Sunday's NC Ride

[Todd]

I've really enjoyed seeing everyone's pics from their rides and have started throwing the camera in when I go somewhere....so here's today's story and I hope you like the pics and will come to Carolina to ride sometime.

I live in central NC....got up this morning and thought I'd go for a LITTLE ride and kept turning away from home at each new intersection ....turned into 348 miles through NC mountains.....some Tennessee and some Virginia. Had to break in that new ME880 didnt I???

This was Hwy88 in NC mountains where I pulled over for a quick rest...thought the Mtns looked nice.

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb50/toddf1_2007/bikemtn.jpg

Followed 88 over into Tennessee....I WAS LOOKING FOR YOU UNWIND2...probably still 200+ miles from you though.

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Check this out...will have to be in my sig. line now I guess....ran across this little town...population less than 100...

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb50/toddf1_2007/Toddbike.jpg

Jumped on the Blue Ridge Parkway for about 20 miles and stopped to see a few Mountains on the way.

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Last stop on the BRP...you can see Pilot Mountain in the background about 50+ miles away. (if anyone has ever driven up central NC on HWY 52 you go right by this mountain all by itself...it was the inspiration for Mount Pilot in the old Andy Griffin show..he was from an area about 20 or so miles from there)

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb50/toddf1_2007/bikepilotmtn.jpg

The leaves will start turning up on the Parkway soon and traffic gets a little crazy, but I am sure we will make some runs up there and I will post some pics.....a few trees were starting to turn already.

Hey Todd.....I enjoyed the pics. I should be there Wednesday. Just figured out today how badly I need a back tire. Boy, they sure look different sitting on a lift. Oh well, I don't have time to get one now. Will have ride very carefully and get one when I get back.

nice looking ride todd!

[Idaho]

Very pretty country Todd, thanks for sharing.

Nice pis Todd...This country we live in sure is beautiful!!!

[nsmorgan]

Beautiful Pictures, Todd. Reminds me of when I was in Black Mountain a few years ago. My bike has been in the shop for six days, ten hours, and 22 minutes waiting on a damn valve stem for the front tire. http://s2.images.proboards.com/angry.gif:(" title=">:(" border="0"/> And, my digital camera is in Italy for a year with one of my daughters. But, looking at your pictures, I'm inspired. I've decided when I pick up my bike tomorrow I'll drive straight to Target and pick up another camera.

This looks like a great ride you had today. I'm green with envy sitting here grounded. :'(
Neill

[Todd]

Nice pis Todd...This country we live in sure is beautiful!!!

Yes it is....and with all the pics we see on here it makes me appreciate it even more....its so different in the various regions




Beautiful Pictures, Todd. Reminds me of when I was in Black Mountain a few years ago. My bike has been in the shop for six days, ten hours, and 22 minutes waiting on a d**n valve stem for the front tire. http://s2.images.proboards.com/angry.gif:(" title=">:(" border="0"/> And, my digital camera is in Italy for a year with one of my daughters. But, looking at your pictures, I'm inspired. I've decided when I pick up my bike tomorrow I'll drive straight to Target and pick up another camera.

This looks like a great ride you had today. I'm green with envy sitting here grounded. :'(
Neill

That sucks Neill.....how did your valve stem go bad????

I know Black Mountain well and my daughter attends a youth camp in the area...I guess my son will be going there since he is getting to high school age too.

[Todd]

nice looking ride todd!

the ride or the RIDE (bike?).....I kinda like the looks of your bike too!!! ;)

[nsmorgan]

[That sucks Neill.....how did your valve stem go bad????]

O.k. confession time. Stupid mistake. You know what a bother it is to air up the back tire with the bags still on? I got this great idea in the auto parts store when I saw this little valve stem extender with a chrome cap. I put it on there and sure enough, it makes it easier to reach even with the bags on. So, since they come in sets of four, I was standing there with three more in my pocket and I've got another tire. Hate to waste all three of the extras. Unfortunately, it extends the valve on the front tire just a little too much and when I backed it out of the garage it whacked it on the brake assembly. Bent it just enough to leak slowly and steadily. Dumb, dumb, dumb . . .

To top it off, nobody seems to carry the L-shaped valve stem in stock between California and Atlanta, so it's taken nearly a week to get the part in. Couldn't believe there wasn't a warehouse in Dallas or Houston with a drawer full of them.
Neill

[hollywood]

Great Pics - Todd. I was born and raised in Asheville and I have lived in flat Texas for the last 25 years or so. I go home every summer but your picture made me homesick and made me wish I could get my bike up there sometime!! Thanks again!

[unwind2]

Great pics Todd. 200 miles ....no it's further than that. I live all the way over in West TN. I am 350 miles west of Knoxville, 80 miles north of Memphis TN. I always grip about being in the flat part of the state, have to hop over to Missouri to catch some hills.LOL

I almost took a travel assignment in Asheville NC a couple of years ago. Tempted to take it 'cause of the roads to ride but turned it down 'cause of the nurse to patient ratio I was quoted. 10 patients per nurse was a bit much.....no thanks not on my nursing license.......I would have really enjoyed my days off though.

[dui546]

That would have been a sweet ride. We are talking about taking the Nomad up to the Big Meadow Lodge on skyline drive. It would be a better journey with a group of 3 to 4 bikes.

My bride of 24 years and I took a ride south from Virginia Beach over back roads and entered North Carolina at Moyock heading toward the Outer Banks. Our plan was to simply pack the saddlebags for an overnight trip south...somewhere. We ended up taking Route 34 to Elizabeth City, NC. Got a room at a brand new Fairfield Inn that had only been opened for 5 days! We were the first to stay in the room (that doesn't happen much). Elizabeth City was pretty dead. We ended up following the tag of a small sign on Route 17 and spent the entire evening at the Chowan County Fair in Edenton, NC. Total miles traveled was 197. Everybody was friendly (kinda like the folk in the town in the movie "Wild Hogs" http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif ) It was a good time but the chance to "runaway" for the weekend was totally PRICELESS!

[Todd]

Big Meadows Lodge is an incredible place.....If you decide to go sometime give us some warning and the wife and I may meet you there. We stayed in one of the upstairs...eeehhhemm...studios that are just above the office....its really tiny but nice if its just the wife and you (that's YOUR wife and you).

Skyline Drive is nice to ride but the deer are plentiful and the Park Rangers are really tough on catching anyone doing over 35mph..they hide everywhere!!!

[dui546]

A trip back to Big Meadow sounds great. I could not believe how tame the deer were in the field by the lodge. I will run it by my lady and see if we can try and arrange one before it gets too cold. Below are some pics of deer the last time we were there.

Being that you are from NC I assume that you have ridden the roads around Mt. Airy, NC (aka: "Mayberry")? I attended a classic Gold Wing rally there on a weekend in 2006. It was alot of fun and the curvey road riding was plentiful.

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[Todd]

Being that you are from NC I assume that you have ridden the roads around Mt. Airy, NC (aka: "Mayberry")? I attended a classic Gold Wing rally there on a weekend in 2006. It was alot of fun and the curvey road riding was plentiful.

Yessir...came back through Mt. Airy yesterday on HWY 89...nice sweeper curves along that road. You cant go wrong with that whole area.....

This weekend was 'Mayberry Days' in Mt. Airy..lots of classic cars and bikes..........................and Thelma Lou!

[dui546]

I never knew that Mt. Airy was the original "Mayberry" until I visited it. It would be neat to set up a visit as a group when they are planning a special event. I think it would also be a great area for a future eastern rally too.

Hey Todd,
Do you have suggestions for rides besides the Dragon, Cherohala Skyway, & BRP? I'll be in Maggie Valley Wednesday afternoon. Will you be around any from then to Sunday? I'll be out riding with 3 guys. Would love to meet you and the wife if you're going to be around. I think we will check out the Fontana Dam Rally one of the days we're up. Drop me a line if you're gonna be around.

lifizgud@roadrunner.com

[dogdoc]

beautiful pics Todd appreciate you sharing. BTW what flag mount do you run? Where would one get it?? thx.

[Todd]

Hey Todd,
Do you have suggestions for rides besides the Dragon, Cherohala Skyway, & BRP? I'll be in Maggie Valley Wednesday afternoon. Will you be around any from then to Sunday? I'll be out riding with 3 guys. Would love to meet you and the wife if you're going to be around. I think we will check out the Fontana Dam Rally one of the days we're up. Drop me a line if you're gonna be around.

lifizgud@roadrunner.com


Yeah kawgirl.....Probably my favorite road in that part of the country is HWY64 between Franklin and Brevard....a good ride for it is to take 28South down from the "beginning of the dragon" there on 129 and cross 19.....28 down to 64 is beautiful by the lake..nice and curvy too...then hit 64 towards Brevard.....it twists and turns all the way and there are many spots to stop and see some awesome waterfalls. I dont know how large they will be running with the drought but they will be running. You will go through Highlands which is a very cool little town to stop and walk around....Cashiers is another neat little town. You can either take 215(more fun) or 276 back up to 74/19 or back to the BRP which will bring you right back to Maggie Valley.

Dont miss going through Cherokee and taking the Smoky Mtn Parkway over to the Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge area....(Gatlinburg is a VERY touristy town...Pigeon Forge is kinda weird. After riding in the beautiful mountains.....you suddenly are thrown out into this flat, fast food laddened , bustling tourist area....... http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif I turn around and go back to the mountains as fast as I can http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

You are probably going to do this route anyway...but take 19/74 all the way down to 129 from the Maggie Valley area and you will go by the Nantahala River Outdoor Center ... The road travels along the River and you can stop and watch folks raft/kayak/canoe through the biggest rapid on the river (Upper Wesser).

If you get a chance to go north far enough on the parkway...about 1hr north of Asheville....make sure to go up Mt. Mitchell (wear your coat..Its cold up there in July and August!!!)

OK those are few recommendations...you can't hardly go wrong...pull out the map and pick a road and take off....I would have to say these I mentioned are my "Must Do's"

I have thought about riding up that way this weekend....maybe Sunday..if I do, I will give you a call.......HAVE FUN AND BE SAFE..LOTS OF RETIRED FOLKS UP THERE THAT DONT NECESSARILY SEE MOTORCYCLES VERY WELL.

[Todd]

beautiful pics Todd appreciate you sharing. BTW what flag mount do you run? Where would one get it?? thx.

I got the idea to buy that mount from Wolfman!!! He had pics of it on another thread I started about flag mounts.

Its a H-D mount for trunks...its plastic and it designed to slide down under the lip of a trunk. Wolf's idea was to remove the top reflector on the license mount and this just slides and clips right down on it. You can pick it up at your local HD store for $29.99 WITH the flag (whodda thunk it).

Oh, and if you are inclined...a litte paint thinner on a cloth will take orange painted advertising off it in about 30 seconds. http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

Here's Wolfman's post........


One of my friends gave me a nice quality flag. It says Harley Davidson on it so its probably
expensive. Its not too big and it swivels so it doesn't get tangled up. If I take
the top red reflecter off the licence plate bracket it snaps on perfectly.
I'll post some pics. I don't always fly it but on July 4th and memorial day and such its nice.

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x4/sjmarsing/P8300010.jpg

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[dogdoc]

Thx Senor Todd.