First Time EOM Reflections

[Boomer612]

The EOM was close by and I am now retired... ok.. I'm off for my first EOM. It was only 220 miles to Hendersonville so I went my favorite route through the Nantahala Gorge...

Running north on Rt 515..

There are still some stars and bars flying..................

and I was quickly in North Carolina..

NC is sure proud of their tar snakes... looks like an artist painted them....

Stopped at some roadside sights...

Finally made it to the Gorge...

The car in front of me was a Model A (Kit Car??) with a leather trunk on the rear.. Maryland plates..

Completed the Gorge and took Rt. 28 south to Franklin where I stopped for a quick lunch...

I picked up hwy 64 in Franklin and headed east...

Highlands NC was busy for a Thursday...

and the sign that said Flagman ahead was correct this time...

Found this nice place with rocking chairs and took a break..

and I arrived....

I found a fellow hungry person and we went down for some very fine mexican....

Between forum names and real names I fairly well forgot who was who....

I bought some beer and headed for the parking lot social....

This guy was loaded with batteries... my camera died and he came to my aid....

So I let him win "MY" Ohlins shock at the banquet.... dam generous of me...

 

[Boomer612]

Friday morning it was ksu at 8:30 for the Ohlins tour...

They even has donuts for us... very cool place... (the Stig works there)

They have some nice toys to play with at work....

and then on to Harpers...

the Continental man gave his tire speal.....

and they gave us some lunch...

the place across the street sold cars, used bikes and street rods.. I never saw that combo befor...

There was a how to set up you suspension seminar... it's all in the sag and balance...

I was looking for couples (2 up) to go ride with (I figure they would be a little slower) but this group started out at 1:30pm and I was ready to ride so I taged along....

 

[Boomer612]

We had a nice ride.. up 279.. over the BRP.. and down 80...

Stopped for a break on the BRP...

The ride across the BRP provided some nice views....

and then we went down 80... turns out Judy on her 650 rides the same speed I like to go... the others went at a speed much faster....

 

[Boomer612]

I stole this picture from another post... explain this Ferrari guy....

and this ended a picture perfect day of riding... Wayne ordered up some great weather...

We had dinner at Binion's... they were other FJR's in the parking lot so we assumed it was good...

it was....

Left to right.. CJ, me, Dow & Judy... I forgot to get a picture of food **** so I am holding a peanut...

I told my wife I had a new GF and asked if I could bring her home... She said it was like a fishing trip -- catch and release only.. I admit she usually knows best... then on to the parking lot social...

The next day we took off in search of waterfalls....

Those are FJR's coming up the road... they were everywhere throughout the day... go figure...

This waterfall was best viewed from the top.. the front view was blocked by houses....

We were searching for a covered bridge and traveling down a side road off Rt 107 for quite some time..

What do you mean by "we're lost"????

1/2 mile later the pavement ended... we turned around... and finally found civilization....

 

[Boomer612]

We found Bridal Vail Falls and stopped for the touristie pictures...

and Dry Falls was only a mile down the road...

Who is the guy with the big belly and my face...???

I know ... you get to take her home.....

Then we headed back...

There's a FJR sneaking up behind us.. 2 up.. I told you there's everywhere...

We got back to the hotel and they started rolling in......

 

[Boomer612]

Then we lined up for the "offical" picture.. can you say chinise fire drill... very entertaining ....

Next came the banquet... that was some decent food...

Wayne did a great job on the entire EOM...

Nice tassels.....

 

[Boomer612]

After the banquet was the parking lot social for the final time.. I had saved a Romeo & Juliette cigar and had discovered from the other socials that a 3 beer night was just right for me.. but I had come up 1 beer short. I talked Snooze into letting me "borrow" 1 of Geeks beers and it made my night perfect... thanks guys...

Sunday morning found me at the Waffle House having my WH grease fix....

Outside were 4 FJR's which turned out to belong to guys I had meet at the SE Tech days...

I was going to ride with them as far as Highlands... caught the sweeper perfect in my mirror...



But these guys don't like the twisties I figure because they try to get through them real fast..(ha-ha) while I like to enjoy them for a longer time... When I stop to smell the roses I actually stop.. slowing to 40mph doesn't count... so I turned the sweeper loose and continued at my own pace...

I had never been on hwy 64 between Franklin and Murphy so that was my route home... it was a lot different than I expected... It started out a 4 lane divided for a while and then turned into a 2 lane with hugh sweepers.... and wild flowers along the road...

In a few small areas the leaves looked like they were changing already...

Chatuge Lake outside Murphy...

and I got the T-shirt....

I bottom line is I had a really great time and so you will have to put up with me again next year.

I am hooked on the EOM. I will again be in search of more "touring" orientated riders but I know your out there somewhere.

 

[luvtoride]

Purdy pictures! So, did you have fun @ the meet? I always have fun @ those things. & the pic of the waterfall viewed best from the top of the falls because houses were in the way... was that Toxoway Falls? I didn't include that one on the waterfall tour because it had such a suckassed view. Did you end up visiting Soco Falls? I'm not sure that anyone did.

 

[Redfish Hunter]

Great pics, great report. It looks like you had a better trip than when you went to Sturgis. I wish Dad and I could have made it. Maybe next year...

 

[Boomer612]

Purdy pictures! So, did you have fun @ the meet? I always have fun @ those things. & the pic of the waterfall viewed best from the top of the falls because houses were in the way... was that Toxoway Falls? I didn't include that one on the waterfall tour because it had such a suckassed view. Did you end up visiting Soco Falls? I'm not sure that anyone did.

You can bet I had a good enough time that I'm already planing to go again next year.. where ever it is. That waterfall is like a spillway from Toxoway Lake so I'm going to assume it's toxoway falls... and we didn't get to Soco falls either but that's ok because the falls we did see and the roads we traveled were enough to happy me up for a long time.. I can always go to the N. Georgia mountains if I need a curve fix... matter of fact the Dragon is a day ride from my house but it more fun to try new roads...

 

[whataboutbob]

Nice report and pictures.Congratulations on being retired

 

[Burnspot]

Thanks for that report...a nice one! It was good meeting you! :

 

[luvtoride]

I stopped @ Toxoway Falls with my mom a few years back. Boy, what a disappointing fall. I won't be making that mistake, again.

& glad to hear that you had fun. Nice pictures you got there. I have about a total of 10 photos. Seems I was uhhhh busy.

 

[Blind Squirrel]

:clapping: Great report and pics! That was me that you ate with Thursday at the Mexican joint.

 

[majicmaker]

Outstanding RR Boomer! I'm usually not very photogenic most of the time but, the two pics of me are great! it was a pleasure giving you 2 of the 12 AA's that I had and don't worry! I'll take good care of your shock for you! :lol: From that RR, Next time I'm riding with you! :clapping:

 

[Boomer612]

:clapping: Great report and pics! That was me that you ate with Thursday at the Mexican joint.

I don't know why I didn't recognize you from your avatar... :blink:

Glad there wasn't a test on names, forum names and related avatar's....

but then even I will answer to "Hey you"...

 

[huron52]

I rode with you on Friday...(just one of the many Canadians there that weekend)

I think I took a total of one picture that whole weekend. Very nice report!

 

[Fontanaman]

Very nice report. Thanks for sharing.

 

[MNFJR Pilot]

Awesome RR thanks for sharing!!!! :blink: