Smithfield Run

Debbie and I decided if we are to do more long distance riding then we better prepare. We planned to ride to Smithfield non-stop from New Bern and that is exactly what we did. It's only about 85 miles but the longest we rode on the Sportster at a stretch was about 50 miles. We left New Bern on the Ultra at 11:30 and headed to Kinston via the bypass.

The bypass was completed in the late 70's to replace the old Hwy 70 that was only a two lane road. Old 70 connects New Bern to Kinston and threads Cove City and Dover into the fabric. It is a great back road with minimal traffic. I remember riding my Suzuki TS 185 from New Bern to Dover and back when the bypass was just a rock road.

Traffic was fairly light and the Ultra did well at 78 MPH with cruise control on. We passed through Kinston and Goldsboro and there was only one idiot cage driver that wanted to merge without looking. We listened to the first half hour of the State/Carolina game and made back and forth comments via the intercom. We find that the audio quality from the CD/FM portion of the sound system is really bad through the headsets while underway. Even with the bass maxed out and the treble set at minimum. The audio through the speakers is great even with 3/4 helmets and at highway speed. We arrived at the Outlet Mall at Smithfield with the intention of having a late lunch at Cracker Barrel. With a line out the door we circled back and decided to try the fare at Bob Evans.

We checked out a few of the outlet shops (Debbie loves The Gap) and of course wandered over to Shelton's Harley Davidson. There was quite a gang hangin' out in the parking lot listening to the game. On the return trip we stopped by a friends house near Princeton and checked out his newly acquired Suzuki Boulevard.



The low gas indicator came on with 150 miles out of the tank so we gassed up about 10 miles west of Kinston. I rode for a while but could not decide how much I trusted the gas gauge. The fill up was 4.3 gallons and the MPG still hangs around 38. Total trip was 183 miles and the weekend total is close to 300 miles. The trip to Smithfield was comfortable, with partly cloudy skies and temperatures in the upper 60's, and I think we both agree that an hour and a half or so makes for a good break point, for now at least. Looks like Kill Devil Hills and Myrtle Beach are well within our reach.