| Author | Message | ||
     86129squids |
If I were traveling cross-country I'd like the option of some high-quality earbuds and a serious library of my favorite music. By and large I'm with ya though RoadCrust- the best music is simply life on the road, in the wind. I much prefer music at home, on my hi-fi. Sounds much better that way. | ||
| Ourdee |
On a 500 mile trip I may turn on pandora for a half hour on the interstate. My wife has her radio in the car on all the time. I slowly turn down the volume till it is off. | ||
| Tootal |
You go right ahead and sing Crusty, and we'll be thankful you have a full coverage helmet!  | ||
| Crusty |
Pulled Pork for Breakfast I have a six quart crock pot and it’s been cooking pork tenderloin in Campbell’s Applewood Bourbon sauce all night. I woke up to the smell and now I want to have a pulled pork sandwich for breakfast. This pulled pork is not BBQ, but it is pretty tasty. It’s easy to fix; I just cut up the tenderloin into chunks and throw them in the crock pot with a package or two of sauce and turn the pot on low for 10 or 12 hours or so. I’ve made it many times in the past, and I usually portion it out into plastic freezer containers and have pulled pork sandwiches for dinner once a week for a month or two. Last year, I fixed a pot of it for a pot luck lunch for a group of 30 or 40 people and it was the only main dish that was completely gone. There were no leftovers. So this year, I figured I’d do it again. The lunch is on Thursday, so the pork will have a couple of days for the flavors to meld. I haven’t made it since the Spring, and I’d forgotten just how good it smelled. It’s funny, but now that I think of it, I haven’t made any crock pot meals all summer long. I guess the cooler weather makes me enjoy meals like Beef Stew or The Italian (sort of) Chicken or this Pulled Pork. Cooler weather is more conducive to cooking, for me. In the summer, I just want to cook quickly. But in the cooler months, I don’t mind fixing some of the more elaborate dishes. Last night, I found a recipe for Pulled Chicken that looks intriguing; I think I’ll try it the next time boneless, skinless chicken boobies go on sale. I have a recipe for green beans that’ll knock your eyes out. My Mother used to make it. It involves bacon, Italian green beans, crushed tomatoes, garlic and spices. It takes a while to cook and it tastes really good; nothing like you’d imagine. For some silly reason, it took me years to get it right. Every time I tried to make it, something was wrong and it didn’t taste good. However, I think I’ve finally figured it out. The last two times I made it, it tasted right. I got the recipe from Mom and she learned it from Nana who came from the Old Country. I'll never be the cook that either of them was, but I did learn from them. Wednesday was Pasta night, when I was growing up. We’d have Spaghetti & Meatballs, or Ravioli or some other Pasta dish for dinner. I used to come home from school and either Nana or my mom would be frying meatballs for the sauce. If I waited patiently until they were done with the frying, I would get a meatball for a snack. I used to watch them cook and even though I was a boy, I still learned a few tricks about cooking. Those tricks served me well as I grew older. Anyhow, to get back to the pulled pork; I just tried to pull it apart, and it’s not quite ready, so I guess I won’t have a pulled pork sandwich for breakfast. I’ll just have to content myself with toaster waffles with real, dark amber Maple Syrup and real, lightly salted butter. Oh, the sacrifices we make! I guess I can wait until dinner for a very tasty Sandwich with some Ranch Style Beans. That’s the brand name, and they’re pretty good. I think the two items will complement each other. (Message edited by Crusty on October 08, 2019) | ||
| Anonymous |
You're killing me... I'm so hungry. Time to step out and get something. | ||
| Crusty |
B’ham? I’ve been watching the weather forecasts and it looks like I’m going to have to deal with rain when I head out. Not immediately, but the forecast isn’t looking too dry for my ride up the Parkway. Then, this morning I was reading a thread about someone’s visit to Barber and it included a couple of pictures he took inside the museum. They’ve made some changes inside. They probably have more bikes than ever. The photo that got my attention, though was of a line of EBRs and Buells. When I was there in ’15, I noticed how the museum gave Erik’s bikes a fair bit of prominence (which I think they deserve). Now, it looks like there are even more on display. The photo showed the back half of an 1190SX with an 1190 RS behind it and a white Blast off to the side. It looks like they have the bikes lined up in chronological order because in the distance, I can see an S2 front fairing. There were other bikes in other photos and the displays were different from when I was there. Now, when I went to Barber in ’15, it was right after Buelltoberfest, so I started thinking maybe I should head over there instead of riding the Blue Ridge in a cold rain. So I checked the long range forecast for Birmingham, Alabama and they’re supposed to get rain, too. So it looks like I’m going to get wet, no matter which way I go. That means that I’m being pulled in two different directions. I’d love to ride the Blue Ridge again and I’d also like to go through the museum again. I could plot out a route on backroads from B’ham to home easily enough, and it would be on roads I haven’t ridden on. Or I could stick with my original plan and ride the Blue Ridge. Or, if I don’t keep the Tramp in me on a tight leash, I might wind up in Kansas City, just to get a steak for dinner. I guess I’ll just have to look at maps and weather forecasts and mull things over a bit. It beats the hell out of playing Solitaire. | ||
| Crusty |
A quick question; Does anybody know a good Mexican Restaurant in Albuquerque? | ||
| Griffmeister |
Just be sure to take the left turn when you get there. | ||
| Buellish |
John,they have two platforms holding Buells and EBR's and there is a video running showing Erik. | ||
| Ourdee |
There are supposedly dozens of mexican restaurants there. Green chiles and red chiles! Good luck. https://www.visitalbuquerque.org/mapexplorer/?cati d=19 | ||
| Cupcake_mike |
John, come to KC and I'll buy ya a steak! (Message edited by cupcake_mike on October 10, 2019) | ||
| Crusty |
The Tramp Got Loose! “Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship." - Rick Blaine to Captain Louis Renault It started with the idea of riding down to Georgia to camp at Two Wheels of Suches for Buelltoberfest. Then, I decided to shun I-75 and take secondary roads which led me to deciding that I would stop in Cumberland Falls and hopefully see a Moonbow. From there, I would take some fun roads to Suches and be there for the rally. Then, I looked at a route that would not have me traveling the same roads in the opposite direction. That led to a circular route going up the Blue Ridge Parkway to Skyline Drive, then turning west when I got to Front Royal, Virginia. I was set. It would be about 2,000 miles total and would be a good way to cap off the season. Then I looked at the long range weather forecast. I’d be riding in rain for a large portion of the trip. That dampened (pun intended) my enthusiasm a little bit, but I’ve ridden in rain more times than I can recall. It might not be quite as much fun, but it still would be an adventure. Then came the curve ball. I was reading a thread on the XL Forum where one of the members had taken pictures of the Barber Vintage Motorcycle Museum. I was there four years ago, and they’ve really upped the displays. I’d like to visit it again. So I checked the weather again, and it looks like I’d hit rain if I go there, too. So yesterday afternoon, I plotted a route home from the museum that was over roads I haven’t ridden on before. I wasn’t sure if I was going to go that way, but the Parkway and Skyline are at altitude. The rain there would be cold rain. Chances are that rain in Alabama would be warmer. Cold rain sucks a lot more than warm rain. I started leaning more heavily in favor of visiting the Museum. Toward the end of yesterday’s Snippet, I said that I had to keep a tight leash on the Tramp part of my nature, or I might just wind up in Kansas City to have a steak for dinner. Well; the Tramp slipped his leash. One thing that bothered me was that the total distance of the trip would be only half of the route going up the parkway, so I started looking for a route that would add a few miles. I remembered that four years ago, one of my goals was to go through Albuquerque and have Mexican food while I was there. I spent a few months in Albuquerque during the summer of ’69 and had the absolute best Mexican food I’ve ever tasted while I was there. Anyhow; I didn’t get there. That would definitely add a bit of mileage. So I sat down at my laptop and Google Maps and I had a nice long conversation throughout the afternoon and into the evening. I used the same criteria about not using the same roads twice and I came up with a route that was almost double the distance of the original route. As I was plotting and changing, I noticed that at one point, I would be going by Oklahoma City. When I went through there in ’15, I saw what looked like an aircraft museum. Specifically, a military aircraft museum. I saw a B-52 and what looked like a B-1 bomber from I-40 as I was headed west for Amarillo. So I looked around on Google and found out it’s the Charles B. Hall Airpark at Tinker Air Force Base and it’s free to the public. Ya know… OK; now this may all be just so much Phlogiston, but I went over my finances, and as long as I just camp out and don’t get a motel room I think I can do it. I won’t be putting a big chunk on the plastic like I’ve planned, but it will only delay getting it paid off by one month. And I think that the chance to spend a day at the Barber Museum and a day at the Hall Air Park along with getting a hopefully great meal in Albuquerque and maybe even swinging through Kansas City for a steak (gotta appease the Tramp) on top of seeing a Moonbow, riding the Cherohala Skyway and the roads around Suches, camping at my all-time favorite Campground and getting ribs at Jim’s Smokin’ Que would all make for one hell of a ride. The more I think about it, the more it appeals. | ||
| Tootal |
On the way home from KC stop in and we'll go support the guy that almost won Saturday's race at Springfield. Carver's BBQ! | ||
| Crusty |
Mental Turmoil I don’t know where I’m going. I have this real aversion to riding in the rain, and it looks like no matter where I head, I’ll be in the rain from Sunday the 20th through Wednesday the 23rd. I’ve spent hours over the past couple of days looking at weather predictions and then at Google maps. Another thing I looked at was my tires. I don’t know if there’s enough tread left to last 4,000 miles. I’m pretty positive there’s enough meat to go 2,000, but 4k seems a little chancy. That rules out Albuquerque. Then again, if I get to Oklahoma City and the wear is minimal enough, then maybe I’ll gamble. Considering how cheap I am when it comes to buying tires (I buy at the cheapest site online and mount & balance them myself), if I have to buy a new tire and have it mounted, I’ll feel like I lost at a high stakes game. My brother David gave me a good idea; wait until I get my new Roadster, then ride it to Albuquerque for a shake down ride. When he bought his present Miata, he drove it to Pensacola via the Tail of the Dragon for just that purpose. Actually, the more I think about it the better that sounds. I could plan the route so that I could ride the length of the Natchez Trace along the way. In any event, my tentative route at the present time is to first, go to Cumberland Falls and hopefully see a moonbow and maybe even get a photo of it. Then, I’ll head for Suches. On Sunday, the 20th, I’ll ride over toward Birmingham and I’ll spend Monday at the Barber Museum. On Tuesday, I’ll head for Little Rock, Arkansas and Wednesday I’ll arrive in Oklahoma City. Thursday evening will have me in a Corps of Engineers campground in Cape Fair, Missouri. Then, I’ll ride up to St. Louis where I’m hoping Greg will let me sleep on his recliner, then I should be home on Saturday. If Greg isn’t going to be home, or is otherwise occupied, then I’ll hit a campground, or maybe drink a bottle of 5 hour Energy and ride home that night. All of the above is tentative and I might just get a wild hair and do something dumb like ride to Key West. My thoughts are so screwy at this point, I wouldn’t be too surprised at anything I do. I changed the oils in the bike today and wired up the cord for my electric jacket liner. I also checked the air in the tires and both are up to pressure (42 Rear and 32 Front). Then I took it to the quarter car wash and cleaned it. That guarantees that I’ll hit rain. I’ve got a bunch of stuff packed into plastic bags waiting to go into the saddlebags tomorrow.The battery in the camera is fully charged. Tomorrow, the bike gets packed, then Monday, I’ll be off. No matter how things shake out, it will be an interesting ride. I’m really looking forward to it. | ||
| Ourdee |
You know the guest room is available on the return run if you want to stop short of home. I'll feed you, supply fresh towels, bedding, wifi, and a spot for your bike in the garage. I'd even throw in a washer and dryer. | ||
| Pwnzor |
Don't forget that you're on the free camping and firewood program in Suches, sir. | ||
| Crusty |
Cumberland Falls I’m sitting in a Taco Hell in Corbin, Kentucky having a well imbalanced dinner and my tent is set up on site #32 at the Cumberland Falls Campground. I rode by the viewing area for the falls, so I’ll know where to go after 9:30. I don’t know if I’ll see a Moonbow or not, but the sky is clear, so I’m hoping for the best. Included in that Best is the hope that if there is a Moonbow, my point & shoot will get a good picture of it. It took me a bit longer to get here than Google said it would. First, the Anderson Ferry was halfway to the other bank when I arrived, so I had to wait about 20 minutes for it to get back to my side. Then, there were several areas where half the road was closed down, so traffic had to wait for a Flagman to turn his sign from STOP to SLOW. But the biggest reason it took me so long was because I missed turns; not once, but three times. The good part of that was that I rode through some magnificent rural areas. Kentucky is a really beautiful state and I got to see more of it because I missed turns. Even with the missed turns, I pulled into the Campground a few minutes before 4:00. The campground looks to be about half full, which surprised me. I really didn’t expect that many people to be camping in mid-October. Then again, if there’s a Moonbow tonight, I can understand the attraction. The campground, is really nice and the bathrooms are clean (well; the Men’s room is; I can’t speak for the Ladies room) The rates are high – 25 bucks/night, but I’ve seen higher prices for much poorer campgrounds. Anyhow; that’s what’s happening at present. It’s about 15 miles back, so I’d better be moving along. Tomorrow, I’ll be at Two Wheels of Suches. Oh Boy! | ||
| Pwnzor |
I'm going to go ahead and post this one early, because I'm tired and it's time for bed and I don't want to forget this in the morning. This one's for Crusty from Roy.  | ||
| Adrenaline_junkie |
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| Buellish |
John,it looks like rain in Suches this evening.Call me and I'll pick you up and buy you a burger at Spirits Tavern.Four o four six one zero two five seven two. | ||
| Crusty |
Mike; I'll call you when I get to TWoS. A burger sounds good! | ||
| Crusty |
I Missed It! I’m sitting in a McDonalds in Whitley City, KY having my standard Road breakfast; a Sausage McMuffin and a Senior coffee with 4 creams. With tax, it cost $1.79. Tonight, I’ll be camping in Two Wheels of Suches and I think it’ll be in the rain. This morning, I’m stiff and sore and a little bit pissed off at myself. I didn’t see the Moonbow. I could have; I was holed up in my tent and it was cold and I was tired and didn’t want to get out of my nice warm sleeping bag. That’s a real chicken sh*t excuse for not witnessing something I’ve been wanting to see for decades, but it’s true. I can elaborate on the excuse; I was tired. Yesterday’s ride took more out of me than I thought. There was a calendar posted on the door of the campground store that showed the times, and it wasn’t going to happen until after 10:00, which was later than I thought. I was asleep by 9:00 and I just had no enthusiasm left. I could have forced myself to stay awake, but I just lacked the energy to get dressed and get back on the Roadster. I really am out of shape for camping. I always have a rough time the first night on the road and last night was no exception. I didn’t sleep well; I kept waking up with one part of my body hurting or another. I’d roll over one way or the other and fall back to sleep, then something else would start hurting. It was difficult getting dressed this morning. I’m sure that things will get better after today, but it was an especially rough first night. I also have gotten a lot slower at setting up and breaking down my camp. It took me an hour to get the tent set up yesterday afternoon and I felt exhausted the whole time. This morning it took an hour and 20 minutes to get everything taken down and packed on the bike. I’m sure those times will improve as I get more practice, though. So; the clouds are moving in. When the sun came up, there wasn’t a cloud in the sky, but now, there’s a line of clouds that are taking over the entire sky. On one side, the sky is blue and cloudless, the other side is grey and ominous. I’d best be moving along in a hurry. | ||
| Pwnzor |
John, have you tried camping in a hammock? I'm going to bring an extra one with me, in case you want to try it out one night. | ||
| Ourdee |
I can bring a cheap under quilt and tarp if needed. | ||
| Pwnzor |
Do that, please. Let's see if we can teach an old dog new tricks. | ||
| Ourdee |
I will bring a few things. | ||
| Tootal |
If things get weird Crusty, I have an extra bed in the cabin. | ||
| Crusty |
My tent was comfortable last night. I've gotten over the first night aches and pains. That happens when I haven't been tramping for a while. Right now, the temperature is 50 F according to the thermometer on the wall of the lodge. The sun is supposed to come out this afternoon and it should be warm for the rally. I'll write a Snippet as soon as the temperature comes up. | ||
| Crusty |
Wednesday in Suches It’s raw and it’s been raining off and on since last night. The weather forecast is for the rain to be over by now, but I won’t believe it until the sun comes out and stays out. The sun came out a couple of times this morning, but then it started raining again as I was getting ready to head into Dahlonega. I think the temperature has been dropping as the morning has progressed, as well. That might be an illusion caused by the wind. I had a nice ride here from Cumberland Falls. US Rt. 27 cuts through some really beautiful country and Tennessee Rt. 68 goes through even prettier country and becomes Georgia Rt.60 at the state line. Rt.60 is even better than it was in Tennessee and it leads right to Two Wheels of Suches. I changed my plans to ride the Cherohala Skyway because I didn’t want to get caught by the rain. When I stopped for breakfast yesterday morning, it looked like I was going to get soaked in short order, but the sky lightened up and I had no problem for the ride. I got here and got my tent set up fairly quickly. It took me less than half the time it took the day before. Mike (Buellish on Badweb) came by in his pickup and the two of us went into Dahlonega to a place called Spirits for a burger. It was a good burger. I forgot the name of the burger, but it had fried onion strings and BBQ sauce on it and it was pretty good. For a side, I had tater tots; both Mike and the waitress recommended them and they were better than I expected. I’d go back again. Another Mike (Ready2ride on Badweb) was already here when I arrived. He’d rolled in on Monday night. He’d cooked a steak and was enjoying it when Buellish Mike and I were heading out, so he declined to join us. I slept well last night, waking a few times to the tapping on rain on the tent fly, but it wasn’t a heavy rain and that tent is the best tent I’ve ever owned (USMC surplus) Plus, I’ve got a really warm sleeping bag. I’ve gotten used to camping again and I was snug as I could be. My only problem is that my LED flashlight has gone on the fritz. I like to read in bed a bit and the shenanigans of the light made it very frustrating. So I’m heading in to the Wally World in Dahlonega shortly to buy another light. I don’t know when people will be arriving; I’m pretty sure that a bunch will be rolling in tomorrow, but I think some will be here tonight. I guess I’ll find out soon enough. I looked at the long range forecasts and it now looks like I won’t be in rain all the way to Oklahoma City. It’s looking like possible showers, but ending sooner that they were saying a few days ago. Since I believe in the weather forecasters ability to get it wrong (I don’t think they can accurately predict a sunrise), I won’t put a lot of faith in what they’re saying; but I will hope that they get it right, for a change. Well; it’s looking a lot lighter on the horizon, so I think I should head out. | ||
| Pwnzor |
I'm literally counting the minutes until I can go home and finish packing. I will be up there in the morning with my car, to set up camp. Then I'll come back down to get my bike. It's just a lot easier this way. It's nice living this close to Suches. See you soon! |
