[Big-X]

He's a short write up for the trip I just returned from, have tons of PM's and email so this will be a notes version.

ALL PHOTOS ARE HERE: (taken with my new HYC EVO LTE if I must say...lol)

https://plus.google.com/photos/104354917059115164161/albums/5752507889841700369

Headed to Atlanta Wednesday to meet up the the guys on the "A Dr., Lawyer, IT Guy, and Insurance Guy go on a bike trip... " till Saturday then I was going to meet up with the group on the "Uncle TC's Seneca Adventure!" ride and made it to Epi's daughters home with no problem. The group arrived maybe 20 minutes later and the socializing began. Mandi was a great host, cooked great food for dinner and breakfast the next day.

Her stuffed strawberries and peanut butter pretzels dipped in chocolate were awesome!!

Thursday we headed off to the Kickstand Lodge via the Cherohala Skyway.

Bald River Falls

We arrived at the Kickstand Lodge and Mo was cutting the grass, took a few minutes to get her attention and check in was like always, she found out who you were, told you where to go and make yourself at home...she never got off the mower...lol.

We got settled and started talking to the guys who were building the new deck, they were a group from a Shovel Head forum who stay at the Kickstand twice a year and they came down just to build the deck for her (they already had done the roof)...how cool is that! Very nice and giving group, the way the discussed things they did reminded me of us in a way...and it shows they REALLY like Mo and the Kickstand to be doing all of that. Here's a few photos:

The fire that night:

Friday we rode the Hellbender, The Dragon, Foothills Parkway, and the Smoky Mountains. With the exception of one accindet and "the bug incident" it was a PERFECT DAY...one of the clearest I have even seen there.

Fontana Lake:

Some Jew guys and his Goy friends...

At the top of the Dragon:

While we were at the top Cage started stripping....

Then we headed over the Foothills Parkway after Epi and Eagle split off....here's the view you guys missed:

Friday night we returned from our "little adventure" and the Shovel Head guys had finished the deck and had enough lumber to build a bench around the side...

Mo and friends did a great job on dinner each night, we were never in need of more food.

Tomcat jumping in line while I wasn't looking.

One of the Shovel Head guys and his son did a fire show after dark (you don't get this stuff staying at a hotel...lol)...a few photos, more in the link at the top and videos too.

Saturday I left and headed over to Helen GA to meet up with Mullet's group, had lunch and then a ride back to TC's house for dinner and a bunch more talking.

Lunch in Helen GA:

In closing people often assume because I own this site I know "everything" that goes on...far from it. What I find amazing on almost every ride is how many people know and do so much for each other how many friendship have been made...it's amazing. I was listening last night and you would have swore TC, Mullet, G3 and the others had know each other forever, the trips, people staying at each other houses, going to other families homes...it's a lot to take in sometime.

But thanks for a great time, wish I had felt better yesterday, wasn't very talkative. We had a small gap in the rain at 6:30 am this morning and Brian and I did the same thing...looked at the radar, saw what was coming and tore down out tents and got them packed up while it wasn't raining.

 

[Philscbx]

De-fun-atley a Cool Tour.

 

[bobbo191]

Was great to finally meet you Ray. Had a good time at TCs even if it was short. Sounds like you've had a good trip except for crash's and BIG bugs!

Sent from the Millenium Falcon while persuing Darth Vader...from a distant gallaxy far far away!!

 

[seajay]

I'm jealous! Wish I'd been there.

 

[mscales]

Damn, and I am stuck out here in CA working.

 

[epiphysis]

that was three goys and a Jew! the best trip I have taken.....very glad you joined us....your bike looks a zillion times better in person than in the pics!!!!

 

[Redrum]

Nice writeup and pics!!! Sounds like ya'll had a great time!!! Kickstand is looking good!! Might have to make my way up there again soon!!! Awesome deck!!!

 

[Handyman]

Thanks for sharing Ray!

 

[22600]

hey Ray, after reading Cage's write up, i'm disappointed that nobody got a pic of the upside bike and the Elephant wasp.
make sure it left no eggs or hid the family, lol.

hope you're doing okay. nice pics, sounds and looks like a hell of a ride, priceless...:mosh:atriot::choppersm

 

[Medic Tim]

Sounds like you guys has a great time. By the way the bike looks sweet going down the road.

 

[G3Truks]

It was big fun to hang for a while. Hope we can do it again soon.

 

[compmd]

nice rides

 

[roomer]

Some friends and I were riding in the Smokies at the same time. We met Ray, Epi, and the guys at Deals Gap and ran into them again Newfoundland gap. None of us had met before except on here, I just happened to recognize Ray's bike. Really great bunch of guys, wild about VTX's, duh! They were very friendly and informative. Oh, and for those who have only seen pics of Ray's bike, I can truthfully say they don't do it justice! BD really did a fantastic job!

 

[epiphysis]

Some friends and I were riding in the Smokies at the same time. We met Ray, Epi, and the guys at Deals Gap and ran into them again Newfoundland gap. None of us had met before except on here, I just happened to recognize Ray's bike. Really great bunch of guys, wild about VTX's, duh! They were very friendly and informative. Oh, and for those who have only seen pics of Ray's bike, I can truthfully say they don't do it justice! BD really did a fantastic job!

and it was very cool meeting you and your buddies!!!!!

 

[Big-X]

Some friends and I were riding in the Smokies at the same time. We met Ray, Epi, and the guys at Deals Gap and ran into them again Newfoundland gap. None of us had met before except on here, I just happened to recognize Ray's bike. Really great bunch of guys, wild about VTX's, duh! They were very friendly and informative. Oh, and for those who have only seen pics of Ray's bike, I can truthfully say they don't do it justice! BD really did a fantastic job!

Ditto Epi, was nice to yet put a face to another screen name, glad you made it home safe and thanks for the complement.

 

[epiphysis]

Ditto Epi, was nice to yet put a face to another screen name, glad you made it home safe and thanks for the complement.

always great getting together with you.......makes the rides even more enjoyable!!!!

 

[battles06]

That sounds like a great ride. I am going to post my ride report from my recent trip to the western NC area in the next day or so. I have a pic of my bike at the exact same overlook near the Fontana Dam.

 

[Cage SC]

Despite going down, I had a great time and really enjoyed the company. I'd met Ray before at a tech session and then again at Spoilers Livermush Express ride and get together, but this was the first time we actually had time to "talk." The cigar session that first night at the Kickstand was very relaxing after riding all day since 4AM. It was well worth the time and effort to meet up, learn the names and match the faces. Gonzo (Jim) was the biggest surprise. Great guy, but not at all as I pictured. Eagle One (Brian) has to be the gentlest giant I know and Epi (Jeff) is exactly like what you'd expect him to be from his myriad of postings. Tomcat (Lawrence) is one HELL of a rider for an old dude going on 101 yrs of age. He's funny too, in a subtle way.

Following Ray on that bike of his is an experience on several levels. Going through twisties watching that big checkered booty sacheting in front of you from left to right was...welll..."suggestive." He always got the most and immediate attention at every stop and was a total "show stopper" when we pulled into Deals Gap. The only time any of the rest of us got any attention for our rides was when he parked across the street once at one of the pull offs. Yeah...bouncing off the road and pulling aliens out of Rays head just added a bit of spice to a really great and memorable weekend anyway.

Thanks to Ray for providing this forum where so many of us of such diverse backgrounds, experience and characters can have the opportunity to get together like this on nothing more than a whim and a jest. It shows that's there more than a bike in common among us all. :cheers:

 

[G3Truks]

Following Ray on that bike of his is an experience on several levels. Going through twisties watching that big checkered booty sacheting in front of you from left to right was...welll..."suggestive." He always got the most and immediate attention at every stop and was a total "show stopper" when we pulled into Deals Gap.
Thanks to Ray for providing this forum where so many of us of such diverse backgrounds, experience and characters can have the opportunity to get together like this on nothing more than a whim and a jest. It shows that's there more than a bike in common among us all. :cheers:

I had the same experience and made the same observation. I told Ray his rear-end looked like you could land a 747 on it going down the road. One thing is for sure...you don't EVER lose sight of him if the group gets separated. Makes catching up really easy. The paint job is very cool and people stopped to look at it every where we went.
I second your other comment about the Cafe and the people here. Very unusual to find such a diverse group of people with so much in common and looking out for each other's backs.

(side note....Ray....TC is my brother and I have known him all his life....but I don't let him stay at my house...LOL)