Fall Ride 2013 - Day Four - Tuesday, 10/22/2013

Off to a slightly later start than usual, Mr. Sarcasm and I rolled out at 8:30 a.m., headed for breakfast in Blairsville. We enjoyed yesterday's breakfast at the Hole-in-the-Wall so much that we decided to do it again. Of course, this time, we couldn't share the joy with Eddie because he was still cabin-bound by his broken bike. That was a shame, too, because we were scheduled for a 10 a.m. meet-up with Michelle Evans, co-owner of the Copperhead Lodge, for another guided tour of the area.

 

Right on schedule we met up with Michelle at the Copperhead to start our tour. We learned that we would be joined by another couple -- Sal & Cindy Annerino -- who were staying at the lodge and had been invited to tag along. Sal and Cindy are originally from the Bronx (yes, THAT "the Bronx"), but now call Port Charlotte, FL, home. Sal told me that he and Cindy were enjoying their stay at the Copperhead so much that they had extended a five-day stay into ten days. It was a further shame that Eddie couldn't make this ride because Sal & Cindy also rode a Gold Wing trike.

Michelle led us away from the Copperhead on a northerly track that would take us up into Tennessee and over to North Carolina. Based on Michelle's description of her intended route, I quickly realized that we would be riding the land that comprises the scenic views one gets when looking south from the Cherohala Skyway.

 

Michelle rode a Harley-Davidson, and brother, let me tell you right now, she RODE that thing! Where Brad had been a careful, sedate tour guide, Michelle put the rubber to the road and got things moving along in a spirited and interesting fashion. Not fast, mind you, nor absent prudence, but spirited enough for the two sport-touring guys following her to be able to smile behind our helmet visors.

Our little band of motorcyclists rolled north through Mineral Bluffs, Ducktown, and onto US 64 west to the Ocoee Gorge where we made a stop at the site of the 1996 Olympics kayaking venue. From there we continued on US 64 until we picked up TN 30 and turned off there into the backcountry for some really quality curve surfing.

 

TN 30 was a great road and it soon delivered us to the edge of Reliance, TN, where we stopped for a photo op at an old church sitting alongside a meandering, mountain river.

Leaving Reliance, we continued on toward Tellico Plains, TN, via TN 315 and TN 39. Again, these country highways were great motorcycling roads with an abundance of curves and nice views.

 

Arriving in Tellico Plains, we stopped for lunch at Krambonz BBQ. The food was outstanding and served in such ample portions that it was a challenge just to finish my pulled pork sandwich. When the lady working the restaurant counter put my order down in front of me she asked if I needed anything else. I only half jokingly replied, "Yes, somebody to help me eat all of this!"

 

After a great lunch we departed Tellico Plains by heading south on TN 68, which turned out to be a gorgeous, sweeper-filled ride down to the point where we turned off onto TN 123 and headed east.

 

We rode TN 123 for a number of miles until it crossed into North Carolina and became NC 294, where we continued our eastward trek to Hiwassee Dam Road.

 

We took the dam access road up and over the actual dam, stopping on it's far side to do some photo work. We also made good use of a set of S-curves on the opposite side of the dam to do some more photos of passing bikes. All said, we made good use of this location.

Leaving the dam we returned to NC 294 for a spell before turning southerly onto Sunny Point Road for a few miles of twisty goodness that dropped us back onto US 64.

From US 64 we retraced our route back down to Blairsville and the Copperhead Lodge, arriving at 4:45 p.m., with 171 miles showing on the trip meter for the day's riding. This was a full day of constant movement and navigating some of the best countryside and backroads I have ever seen. Michelle Evans did a spectacular job of weaving us through great riding areas and we were all very thankful for her time and expertise.

Eddie got his bike out of the shop and was happy to have her back in running order with a new battery, a new starter, and a nice little invoice for services rendered to add to his scrapbook. Sadly, this state of happiness was to be short lived.

 

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Fall Ride 2013 - Day Five - Wednesday, 10/23/2013

We spent the night preparing our bikes and our gear for travel as we were slated to leave Georgia for the loftier elevations and environs of the North Carolina mountains. Our itinerary called for us to move up to the Sylva region to spend the remainder of the week playing on more familiar roads and curves.

 

Rolling out at 9 a.m., we were greeted by a brisk 47 degree morning and a certain Battlestar that would not start without being pushed.

 

Yep, Eddie's bike still wasn't fixed, and that meant he had to get it back to the shop for more work before he could consider moving farther north and further away from home.

 

Back in Blairsville, we left Eddie at Union Powersports while Mr. Sarcasm and I headed over to the Blairsville Airport where a few WWII warbirds had flown in for a visit.

 

Arriving at the airport we made our way over to a secluded section of tarmac where three gorgeous warbirds -- a P-51C, B-17, and a B-25 -- were parked and open for tours. Those of you who know me are fully aware that I wasn't about to pass up such an opportunity to get close to -- and even crawl through -- aircraft of this vintage. I gladly paid the price of admission, crossed over the yellow tape border, and found myself face-to-face with 1943.

I took full advantage of the opportunity to shoot a bunch of photos and to take a walk through the B-17. They were offering rides in the P-51, but such an undertaking was out of range for my budget of both time and money. That didn't dampen my enjoyment of the aircraft one bit and I walked off that windblown tarmac with a storage card full of images...and a smile on my face.

 

Leaving the airport we made our way back over to Union Powersports only to find Eddie in the service bay with his trike disassembled into a dozen pieces. Despite all the work done so far, it now appeared that the bike needed just one more replacement part -- a solenoid -- before she could be restored to proper running trim. That repair was going to take a couple of hours at least, and would have taken longer except for the shop's gracious decision to strip the needed part from a brand new Gold Wing they had on their showroom floor.

After some discussion it was decided that Mr. Sarcasm and I would leave Eddie in Blairsville and make our way on up to Sylva, NC, with a stop along the way in Franklin, NC, for me to take in a make-up Rotary meeting.

 

At 10:50 a.m., Mr. Sarcasm and I were rolling toward North Carolina. We had just over an hour to cross the mountains to Franklin to make the Rotary meeting that would start at noon. It was going to be close, but I was confident that we could make it. And we did. With two minutes to spare.

 

Walking into a Rotary meeting as a stranger is always something that draws attention. Rotarians expect strangers to show up for make-ups, but that doesn't change the fact that strangers in the midst of a well-established group is something that draws attention. Now, dress those two strangers in bright, florescent yellow motorcycling jackets, armored riding pants, protective boots, and carrying flashy helmets in one hand and laden tank bags in the other and you've got a recipe for really drawing peoples' attention. And, yes, that's exactly what Mr. Sarcasm and I did.

After enjoying a tasty lunch of beef stew and an interesting Rotary meeting, Mr. Sarcasm and I were back on the road just after one o'clock in the afternoon. A quick phone call to Eddie had confirmed that his bike repairs were almost finished and that he would soon be on his way toward Sylva.

 

At 1:40 p.m., Mr. Sarcasm and I made it to the cabin in Sylva where we would be staying for the remainder of the week. We quickly unloaded the bikes, tossed our things into our respective sleeping quarters, and then jumped back on the bikes and headed out for more riding. How quick, you ask? We were rolling again at 2:15 p.m., so less than 35 minutes to unload, stage the cabin, and climb back in the saddle. The time was an interesting coincidence, too, as we had agreed to make a beeline for NC 215 and some truly twisty goodness to finish out our day.

 

And NC 215 is just what we did.

 

Making our way over to Waynesville, we picked up 215 off of NC 276 and made the extremely enjoyable run up Cold Mountain to the Blue Ridge Parkway. The curves on that side of the mountain come at a fast and furious pace, making this piece of roadway a truly dynamic dance floor for some motorcycle ballet.

 

Of course, we couldn't resist running downhill on the southern side of NC 215 to enjoy the sweepers on that side of the mountain. And, if you run downhill, you have to come back up, right? Yes, you do. And we did.

 

Back at the top of the mountain, just below the Blue Ridge Parkway we pulled off to enjoy one particularly stunning vista of mountains laid out to our east. The air was so cold and the wind so strong that I was beginning to shiver in spite of my thick jacket and multiple layers of warm clothing. So cold, in fact, that I even had to break out a couple more hand-warmer packets and add them to my gloves for the return ride to Sylva.

We took the scenic route back toward the cabin by traveling the Blue Ridge Parkway over to the Smoky Mountains Expressway just outside Waynesville. Hitting the expressway we turned for Sylva and lit the afterburners to keep pace with the late afternoon traffic.

 

In short order we were back up the mountain and pulling into the cabin's parking area. There we were greeted by the comforting sight of Battlestar Galactica resting in the most prime parking locations (it's a big bike) possible. Space that only hours before had held two Triumph Trophy SEs was now occupied by the Battlestar. There is some sarcasm here, just in case you're missing it.

 

Entering the cabin we found Eddie chilling out in one of the recliners and we quickly got briefed up on the details of his repairs, his ride over to Sylva, and his lunch/dinner stop along the way.

 

Wait a second! What do you mean a lunch/dinner stop? That's when Mr. Sarcasm and I learned that while we were out upholding the honor of motorcyclists everywhere by challenging the twists and turns of NC 215 and the Blue Ridge Parkway, Eddie was down at the Huddle House in Dillsboro, NC, enjoying a meal of two eggs, country ham, red eye gravy, grits, rye toast, and a side order of bacon. Now, Dear Reader, this was alarming news as I pretty well knew what it foretold when I asked the important, and very reasonable, question: "But what are we supposed to do for dinner?"

 

The short answer to that question turned out to be that it was our problem. Eddie had eaten and that was all that mattered...to him! Mr. Sarcasm and I were on our own. Fend for ourselves was the order of the evening. And that would have been fine save for the simple fact that there was not one single morsel of food to be found in the cabinets, the pantry, or the refrigerator of that cabin.

 

It had been a long hard day of riding and both Mr. Sarcasm and I were hungry. Luckily for Mr. Sarcasm I wasn't hungry enough to follow-through on my initial cannibalistic impulses, but I was definitely hungry. And then it happened. The bright light of salvation shone down upon us in the form of a bag of pork rinds and a jar of peanut butter that Eddie had brought with him from our stay in Blairsville. Yes, Dear Reader, dinner that night was pork rinds and peanut butter. Not such a bad combination as one might think...especially when you're hungry...and there are no other options.

 

The mileage total for the day was an even 200, and it had been miles ridden through gorgeous scenery and over twisty roads. This is what our trips are all about and we had had a full measure of the fun that we had come seeking. Best of all, Eddie and Battlestar Galactica were back in full commission and ready to ride come sunrise.

 

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Fall Ride 2013 - Day Six - Thursday, 10/24/2013

Dragon day!

 

The weather was beginning to take on the flavor of winter more so than fall and this morning found us rising to the sub-freezing temperature of 30 degrees. The forecast predicted things continuing in this manner for the remainder of the week, and there were predictions of snow in the mountains come Saturday morning. These forecasts were beginning to impact our ride planning, but today we were determined to make the best of it and head over to the infamous Dragon of Deal's Gap.

 

After a breakfast stop at the Huddle House in Dillsboro, we headed for the Dragon in earnest. It was just over 40 miles of mountain riding before we arrived at the intersection of US 129 and NC 28, the official start of the section of road known as the Tail of the Dragon or Dragon, depending upon who you're talking to. What is for sure is that the so called Dragon is an 11-mile stretch of road with 318 of the tightest, twisting, challenging curves you are likely to ever see. And it is also some of the best motorcycling you could ever hope to experience.

 

And experience it, we did.

 

Before the morning was over, Mr. Sarcasm and I had logged five passes on the Dragon; three to the north and two to the south. Eddie got in three passes for himself aboard Battlestar Galactica. Fifty-five miles of riding may not sound like much, but let me assure you that slinging a motorcycle back and forth through 318 curves every eleven miles of that total is a good way to work up a sweat. But it's a good sweat. A sweat borne of fun and excitement, more so than the physical effort required. A sweat that carries with it the aroma of exhilaration. A sweat that puts a smile on your face and a sense of satisfaction in your heart.

With the Dragon sufficiently slain by all present, it was time to move along toward Tellico Plains to pickup the Cherohala Skyway for a reverse-course-routing to Robbinsville.

We took the highway route over to Tellico Plains, arriving there at 2 p.m. We stopped in for lunch at Krambonz BBQ, mostly because we wanted Eddie to bask in their gloriously abundant and tasty food, but also just because the food was so good. This time, I steered away from the pulled pork sandwich in favor of their brisket. Once again I was shocked by quantity of food that they served. Never before have I been served brisket that was cut like a steak, but on this day that was exactly the case. And, yes, it was a huge portion. That steak-cut slice of brisket was half-an-inch thick and nearly hung off both sides of the plate. And, yes, it was also incredibly delicious. How delicious you ask? Enough so that I can say with confidence that it is the best brisket I've ever eaten!

 

After lunch we gassed up the bikes, and did a bit of souvenir shopping before leaving Tellico Plains behind to make our ascent onto the Cherohala Skyway.

 

It was still cool down in the relatively lower altitudes of town, but as we climbed higher and higher onto the Cherohala the temperatures dipped lower and lower. By the time we reached the peak heights of the Cherohala we were enduring 35-degree chills along with our twisty thrills. Between the cold and the building fatigue that was haunting us all, we were motivated to make a power run across the Cherohala and finished the entire 43-mile route in record time for us. There was no dilly-dallying to check out views, instead we just kept rolling forward until we came to the end of run at Robbinsville, NC.

 

Arriving in Robbinsville, we turned eastward once again and then beat feet for the cabin, where we rolled to our final stop of the day at 5:30 p.m., with 253 miles showing on the trip meter.

 

Our good friends Mike & Diane invited us to dinner that evening and we enjoyed Diane's tasty spaghetti and good conversation before bringing the day's adventures to a close.

 

Back at the cabin discussion ensued about the increasingly threatening weather situation. The mountains to the north of us were certain to get snow and that meant we couldn't head up to NC 80 as previously planned. At the same time, the forecast for the southern mountains was growing increasingly sketchy and the chance for weekend snow was still hanging over us. Cold is okay on a motorcycle, but snow and ice are not. The thought of possibly being snowed in come Saturday morning was a problem of sufficient scale to force us to reevaluate our options.

 

In the end we decided to call an end to the mountain adventures for this fall's riding season. We decided to head south tomorrow and to travel as far as Warner-Robins, GA, where we would visit the aircraft museum on the Air Force base in that city.

 

With that decision made we spent the remainder of the evening repacking our luggage and our bikes for the ride southward.

 

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Fall Ride 2013 - Day Seven - Friday, 10/25/2013

We rolled out at 9:30 a.m., and headed west under a bit of a compromise plan. Before heading south we would make our way over to Waynesville for breakfast and then Mr. Sarcasm and I were going to explore the coves that lie in the shadow of Cold Mountain for photo opportunities. Once that little side mission was accomplished, we would then head south toward Georgia and our intended goal of Warner-Robins.

We stopped for breakfast at Clyde's in Waynesville where the waitress was sassy and inattentive in keeping with the tradition of the establishment. The place was packed, the service was slow, and the food was okay. But all in all it was a decent experience and just as this wasn't our first visit to Clyde's, it won't be our last.

After breakfast Mr. Sarcasm and I headed into the coves where we chased down a few decent photographs. It felt good to take the time to explore new areas and to bag a shot or two that could prove useful in the months and years to come. The best part of this exercise was letting our photographer side take precedence over our motorcyclist side. Each is important, and each deserves its time as the priority.

 

Eddie decided he wanted no part of photo hunting and announced that he would go back to Dillsboro and wait for us there.

 

Photos bagged, we met up with Eddie again at the Huddle House in Dillsboro, said farewell to Mike and Diane who had come down from the mountain to keep company with Eddie, and then rolled south for Georgia. It was now 2 p.m. and we would need to make steady progress if we were to make Warner-Robins by nightfall.

 

And steady progress is just what we made.

 

Our trip down through Georgia was a push. We stopped only when we needed gas or when Eddie simply wouldn't go another mile without a break. Those breaks would prove to be few and far between.

 

We stopped at 3:20 p.m. in Homer for a leg stretch and road snack. I fed half of my Snickers bar to a black-colored chow mix that was wandering around the convenience store parking lot.

 

At 5:25 p.m., we stopped in Eatonton for another quick break.

 

At 6:20 p.m., we stopped in Macon to refill our gas tanks and to quell a minor rebellion from within the ranks.

 

At 7:00 p.m., we arrived in Warner-Robins, where we quickly secured lodging for the night and got ourselves and our bikes unloaded before heading out in search of dinner.

 

Our hotel experience was particularly good this night. Upon checking in the very helpful desk clerk volunteered to upgrade us to suites for the price of regular rooms. He also gave us all kinds of discounts we didn't really qualify for and also gave us good information about visiting the museum on the Air Force base.

 

We ended up eating Thai food at a restaurant right next to our hotel.

 

After dinner we returned to our oversized hotel suites and pretty much called it a day. We had ridden long and hard all day and the three of us were pretty much beat by this time. I made my last journal entries of the day, checked my email, and went lights out at 9 p.m.

 

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Fall Ride 2013 - Day Eight - Saturday, 10/26/2013

I was up at 6:15 a.m. to make preparations for the last leg of this trip. Today would bring all of the traveling and the adventure to a close and I was in the mood to make the most of it. So, I started my day with a leisurely scan of the news, surfing the Web on my phone, and just generally luxuriating in the solitude of my private suite.

 

At 6:50 a.m., I made my way down to the hotel lobby for the complimentary breakfast included with our stay. Breakfast proved the old adage that you get what you pay for. Well, at least the room was nice!

 

Back in my suite it was time to repack the luggage and load the bike for the day's travels.

 

My companions and I were at the USAF museum promptly at 9 a.m., just as they opened the doors. We spent the next hour and a half exploring the various exhibit buildings and static displays. The museum had a very nice collection of aircraft that are significant to the history of the USAF. However, the museum itself seems dated and neglected. If you are an aviation or history buff, the museum is worth a trip to visit.

 

We left the museum parking lot at 10:45 a.m., and made our way over to I-75, where we turned south and headed for home.

 

At 11:55 a.m., Eddie led us off the Interstate and into a rest area for a break. When I asked why we had stopped so soon Eddie's reply was, "Because I wanted to!" Well, I suppose there's no arguing with that kind of logic, so I didn't try.

 

At 1:10 p.m., Eddie led us off the Interstate once more. This time the stop was in Valdosta, GA, for "Smuggler's Run - Part Two". We made the most of this stop by including a gas fill-up and lunch at an adjacent Subway sandwich shop. During lunch there was conversation about making yet another stop in the Ocala area for ice cream. I made it clear that I was done stopping for the day and that I would be continuing on toward home in lieu of a stop for ice cream.

 

Some ways down the road we did come to the Ocala area and sure enough Eddie exited the Interstate for ice cream, Mr. Sarcasm right behind him. True to my word I did not exit and simply gave my friends a wave as I continued my trek southward toward home.

 

I pulled into my driveway right at 5 p.m., after having made a non-stop run of 223 miles since leaving Valdosta. My Triumph's odometer reported a grand total of 2,203.3 miles had been ridden since I left home the previous Saturday. I put the bike away and began to unpack her one more time. But, this time, I had the satisfaction and the memories of a week on the road with good friends, of many miles traveled through all kinds of scenery, and one more chapter in my life's adventures to reflect upon in the still and quiet hours of the night.

 

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Speaking of Triumphs...

Mr. Sarcasm started it. I followed his lead. Now, it seems, Gunny couldn't resist the urge to join the fold and he, too, is the proud owner of a beautiful Triumph Trophy SE. Here's a photo of the three of us with our bikes and some of the staff at Fun Bike Center in Lakeland, FL, where we all three acquired our Triumphs:

Left to right by bike you have Mr. Sarcasm (red riding jacket), me (black/red riding jacket), and Gunny (squarely behind the windscreen of his bike). I got the center spot owing to the fact that I have the odd colored silver bike versus the other two's blue bikes. Coincidentally, we're also lined up in the order of acquisition.

Welcome to the club, Gunny! I'm so pleased that I could lead the way for you once again.

 

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09/14/2013 - FoF Golden Hill

I finally made it over to the Golden Hill storage facilities of Fantasy of Flight (FoF) while out on a weekend motorcycle ride. The really nice thing about having an anuual pass to FoF is that I can do things like this when the mood and the opportunity strike without having to feel like I have to make a day of it to get my money's worth.

Golden Hill is comprised of two large metal buildings where many of Kermit Weeks' acquisitions are stored as they await restoration or other fates. A walk through this place is every bit as fascinating as any other part of the FoF complex. Seeing these aircraft in their acquired condition as compared to the aircraft in the main display areas serves to give perspective as to what it takes to bring these historic treasures to life in a restored and flyable condition.

The variety and scope of aircraft found in the Golden Hill storage facility is truly awe inspiring. Highlights include a B-17, a B-29, an F6F, and even a WWII-era Japanese Zero. Added to these "famous" historic treasures are row upon row of interesting planes, helicopters, engines, and assorted parts.

Golden Hill is certainly worth your time and effort to visit and it adds another layer of appreciation and understanding for the overall FoF experience.

Planes of all manner and type and in varying conditions line every square foot of the Golden Hill complex:

It's amazing to think that the FoF restoration guys can turn these dismembered hulks into flyable, museum quality restorations:

Wings seem to be removed from just about everything, probably as a space-saving strategy. The racks seen in the background contain crates and pallets marked with exotic plane parts descriptions:

Spotting this B-17 along the back wall of the first building was a pleasant surprise:

Of course I had to stick my head into the B-17 to get a look around:

And then there was the B-29:

And not just the nose section of a B-29; the whole entire plane is there for your perusal:

Over in the second building, this WWII-era Zero was on display:

Just around the corner from the Zero was this P-38 Lightning:

So, if you're any kind of aviation enthusiast, by now your desire to visit FoF's Golden Hill complex has to be piqued. By all means, take the time to visit this great window into history, FoF's collection, and the daunting challenge that is restoration of these historic aircraft.

 

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The New Steed

I recently parted ways with my much loved and faithful Honda ST1300 and acquired a new Triumph Trophy SE. The Triumph is proving to be a capable mile-maker and a joy to ride. Look for many more photos featuring this new mount.

The silver one is mine. Coincidentally, Mr. Sarcasm also acquired a Trophy SE and that's his blue one parked next to mine:

That's my Trophy sitting on the showroom floor before I took delivery of her:

I'm looking forward to many good miles & years of touring on this new addition to the stable.

 

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The Hottest Band in the World...KISS!!!

Yes, I did it again! Yet another great KISS concert was attended by yours truly. This time the action went down in Orlando, FL, and -- once again -- I had great seats from which to view the spectacle that is KISS.

 

The band was at the top of their game on August 16th, and they turned in a fantastic performance. The new stage was awesome and it really added a new dimension to what was already a layered, bombastic stage show.

 

Enough prattling, here's a few photos:

A great show, a great experience. I can't wait to see them in concert again!

 

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