Vern, I don't know what it is going around, I normally don't fall victim to it however it took me a whole month to kick it, for the most part, and I lost 20 lbs. to boot. Well I guess that would be the up side, greater power to weight ratio on the bike.
Some day I will make it to the March Badness, alas it won't be this year. Maybe I can make it to West Virginia this year.
One of the main reasons I love heading to Suches is the fact that there will be a minimum of asshats on the roads. Those that I determine might be asshats might just be old people. Folks down there in general will know how to drive, or they will have already been dead.
On my daily commute I witness gobs of f^cktards driving, given no clue that they're risking their own cheap-ass life and dozens behind them. The telecom companies only want data usage... profit trumps life.
Let's enjoy these magnificent motorcycles while we can.
I think my brother has got it. I really didn't want to have breakfast with him over the weekend fearing I would get it but so far I feel fine. As soon as I get off here it's packing and loading time. Visiting my friend in Nashville tomorrow then on to Suches! Pwnzor, I have a collaboration between a brewery and distiller here in St. Louis, worthy of a campfire!
Hey Greg- if you don't already have lunch/dinner plans, see if you guys can make it to the Pinewood Social, downtown off Peabody Street. Very neat place, and they'll serve you a Reuben with corned beef tongue... delicious! Also one of the best bloody Mary's I've ever had. Nashvegas has too many great restaurants nowadays... read good things about Little Octopus too.
Looking forward to seeing you all! John too, with a little luck and a lot of healing.
Thanks for the info! Usually we go over to the Bavarian Beerhall across from the Grand Ole Opry since he manages a hotel near there. As a manager he likes to stay close in case of issues but if he can I'll suggest it.
Grand Ole Opry, in the big Opry Mills complex? Yeah, there aint much out in that area interesting, IIRC. I don't know that beer hall, can't judge. However, another good and inexpensive place nearby is The C@ck Of The Walk, they are mainly about catfish but have other good stuff. The servers have this shtick about tossing an iron skillet of cornbread almost to the ceiling, then catching it (hopefully). My folks and I used to enjoy going there, had a cousin that waited tables there.
Laird. You made it to the couch? I've collapsed on the floor in front of it a few times.
I work a few hours and crash for a few then back at it until I can cough no more.
Some times dizzy sometimes not. Cough until I have popped blood vessels in my eyes. Sinus cavity and ears always blocked up with glue. Always able to cough up gobs of lung butter.
Go to bed, cough non stop. Get cold, cough non stop. Lay left, pressure shift, lay right , pressure shift, lay on my back .....cough non stop. Missing sleep sucks too.
Just an FYI. If all goes to plan there will be a free coffee stand outside Cabin #2 on Friday morning. If you have a special roast or grind that you can't live without, bring it. We'll run it through my AeroPress. The Free stuff will be Folger's Classic.
OK- the weather here in Mur-vil TN is AWESOME today... makes me wish I didn't have to work this evening! Oh well.
Got tomorrow off through Monday, can't wait to get going! Gonna put on a pair of new(ish) mufflers (thanks to my buddy Scott), check the bike out and pack, work up some kind of tasty dinner tomorrow nite, then head out about mid-morning Friday.
This is getting into the pretty part of Spring, SO looking forward to some time off on two wheels.
Ad junk- be ready for non-stop twisties whichever route you take. You'll superslab it on I75 until you get to Cleveland TN, then TN74 east to Ducktown, then TN68 south. Once you cross into GA, the highway number will change to GA60. Just stay on that until you get to Suches!
TN74 to Ducktown is a nice ride... heck, the whole route is awesome. Idea #2- get off I75 in Athens TN, take TN39 to Tellico Plains, then head south on TN68. If you make it to Tellico Plains by lunchtime, find Tellico Grains Bakery in their ittbitty downtown area. AWESOME sandwiches and pizza, all out of wood-fired ovens.
You don't know what you're in for, but I bet you'll be returning! Just the roads around Suches are enough to have you returning. When you add in that it's a wonderful campground run by enthusiasts, and you can get ethanol free premium easily and there's good BBQ close by and if the weather is good, you'll see hundreds of bikes in the area...
AND... I do have some Guristas Pirate Faction stickers (the rabbit skull)... but they're not as small as the pins. I'll bring what I have and you can pick out what you want. I should have some left/right oriented matching pairs left.
Ad Junk- know that the distance to the Dragon from Suches will require the better part of a day to get there and back, and just running an up/down of the 11 miles/318 curves will average +- 45 minutes, IIRC.
If you start very early, you could run 129N, make 1 or 2 Dragon runs, maybe 3 (weekend traffic will be heavy), then double back to Robbinsville NC and run the Cherohala to Tellico Plains. Then TN68S to GA60S, back to Suches. That's a lot in one day.
To me, Deal's Gap is overrated despite its uniqueness- yes, it's fun, but dang there are too many people on the weekend. Don't miss the Cherohala though- 45ish miles of nothing but mountain switchbacks and incredible vistas. I believe that's the better ride, especially if you run through the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest. And, on the Tellico Plains side, Bald River Falls. The regular approach to that is about 18 miles up a 2 lane winding road, running alongside the river, but if you see a little sign on the left, going west on the Cherohala that says "Turkey Creek", that's a shortcut. Road quality on that is sketchy, but fun.
You might plan to hit the Dragon on your way home, depending on your itinerary. We'll advise, be sure of that!