Bonneville America Forums Forums General Motorcycle Forums Rides, Rallies, & Events Georgia Rally '06 ( The Official Thread )

That's how I got my first electric guitar home from the pawn shop. Wrapped it in my jacket and strapped it to the side of my Honda...

So what's the scoop as far as the NTBF guys? I read over there about the weekend zoo and couldn't agree more about the obvious dangers. Last year when wojo and I came through we rode the Dragon and when we got to the lodge, I didn't even realize we had just ridden it. I assumed it was just another twisty part of the zillions of miles of twisties you have in that area. I really enjoyed the ride around the big lake after that though. It's really pretty there.
I do recall though that when we rode through the Dragon, on a Wednesday morning, we had some idjits in their sports cars coming the other way and several times they crossed over the center lines causing us to brake hard and swerve. Not a situation for anyone short of very experienced riding abilities.
We will be coming the same way this year again, so most of us Northern Boys will get a chance at it on Wed/Thursday.
But we will follow the leader, wherever and whenever.

Hey Pay we still meeting in Kentucky at the Colonial Inn? I just can't remember the name of the town. Bill from Ottawa will be with me and I was hoping to hook up with a few other guys on the way down. Stewart? That means you.

Did you see any 18 wheelers? I have read they have problems with those folks getting stuck in some of the turns.

For the past few months I've been checking out www.killboy.com (he's the guy that takes pics of folks on the dragon) and cars crossing the center line (bikes, too!) seems to be one of the major hazards. If we do ride the dragon, my suggestion is that we take it in groups of 6 or so riders and spread the groups out every 5 minutes. That way we would reduce the possibility of a chain reaction if someone goes down, it makes it easier for the squids to pass (you know they will), and it makes it easier for the picture taking folks to get a good pic (if that's something you'd like to have). Each group should be lead by someone good at picking a line and keeping it. I know I find the twisties easier to ride if I'm following someone and mimicking their line. It will be a zoo at that time of year so smaller 'teams' navigating the gap might make it easier to handle.

Wasn't that Portsmouth or something?
I'll know it when I see it.
Matt Lessard is supposed to be riding down with me. Not sure if Jane is coming, she would have a hard time riding that far actually. She mentioned the T word again (trailer) but also mentioned we may be in the process of moving and suggested that I might not be able to go. Yea, right. I'll move when I get home.

I've been talking to Tom over there about a trying to arrange a meet somewhere on Saturday. Through this I've found out the Mini Cooper club is having their rally the same weekend at Deals gap. This means not only would we have to deal with the usual 30 to 40 sportbikes who have no concept of "sharing" and the 50 to 60 Hardley riders that show up around noon but throw in 200 Mini's and I think that's a bit much for 11 miles of highway.
At this point I'm working on plan B... stay at the house and get drunk... no wait, that's plan C. As you know there are many miles of roads equal to or better than Deals Gap that don't have near the risk factor so I'm thinking of a ride up to Highlands and a possible meet up with the Bonnie guys in Franklin. I'll sit down this weekend and see what I can come up with....

Ryan,
Didn't see any trucks on the road at all, good thing. I have seen the pictures of what happens.

LateSleeper,
Good idea with the small groups. Definetly would make things way safer. Gotta remember, it's 3 hours from Chy's to get there too. Fatigue also plays a part then.

I like plan "B". You don't need the Dragon with 40-50 bikes. Afterall we have 180 in our back yard and you can ride it twice in one day, going and coming if we like.

Sounds like a good plan B. I tend to shy away from circus atmospheres. Heck, I loved the roads we ran last year. I still want to live in that mill we saw. It's not like I get to do that everyday, but I will ride wherever Chy leads!

I agree with Larry as some of the Yankees are comming through there on the way down.

Chy, Plan B sounds much better to me too......the Dragon is just kind of a status thing anyway; ya know "I RODE THE DRAGON" (nose in the air). I live an hour away and have NEVER ridden it, it just doesn't interest me with all the sport bike idiots passing you, putting you in danger. If you're thinking of doing a Highlands/Franklin ride, check out Hwy. 28 coming from the Robbinsville/Bryson City area; sweet twisties, beautiful views. I'd be more than happy to meet ya for a pre-rally excursion to scope out stops/restaurants and all that good stuff........

Lee

Considering we would be up there on the weekend, I think Plan B (or even C ) would be better. If I wanted a circus, I'd pick Barnum & Bailey!

I have complete confidence in ya Chy to come up with an alternative that would be best for all!!

btw, my plans on getting there and back may have changed. We bought a condo in Banner Elk, NC and the plan (Janet's) is now to go up there for the preceding week and then go to Dahlonega from there. It could be a waypoint for others, if needed.

Sorry, Ryan & Moe, the way it stands, I will not be riding up with youse guys.

Another horrible thought... I am pricing trailers.....

Pat and Phil both saying the T word? The seventh seal has been broken, the apocalypse is nigh.

Now that Chy mentioned the mini's I do remember seeing a lot of them on the way back home on Sunday with Pat. I really don't care if we ride the dragon, I wasn't that impressed with it.

Phil, have you been to the Banner Elk area? You may have to buy another America and leave it at the condo when you come up.......sound like a plan?

Lee

We drove up and back in 2.5 days in mid-December to do the purchase, Lee.

850 one way... I was friggin beat by the time I got home. Did the return in one day in 13 hours. Can you say thank you, Beltronics (radar detector maker)?

I CANNOT wait to get up there and ride. It is friggin AWESOME and only 24 miles from that condo to the BlueRidge!!!! Gonna get my 'mountain legs' back well before the Rally.

Chy, I hear ya man (I know your just bustin my chops!).
I never thought I would see the day that any bike of mine would ride up a trailer ramp. This will be the first due to two problems. One, Janet will not ride that far on a bike. Two, she will not, under any circumstances, ride a bike on anything resembling a mountain!!

So, my options are:
- Ride the bike up to Banner Elk from home and have Janet follow me in a vehicle. Even with good bike to truck communications, this is not a good option. Puts Janet behind a wheel for a crapload of hours and might mean we would have to stop for a night on the way up.

- Get a trailer and we all go together on the slab until about Charlotte and then I unpack and ride the rest of the way in and then every day for the rest of the time we will be up there!! Family will be up there too so I should be able to do a couple of hours a day at least and hone those twisty skills.

- I wish there was another option......

Phil, Option C--Move the family to Banner Elk and live the rest of your days here in Twisty Heaven?????????? hahaha

Lee

Now THAT sounds like a good plan.

When we were up there, it was 14 degrees and blowing about 25. WAY too cold for me, my friend!! That was the middle of December!! I can't even imagine how cold it is now or next month.... Brrrrrrrrr

I start putting on sweaters, longjohns, and thermal gear at around 50!!

However, the long term plan is to get about 3-400 miles closer to you guys as soon as possible.

Don't ya feel for the Flatlanders, Chy? Switching lanes could be considered riding a twisty, couldn't it?

Lee

I was visiting my bro in law up in Michigan once many years ago. We're driving down the road and he looks at me with a grin and told me to get ready cause here comes "the curve". Wow...

And Phil, I can relate to what you're saying.. he keeps trying to get me to come visit in the winter so we can ride snowmobiles.. don't think so.

I like plan B. I'd rather spend 3 hours riding some sweet road than just GETTING to the sweet roads. I mean I know we'd take the scenic route, but I would rather meet the Bonnie boys and hang that just be able to say I did the dragon.

Benny,
All the roads where Chy lives are nice and twisty. You don't really have to travel very far to have a good ride.

That's what I'm hoping for! And like everyone said, we can always hit it on the way home... Personally, I'll be traveling a ****** long way, longer than any road trip I've ever taken, in a car or on a bike, and I'd rather stick closer to home base, have some good food, see the area, ride some twisties, and hang with my bros. Just call me Alice

Alice

I'm still trying to get the OK from work. By the time I get there I will be ready for some laid back time, so plan B and C both sound good.

I like the idea of uncrowded twisties. It's been over 20 years since I rode those hills and the TX coast has nothing to get my skills honed. Casual cruising is fine, I have nothing to prove.

Hey Benny,

Last year I thought it was Sally? You gone and changed AGAIN on us?

Benny, You don't have to ride 3 hours to get to the sweet roads, all you have to do is take a right.. or left out of the driveway and you're there. Saturday is an all day ride... it's tradition. Can't go messing with tradition... last year we rode all day and never got more than 50 or 60 miles from our house. They'll be plenty of time for sitting under the carport/lean to/garage sipping a cool one when the ridings done...

All day is fine by me. I just like the idea of exploring, not like worrying about getting somewhere, ya know?
Pill, a new year, a new name.

I'm booked, Thanks Ryan for the discount.
Mike

Stew,

Did you get the maps I sent your way? I'd be willing to split the room. Yep, the toga will stay on too. If we are doing kegs stands or something I have to admit that I might SNORE a little bit.

What's your plan? Leaving Tuesday or Wednesday?

Looking forward to this trip. It'll be nice to ride some rodes with actual curves and turns in them. Whether it is "The Dragon" or not doesn't matter to me. Gonna' be alotta' time on the bike and hanging with some cool folk that matters. Plan A, B or C is fine by me!

Keith,
Wed morn sounds good, got the maps. Hopefully we can hook up with Angelis, Pat and John, and the guys coming from farther north. Still working on MikeSr....

Snoring...whats snoring? Btw, who wants the room next to us?

Moe, I love 28 from Bryson to Franklin, that ride along the river is one of the best in the area......Ryan, I'm confirmed at the Econolodge for the 4th through the 8th......counting the days....104 days to be exact (man I'm bored at work today hahaha).

Lee

Okay, no one has mentioned this yet. Are we getting shirts and patches made up again this year?

I am working on the patch design now. It will look similar to last year's. I like to change them a little for uniqueness. However, this year I will be requiring payment up front (still should be $3 apiece) because I had to eat about 25 patches last year...

Here's last year's:



and here's 04:

Do you accept paypal?