hppants
Well-known member
Georgia, Georgia
The whole day through
Just an old sweet song
Keeps Georgia on my mind
Ray Charles
Spring Break came early this year, and a couple months ago, I started hinting to my riding buddies about a north Georgia camping trip. My good friends Poolboy (Mark) from Iowa and Cav47 (Josh) from Illinois were in from the word go. Boozer (Curt) from Iowa also joined us early and the lovely and talented 1911 duo (Duane and Marilee) arrived for one night from South Carolina. We met Wheaton (Mark) from South Carolina for a day ride, and we even picked up a stranger along the way. I had great company the whole week.
It was 6 ½ days and about 2,00 miles for me in total. I imagine the Midwestern group managed similar mileage. On the FJR, these numbers are childs play. My bike is setup nicely for long distance touring. I can bring all of my crap to the campground in comfort. And when I get there, I can unload the red beast and go play in the twisties. Not Valentino Rossi wanna be kind of play, but for my age and skill level, just enough to be sure.
A rainy front passed over us on Thursday night, and then we had 4 days of absolutely beautiful weather. Cool nights for camping gave way to days riding in the 50s and 60s on clean and dry roads with nay a cloud in the sky. Im definitely living large to be sure.
We camped at Two Wheels Only of Suches (TWOS). Ive been here many times before, and since the current owner upgraded the entire facility about 5 years ago, it is absolutely first class. While I prefer public land campgrounds, this privateer is located smack dab in the middle of some awesome riding and everything at TWOS is top notch. Seriously, if you are into moto-camping, and you find yourself in this part of the world, this is your place.
Georgia has been on my mind lately a bunch. My wife and I are getting close to retirement. Weve raised our kids, worked hard our whole life, made good decisions, and had some great luck along the way. Were ready to go play and the playground weve chosen is north Georgia. Ive loved this area since the first time I visited it, and I cant wait to call it my home. The Blue Ridge area seems to have just the right combination of modern conveniences without any of the hassles from big city life. The climate is fantastic and the people are wonderful southerners.
But that is still a couple years away for us. I know that time will pass like a fart in the wind, but Im getting antsy and itchy to be there. And so every chance I get, I find myself pulled to the southern Appalachians, even for just a few days to live my dream a little. For SWMBOd and I, the future is most assuredly very bright.
I hope you enjoy the pics.
Day 1: Lafayette, LA to Columbus, MS. Approx 325 miles.
I worked in the morning on Wednesday, but rode the bike to the office packed and ready to go. When heading anywhere East, Baton Rouge traffic has to be considered and Im betting that if I leave by noon, I should be fine getting through that cluster. I was right, as I ran right through our State capital with hardly a slowdown. I picked up a few forecasted showers along the way, and enjoyed passing a couple of pirates with NO gear on the slab during the heaviest down pour. That little 50 mile stretch of I-10 will be the last of the big concrete for me and good riddens, I say!
Mid-afternoon, Im on Hwy 569 steaming toward the Mississippi border.
The old people call this yellow stuff milkweed. They wont let the cows eat it because they say it makes their milk sour. Regardless, I still like the color from inside my helmet.
I cross into Mississippi and jump on US84 for a short stint East before climbing northeast on highway 35. Many of the roads in rural MS are in good shape and have very little traffic.
Many dont think of Mississippi as so, but there are many bayous, sloughs, coulees, and other swampy waterways to cross.
Now getting late in the evening, I stopped in Columbus and grabbed a room.
Only $45.00 with my AARP discount. Room was spotless and it looks like they have just re-modeled.
The desk clerk suggested that I run ½ mile just over the highway to this place for dinner.
Im a little concerned as it seems if this place is that good, it should be more crowded. However, it is a Wednesday night, after all.
OK I was worried for nothing. Obviously, the Q was not peppered to my Cajun liking, but the bark was well done and I liked the ground pork in the beans. For $12.00 including the tip, I thought I did well.
Ive been watching the radar all afternoon and can see there is a huge line of rain coming toward me from the west. Local TV is saying tornado watches, so I ask the front desk clerk for a favor and I think she liked me.
Never mind that she was about 72 years old and missing ½ of her teeth. She was a nice lady.
Day 2: Columbus, MS to Suches, GA, approximately 400 miles.
I slept like a baby on the Motel 6 mattress and woke up to rainy skies and a pretty crappy looking radar.
I decided to pass on the FCB and walked 50 feet next door to the Waffle House for something a bit more substantial.
The coffee was good, so I asked for a refill and after packing the bike, I took off heading northeast. Its still raining moderately, but Im dressed for it and perfectly dry and comfortable. About an hour into the day, I rode out of the rain ahead of the front Ive been concerned about. In Oakman, Alabama, I stopped for gas and the attendant warned me about the severe weather threat behind me.
But the skies didnt look so bad, so I pulled off the rain gear and kept going. Last night, I consulted with my friend Turk, who lives in these parts, about the best route for me. He suggested Hwys 18, 69, and 91 heading northeast and these were all very good roads. Nothing real twisty, but good clean road surface, light traffic, and heading me in the right direction while avoiding the big cities like Tuscaloosa and Birmingham.
In Holly Pond, I turned right onto US 278. Im still ahead of the rain and making pretty good time.
Past Gadsen, I crossed into Georgia and got behind this Chevy pickup with a brand new KTM 80 in the bed. I imagine some kid is getting a pretty cool birthday present.
In Dahlonega, I picked up a subway sandwich for later and rode up Hwy 60 to Suches, where Poolboy was already setup from the night before. Amazingly, I stayed dry the whole way, but again,, the radar warned of things to come. So I put up my tarp over my tent for an added layer of protection.
Boozer arrived shortly thereafter. It was drizzling while he setup his tent, but he made it in time.
Poolboy spent his day wine shopping in the area, and loaded his trailer up with a gaggle of fermented grapes.
The strong rain finally appeared, and the 3 of us walked up to the safety of the restaurant/office front porch. Cav47 arrived with his FJR in the back of his pickup truck shortly thereafter. He made great time considering he left southern Illinois about noon.
With adequate supplies, we waited out the 2 hour rain in total dryness.
About 10 pm, the weather passed and we helped Josh setup his tent before calling it a night.
Day 3: 250 miles of roller coaster
I slept pretty good in my tent last night, and the birds woke me up with their timely day break chirping. The water running through the campsite is nice this morning.
Fire wood is $10.00 a wheelbarrow load and Mark is getting our moneys worth.
Freddie Cruger eat your heart out.
Josh got a hold of Marks mini samurai sword and started constructing a bon fire for our breakfast.
Apparently, Mark was nice and toasty in his tent with the space heater and the heated blanket and curling iron and the popcorn machine and whatever else he had in there.
Hope he tested the GFI on the other end of the creek (he did).
We met Phil this morning and offered him coffee and a bagel for breakfast. I was already about 4 or 5 off kilter jokes in when we learned that Phil is an Apolostic Pentecostal Preacher. Oh snap!! In spite of that, he decided to join us for the ride today anyway.
Herding the cats..
I led us through the twisties to our first stop.
The whole day through
Just an old sweet song
Keeps Georgia on my mind
Ray Charles
Spring Break came early this year, and a couple months ago, I started hinting to my riding buddies about a north Georgia camping trip. My good friends Poolboy (Mark) from Iowa and Cav47 (Josh) from Illinois were in from the word go. Boozer (Curt) from Iowa also joined us early and the lovely and talented 1911 duo (Duane and Marilee) arrived for one night from South Carolina. We met Wheaton (Mark) from South Carolina for a day ride, and we even picked up a stranger along the way. I had great company the whole week.
It was 6 ½ days and about 2,00 miles for me in total. I imagine the Midwestern group managed similar mileage. On the FJR, these numbers are childs play. My bike is setup nicely for long distance touring. I can bring all of my crap to the campground in comfort. And when I get there, I can unload the red beast and go play in the twisties. Not Valentino Rossi wanna be kind of play, but for my age and skill level, just enough to be sure.
A rainy front passed over us on Thursday night, and then we had 4 days of absolutely beautiful weather. Cool nights for camping gave way to days riding in the 50s and 60s on clean and dry roads with nay a cloud in the sky. Im definitely living large to be sure.
We camped at Two Wheels Only of Suches (TWOS). Ive been here many times before, and since the current owner upgraded the entire facility about 5 years ago, it is absolutely first class. While I prefer public land campgrounds, this privateer is located smack dab in the middle of some awesome riding and everything at TWOS is top notch. Seriously, if you are into moto-camping, and you find yourself in this part of the world, this is your place.
Georgia has been on my mind lately a bunch. My wife and I are getting close to retirement. Weve raised our kids, worked hard our whole life, made good decisions, and had some great luck along the way. Were ready to go play and the playground weve chosen is north Georgia. Ive loved this area since the first time I visited it, and I cant wait to call it my home. The Blue Ridge area seems to have just the right combination of modern conveniences without any of the hassles from big city life. The climate is fantastic and the people are wonderful southerners.
But that is still a couple years away for us. I know that time will pass like a fart in the wind, but Im getting antsy and itchy to be there. And so every chance I get, I find myself pulled to the southern Appalachians, even for just a few days to live my dream a little. For SWMBOd and I, the future is most assuredly very bright.
I hope you enjoy the pics.
Day 1: Lafayette, LA to Columbus, MS. Approx 325 miles.
I worked in the morning on Wednesday, but rode the bike to the office packed and ready to go. When heading anywhere East, Baton Rouge traffic has to be considered and Im betting that if I leave by noon, I should be fine getting through that cluster. I was right, as I ran right through our State capital with hardly a slowdown. I picked up a few forecasted showers along the way, and enjoyed passing a couple of pirates with NO gear on the slab during the heaviest down pour. That little 50 mile stretch of I-10 will be the last of the big concrete for me and good riddens, I say!
Mid-afternoon, Im on Hwy 569 steaming toward the Mississippi border.
The old people call this yellow stuff milkweed. They wont let the cows eat it because they say it makes their milk sour. Regardless, I still like the color from inside my helmet.
I cross into Mississippi and jump on US84 for a short stint East before climbing northeast on highway 35. Many of the roads in rural MS are in good shape and have very little traffic.
Many dont think of Mississippi as so, but there are many bayous, sloughs, coulees, and other swampy waterways to cross.
Now getting late in the evening, I stopped in Columbus and grabbed a room.
Only $45.00 with my AARP discount. Room was spotless and it looks like they have just re-modeled.
The desk clerk suggested that I run ½ mile just over the highway to this place for dinner.
Im a little concerned as it seems if this place is that good, it should be more crowded. However, it is a Wednesday night, after all.
OK I was worried for nothing. Obviously, the Q was not peppered to my Cajun liking, but the bark was well done and I liked the ground pork in the beans. For $12.00 including the tip, I thought I did well.
Ive been watching the radar all afternoon and can see there is a huge line of rain coming toward me from the west. Local TV is saying tornado watches, so I ask the front desk clerk for a favor and I think she liked me.
Never mind that she was about 72 years old and missing ½ of her teeth. She was a nice lady.
Day 2: Columbus, MS to Suches, GA, approximately 400 miles.
I slept like a baby on the Motel 6 mattress and woke up to rainy skies and a pretty crappy looking radar.
I decided to pass on the FCB and walked 50 feet next door to the Waffle House for something a bit more substantial.
The coffee was good, so I asked for a refill and after packing the bike, I took off heading northeast. Its still raining moderately, but Im dressed for it and perfectly dry and comfortable. About an hour into the day, I rode out of the rain ahead of the front Ive been concerned about. In Oakman, Alabama, I stopped for gas and the attendant warned me about the severe weather threat behind me.
But the skies didnt look so bad, so I pulled off the rain gear and kept going. Last night, I consulted with my friend Turk, who lives in these parts, about the best route for me. He suggested Hwys 18, 69, and 91 heading northeast and these were all very good roads. Nothing real twisty, but good clean road surface, light traffic, and heading me in the right direction while avoiding the big cities like Tuscaloosa and Birmingham.
In Holly Pond, I turned right onto US 278. Im still ahead of the rain and making pretty good time.
Past Gadsen, I crossed into Georgia and got behind this Chevy pickup with a brand new KTM 80 in the bed. I imagine some kid is getting a pretty cool birthday present.
In Dahlonega, I picked up a subway sandwich for later and rode up Hwy 60 to Suches, where Poolboy was already setup from the night before. Amazingly, I stayed dry the whole way, but again,, the radar warned of things to come. So I put up my tarp over my tent for an added layer of protection.
Boozer arrived shortly thereafter. It was drizzling while he setup his tent, but he made it in time.
Poolboy spent his day wine shopping in the area, and loaded his trailer up with a gaggle of fermented grapes.
The strong rain finally appeared, and the 3 of us walked up to the safety of the restaurant/office front porch. Cav47 arrived with his FJR in the back of his pickup truck shortly thereafter. He made great time considering he left southern Illinois about noon.
With adequate supplies, we waited out the 2 hour rain in total dryness.
About 10 pm, the weather passed and we helped Josh setup his tent before calling it a night.
Day 3: 250 miles of roller coaster
I slept pretty good in my tent last night, and the birds woke me up with their timely day break chirping. The water running through the campsite is nice this morning.
Fire wood is $10.00 a wheelbarrow load and Mark is getting our moneys worth.
Freddie Cruger eat your heart out.
Josh got a hold of Marks mini samurai sword and started constructing a bon fire for our breakfast.
Apparently, Mark was nice and toasty in his tent with the space heater and the heated blanket and curling iron and the popcorn machine and whatever else he had in there.
Hope he tested the GFI on the other end of the creek (he did).
We met Phil this morning and offered him coffee and a bagel for breakfast. I was already about 4 or 5 off kilter jokes in when we learned that Phil is an Apolostic Pentecostal Preacher. Oh snap!! In spite of that, he decided to join us for the ride today anyway.
Herding the cats..
I led us through the twisties to our first stop.
