every nite along the trail. I seriously think we are gona come out to WV next year and if anyone wants to show us around we are lookin for volonteres. We would be all over a ride like this.

Awsome RR. Mike it shows your experience writing ADV rider style. Love those stories. When I find it I'll send you the link of a RR my brother in law wrote. It is an awsome report of his ride on his V-Strom from Columbia, SC to Prudo Bay, AK. It is like 38 pages long.

KickitNCRZRGIRL wrote:

Amazing adventures!!! That's what life if all about. One trail exploration at a time! Always like to hear and see your great trips and reports on those adventures!

Thanks for gettin it!

Gadget wrote:

I'm gonna rate it 20 ,20, 20.

Thanks, that's gotta be a 1st.

RHarrah wrote:

Nice...would be an interesting adventure that I would like to do too.

Thanks, it's a great time that's well worth the logistics.

ermullis wrote:

ride guys , now I'd like to do a ride like that some time!

Thanks Randy, you should make sure to do a long distance trip sometime soon.

Gary wrote:

looks like a great ride ,great story telling keep up the good work

Thanks, there's more to come.

B_Krukow wrote:

Now this is the type of ride I would drive the over 1000 miles from Iowa to do. I have done simaler rides in Utah in the past but we tented every nite along the trail. I seriously think we are gona come out to WV next year and if anyone wants to show us around we are lookin for volonteres. We would be all over a ride like this.

When you set the date for a trip to WV, let me know, I'll make sure to be able to show you around for at least a couple of days. If not a week! I've got ya a free place to camp. I was in Utah in Sept., with the dualsport, I'd love to go back with RZR soon.

Rhinorider wrote:

Awsome RR. Mike it shows your experience writing ADV rider style. Love those stories. When I find it I'll send you the link of a RR my brother in law wrote. It is an awsome report of his ride on his V-Strom from Columbia, SC to Prudo Bay, AK. It is like 38 pages long.

Does it show that bad? lol Thanks for the compliment.

Amarillo6oh wrote:

I have to first give credit to Mike for always planning these trips and following up with such imformative ride reports. He definitely knows how to explain the legs of the ride along with great pics. This is definitely a trip to remember with good friends.

Til next time.... ride. RIDE ON

Thanks Kenny, The planning is all worth it just a couple of miles in. I can't wait for the next ride.

We had planned to follow last years route, but the lodging ptions in eastern Ky are slim so we made reservations at Millers cabins in Gilbert. We headed off to northeast out of Matewan hoping to find some good trails leading that way.


We tried Rutherford Branch, it looked promising, in typical WV fashion the residential street and asphalt faded into a atv trail. About 300 yards in there was a 20' dia. tree across the trail at head height, we had a chainsaw but Christy had the bright idea to hang on each others RZR to compress the shocks. We did, Kenny and I still barely made it. Mark, with his chopped top, rolled under unscathed and unassisted.
There's the tree but sadly no shot of Mark and Christy hangin' from the machines as we went under it.


We got the chance to show what we had just learned, after going another 100 yards the trail ended in a hair raising uturn on the rocky hillside for Mark and I. But the return trip under the tree had a twist, Kenny and I had to do it in reverse because of the grade. Again no pic. Next time though!

So Mike how much road did you have to ride in Kentucky because I don't think the law is as friendly as they are in West Va about riding on the road.

Bobby D wrote:

So Mike how much road did you have to ride in Kentucky because I don't think the law is as friendly as they are in West Va about riding on the road.

Thanks Bobby, we only rode about 5 miles in Ky this year, last year we did quite a few miles there but few were dirt or traill. That's part of the reason we decided to change the route after Matewan at the last minute.
If anyone knows of any trails or gravel in the northeast corner and down the eastern state line of KY, I'd really appreciate a tour.

Pikesville Ky would be nice too!

Here's a vid from this ride. I'll try to finish this ride report soon...

:awesome video:

cool video.

Looked like an awesome ride guys!!!

Looked like a great ride and a good time.