[PFFOG]

Well back from another trip to the Smokies. A few months ago I got an invitation from Dee Jones to join a small group of riders from NC to play for a couple of days before the BMW National rally being held in NE Tennessee. About the same time I got a call from Beach?s Motorcycle Adventures asking if I was interested in going to the Rally to help drive and haul down their display booth. For my trouble, they would haul the bike and trailer down, and I could go ride, then help drive back, sounded like a deal to me.
So installed a new set of Pirelli Corsa 3's on the bike before I left last week, had about 100 miles on them when I loaded up., Got into Tennessee on Monday night after a 700 miles driving on the slab. I unloaded the bike and "camped" in the trailer in Johnson City that night. Up the next morning at 5:45 and headed south to meet Dee, at the Pisgah lodge, on the Blue Ridge Parkway, for breakfast. I was a little late as I ended up on a dead end road, Google maps said it was a through road, and had to back track ten miles or so.


The view from our Breakfast table





After breakfast we headed to the Blue Ridge Motorcycle Campground and dropped our gear for a lighter ride. Off we went, I took Dee to a Hooker he never knew was in the area, and he had fun, he was taking up 2nds though, as he let me lead the ride over Hookers Gap, a small "long" cut that avoids I40 and the suburbs of Asheville. This was one of the roads that a yankee showed the local . Rode over to Dee's Dragon and explored some other new roads before we came back to Pisgah and meet Dee's friend Craig, had a nice meal and headed to the campground for the night. Total mileage for the day a little over 300 miles, 90% twisties.

The Campsite and Dee checking out his rear tire.



Dee's rear tire after 2 days of trying to keep up




Up the next morning the three of us were off. Headed to the SW, to ride some great roads, again, down around Franklin and 28, over to Wyath rd, back up and over small roads, up and down and finally to Brevard and BBQ, and to meet a friend of Dee's, for dinner. Again 300+ miles of twisties, before getting back to the campground.
Thursday morning brought lightning and distant thunder that woke me up at 4:30 am, I tried to ignore it, but there was no rain yet, so I grabbed the laptop to check the radar, looked like we were going to get hit HARD, big line of yellows and red echoes heading our way. Thought of getting packed up before we got soaked, but did not want to wake others. But luck was still on our side as I watched the huge storm dissipate before it got to us. Dee was worried about his rear tire which was quickly evaporating, and my new tire was looking stressed too. We debated whether to pack up, or stay put at the campground, and decided to pack up, for more flexibility.
We headed south toward the mountain house of Bubba, found it by looking for the pretty flowered mailbox. We rode hard over a bunch of small roads and Dee was having trouble keeping up he used the excuse that his tires were giving up, I think we just tired him out. So he hung outside when we got to Bubbas, while Craig and I had a nice visit. Dee eventually wandered in and took the nickel tour. We were getting ready to leave, and Dee "noticed" his rear tire was flat. He said, I knew there was a reason for my crappy riding this morning, I think he used his jack knife to puncture it, just so he had an excuse . Plugged and pumped up, Craig and I headed North, while Dee beat feet home to replace the used up, and now plugged, tire.

Dee's tire repair in Bubba's front yard





Craig, Dee's friend, took me on some small roads, one could have been a small Italian pass for sure, legitimate switchbacks, narrow road, a bus that pulled over to let us by! The only thing missing was a Refugio built in the 1600?s at the top, and a perfect cup of cappuccino on the balcony. We headed North and contemplated staying south of the rally area, but by the time we got close to the end of the day my rear tire was shot!





Three days new to bald, but worth the fun for sure. Luckily I threw a set of tires in the trailer, just in case. So we changed the tires in the parking lot of the motel, using the trailer as a bead breaker, as I had inadvertently left mine home.




Toast in 3 day's of riding YOU MISSED IT BILL!!!!! About 1100 miles on this set.



Friday am the Joisey Boys, Craig and I headed out, I stayed back with Tom and sent Craig and Goerge ahead. George was suppose to be back at noon to work at the rally, but due to a couple of wrong turns, they did not get to Hot Springs until near 11, after breakfast we sent him back the more direct route. Flatty, Craig and I headed back to meet Dee and Gary, another NC rider. After chasing each other around, we finally hooked up and rode the back way toward Johnson City on a bunch of small roads for the night, at least for some.

Gretchen from Beach's had not been on a bike this year, after spending two years on the back of one in Europe, and wanted to ride. And Jake, Rob's Son had his Grandfathers airhead and wanted to get out, So with Gretchen Pillion, and Jake following along we headed back to the twisties. After a couple of hours of dry road it started to rain hard, so we headed back to JC for the night.

Saturday Dee, Craig and Gary headed South for home, I took Geo, Tom and Georges friend Dave out for a ride again, back to Hot Springs for Breakfast, than over to Dee's Dragon, they were blown away with the road and as Tom does not like dirt, we had to turn around and do it again. Shot back some rough back roads, back through Hot Springs, and over to the highway to get back to the JC and rally area. All in all a great trip!! About 1525 miles total for the 5 days of riding. Spent a couple hours at the rally too, most of it at the Beer garden