David Posted March 12, 2003 Author Share Posted March 12, 2003 David...how early is "super early"? You talking about pre-daylight? I though about leaving around 6 or 7am. I haven't scoped out the total distance. I figure it's about 5 or 6 hours to get there. Don't plan on pushing real hard. I'd like to enjoy the trip as much as possible. I get enough deadlines at work. Chad, we'll lose an hour and I want to get there by noon, so I was planning on a 5:30a start. That'll let us stop for breakfast and fuel and not push it too hard. We'll probably slab it. You are welcome to join us on that unfinished RT of yours (oops, I mean GS). If you decide to take some fun back roads, take I-40 E. After you get out of town, go north and hit 70N. That'll take you on some nice roads all the way to the west side of Knoxville. Pick up I-40 again, and then take the main road into Sevierville, Gatlinburg, etc. Once you get south of the tourist traps, 441 is a wonderful road, and it dumps you straight into the hotel. Let me know if you want to ride with us. Link to comment
David Posted March 12, 2003 Author Share Posted March 12, 2003 Just a quick update, folks. The rides are scouted. We have a Friday afternoon ride that will run south and go in a counterclockwise direction through Highlands and up 215, with a stop at the motorcycle museum in Maggie Valley. It'll be a total of 135 miles or so. Very sweet. Saturday will be a ride that goes south, and then in a clockwise direction through the Cherohala and Deal's Gap. It'll be about 220 miles. I'll have both the routes posted here on the site some time next week. The routes will have suggested stopping places, things to photograph, mileage/turns, and some tips on riding particular sections. On Friday we'll probably all hang together, since many people won't get there until that night. On Saturday I expect we'll split into at least four groups, two of whom will run it forward and maybe two run it backward. I'd like to keep the groups small and safe. I'm going to email a few of you who know the area to see if you'd be willing to "lead" geographically, though I expect the directions will be good enough that everyone will be fine. I'll also include places to meet for lunch. ===== The hotel tells me that 22 rooms are taken. They have 8 left in our block, so you might want to call if you haven't already. ===== The list of attendees has been updated at the start of this thread. Some are tentative, of course. ===== There is a Casino about 5 miles from where we'll be, if you are interested in that. It is in a dry county, so I'll also suggested the nearest places to buy beer on your trip in Friday. ===== If you want me to suggest some fun roads to take on your way in or out, just ask. The place is oozing with them! Link to comment
chadhargis Posted March 13, 2003 Share Posted March 13, 2003 5:30 is pretty early, but I suppose I could handle it. Do you know the distance to get there? That plus another 135 miles all of Friday will be pretty tiring. I've done over 300 miles on the GS (last Satruday actually) with no fatigue so if it's going to total less than that I'm sure I'll be fresh and ready to beat the Cherohala on Saturday. Link to comment
oldtime Posted March 13, 2003 Share Posted March 13, 2003 I just booked my room and am looking forward to meeting you all, have a buddy who is going to join me, and possibly another RT rider who may tag along( he has a ex NC highway patrol bike) The rides you have listed sound fun and cover some of the better roads in the area. Link to comment
Crash Posted March 14, 2003 Share Posted March 14, 2003 Gee I hope I can get out of Connecticut for this it is snowing again today, four more inches. I need 130 more miles for the 600 mile service on tuesday. Link to comment
PeterScottNJ Posted March 14, 2003 Share Posted March 14, 2003 Crash, you'll probably be coming right past me. Let's talk off line and see if it makes sense to meet up - peter@quality-group.com. There are a couple of guys in VA, if they are going down I-81, maybe we can meet up with them as well. I don't know where they are in VA though. Link to comment
David Posted March 14, 2003 Author Share Posted March 14, 2003 5:30 is pretty early, but I suppose I could handle it. Do you know the distance to get there? That plus another 135 miles all of Friday will be pretty tiring. I've done over 300 miles on the GS (last Satruday actually) with no fatigue so if it's going to total less than that I'm sure I'll be fresh and ready to beat the Cherohala on Saturday. Chad, if you ride with us to Cherokee, and then do the Friday afternoon ride, it'll be a total of about 445 miles. Say, *cough*wuss*cough*, don't you own a BMW? What's this crapola about getting up at 5:30 and/or riding 300 miles? Seriously, if that's too much, just leave later, take your time, and skip the Friday afternoon ride. Link to comment
Jake Posted March 14, 2003 Share Posted March 14, 2003 Aw c'mon now Chad, just think, it's 6:30 EST - day's almost shot. From David's garage to the hotel is 260 miles - barely enough time to warm up the 'ol oilheads. Also, David will have some of his special roast coffee brewing, and, if you like, he could whip up a batch of *cough*milquetoast*cough* for ya! Link to comment
marty mayer Posted March 14, 2003 Share Posted March 14, 2003 Chad, maybe it's time to get back on a rt. i left daytona area last sunday morning at 6am arrived home at 10:30 pm. just shy of a 1000 miles. the first 6 hours were in torrential rain, the second 6 were nice 70 degree weather,the last 4 1/2 were 10 degrees. what a great days ride!!! i would do it again in a heart beat. see you in cherokee. Marty Mayer MOA RA IBA Link to comment
chadhargis Posted March 14, 2003 Share Posted March 14, 2003 Hey...I'm no sissy. I don't mind doing the miles. As I said in my last post...I did 300 miles on Saturday and felt like I had only ridden to the end of the street. Nothing but (or should that be butt) comfort from the old Aeroflow equipped GS (which BTW is quieter than my RT with an aftermarket barn door). I'll be putting a new doughnut on the rear at the very least, so I'll be ready for the miles. See you at 5:30! Link to comment
SteveHebert Posted March 17, 2003 Share Posted March 17, 2003 Chad, There were 4 GSs on the 100cc and they all did fine. I think a short day of 300+ will be Okay for a big guy like you. See you in a few weeks, Steve Link to comment
edwar067 Posted March 18, 2003 Share Posted March 18, 2003 I'd like to join the group too! And since somebody already asked if a Harley rider could join us, I'll assume that my buddy in his R80RT or R80GS would be welcome too. See y'all soon (get used to that word) Link to comment
Joe Frickin' Friday Posted March 19, 2003 Share Posted March 19, 2003 Saturday will be a ride that goes south, and then in a clockwise direction through the Cherohala and Deal's Gap. Man oh man, I can't wait to see 50+ RT's lined up in the parking lot at the Crossroads of Time! Link to comment
Jake Posted March 19, 2003 Share Posted March 19, 2003 Me neither, Joe Frickin' Moderator. Just in case it isn't rediculously obvious, you can preview some the area at the tailofthedragon.com website. Link to comment
itchybro Posted March 19, 2003 Share Posted March 19, 2003 I've been up that way the past couple of weekends. I'm hoping they will be open! Past two trips I've encountered the construction guys blasting bad classic rock. (surely they will be by april). I'm wondering if they're planning a waterslide by the "Tree of Shame" Remember folks, be careful out there! Link to comment
PeterScottNJ Posted March 19, 2003 Share Posted March 19, 2003 Jake, that link didn't work for me, but this one does - Tail of the Dragon Link to comment
Crash Posted March 19, 2003 Share Posted March 19, 2003 Itchybro Please put the other picture back yer Scaring me! I'm taling about the avatar Link to comment
John Ranalletta Posted March 20, 2003 Share Posted March 20, 2003 Saturday will be a ride that goes south, and then in a clockwise direction through the Cherohala and Deal's Gap. It'll be about 220 miles. I'll have both the routes posted here on the site some time next week. The routes will have suggested stopping places, things to photograph, mileage/turns, and some tips on riding particular sections. David, would appreciate more specific info on the Saturday ride. I'll be in Chattanooga and would like to ride over and see the group. TIA Link to comment
chadhargis Posted March 21, 2003 Share Posted March 21, 2003 Since the focus of the site has changed to BMW sport touring...don't take for granted that all of us will be on RTs. Link to comment
itchybro Posted March 21, 2003 Share Posted March 21, 2003 Regarding the avatar. I decided to take a nod from Paper Butt and go old skool. What bugs me is I can't get the whole shot in there without the "squish o' vision" (Uh, the horizontal version of the Heart video effect.) (My mom is STILL pissed about that particular "picture day" because if you could see the rest of my shirt, you would see my genuine Rat's Hole "WILD CHILD" monster sweatshirt. Ahh, the apex of white trash couture! BEHOLD!!) Last time I saw one of these Akroyd was wearing one in "Neighbors". I'd kill for one, or of course pay Gatlinburg prices for it. (I looked in Daytona once, they thought I was crazy. David is this the wrong forum for this? How did I get started on this? What happened? Where am I? Link to comment
steveknapp Posted March 22, 2003 Share Posted March 22, 2003 Since the focus of the site has changed to BMW sport touring...don't take for granted that all of us will be on RTs. Chad, if you ride like you post you'll have all of us lost in no time anyways! First you think it's too far, too early, hard on the GS. Now it's no sweat, how dare we imply that a GS won't make it. Link to comment
chadhargis Posted March 22, 2003 Share Posted March 22, 2003 Let me clarify... 5:30am is EARLY. To be up, shower, and be at David's by that time, that will cause me to be up no later than 5am. Unless you are dodging scud missles in Iraq, no one should be awake at 5am. Secondly...the distance isn't an endurance thing. I can take it...I've got youth on my side. To me it's a safety and enjoyment thing. I work in a "rush rush" world everyday. Riding for me is not about schedules, or how many miles I go in a day. It's about how many miles I enjoy. If I ride for half an hour, and I feel like stopping. I do. Sometimes I can ride all day and never want to put the bike away. Just depends on my mental state (which of course is unstable! ). Not to mention the last time I attacked the roads where we'll be riding, I trashed a perfectly good $16,000 motorcycle. I want to be as sharp as possible on Saturday. I want to be 100%. I've never ridden Deal's Gap, and only ridden part of the Cherohala. I know how much pain a mental lapse can cause. I want to avoid it. I'm sure it's no big deal. An easy ride there. I probably won't be tired and I'll be raring to go on Saturday. It's the fear of the unknown. I might not be so lucky if I go down again. Link to comment
Kinsley Posted March 22, 2003 Share Posted March 22, 2003 Ahh, self image, it's very much like certain cruiser types that need to be loud and be seen. Deep down they're really not too sure of themselves, but everyone else can see who they really are. It's fun to watch, you know what I mean? Oh, did I mean to post this here? Link to comment
kcl Posted March 23, 2003 Share Posted March 23, 2003 Confirming! Just made my reservations at the Best Western Great Smokies Inn & Convention Center. See you all there on Friday, April 11!! -k Link to comment
John Ranalletta Posted March 23, 2003 Share Posted March 23, 2003 Had the pleasure of riding thru Cherokee this morning. Nice n' crisp. Owned the road. Only 2 other bikes xing the Cherohola. Rode thru the clouds at 5,300'. If anyone is approaching from SW of Cherokee. Consider 75 east out of Chatt to 64 to 30 to 315 which intersects 39 just west of Tellico. It'd be a great tune up for the Cherohola. Link to comment
David Posted March 23, 2003 Author Share Posted March 23, 2003 Had the pleasure of riding thru Cherokee this morning. Nice n' crisp. Owned the road. Only 2 other bikes xing the Cherohola. Rode thru the clouds at 5,300'. Think these folks will enjoy riding in that area? Sorry I didn't get you the route earlier. I'm finishing them up tonight. Link to comment
John Ranalletta Posted March 23, 2003 Share Posted March 23, 2003 Riding was swell.. About the routes. That's okay. Any road around here is tops. Ruth and I will be back again the week after Paseo...we're doing Pass(e)over in the mountains. Link to comment
David Posted March 23, 2003 Author Share Posted March 23, 2003 Routes are now posted in a separate thread. They are just suggestions, obviously, but if you follow them you'll have a nice mix of roads and won't have to worry about navigation. All the turns and stops are tied to odometer settings. Link to comment
David Posted March 25, 2003 Author Share Posted March 25, 2003 Just started a thread about a dinner count for Saturday. Please stop by and confirm your presence so we can get a count. Thanks! Link to comment
MG37221 Posted April 1, 2003 Share Posted April 1, 2003 Let's see. How do I post again? I'm in. Got my reservation. I'll post about dinner as soon as I know whether there's one or two of me. Grand to ne here! Link to comment
SMM Posted April 2, 2003 Share Posted April 2, 2003 Count me in, I just booked a room for one night (Sat 4/12). I'll be by myself, the room's a smoking (I dont smoke, it's all they had) with two beds so if anyone wants to split it with me send me a PM. I hope to be there early Saturday AM and leave Sunday sometime.....Thanks Link to comment
Crackenback Posted April 2, 2003 Share Posted April 2, 2003 Sorry for being late, but I just got confirmation I can get the time off work. Count on two more. We have hotel reservations for Friday and Saturday nights. Hopefully we will be there in time for Fridays ride. Link to comment
Chris_Barnett Posted April 3, 2003 Share Posted April 3, 2003 I am attending with Crakenback. Looking forward to the trip. Chris Barnett Link to comment
SMM Posted April 4, 2003 Share Posted April 4, 2003 For entertainment purposes, here's the picture from which my 100 * 100 pixel came from. I guess that's what you call your basic s$%^-eatin'grin on my face. Most mind boggling aspect of it is that the picture is 43 years old. At any rate, picture is of me a VERY long time ago, somewhere over the rainbow..... Link to comment
Neal Walsh Posted April 4, 2003 Share Posted April 4, 2003 Hi Girls, Well I guess I should make an appearance at the season's first twisty social. Jake I plan to bring several of good smokes, and some Twelve year old French Oak finish . I'll be to riding up Thursday from Greenville, and returning to Charleston first thing Sunday. Yall monitoring channel two this year ? Next Week Neal Link to comment
Jake Posted April 4, 2003 Share Posted April 4, 2003 Neal - That's a fine plan indeed. If David will let me repossess it, I'll be packing a fine Cognac, plus a plethora of phatties. Somone's got to bring the dixie cups! Link to comment
SMM Posted April 4, 2003 Share Posted April 4, 2003 Initial attempt was with a picture too big and I let the message go out anyway. Bear with me I am learning.... Here's where my head shot came from, my first "bike", obviously a dirt bike.... Link to comment
Neal Walsh Posted April 7, 2003 Share Posted April 7, 2003 MIAMI ??? Que pasa ? Jake no excuse...bring Cubans Nealo Link to comment
itchybro Posted April 8, 2003 Share Posted April 8, 2003 Initial attempt was with a picture too big and I let the message go out anyway. Bear with me I am learning.... Here's where my head shot came from, my first "bike", obviously a dirt bike.... That picture ROCKS. Although you have to look pretty good to see that your "Bike" has indeed got tires. Link to comment
2K2RT Posted April 10, 2003 Share Posted April 10, 2003 David, I was afraid this would happen...last minute change in work schedule is going to keep me from coming. Working for living is such a drag sometimes. Regards to all and hopefully I'll make to the next gathering. It was going to be fun. Link to comment
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