We covered about 205 miles of twisties today for our final day in the mountains.
It rained most of the morning--- but with good gear and tires it can be fun and safe.
Tomorrow we head back to Ocala ... about a 460 mile ride.
Saturday, May 11, 2013
Friday, May 10, 2013
Day 4 265 miles
We started out after a nice breakfast at the house by riding to the gas station at the corner of 60 & 180. This gave us about 12 miles of "warm up" before tackling Wolfpen Gap. There are times on that road where the turns are so tight that you can read your own license plate.
It drops you out on to GA 129 near Vogel State Park where we made a few turns and went over the Robert Russel Scenic Hwy also known as HogPen Gap which after some serious climbing & descending puts you in Helen Ga.
We turned right and then left and went out past Unacoi State Park and worked our way to Clayton GA. We then made our way up WarWomen Road a very twisty fun road ending up on Route 28 turning left we went to Highlands NC
We passed through Highlands on 28 and stopped for pics at Bridal Veil Falls before going down the many tight turns on Rt 28 into Franklin NC for lunch.
After a nice meal we continued on 28 to Route 74 and passed through the Nantahala Gorge. Turning left onto Wayah Road -- a twisty laden 20+ mile road.
From there we headed back to Suches for a great dinner.
It drops you out on to GA 129 near Vogel State Park where we made a few turns and went over the Robert Russel Scenic Hwy also known as HogPen Gap which after some serious climbing & descending puts you in Helen Ga.
We turned right and then left and went out past Unacoi State Park and worked our way to Clayton GA. We then made our way up WarWomen Road a very twisty fun road ending up on Route 28 turning left we went to Highlands NC
We passed through Highlands on 28 and stopped for pics at Bridal Veil Falls before going down the many tight turns on Rt 28 into Franklin NC for lunch.
After a nice meal we continued on 28 to Route 74 and passed through the Nantahala Gorge. Turning left onto Wayah Road -- a twisty laden 20+ mile road.
From there we headed back to Suches for a great dinner.
Outside of Vogel State Park
Go Gators...... not sure how the UGA Dawg got
turned around :-)
Bridal Veil Falls on Rt 28 between
Highlands and Franklin NC
Thursday, May 9, 2013
290 miles -- Day 3
We left at 8:00 am and headed down Highway 60 towards Blue Ridge Georgia ; then worked our way to Tellico Plains Tennessee. From there we hit the Cherahola Skyway then on to lunch at the Cross Roads of TIme at Deals Gap for lunch.
After lunch we ran the Tail of the Dragon -- 318 turns in 11 miles. We then took a circuitous loop back to Suches
After lunch we ran the Tail of the Dragon -- 318 turns in 11 miles. We then took a circuitous loop back to Suches
Our Digs-- pretty sweet
Our Living room
the Open Road
Southern Americana
Our California Presence -- true diversity
Much water
Baldy River Falls
Dragons Tail
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Day 2 --- 352 miles
We had a very full day of riding with our good friend Uncle Bob from Toccoa Georgia.
We left Cornelia at 8 am in a light drizzle working through Walhalla to Route 178 (pickens)
over to route 64 then to 215 to the Blue Ridge Parkway to 19 to Maggie Valley to 23 to 441 to clayton -- 76 === 17=== 180===129==== 180 ===60
We had some awesome twisties on route 178 and the roads were dry and we had a ball.
Once on the Blue Ridge Parkway it was VERY FOGGY... we proceeded slowly and safely.
after we hit Maggie Valley for lunch the weather got much better and we had a good ride hither and yon back to Suches.
We then suited back up and headed to Dahlonega for dinner....
We left Cornelia at 8 am in a light drizzle working through Walhalla to Route 178 (pickens)
over to route 64 then to 215 to the Blue Ridge Parkway to 19 to Maggie Valley to 23 to 441 to clayton -- 76 === 17=== 180===129==== 180 ===60
We had some awesome twisties on route 178 and the roads were dry and we had a ball.
Once on the Blue Ridge Parkway it was VERY FOGGY... we proceeded slowly and safely.
after we hit Maggie Valley for lunch the weather got much better and we had a good ride hither and yon back to Suches.
We then suited back up and headed to Dahlonega for dinner....
My Room-mate (God Help me)
Uncle Bob
Tommy
Yours Truly
FOGGY
Our Digs for the trip
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Mountains Motorcycle trip May 2013-- day 1
We are on the road for 6 days in the mountains of North Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina, and North Carolina.
At 6:45 we departed out of Ocala, me on my 2012 FJR1300 and my friend Tommy on his new 2012 Kawasaki Concourse. The first 80+ miles were up I-75 finally we worked our way to 441 our primary road for the day.
Our first first stop was a gas stop in Fargo, Georgia. This proved pretty interesting. After pumping my gas I was imputing an address into the GPS. This older gentleman pulls up on his golf cart and says..... " It a lil Irish this morning" I said pardon me...?? He repeated - "It a little Irish" I had a puzzled look on my face and he said a bit flustered. " Irish ya know COLD". Then it hit me with his south Georgia accent he was saying "Airish" as in cool fresh air".
He followed that up with those are some Motorcyles fancy... not like a the rice burners I see around here. Keep in mind both the Yamaha and Kawasaki are made in Japan.
Yes interesting stop in Fargo--- although I did not see a wood chipper anyplace thankfully
Our next stop was in Dublin GA for a quick lunch at Subway and gas stop. This had its own light moment after pumping our gas we were chatting when I hear a muted Bang at the other end of the parking lot. A small slightly dented sub- compact was attempting to "Bump Draft" a larger car and hit it several times. The other version is he was helping her to get to the pumps by pushing her in a hit & miss
We went through some interesting towns besides Fargo we hit Homer and Homerville
443 miles later at 3:30 pm we arrived at our hotel - in Cornelia, Georgia.
Tomorrow the twisties
At 6:45 we departed out of Ocala, me on my 2012 FJR1300 and my friend Tommy on his new 2012 Kawasaki Concourse. The first 80+ miles were up I-75 finally we worked our way to 441 our primary road for the day.
Our first first stop was a gas stop in Fargo, Georgia. This proved pretty interesting. After pumping my gas I was imputing an address into the GPS. This older gentleman pulls up on his golf cart and says..... " It a lil Irish this morning" I said pardon me...?? He repeated - "It a little Irish" I had a puzzled look on my face and he said a bit flustered. " Irish ya know COLD". Then it hit me with his south Georgia accent he was saying "Airish" as in cool fresh air".
He followed that up with those are some Motorcyles fancy... not like a the rice burners I see around here. Keep in mind both the Yamaha and Kawasaki are made in Japan.
Yes interesting stop in Fargo--- although I did not see a wood chipper anyplace thankfully
Our next stop was in Dublin GA for a quick lunch at Subway and gas stop. This had its own light moment after pumping our gas we were chatting when I hear a muted Bang at the other end of the parking lot. A small slightly dented sub- compact was attempting to "Bump Draft" a larger car and hit it several times. The other version is he was helping her to get to the pumps by pushing her in a hit & miss
We picked up Sonny in Douglas Georgia
We went through some interesting towns besides Fargo we hit Homer and Homerville
443 miles later at 3:30 pm we arrived at our hotel - in Cornelia, Georgia.
Tomorrow the twisties
Monday, May 14, 2012
Long wet ride home 452 miles
I woke up early as there was a BIG storm system moving east out of Texas. It was 3;25 am when I awoke ( I did go to bed pretty early) without an alarm clock. I dressed and was ready to pull out by 3:45 am...... it was raining already.
I made several discoveries on the way home:
I made several discoveries on the way home:
- The FJR is a great bike in the rain -- I felt some nice protection from the fairing and the ability to trim the windshield to direct the rain and wind where I needed it to be able to see.
- The Frog Toggs road toad rain suit combined with some rain booties and a full face helmet kept me nice & dry
- Once I decided to hit the slab (I-75) -- I found another facet of the FJR --- stability at speed. By this time I was down near Valdosta and the roads were dry. Cruising at speed was SO STABLE. When cruising at speed you must be aware of ALL vehicles and trust no-one but yourself and your bike.
It was a great ride home in spite of the rain
TOTAL TRIP MILAGE---- 1,622 miles in five days
TOTAL TRIP MILAGE---- 1,622 miles in five days
Day 4 Highway 60 and some exploring- 256 miles
Bob & I left Toccoa with the radar looking ominous .....lots of green all around. We headed first to Dahlonega up and over Woody's Gap to pick up highway 60. This is a serpentine road that passes through Suches on the way to Morganton, Georgia. What a smooth twisty fun road.
From there we headed over towards Blairsville for one of Bob's favorite BBQ spots called Rib Country located at 373 Kousins Drive Blairsville, GA 30512-- I had a pulled pork sandwich and it was YUMMY!!!
After lunch we headed north on 129 out of Blairsville and about 4 miles out on the right was a road I found on my phone called Gum Log Road.... nice flowing and curvy. We followed it up to Hwy 66/339 and turned left then an immediate right on old hwy 64.
We headed towards Andrews NC and into the Nantahala Gorge to pick up Wayah Rd. It was my second pass on this 28 miles long very curvy road. Bob had difficultly keeping up on this road due to his love for fly fishing. The first few miles run along a very popular fly fishing stream.
After Wayah road we wound our back to Toccoa .... what a nice last day in the Mountains
From there we headed over towards Blairsville for one of Bob's favorite BBQ spots called Rib Country located at 373 Kousins Drive Blairsville, GA 30512-- I had a pulled pork sandwich and it was YUMMY!!!
After lunch we headed north on 129 out of Blairsville and about 4 miles out on the right was a road I found on my phone called Gum Log Road.... nice flowing and curvy. We followed it up to Hwy 66/339 and turned left then an immediate right on old hwy 64.
We headed towards Andrews NC and into the Nantahala Gorge to pick up Wayah Rd. It was my second pass on this 28 miles long very curvy road. Bob had difficultly keeping up on this road due to his love for fly fishing. The first few miles run along a very popular fly fishing stream.
 |
| Bob & I |
 |
| The Steed |
 |
| nice views |
 |
| Nice trout fishing |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)