Author |
Message |
Outrider
| Posted on Tuesday, September 28, 2004 - 11:02 am: |
|
Fantastic...I really should have signed up for this one. Please keep the pictures and stories coming. |
Epierce
| Posted on Tuesday, September 28, 2004 - 11:25 am: |
|
A cougar???? |
Spooky
| Posted on Tuesday, September 28, 2004 - 11:34 am: |
|
Bad kitty....... I said no kitty thats my potpie. |
Epierce
| Posted on Tuesday, September 28, 2004 - 11:36 am: |
|
(Let's try this again) A Cougar??? |
Spooky
| Posted on Tuesday, September 28, 2004 - 11:40 am: |
|
Epierce, Did you take the pics at Grandfather Mt. |
Epierce
| Posted on Tuesday, September 28, 2004 - 11:42 am: |
|
Yes. I am trying to download other pics??? Not having any luck. |
Spooky
| Posted on Tuesday, September 28, 2004 - 11:48 am: |
|
Several years ago a woman got a good close look a the big kitty. Teasing a mountain lion is not a smart thing to do. Two were spotted here recently about 30 min. from my house |
Epierce
| Posted on Tuesday, September 28, 2004 - 12:05 pm: |
|
Bikes on Grandfather Mtn.
|
Rotchcrocket51
| Posted on Tuesday, September 28, 2004 - 02:40 pm: |
|
My favorite part of the rally route? That tight, twisty, vicious 226A ! I basically had the road to myself for three hours! If you ran it up and down enough times you learned where the gravel was and could slow down there. There were more than enough turns to keep you grinning other than those few rock strewn ones. I also ran into Will and Mary on one of my jogs back down the mountain. Will was waiting for Jose and the rest of the group that he had shot on the BRP earlier. I told him they were at the top and volunteered to go up and find them. Heck, why not? It gave me another reason to zoom back up the mountain. I searched all over Little Switzerland and didn't find them so it was back to the bottom! Since there was no one else to photograph, Will asked if I would work with them for a while. We did some shots with me following but they were painfully slow. Then Will set up in a sunny turn and I blasted through a few times. Then we tried one more session of shots with me following the Aztec. Those were the most productive. When a good turn was approaching, I would signal Will, try to fall back a little, then pick up some speed (not much)and attempt to "strike a pose" at the apex. When we got back to the top, Will started looking at the shots and he was all smiles. He said they had to be cover shots! I was stoked and celebrated by making a few more trips up and down the mountain. But then, Jose stole my thunder the next day on 421. The shots Will took of him really WERE cover shots. Will found a place where the light was perfect. Jose was coming up the mountain into a right hander and Will was lying down on his back shooting from road level. There was barely enough room for Will to stay out of the road. The shots were incredible! I'm sure we will see those again. Will also took some great ones of Mark Hughes in that same spot. We all signed releases but Senior Q's were THE pictures of the day! Congrats! |
Whodom
| Posted on Tuesday, September 28, 2004 - 02:46 pm: |
|
Thanks for the ride reports and photos. Those of us that couldn't make it appreciate it. I was lucky enough to find 226A when I was up there on Labor Day weekend. Did nobody go over to highway 80 (Buck Creek Gap Road)? It's only a few miles west and is at least as good as 226A, though probably not as long. |
José_quiñones
| Posted on Tuesday, September 28, 2004 - 05:37 pm: |
|
a few more shots Two sweet S2's from the Alabama Boys. Notice the S3 Bags on the S2, nice job, but not cheap to do according to Ron. |
José_quiñones
| Posted on Tuesday, September 28, 2004 - 05:42 pm: |
|
On Tuesday, before the rally started, Paul and I headed Southwest of Boone and hit the Dragon, the Cherohala Skyway before ending up in Loudon Tn with a friend of Paul's. On Wednesday cut through the morning fog and headed back to Statesvile via 441/Great Smoky Mountain National Park and stopped at the Wheels Through Time Museum in Maggie Valley. If you are anywhere within 200 miles of this place you should not miss it. My favorite bike was one that featured both fuel and oil in the frame, the muffler under the engine and a shaft drive, in 1909 The 1909 Pierce
|
José_quiñones
| Posted on Tuesday, September 28, 2004 - 05:49 pm: |
|
We only spent about an hour inside the museum because we were running late, so we took I40 from Asheville to Statesville and made it to Tilley's at about 2:50 pm just as the BRAG thing was winding down. We did hook up with Tripp and he autographed some posters for us. I also got to put my bike on the dyno. They were doing free dyno runs all day ang giving people a print out. While there I saw one of Tilley's mechanics working on one of the three VROD engines from Trip Nobles' AHDRA VROD Drag Bike. My camera decided to act up at this most critical of moments so I was not able to get some good VR engine shots, only this one.
|
José_quiñones
| Posted on Tuesday, September 28, 2004 - 06:06 pm: |
|
Johnnie, Striking a Pose for the photographer was a lot of fun, I must have gone by him 15 times a few times within inches of him... I hope I get the cover, but there are other good ones to pick from |
Bluebuellxb9r
| Posted on Tuesday, September 28, 2004 - 08:14 pm: |
|
Hey Jose, It was great meeting you guys and even more great riding with you all. Im the guy that discussed your L. plate with you , you know the guy who was riding with Johnny before he ran off and left us !! Anyway - i had a great time and am looking forward to going to more events. |
Mbsween
| Posted on Tuesday, September 28, 2004 - 09:57 pm: |
|
This one was awesome ride, great rodes 226A, 88, 50, 421S ... great people PaulinOZ, Glenn (StoolX1 ?), Bill, Jose, Todd, Shred, Torquer, Craig, Gator, Layfayette and a whole bunch I forgot names for Here's a couple shots I think this was the only S1 at the run Another shot of the S1 More bikes at Tilley's Mary and Peggy at work Todd (M2) and the Vrod dude (sorry missed your name) Bikes on the Parkway A nice M2
|
Buellish
| Posted on Tuesday, September 28, 2004 - 11:17 pm: |
|
"Did nobody go over to highway 80 (Buck Creek Gap Road)? It's only a few miles west and is at least as good as 226A, though probably not as long." Norbert,1313,SkeeterXB and I were lucky enough to meet a local at the Shady Vally Store,who took us on some of the best roads of the week. Buck Creek Gap Road was one of them. |
Whodom
| Posted on Wednesday, September 29, 2004 - 06:17 am: |
|
Buellish- glad you found the road; it's one of my favorite. I found it accidentally about 20 years ago while on vacation. My wife and I were driving the Parkway, and decided to take that exit to get to Marion. When we got to the bottom, I immediately turned around and went back up! I didn't get to try it on 2 wheels until Labor Day weekend this year. |
Buckinfubba
| Posted on Wednesday, September 29, 2004 - 07:03 am: |
|
well it lokke like it was a great time from this vatage point..... oh yeah Brian's corner......all the judges gave me 10's for my dismount that day..... fun stuff.... |
Orion1
| Posted on Wednesday, September 29, 2004 - 08:31 am: |
|
Buellish, You might be talking about a different road than Whodom is. Hwy 80 (Buck Creek Gap Road)from the Parkway to Marion was closed about 2/3 way up & full of work vehicles and GRAVEL from that point on. We had to turn around, and VERY CAREFULLY make our way thru the best parts of the road. It's about 2 hours south of Shady Valley. It IS a great road, especially south of the Parkway, and anyone who hasn't been on it, should. Here's a shot of us "fueling up" at the base of Hwy 80:
|
Glitch
| Posted on Wednesday, September 29, 2004 - 09:07 am: |
|
Dots Dario. Takes me back to being a kid. On Sundays we would eat at the Lake Tahoma Steak House across the street (don't know what's it's called now) visit the bears they had at the lodges on the other corner, after that it was ice cream at Dots. Those were the days. Certainly a lot less to worry about back then. This is the Lake Tahoma Club House as seen from Buck Creek Road (the one with all the wash outs)
|
Vegasbueller
| Posted on Wednesday, September 29, 2004 - 09:10 am: |
|
Any of you guys ever cross over to Casers Head? That was a fun place for me about 15 years ago. |
Vegasbueller
| Posted on Wednesday, September 29, 2004 - 09:10 am: |
|
Make that Ceasers Head.. He** I can't remember how it's spelled. |
Glitch
| Posted on Wednesday, September 29, 2004 - 09:11 am: |
|
PS: Sorry I missed you Buellish. When I heard you were there I looked for you when we were at the Quality Inn. Wished I could have made dinner with ya'll on Friday night. |
Glitch
| Posted on Wednesday, September 29, 2004 - 09:20 am: |
|
Ceasers Head that's right. South Carolina. Cool place if you're not there while the Miatas car clubs are playing. Last time I was up there were more little sports cars than anything. (Message edited by glitch on September 29, 2004) |
Outrider
| Posted on Wednesday, September 29, 2004 - 09:43 am: |
|
Cool place if you're not there while the Miatas are playing. EZ does it Glitch. I am the proud owner of one of those amazing vehicles. Modified, of course. Although, I must admit that when they congregate, most tend to drive like "HOG's on Parade." |
Glitch
| Posted on Wednesday, September 29, 2004 - 10:04 am: |
|
Sorry, last time I was up there it was a Miata club making it crowded. Any car club get together is enough to make me find another place to play. Last month in Suches it was BMWs another little sports car club making it crowded. They usually play by the rules, it's just with that much traffic in the mountains, kind of defeats the purpose of getting out of the city. |
Outrider
| Posted on Wednesday, September 29, 2004 - 10:09 am: |
|
Boy do I understand that. They parade around and drive everyone nuts just like a HOG ride. You couldn't pass them safely if you tried. Well, you can but some things are just better avoided. Just another reason, I avoid group rides whenever possible. |
Honu
| Posted on Wednesday, September 29, 2004 - 10:42 am: |
|
Just got back from the Ridge Ride and three days at Deals Gap/Dragon. Not only was the riding fantastic but the people were great also. Hooked up with Mike (Shred), Pete (Torquer), Paul (inOZ), and Gator (Gatordick) Gillespie. And alot of others! Thanks for the frienship and memories! Craig |
Skeeter_xb
| Posted on Wednesday, September 29, 2004 - 06:37 pm: |
|
Whodom, we did ride Hwy 80. Actually the sign said RT 80. We were camped about 10 miles away from it there in Spruce Pine. Bubba, I told the lady the at the shady valley country store you said hi. she said you need to come back to visit. |
|