RIDING OHIO’S WINDY 9 • PART 2
Today we’re off to ride The Triple Nickel, The Rim of the World and parts of Pioneer Pass. If you’re just joining us now, we suggest you read the previous blog post first to get the whole story about this Ohio motorcycle adventure.
Is it just me, or does it seem as if the weatherman only gets the forecast right when you don’t want him to? It’s day number two of our Ohio “Windy 9” motorcycle trip. I draw back the curtain in The Days Inn to unveil Mother Nature’s cruel sense of humor. It’s raining…and not just a drizzle. It’s raining like the heavens have decided to take a giant leak right over our riding plans.
I take a quick look at the weather radar and put plan B into motion. We’ll have a leisurely breakfast at a nearby IHOP restaurant while we wait for the storms to move on out. It should stop raining within the hour. Sunshine is predicted for the afternoon. Great! If we’re going to ride the Triple Nickel today I’d like to have dry pavement beneath me. Unlike those MotoGP racers there will be no wet pavement heroics for this guy.
Photo Opportunity
The rest of our riding group is staying in Marietta, Ohio…about 50 miles east of our motel in Athens. The storm is moving east so we’ll get a reprieve from the rain earlier than they will. We decide to use this bonus time to take some photographs…an activity that is not as high on the other rider’s list of priorities.
We leave the restaurant with a light rain still falling and head east on Ohio Route 550. This beautiful byway is part of The Windy 9 route #6; called Pioneer Pass. This wonderful road flows through miles of farmland in the Ohio countryside, with gentle sweeping turns that would certainly be a whole lot more fun if the roads weren’t so wet and slippery. They were quite enjoyable, nonetheless. Even at prudent speeds.
In a light rain at the intersection of Ohio Routes 550 & 329
We stop along the way at the intersection of Ohio Route 329, unaware that this road will later become an exciting part of today’s travels. Parag launched his drone into the sky and we mounted the bikes and continued riding east to capture a picture of us from above. We got a little bit of a scare when we rode out of radio range and lost control of the bird. Parag doubled back in a hurry to recover his drone, which was hovering dutifully in the damp sky above…waiting patiently for the pilot who “abandoned” it. The result of this photographic effort is the featured image at the beginning of this post.
And Then There Were Five
Twenty miles later we roll into Chesterhill, Ohio and rendezvous with the rest of our riding group. There are five of us now (aboard 3 BMWs, 1 Ducati and 1 Honda Gold Wing). Chesterhill is significant because it is situated at the intersection of two of the most technically challenging segments of The Windy 9…Route #1: ”The Rim of the World” and Route #9: “The Triple Nickel”.
The Triple Nickel Diner in Chesterhill, Ohio
Chesterhill is also home to the Triple Nickel Diner, an establishment that just has to be biker-friendly because of its location. Anyone who comes to ride the Triple Nickel passes this establishment. Even on this day of marginal weather conditions, there were about 25 bikes in the parking lot when we arrived. Having just had a righteous breakfast a couple of hours ago I opted simply for coffee. The food got good reviews from the rest of the gang, with the Veggie Burger getting multiple accolades. For the more conventional appetite they also serve locally-raised bison burgers and local grass-fed black Angus beef burgers.
Long Island BMW Riders Club members left to right: Parag, Frank, Roman, Hoss & Myself
It’s Time To Ride…Finally
It was close to 2:00PM when we finally climbed into the saddle to take on these highly-anticipated routes. Just one look at the “Windy 9” map in the previous post will tell you all you need to know. This is the best of the best…the most technically-challenging sections of “The Windy 9”.
We pulled out of Chesterhill onto “The Rim of the World”. Heading in a counter-clockwise rotation we traversed Ohio Route 377 to its northern terminus. We then turned left onto Ohio Route 78 heading southwest towards Ringgold, Ohio. Forget everything we learned yesterday. Today was a whole new ball game. This road was a blast!
The author’s BMW alongside Ohio Route 78 on “The Rim of the World” circuit
This road features lots of long sweeping curves, many tight decreasing radius turns and an abundance of beautiful scenery to distract even the most focused rider. This route is a keeper and worth riding in both directions. As I said in my book “Road Work: Images and Insights of a Modern Day Explorer”: “…every great road is actually two great roads; the riding and visual experience being entirely different depending upon which direction you are heading.”
Ohio Route 555 • The Triple Nickel
In the town of Ringgold, Ohio we made a left turn off of Ohio Route 78 onto Ohio Route 555. We’re about to ride the Triple Nickel! Riding Ohio Route 555, The Triple Nickel, isn’t just a motorcycle journey; it’s a transcendental experience. It’s a reminder of the simple joys of the road, the beauty of the American countryside, and the freedom that comes from embracing the wind in your face and the curves ahead.
Parag and Frank negotiating a right-hander on The Triple Nickel
It’s not just the road that enchants; it’s the scenery that unfolds around you. Towering forests rise on either side, their trees providing a natural canopy that dapples the road with patches of sunlight and shadow. Then you burst out of the forested regions into wide open spaces with the sprawling farms that line the countryside.
Twisting through a forested segment of the 5-5-5
The road itself is a work of art, a black ribbon of asphalt that weaves through the landscape like a masterful painter’s brushstroke. The surface is smooth and sinuous, inviting you to twist the throttle aggressively as you navigate its wicked curves. You’ll lean into the turns, your bike and body becoming one.
Hoss and Roman masterfully handling big bikes on The Triple Nickel
Ohio Route 555, the Triple Nickel, is 75 miles in length and you’ll savor every inch of it. There is a reason this road has earned legendary status among motorcyclists. In the past year I have ridden “The Tail of the Dragon” and “421 The Snake” in Tennessee, “The Diamondback” in North Carolina and “The Back of the Dragon” in Virginia. Because the “Triple Nickel” isn’t built into the side of The Great Smoky Mountains, it lacks the presence of any wicked first or second gear uphill and downhill switchbacks. That’s just fine by me. I’ve had my fill of “hero roads” this year. When you ride the Triple Nickel it’s all about the curves…and taking them at speed.
Curves and hills on the south end of Ohio Route 555
But Wait! There’s more
The southern end of the byway marked the end of our ride the Triple Nickel experience. We hopped on Ohio Route 50 which, unfortunately, is a four lane divided highway at this point. Ten miles later we would exit and get on Ohio Route 329. Remember? I mentioned this one earlier. This is part of the Windy 9 route #6, “Pioneer Pass”. What a great way to end the day. Twelve miles of twisties through the forest brings you back out on to Route 550, which was a lot more fun to ride on this dry sunny afternoon than it was earlier this morning. Eleven miles later we were back in the parking lot of The Days Inn.
All that remained was the long interstate slog back to Long Island. We saw all sorts of weather on the return trip. A cold, damp, foggy morning greeted us as we left southeast Ohio.
By the time we hit Maryland the sun was out shining brightly and illuminating the mountains surrounding the interstate.
Finally, by the time we reached metropolitan New York we had gone through a fairly intense storm system that was rewarded by a beautiful rainbow over the New York City skyline. Parag was able to grab this cell phone shot as we motored along the New Jersey Turnpike.
Bottom Line
So…is Ohio’s Windy 9 a great motorcycle destination. Is it worth the trip to ride the Triple Nickel? For certain. We did, however, ride the best-of-the-best of it in two days. I wouldn’t plan a stay much longer than that unless you want to explore other activities in the region such as hiking in The Hocking Hills area. We did 1,200 miles of interstate on the round trip from Long Island, NY to get there. When I return it will certainly be on the itinerary with other destinations.
As always we welcome your comments below. Click Here to view an interactive visual index page where you can quickly browse through all of the great features that are published on the Roadcraft USA blog. If you like this resource please support it by sharing it with all of your friends and family. Be sure to subscribe to Roadcraft USA. We send out monthly email notifications about new features that have dropped on the blog.
Look forward to every one of your articles – great destinations and absolutely stunning photos!
Thank for all your great stories. I am 76 and ride an FJR 1300. I love to ride and take photos and you always inspire me to do so. Been riding 50 years. It is simply in my blood. There is no other way to explain it.