Wellston Wildlife Area Ride

There are a bunch of local rides I have mapped out over the years in the region  of Athens/Meigs/Vinton counties. Most of these are out of necessity. It is mid-winter, cold, and I am feeling cabin bound. Today was such a day. There were steady winds (20 mph), occasional gusts, 42F, cloudy, and periodic light rain showers. Seemed like a great day to bundle up, pull out the dual-sport (Kawasaki (2007) KLX-250S) and go for a 60mi/90min ride. 

This ride is largely a loop ride with about 80% on-road and 20% off-road. Beginning in Albany, OH, head West out SR50, pick up Vinton Station Rd (just outside of McArthur, OH) and cut over to SR93, then go South until you take right onto SR683. At that corner there is a Marathon station if you need a quick snack or fill-up. From there, just head up to the Wellston Wildlife Area. The central element is Lake Rupert (good spot for fishing or picnicking). Throughout the area there are some good double tracks through the woods and various trails to ride. Today I just spun around the lake and headed back to SR93 where I picked up Sam Russell Road (paved) which then turns into the Vinton Furnace Experimental Forest Rd (unpaved; Wayne National Forest). (No WNF riding permit is required here because this is a public vehicular road.) This will take you (on dirt/gravel roads) through the Raccoon Ecological Management Area (destined to become the largest intact tract of forest in the state of Ohio) and let you out on SR 160, where you turn left and head back on 4-lane SR32. The ride:

This was the first test of my new Wolfman tank bag. I purchased a whole set of this luggage for enduro camping (claimed to fit almost all dual-sport MCs). It is one of the few setups I could find that would fit this bike. It is first rate stuff (quality), but is reflected in the price (made in USA). This ride is typical of many dual sport rides in the area--more is on pavement than off. Most of the tires that come on dual sports are really just off-road tires (which do not perform very well on pavement). The solution is a 50:50 tire tread design. However, some bikes are hard to find tires of the right size. The KLX250S is just such a beast. I finally found and ordered the only set of tires I could find anywhere: Bridgestone TW301/302 (Trail Wings). I have a set in the shop, just haven't got them on the bike yet. Will report back later.

Upshot: fun, 4-season, diverse ride.