Ride

Was fun.  At least 30% of the ‘bikes were marques other than Ducati.  35 folks in attendance.  Mix of ages.  A higher proportion of women than a typical BMWMCOGA crowd, but basically a very similar character mix to one of our club events.  

Ride up was uneventful.  Minor detour on the “river road” NC251 north of Asheville to skirt around rebuilding works on the bridge over Ivy Creek.  The backroad alternative we took by the golf course rather than going through Waynesville was really not worthwhile.  JRO’s Burgers & Subs in Canton was a good lunch stop.  Came across doe and fawn lying in the road on US23 just north of Mars Hill.  No drama, but watching the fawn scamper up and getting traction on the tarmac was comical.  Total 296 miles and 6 hours ride time.

On Saturday most split into a number of groups to ride a 157-mile loopy route crisscrossing the TN/NC state line with lunch at Highlander BBQ in Roan Mountain.  The sweep on the group with whom Joe and I rode took a tumble avoiding a dog, so we accompanied him back to the hotel to nurse his wounds.  As we’d lost a lot of time we rejoined our group at lunch by riding the route in reverse.  Our reassembled group took a short cut on the ride after lunch to avoid a traffic snarl which meant a short day for me.  Joe had more stamina and went on an ad-hoc ride with some others.  Total 118 miles and 3 hours 40 minutes ride time for me.  Joe probably covered a total 180 miles and had 5 hours 20 minutes of ride time.

Sunday was totally uneventful.  Quick twisties route to Newport via Hot Springs, then a slug on more substantial roads to Vonore for lunch at Rick’s Dockside in the Tellico Marina.  TN68/GA5 into Blue Ridge provided some twisty entertainment, then GA515/I575 etc. home.  Total 299 miles and 6 hours 20 minutes ride time for me.  Joe will have covered a littler fewer miles in a little less time.

Would do it all again.

Mark
1993 R100R

Thanks, Mark!  I enjoyed the trip.

This was a great trip.  A large Flock of Ducs at the rally (and a few good German bikes). Great riding in the area.  The rally selected several routes around Erwin and sponsored some group rides. 

Mark really is a master of the GPS and the infamous BaseCamp.  He selected some great routes to and from the rally.  We skirted the rain storms on the way up and wished for rain on the return. 

Geoff:  As you suggested, I had hoped to be able to offer a Duc rider a ride to a dealership for repairs.  Admittedly, I had trouble catching up with them when they were riding to make the offer.  And, when stopped, all they talked about the superiority of their desmodronic valves.  When I asked about their apparently failing clutch, they countered with comments about the sewing machine sounds coming from my RT.

Joe:

The Ducati riders will be very happy to see a BMW in their midst. It will provide them with peace of mind knowing that at least one bike at the rally will be able to make it to the Ducati dealership for parts . 
__________________
Geoff
President, BMW MC of Georgia
mailto: president@bmwmcoga.org

2009 R1200GSA

So, Joe B and I are registered and set to “do” this event.

Travel plan is (following the magenta colored route below/attached - GPX also attached) to meet in Jasper at the Race Trac and LEAVE there promptly at 10:00AM on Friday August 3rd over open twisties for 70 miles to Gainesville Ingles for a pause to stretch legs/for gas, then continuing to Canton/Waynesville area, with most of the 100 miles of this section on major highways to eat up some miles, for a late lunch (likely at JRO’s Burgers & Subs, Kountry Kitchen or Southern Porch), afterward a final 70-mile leg of open twisties into Erwin should put us there around 5:00PM.  Happy to have company.  If you do want to join in, please first make sure that you check with the event organizers to confirm space availability etc. and if you plan to ride with us then let Joe or me know you’ll be along for the ride by either posting here or email.

Mark
1993 R100R

Joe,

Great.

Mailed (there's a throw back) my registration yesterday and also made room reservation.  

Have a number of route ideas.  Plenty of time between now and the event to agree which to pick.

Mark
1993 R100R

Mark:  I would like to join you.  This is a great area to ride.  (And it may be an opportunity to find out why Italian bikes are better than German.)

Let me know where and when I can meet you.

 

Heads up in case someone wants to join me.  I’m going to this year’s US Demso’s Ducks Head West Rally which is to be held over the weekend of August 3rd-5th and based from the Mountain Inn & Suites in Erwin, Tennessee.  Here’s a link to the event flyer DHW 2018 Flyer.  It’s a motel-based rally, so in addition to the rally fee there’s a room to pay for as well.  It is a Ducati-centric event, but not to the exclusion of any other bikes, so no need to be shy if you want to turn up on a BMW.

I expect to start out early Friday 3rd on a route will be something like I85/I985 then via Cornelia, Toccoa, Westminster, Sapphire, Brevard and Hendersonville to pick up I26 for the final leg into Erwin.  About 250 miles and 4¾ hours riding, so likely 6½ hours or so beginning to end.  Way back will probably be a little more direct.

US Demos typically lay out two alternative group rides for the Saturday that are each between 100 and 150 mountain miles.  I do not know what is planned for this year, but here’s a snapshot of one of the routes they rode last year.



As I said, happy to have company.  Check in here or via email.

Mark
1993 R100R