Wheaton's Appalacian ride report

[wheatonFJR]

...or how I was late to my own ride event.

Watched my son perform a trumpet solo at the last band concert...mighty proud of him as you can imagine.

Well after that, I got the final checks done on my FJR. Seeing as how I was going camping and bringing a tent, lawn chairs, glowing lanterns, and trunk monkey, I knew I needed a gosh darned big duffle bag. I think I found one.

I got going at 0500 to avoid Friday morning rush through Wheaton...and Chicago. Met Marty/0Face at a rest stop in Indiana between 6:15 and 6:30 am. His first reaction when he saw that duffle bag..."What the ????"

After cruising along on the Interstate all day, we arrived at the BRMC about 1800 hours. Some were there...some were still out riding.

My digital automatic camera was on some other setting so the first few pictures are a little funky...kinda like how you feel after an all day slab ride...

Hey are you guys drunk or is it me???

Just kidding...like I said the settings were not quite right. :slap:

There was a little downpour in the evening, Friday night, so people started hanging out by the campstore/camp office with it's overhang shelter.

Here's donaldb contemplating a good day of riding.

ogre having a cigar...

Mike/Moosehead, et al enjoying some stories, and Intech's BemmerBro in the back making an *** of himself j/k guys... Thanks for the beer Mike.

Beemerbro again, burnspot showing the highest number they can count to on their fingers...

The next morning dawned bright and sunny, beckoning all to get out and ride. Here are 1911 and Ogre (2 SC locals) wondering what all these outsiders are doing in their little part of heaven.

Misc scenes around the the campground before people took off on their rides...

Julio/jemride and donaldb, et al

Julio, insert name(help me out), Bungie (with his pants on), amd others having an eFn good time...

Camp'n ride cont. -

My FJR "el *******o" in front of the campstore/office

fjrob..." I'm a lumberjack and I'm okay...."

Mike, griff, huron52 and Kawi beerbarge dood...wondering what's up with Rob

Man...the coffee around here sticks to yer teeth!

Canada central

Bungie...showing me what he thinks of Twisty

Fubar and Twisty's duplex...no this is not at the campground...they really live together

Did you really ride all the way down from Canada? Man you are a real man!

Tom/huron saying something really important...blah..blah blah

Mike looking at Steve/Bungie, "Did Tom really say that?!"

Twisty...with his easy-to-identify-for-the-Trooper yellow helmet

Our riding group at a bbq place

fjrob and Tom showing off their best sides to the camera...

Picture window at the bbq place

Bluff...

and stream...at the bbq lunch stop

up on the BRP at an overlook

at the overlook...where is that Kawi beer barge?

Griff's bike and a tree at the overlook

Michelin man in yellow rode with us for awhile...hey that's me!

-to be cont-

 

[wheatonFJR]

Camp'n ride cont.

Meanwhile after all the ridin', this man is a good one to have on yer side if in a spot of trouble on the road...or at a hockey game evidently. (fjrob's shirt)

builderwill and <insert name> help me out please having a beverage after the day's ride

Bob/Intech's wife trying to ignore the buttclowns behind her...(j/k guys)

Okay...she admit's she knows them.

Intech and ElToroJoe, having some refreshment after the ride

Julio/Jemride after the day's ride

Stopped at the bike inspection station...evidently one of my lights was out or was it more?

Have you ever seen someone so happy to wax the front of my

bike?

Well after everybody left on Sunday am...it was time to pack up and hit 276 and US64...maybe do the Cherohala...maybe camp in Tennessee somewheres...

Looking Glass Falls on US276 was really impressive...

A kindly bystander took a picture of me in front of the falls...

Hey, it was TheWolfTamer on her FZ...

Well....that was the last happy picture of the trip...about 4pm Sunday afternoon I was on westbound US64 when I noticeda hitch in the giddyup while accelerating from a stop...then it happened again...then I went to pass a couple of cars and when I hit the afterburners it felt like a revlimiter was being used as I went by the cars slower than I wanted. A couple of miles later, my bike started bucking like a bronco, and the dash LCD flashed off then on. My bike started slowing and resisting commands from the throttle...as it slowly went to the side of the road. #$%&&&!!! <shoot, darn it all>

Well I won't go further into my foibles as I have the bike home now via U-Haul from Murphy, NC on Monday. Drove straight thru, having never hauled a bike before in 70k miles of riding.

I need to acknowledge these good Samaritans...Eddie and his girlfriend from Murphy, who were the first to stop, before I had even called MTS...gave me his phone number just in case anyway...I called him back after MTS said the closest Yamaha place was in a place south of Chattanooga...saying it would be atleast a $400 tow. Eddie took my call, stopped what he was doing, went back to his house and got his trailer.

Dead FJR in an unnatural position

Thanks Eddie and GF!!

Well, I will spare you the long version, but people from the forums stepped up bigtime to try and help me. Number one...Griff helped me...even as he was in the midst of shock from seeing his riding buddy Cougar almost "bite the big one" on a Kentucky Interstate. When griff got back, he posted up, and almost immediately my hotel room was ringing...thanks to all who called...Niehart, Ashe, Bluebullet...you guys are the best.

Ashe told me that a new Yamaha dealer was only back about 15miles or so in Haynesville, NC. But I HAD to get back to Wheaton by Tuesday night at the latest...because my honey, Mrs Wheaton was going in for surgery on Wednesday. She has had her surgery...which was an ordeal of a far greater magnitude...but she is home resting now...and I am able to post up a few pictures from this trip.

Last pictures...

My dead bike in the Day's Inn parking lot.

Well, somehow the bike started...and as there wasn't anyone around to help me get the bike up the ramp...

...I rode it up into the truck. Just fast enough to get it up the ramp without stalling and breaking my leg and slow enough to be able to brake on 14feet of the polished aluminum floor without tucking the front wheel. That was the scariest 15 feet of ride I have done...not because it was hard...just because the consequences of breaking my leg or smashing the bike...not so good. Well, I made it into the truck...

After calling griff, I moved the nose over to the corner and strapped it down. After a long drive on Monday got me home about 1:30 am Tuesday morn Wheaton time...my boys helped me get the bike out that afternoon. And I got ready to help Louanne.

I had a great trip, and look forward to another camping meet sometime next year. Hope y'all had fun!

 

[Deacon51]

Looks like a great time... up to the end.

Any idea what put you on the die of the road?

 

[wheatonFJR]

Looks like a great time... up to the end.Any idea what put you on the die of the road?

When I figure it out I will open another thread and let y'all know. :clapping:

 

[fjrob1300]

Well Mark I don't care what the other kids say... I think you're still a great guy.

 

[FJR-RemingtonRider]

Great write up.

Trip looked like everyone had a very good time as you said.

Sucks about the bike, but great testimony of those willing to lend a hand in a time of need.

.

Know a little about riding a bike into a u-haul. When I first did it on my Connie, because my wife had picked up a nail in her rear tire on the honda shadow at the ROT-Austin, and we had to 2-up to get the uhaul. I didn't give it much thought because I was so agitated, I just drove on in there. When we bought the uhaul back, one of our group members decided to put her bike in first and ride in the uhaul with the my wife. Well, her husband refused to let me ride her bike in the uhaul, and wanted to do it himself...well the ol saying...he who hesitate's.....well hesitate on a ramp and the bike falls...and it did...thankfully not on him, we were able to hold it but it hit the ground busting her shield, front and rear signals and headlight......We pushed the wife's bike in after that. It's funny as heck remembering that happening.

.

.

Hope your bike is okay. It wasn't the oversized duffle bag was it?

 

[wheatonFJR]

...Hope your bike is okay. It wasn't the oversized duffle bag was it?

You might have something there...I'll be sure to include "refusal to run due to weight of big a$$ bag" in the trouble shooting loop.

 

[escapefjrtist]

Nice report Mark, thanks for taking us along. Too bad about the bike hope it's nothing too serious and you're back on the road soon.

--G