Athens, Georgia

Picture: On the Natchez Trace Parkway in Mississippi

Well I made it, 1319 miles according to the GPS. I will have to trust it as I neglected to record my mileage before I left home Monday morning. I plan to update my epic ride in the next couple of days so check back for all the exciting details.

Monday May 21, 2007

The forecast strong wind was already making it's presence known when I pointed the Dubya South to meet my friend Richard in Lindsborg. Wonder of wonders, the normally late running Richard is packed up and ready to roll. As we were about ready to head out our ROMEO riding buddy Evan stopped by to tell us good bye so I had him take a picture.

Let the adventure begin! Two old men on 650 twins on the open road, it ain't exactly Wild Hogs but it ain't bad either. The plan is to make out way South to hwy 400 then drop South again to pick up Oklahoma 10 and 59 to Heavener, OK where we would spend the night. I will continue on to Georgia alone and Richard will head back North. Other than the wind blowing a gale the first few hours were delightful. The flint hills were spectacular as usual although it is hard to enjoy the scenery when you're on a high speed broad reach fighting to stay in the right lane and worrying about the semi playing tag with tail light.

It was nice to get off the super 2 and a more sedate pace. Lunch in Sedan, KS, home of Emmit Kelly the clown, then into Oklahoma. The first thing I noticed about OK roads is that no matter how small and rough the speed limit is 65. Since there is little traffic we proceed at a slower pace. Once we got a little further South in OK the roads and views were a treat. Winding through the mountains wind is no longer a factor and the road has enough curves to be entertaining but they aren't severe enough to scare to crap out of a flat lander. My riding buddy of course is an old had at this kind of riding and I can see him in the rear view just cruising along enjoying the cushy comfort of his newly acquired V-Star.

A couple of hours out of our planned overnight the rain started. Just enough to make me stop and through on the Frog Togs. Then it stopped, then it started, off and on all the way to Heavener. I guess my new Bridgestone BT45's were a good choice since I had no problems at all. Found a nice motel (one of two, the other on was nasty looking) with a unique restaurant across the street. Heavener is obviously a railroad town and the restaurant was an old rail car that had some very ornate decorations. Food was nothing to brag about but the staff was friendly so it was OK.

Tuesday May 22, 2007

I woke up around 4am to the sound of rain and when I rolled out at 0640 it was steadily coming down. I don't remember anything in Wild Hogs about this.........................It is May 29 as I continue editing and has been so long that I am forgetting stuff. Long story short, it rained, the wind blew and I made it to Athens on Wednesday May 23.

As far as entertaining details go about the only notable thing was my short ride on the Natchez Trace in Mississippi. I was just tooling down hwy 82 when I saw the sign so took the exit and found myself on a beautiful two lane. Richard had encouraged me to ride on it so I did.......for about 100 yards. Stopped, snapped some pics and got back on 82. I do plan to ride on it a little further on the trip home.

Upon arriving in Athens my daughter asked if I would like to go to Bike Night at a local bar/cafe so we went straight there for food and a well deserved beer. Mostly HDs but a few customs, some old stuff and one new MV.

While here in Athens my daughter, son-in-law and I have gone on a few rides, including a run to Madison, GA where we had ice cream at Scoops, a famous local spot. While in there the owner lady asked me about my Kansas Motorcycle Museum t-shirt and said her husband was talking about stopping my there on his way to Sturgis this summer.....small world. Also got together with a fellow Dubya rider that I met off the W650 Riders Yahoo Group. He was on a cherry 2000. Nice guy, maybe we will cross paths again one day.

I'm heading back Thursday with stops at the Barber Museum in Birmingham, AL, Benton, AR and a family reunion in Oklahoma. Should be home Sunday or Monday. There are unedited pics in the Ride to Georgia folder.