Subject: Ride report, RCR (long) From: Michael Weaver Date: Fri, 30 Jul 1999 21:19:56 -0400 (EDT) Hey all, I've finally had a few moments to sit down and chat w/y'all regarding my trip to the RCR. It went very well. I've not been on a decent trip like that in about a year and it was sorely missed. The GTS, despite being overloaded, handled very well with its new front tire. This is the first time I've tried the 120/70 as suggested by Kevin and I must say that I like it. It was much more willing to turn in, even overloaded like it was. I did note that my rear shock is about worn out now. It bottomed out on several occasions. We ended up leaving late on Friday for the ~450 mile trip. As such, we (my wife [pillion] and I) got stuck in Atlanta traffic. Our riding partner had to bail out due to a lack of oil pressure on his elderly, but beautiful, CB750. After crawling our way up Ga 400 in 100+ degree F temps, we got on US 19 and headed up through Daloniga and toward Blairsville. Very beautiful country side and the reduction in temps was most welcome. Due to the rapidly waneing day, we elected to skip Ga 60 and Ga 180 through Suches and took US 19 toward Murphy NC. After a fine steak dinner in Murphy, back on the road. Dark was comming on fast, so US 74 to I-40 was in order. I-40 over to Morganton was classic superslab, but it was fast. From Morganton, it was US 64 toward Lenoir. From there SR 321 up to SR 268. It was quite late at this point, so the curves of Sr 268 went mostly unappreciated. :-) After riding back and forth on SR 268 and finally calling the camp site, Rider's Roost, we found the place and got settled. At the hedonsitic hour of 1 am , we collapsed into our tent and sweated until morning. The next day dawned bright and I renewed many a friendship amongst the DoD faithful. A quick suit-up and the wife and I were casing folks off to find breakfast. The morning sun allowed us to see the lovely countryside around SR 268 and to appreciate its gentle curves. Then the traffic on SR 321 up to Blowing Rock robbed me of my happiness for a bit. After a very country breakfast (which cost the sun, moon, and stars) at a Cracker Barrel wanna-be placed called Mom's, Liz and I decided to head back to the camp for some rest and socializing. Due to our long day prior, fatigue would have made going on a sport ride with the others more dangerous than fun. Back to camp. Some obligatory lie swapping, old-times rememberances, and bench racing was had around the porch of one of the bunk houses. After a bit, several of us hit the river/swimming hole to cool off and relax. This went quite well until the killer fish of death began to eat all the local denizens. At that point, the rapids seemed a safer place to rest. Some more relaxing, then it was time to bail out as a large thunderstorm bore down on us. The rain fell on our camp until nearly dark. The various riders from the day ride straggled in running the gauntlet from bright and perky to downright bedraggled due to the rain and overly ambitious riding plans. Dinner was lovely with a whole half a roasted chicken each, with beans. Mmmm. After dinner, the traditional RCR awards and drinking commenced. From some reason, my wife won the "Bravest Pillion" award for riding with a "questionable character." Hey! I resemble that remark! The new Oomah was indentified and approved in the time honored fashion (he said "What the hell" followed by the hallowed Oompah chant). It was beautiful . Much drinking and bright light flashing went on with a bonfire being built at some point. Fatigue got the better of me a little after midnight, so sleepy-by time it was. The next day, the assorted denizenry was a bit slower moving than the day before. We packed up and made our good-bys. Then, with Mike Mitten joining us, off to Georgia! We decided to take the Blue Ridge Parkway most of the way back. So back up to Blowing Rock to get on the BRP. It was a stunning day to ride. The temps were low, the sky was clear, this is what motorcycling is about! Until we got stuck behind the umpteenth slowpoke. Ugh. We did spend some entertaining time riding with a group of Hondas of all makes, Shadows to ST's, Valkieries to PC's. Very cool. We got off the BRP at Cherokee and promptly got stuck for about 45min on US 19 as a wreck occured just in front of us. Ugh again. Very hot. No one seemed to be badly hurt, some cages banged up. After that, food. US 19 from Cherokee to Bryson City sucks. >From then on, esp past Murphy, it got much better. I was very much in the groove when we hit the big sweepers on US 129/19/180 in Georgia. Much fun! All too soon, we hit Ga 400 and it was back into the Atlanta rat race again. Mike split from us at I-85 and off we went. Liz and I had a wonderful time. A trip well worth having. For those on the GTS list, I also posted this to the East list, a home for east coast motorcyclists and the venue for the RCR planning. Now I need a new back tire. It is worn triangular. :-) Later, Mike Michael Weaver (706)542-6468 weaver@arches.uga.edu UCNS Network Specialist LAN Support Group University of Georgia, Athens Ga. Public PGP key: http://www.arches.uga.edu/~weaver/pgp.html