Big-X's VTX Cafe Spring 2008 Trip Report

[Big-X]

Friday:

Our route:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c399/unionturf/VTX%20Spring%202008/day1.jpg

We started our day on Friday leaving home at 8:00 with the odometer reading 15625 and headed to my work to meet with Goldsmith and Green Ghost…arrived right on time and they had just arrived. We headed out to Greer SC to meet up with Skull1300 & Greg-in-Charlotte…

We arrived at the Handee Mart in Cleveland SC right on time at 11:31….deadline now over and we could sit back and relax the remainder of the day. We had lunch while there, talked a little (common thing on our rides…lol) .

Billy, Boop, & Brenda
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Heading out from the Handee Mart
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Bonnie and I stopped on the way to the top of Caesar’s Head for a look at this big rock….cool view.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c399/unionturf/VTX%20Spring%202008/DSC_2005.jpg

Here is the view from the top of Caesar’s Head
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c399/unionturf/VTX%20Spring%202008/DSC_2008.jpg

We had got separated from the front group so it was catching up time…we headed toward Brevard to find the front of the group. Here a shot of the posse cruising the mean streets of Brevard NC….
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c399/unionturf/VTX%20Spring%202008/DSC01778.jpg

Our next stop was Looking Glass falls…

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c399/unionturf/VTX%20Spring%202008/DSC_2010.jpg

Me and my girl….
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The gang…
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c399/unionturf/VTX%20Spring%202008/DSC_2017.jpg

After the falls we were onward to the Blue Ridge Parkway. We stopped at the highest elevation on the parkway at 6053’; meet up with Billy’s friend on his Valk and then the Parkway to Maggie Valley.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c399/unionturf/VTX%20Spring%202008/DSC_2018.jpg

Saturday:

Our route:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c399/unionturf/VTX%20Spring%202008/day2.jpg

Saturday is our day for the Dragon and the Smokies, we left shortly after 9am rode through Cherokee NC to meet with Raye, then up US 28 past Fontana, across the “Hellbender” to the bottom of the Dragon.
Fontana Lake:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c399/unionturf/VTX%20Spring%202008/DSC_2021.jpg
The back of JDT3’s sweet hot rod retro…
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c399/unionturf/VTX%20Spring%202008/DSC01783.jpg

We spent a little while at the store shopping and goofing off. Saw the sweet 1967 Honda 450 on the way in and had to get a shot of it. Also saw this bike that was painted with truck bedliner, it looked very cool.
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Here is a group photo…
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c399/unionturf/VTX%20Spring%202008/DSC_2033.jpg

Then to the Dragon, the Foothills Parkway, lunch, and on to the Smokies.

Foothills Parkway looking over Tennessee
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c399/unionturf/VTX%20Spring%202008/DSC01806.jpg

Going up into the Smokies it got a little “chilly”, we had to stop and put on some coats.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c399/unionturf/VTX%20Spring%202008/DSC_2049.jpg

Last stop of the day we are back on the Blue Ridge Parkway between Cherokee and Maggie Valley
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c399/unionturf/VTX%20Spring%202008/DSC_2052.jpg

Saturday night some stayed at the hotel and had dinner, some of us went to a suggested local seafood restaurant for dinner.

Sunday:

Our Route:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c399/unionturf/VTX%20Spring%202008/day3.jpg

The longest day of the weekend today we plan on riding the Cherohala Skyway and hit US 74 is 129 up to Robbinsville NC. After a little detour we stop and fuel up in Robbinsville, and then head up the Skyway. The road up to the Skyway had quite a bit of gravel on it, we had to be very careful all the way to the start of the Skyway, once n the Skyway I was loving it, what an amazing road.

(Bald is beautiful!) :p

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c399/unionturf/VTX%20Spring%202008/DSC_2057.jpg
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We had a small snack in Tellico Plains TN, finally decided on a route back and Andy (Grin) lead the way down route 68 which was also a very nice road, I scraped my floor boards on 68 more than I did on the dragon, mainly due to the speed we were going trying to catch Grin. Near Murphy NC we split from Grin and he and his friend headed home and we headed toward MaggieValley.

I wanted to show Bonnie Wayah Road so we along with Goldsmith and RidinAgain split there and rode up to the lake. Here are a few photos from the falls on Wayah Road.

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c399/unionturf/VTX%20Spring%202008/DSC_2066.jpg
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My bike beside Goldsmith’s bike on Wayah Road
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c399/unionturf/VTX%20Spring%202008/DSC_2077.jpg

The remaining group at Sagebrush for dinner Sunday night…this is a tired group…lol
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c399/unionturf/VTX%20Spring%202008/DSC_2079.jpg

Monday:

Skull1300 & his wife, Goldsmith, and Bonnie & I headed over to the Wheels in Time motorcycle museum for a visit. Very nice place which is moving this year, if you want to go better get on it, next year it will be in Arizona.

Indian snowmobile…VERY COOL.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c399/unionturf/VTX%20Spring%202008/DSC_2089.jpg
World’s first jet ski
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c399/unionturf/VTX%20Spring%202008/DSC_2090.jpg
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We then goofed off the rest of the day and made it home 1024 miles later. We tried to watch a movie but I didn’t make it and fell asleep. It was a great 4 days riding and this was our biggest group by far, thanks to all who attended and Bonnie and I had a blast.

[Betty Boop]

Great write up Ray :)...We had a Great Time Also...!!! We'll have to plan a SUMMER ride :)...Fall is tooooooo far away :)...besides we need practice keeping a LARGE group together ...lol...:p

[coley]

Very nice. I'm jealous.

[fisher]

Great pics, looks like a great time.
That part of the country sure does have alot of good riding, love those back roads. Very jealous.

[Gills]

Great trip report. I'm really glad I got to meet all of you on Friday. I'm glad everyone made it home safe as well. Great trip.:)

[greg-in-charlotte]

Big-X, Betty Boop, Billy, Skull, Goldsmith, Ridin' Again, WallMan, Grin and all the others,

What a great trip! That was a blast, having so many VTX riders together at once. The routes chosen were amazing and the people were super too. It was fun getting away for a couple of days with such a nice group of people.

It is hard to keep a group of 20 riders together, but we succeeded at times, lol. That was my first large group ride, and it was cooooolllll!

I feel very lucky to have found this site and these people / fellow X lovers.

Ray, Betty Boop and everyone else---thanks for all the effort you guys put into this. This makes me love motorcycling even more. Great choice on the place we stayed, the restaurants and the routes, etc.

What a blast!

[poolmaster79]

Great write up and pics Ray.

I had a great time also. I wish I could have stayed for the Sunday Skyway ride..Stupid pool meeting. Oh well, maybe next time.

[Bassdude404]

What, no "Wet Boop" pic this time?!?!?!?!?!.....Cool scenery...Looks like a great time....:cheers::cheers:

[Rawman]

It was a great ride. My best ride ever to date! I wish I could have stayed for the Sunday ride... I had a good ride back to Atlanta on RT 19S.

[RollTIDE]

Thanks for sharing-

looks like one heck of a good time. Like Coley I'm jealous too. Then on the other hand...glad I didn't go. I read comment of some floorboard scraping. If there was any amount of that going on I'm afraid my limited riding skills would have prevented me from keeping up.

But I still got that little boy excitement from following the story and pics.

Thanks again.

[Rawman]

Nah, we had a guy riding his first bike of 3 months with us. Get ready for the next ride!

[tmichael23]

A lot to look forward to next year. Cannot wait

[Skull1300c]

Awesome writeup Ray, thanks again for all the effort and I agree with Boop, WE NEED A SUMMER RIDE! This was our first group ride as well and we totally enjoyed the people, places and sights. Cant wait to do this again SOON!. Everyone was a hoot to hang with and the food was great. We are truly blessed to live near such great countryside to ride in. Maybe this summer we can head up to West Virginia or other places North. We are open to suggestions. Take care and again, we are glad everyone made it home safe and sound.
Tom & Marilyn (Skull & his wifey)

[parabians]

Ray, thanks for a great journal with pics. Xtra envious of ya'll in the Carolina's. What a beautiful ride with obviously great company.:cheers:

John

[Betty Boop]

Truely a great group of people...and funny too...I laughed so much my face and sides hurt..every day !!!!

[Medic Tim]

Ray,

Enjoyed reading the post, maybe next time Robin and I can tag along.:choppersm

Tim.

[MikeM]

Looks like fun! I'm envious.

[Big-X]

Let's start planning a summer ride soon! :D

[poolmaster79]

I'm cool with doing a summer ride to the same area. Maybe stay at the Two Wheel Inn or the Kickstand Lodge.
I never get tired of ridin' the smokies!! What do ya'll think??

[Big-X]

I'm working on a great idea....

[chkridr]

Hey ya'll, I want to come along on the next ride!

Marvelous pics and story telling. Wish I had been there with everyone. Looks like a good time was had by all.

I'll keep my eyes open for the next ride. See ya!