Day #6...........I'm Home

I arose early this morning, first loading the bike, then eating breakfast. I thumped out of Nashville about 1 hour before sunrise, in what felt like the coolest day of the trip, but I don't think it actually was. Maybe I'm just turning into a wimp or something, but I'm sure glad I had my heated coat on this trip. I don't think there was a morning I didn't use it. I arrived home Sunday evening about 7:00 p.m., after a 763 mile day. In order to cover this many miles in this time period, I basically rode 250 miles on each tank of gas, stopped and fueled, then rode another 250 miles. I just kept doing this until I was home. I did have a snack at one of my gas stops, just to keep me going, but it really wasn't a bad day.

Just to recap the trip....................The first day I rode to Batesville, Arkansas for a total of 505 miles.
On day #2 I rode to Birmingham, Alabama to the Barber Museum, then on to Gadsden, Al., for a total of 488 miles. One hundred of these miles I was lost!!!!!
Day #3 I rode to Dawsonville, GA., then on to Franklin, NC. for a total of 285 miles
Day #4 I rode the roads in the area including Deals Gap, which I rode 3 times, for a total of 324 miles.
Day #5 I rode to Pickens for the Thumper Cafe, then rode the southern half of the Blue Ridge Parkway. I finished off the day by riding to Nashville, TN. for the night, for a total of 450 miles.
Day #6, the last day, I rode home from Nashville for a total of 763 miles.

I rode in a total of 10 states, including Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Illinois, and Kentucky, for a total of 2815 miles, and not a drop of rain fell the entire week. Other than the fog several mornings, the weather couldn't have been any more perfect. Fuel prices were anywhere from $2.99 a gallon in the Kansas City area to $4.09 in North & South Carolina. We had several instances where the stations had no fuel to sell, or limited the number of gallons you could buy. The fuel was all close to $4.00 a gallon in all the eastern states I rode in, which was kind of hard to take when it's almost under $3.00 a gallon here at home.

Once again, I'm glad to have met some new faces and also some familiar faces. That's one of the things that make these events so much fun.

Hope to see all of you next year, at one of the Thumper Cafe's.

Day #5.........Thumper Cafe in Pickens, SC

Our group, minus Jack, left Franklin, NC this morning in the dense fog, enroute to Pickens, SC, and the Thumper Cafe. Jack spent the night in Pickens so he could be there first thing this morning, anticipating the daily dense fog. It burned off quickly, and we had a beautiful ride down Hwy 64 and 178. I'm not sure who Jack knows, but he always seems to pick a weekend that the weather is gorgeous. The food was great, but most importantly the new friendships that we made and old friendships renewed is what make these events memorable. It was great to see everyone again.

After all the festivities were over I mounted the KLR about 2:15 p.m., for the long trip home. I rode back up Hwy 178, then took 64 on East to the Blue Ridge Parkway. I was determined to ride part of this road while I was in the area, and just didn't have time before the event in Pickens. I rode it South, and was amazed at the beautiful panoramic views in almost every direction. It was well worth the time to do this. After leaving the Parkway, I rode up to Wayneville where I got on I-40. I would rather ride the 2-lane roads than the I-roads, but have to say this is one of the most beautiful stretches of Interstate I've ever ridden. Several hours later..............well maybe more than several...............I'm just North of Nashville, TN for the night. I rode almost 400 miles after the Thumper Cafe, added one more state to my list in yesterdays blog, for a total of 7. I have almost 800 miles to go before I'm home, and will add two more states to my list tomorrow.

Any bets as to when I make it home? Can I sit that many hours on the seat of the KLR?

Stay tuned to find out.............................

Day #4.....Deals Gap & Tail of the Dragon/Cherohala Skyway

WOW..........What a day. After waiting for a little over an hour this morning for the dense fog to lift, we rode a little over 350 miles of almost all twisty roads, and I am worn out. It not only is physically exhausting, but mentally too. These roads are very challenging, but fun. I enjoyed the "Tail of the Dragon" so much that I not only rode it once, or twice, but three times. There are literally hundreds of motorcycles riding this road all day long. And the scenery is great too. The trees have begun their yearly changing of color, and believe me..........there are plenty of trees to look at.

In the last four days I've ridden in 6 different states, and a total of over 1600 miles. It should be a little over 3000 miles by the time I get home.

Tomorrow is the Thumper Cafe in Pickens, SC., and then I start for home. I didn't have time today to do the Blue Ridge Parkway, so tomorrow after the rally I'm going to make a point to ride about 100 miles of it as I work my way North and West. Then it's in the saddle for the long trip home.

Depending on my day tomorrow I may not have an update, but I'll try.

Day #3........North Carolina

Jim and I left Gadsden, AL. on Thursday morning, once again at daybreak. Did I mention that I'm glad I have my heated coat? It's been very cool, especially in the morning, so the coat has felt really good. There's one thing I've noticed when traveling in the East........you don't make very good time. It took us over 3 hours this morning to ride 142 miles, but we finally made it to Dawsonville, GA. I got to put one mile on my new Triumph, and it will be shipped to my house soon. I'll include a picture. Jim and I then rode towards Franklin, NC., our home for the next several days.

This is a very beautiful part of the country, and the roads really cater to the bike and sports car enthusiasts. We followed 3 Ferrari's through the twisties, then stopped to talk to the drivers after the invigorating ride up the mountain and down the other side.

Tomorrow we are riding Deals Gap, and the Dragons Tail. This road has 318 curves in 11 miles. It should be a fun day!!! If I have time, I'm going to try and do about 100 miles of the Blue ridge Parkway.

By the way..............if you double click on the pictures, they will show in full size.

Watch for tomorrow nights update...........................

Day #2

I left Batesville, Arkansas a little before 7:00 a.m., once again with the temps in the low 40's. It's breathtaking watching the sunrise come up over the hills of Arkansas. The lake in the background of the one picture is Lake Poinsett, in Arkansas. I was already lost at this point, so I decided I might as well take some pictures.

After crossing into Tennessee, I missed a turn somewhere, and I didn't have a clue where I was. I spent the better part of the day this way, but I got to ride some very scenic roads. I just don't have any idea where they were. I was on some narrow county roads for a while, and while very beautiful, I was concerned if the GPS ever lost it's signal, I'd never figure out how to get out. It all turned out ok, and I arrived in Birmingham, AL. and the Barber Museum, about 3:15 p.m, where I met up with "Scooter Jim", who lives in Tulsa, OK.
My planned route for the day was 374 miles, and I ended up riding 477 miles. Nothing like being lost for a little over 100 miles.

Jim and I are spending the night in Gadsden, AL., which is NE of Birmingham. Tomorrow morning we will leave early once again, and ride to Dawsonville, Georgia, where my new bike is. From there it's on North to North Carolina.

Next post will be from Franklin, NC

MY TRIP, ONE DAY AT A TIME

Day #1

I quietly "Thumped" out of the Sunflower State early Tuesday morning, specifically Hutchinson. (Thumperville) It was quite cool, with the 40* temp making my heated jacket feel really good. It was a beautiful day to ride, with light winds and warming temps.

I arrived in Batesville Arkansas about 4:30 this afternoon, after riding just over 500 miles. Arkansas highway 14 is a scenic, twisty road, and well worth the time to ride.

On Wednesday morning I will once again be riding highway 14, headed towards Birmingham, Alabama, and the Barber Motorcycle Museum.

Stay tuned for Day #2.