The event planners did a great job arranging the event.  From multiple registration tent, the food vendor, t-shirts, to the stage with live band, they were ready to 200 or more bikers.  Unfortunately all the BMWers were in GA rally and all the Harely riders were in Cherokee.  Perhaps it was the late start (11:30am for 2 hour ride) or being advertised as a ride and not a “poker run”, but sadly, only a about 20 riders showed up.

There were a couple of sportbike riders

One CANAM Spider

And of course, a great looking blue BMW R1200RT.

We briefly road on I-77.  I had to keep throttle low waiting for Harley riders to thump-thump their way up to 70mph on the on ramp. The group ride followed clean and curve roads as it wrapped around Stone Mountain State Park.   Riding out of the mountains I gave the Harley riders plenty of space as they rode their brakes.  I guess engine braking is just not something those thumpers like to do, overheating brake more their style.

Only incident came when one Harely riders tried to park on hill at the first cigarette break and dropped his bike.  Not being a smoker, I would have preferred to ride.  Got to admire their skill, not everyone can ride through the mountains on a bike while smoking a cigarette.  Menthol is just not my idea of clean fresh mountain air.

I didn’t have time to check out Bobby’s recommendation and swing by “Brushy Mountain Road” or “Linneys Mill Road”, but these are on my “bucket list” of NC roads.

http://www.motorcycleroads.us/roads/nc_bmr.html

Keep Riding
Chris Skor (Skorlinski)

For longer trips I added a Bead-Rider for my bum and tail bag with removable backrest for my back. The “Grand Tourer” bag, made by Kuryakyn, is identical to the “Journey Bag” from MustangSeats.com.  I bought this brand new on eBay for about $75 with shipping.  Similar eBay listings http://tinyurl.com/763yw5g, goes for $160, but shop around if looking for a <$100 deal.

There is tons of storage in this bag.  It so stiff it works as a backrest even when empty.

The bag can even be mounted on the backrest as a tail bag.  The bag comes with lots of adjustable straps to secure the bag to most any bike.

Notice the bright white back panels of my side bags?  These highly reflective stick on panels are black during the day, but glow bright when hit by car lights.

To be seen from the front I added a HID headlight replacement light kit.  Wow, what a difference, those HID lights really light up the night. I installed both the Low and High beam HID kit.  If I had to do over, I would have just done the Low.  The delay in High beams cranking up makes them only practical when you find yourself late at night riding down some back road trying to get home and there are no cars around.

To help me find my way I bought a Garmin NUVI 1450 GPS off eBay for about $100.  This GPS has a 5″ display.

From Amazon I purchased  a RAM mount in which the GPS snaps right in.  Following master travelier Dave Selvig’s advice I covered any openings with black tape to keep out water during misty rides.

For riding in rain I purchased a waterproof case.  The case didn’t come with a RAM mount, but couple of screws later and I mounted a RAM mount to the back of the case.

The waterproof case has a clear flexible screen providing limited “touch” capability.  The GPS is easy to read and protected from afternoon Carolina showers.

Only thing left is to GAS and GO!

Enjoy the Ride!

Chris Skor (Skorlinski)

We continued on US-64 into Brevard, Lake Toxaway, Cashiers, and Highlands. The roads were perfect, very little traffic, crisp air, clean curvy roads.  I think Don could have ridden for 2 more hours, but by now I had to made a pit stop.  I’ve got to stop 1 hour after morning coffee or lunch diet coke.

From Highlands we headed north on NC 28 to Ellijay then picking up US-74 in Lauada.  I’m loving this NC-28. These are some great roads.  I would return here before the Dragon any day.  Waterfalls everywhere!  Rounding a tight right-hand I could almost reach out an touch the wet rock wall.  At one turn-out water flows over the road covering it in mist.  Next time I’m riding by on a hot day I’ll stop and stand under the cool water, today, we wanted to get to Iron Horse before dark.

Iron Horse Motorcycle Lodge was perfect for this trip.  It is right in the middle of some great NC, SC, GA, TN roads.  They offer a wide variety of sleeping arrangements as well as a large dining call, theatre room, outdoor fire-pit and plenty of rocking chairs and swings to sit and listen to the creek flowing by.

Don and I stayed in the Bunkhouse.

It had 6 raised platforms with mattresses.  Perfect if you’re riding all day and just too tired to care about guy snoring next to you.

You can also tent camp.

Or stay in one of the many cabins.

When you check it they provide menus for dinner and breakfast during your stay. What a great way to start and end the day, belly full, but bring your own adult drink of choice, they’re in a dry county.

Bikes started to roll in all day Thursday. Mostly BMW with a small mixture of Yamaha and Honda.  This Yamaha really caught my eye, kick start and all.

There we even a few lady riders mixed in amongst the guys.

After hearty breakfast Friday morning, Don, Glenn, from Virginia Beach riding an LT and I headed out for a NC\GA loop.  First road was Cherahalla Skyway. Love this road!  Temp dropped as we climbed curve after curve.  From 73 down to 50 as we road into the clouds, then back down to 70s.  While I road most curves in 2nd gear at 5,000 rpm working on engine breaking, lean, then throttle roll through curves, Don was peg-to-peg all the way.  I could see his smile through the back of his helmet as he lost me after first few curves.

Ride took us to Tellico Plains, TN, down 68 stopping for lunch at Mexican dinner downtown Ducktown.  The chicken was cooked perfect in my enchilada.

After lunch plans was to ride to Suches, GA.  Rumor had it Hwy 60 into Suches was another great road just waiting for an afternoon ride.  But unfortunately the LT went down for a low-side on right-hander.  Nearest we could tell the center-stand caught and lifted the read just enough to loose traction.  Bike slid across the road into small muddy ditch.  Rider, wearing full protection slide with the bike as right side ground down.

We picked up the bike, put back on the mirror and waited for adrenaline levels to lower before heading back to the Lodge.  Glenn wanted us to continue down to Suches, but would hear a word.  If we start out together we finish together, you don’t leave fellow riding who just went down to make his way back home.  I lead the way with Don following behind just in case the LT started dropping parts.  A little slow for Glenn on his busted LT and Don on his RT, but after one rider down, we didn’t need another.

There are so many great roads minutes from Iron Horse, if Don and I wanted more riding, we could always head back out.  Priority was getting Glenn back, busted up LT and all.

Dinner was excellent as always at the Lodge, great food, great company, great riding stories, sky overhead full of stars.  Eat inside or out by the fire-pit.  Too bad I didn’t bring mixing for Smores.  Theatre room showing “Fastest Indian” for rest of us too tired from day riding, it time to dig out the ear plugs and head to the bunkhouse.  Next time I’ll upgrade to the cabin!

Saturday morning Don and I headed back to Charlotte in light rain by way of Ashville NC.  Just as we cleared the rain, we stopped at the new BMW shop, really nice place right near Biltmore Village.  The GS F800 caught my eye.  Maybe on this bike I could take on those gravel roads without pucker.

As clouds moved in lunch plans at WaySide in Biltmore Village would have to wait for another day.  Don headed east on I-40 back to Lake Norman and I took I-26 back home to Lake Wylie.

Thought I would share a few lessons learned during 3 days and 700 miles riding beautiful curvy roads of NC\GA\TN.

First, ride you own ride, not the ride of the guy in front.  When you get comfortable, push just a little bit more.  If you push to fast past your comfort zone, you’ll tense up and mistakes will happen.

Second, sh#t will happen, be it low side slide, mechanical breakdown, or brain fa#rt when parking your bike in netural on a down slope at an overlook and your R1200RT falls over.  When it does, slow down, breath, think, then plan next your next move.

Third, always ride with saddlebags, see above!

Thanks Mr. Dave Selvig for another great ride and for the spare parts for my R1200RT.

Chris Skor (Skorlinski)

April 19-21: 8th annual BMW Spring Training Camp located at the
Iron Horse Motorcycle Lodge in Robbinsville NC.

April 20-22 Road Atlanta for http://www.m1powersports.com/big-kahuna-atlanta/

April 26-29th in Helen GA, for Helen Back ride presented by BMWSportTouring.

May 4-6 for 22nd Annual GA Mountain Rally http://www.bmwmoga.info

May 18th for Morton’s BMW Sping Fling Rally at Natural Bridge VA http://mortonsbmw.com/springfling_2012.html

June 5th-9th for Americade www.americade.com

July 14-15th for Roanoke Riders Workshop www.ridersworkshop.com with Jim Ford.

July 19-22 for BMWOA Rally in Sedalia MO.

–Chris Skor (Skorlinski)

It’s time for me to map out my summer itinerary and I’d appreciate your help/input. Once again I’ll travel on my trusty G650GS leaving midsummer on a north, northwest, southwest, east path. Here’s a map for starters.

Please help me stay OFF the highways and ON the byways/rookie-safe offroads.

• I will probably be speaking at a women’s rally in Gettysburg, PA on 6/22 (which will get our service personnel excited…gimme your address and I’ll send a postcard).
• From there I’ll go to Niagara Falls and cross into Canada, visiting one of my favorite cities, Toronto. ETA 6/24/12.
• I want to explore the Upper Peninsula and International Falls, then over to see friends in Winnipeg. ETA Winnipeg 7/1, which happens to be Canada Day.
• From there I’m torn between going through Saskatchewan to Alberta then down to Idaho and dipping down into the States to cross from Montana (which is what the map shows right now). Last year in Saskatchewan was pretty miserable. Just seconds after snapping this photo the fierce winds BLEW MY BIKE OVER.
• I’ll be house-sitting for a friend who’s riding her bike to Alaska from Idaho so I’ll be in the Twin Falls area 7/4-20 except when I go to Wyoming to rally with the other Conga riders July 12-14. I’ll do some nice dual sporting there in the Little Big Horn Basin with the locals!
• From Idaho I’ll head over to the AMA Women’s Rally in Carson City, NV, which is the furthest point shown on the map here. It’s 7/26-29.
• From Carson City I’ll probably speak and sell books at the Rally in the Gorge in Washington state 8/1-5 (thanks to club member Bill Kniegge for the intro to organizer Tom Mehren) and TRY to be back for our club rally the following week.

OK, please tell me what you think I should do along the way, and what the best roads/routes will be. THANKS!

August is a fantastic time of year to camp, take a break and tour the North Carolina High Country. Many Boone Rally attendees arrive before Friday’s (10th) official check in day. We’ll be there Thursday, August 9th for Early Check In.

Come back and visit this web site for updates and news announcements about the 2012 Annual Boone Rally – the best motorcycle riding found nowhere else.

Checking the temp, it was 40 degrees and not expected to get much warmer.  Putting on my electic vest, I know my body would be warm, but my toes were already complaining.  Reaching in my saddlebag, I opened Foot Warmers.  I picked these up at Walmart for $1.  I prefer the ones shapped liked insole and not just Toe warmers.

I find they work best if I don’t peal off the sticky liner, instead I just drop them in my boots.  I can ride all day and toes never complain.  I take an extra pack in my “just in case” supply.

–Chris Skor

I was itching for a ride to try out the new jacket so I thought why not ride to mothers. No, this is not some new Tattoo parlor in Charlotte, NC, but with weather forecast 45 and rainy for the next 5 days I decided this was a great time to ride to visit my mom in Fort Myers Florida.

My 2007 BMW R1200RT loaded for FL trip.  The tank bag holds a memory foam pillow, great for those quick way-side naps. During long hours I’ll learn forward and rest an arm on the tank bag.

The rear bag includes a removable lumbar support which I can remove if I mount the bag behind the passenger rest.  With stock BMW seat, a little back rest helps miles go by little bit easier. This is my “overnight” back with change of clothes, warm riding gear, CDs, and bathroom supplies.

Bike all backed and repacked, trying to figure out what I’ll need, what to leave behind.  I start out about 1 hour before sunrise, getting in a few hours ride, watching sun come up before I stop for breakfast.  First day is my best, longest riding day, 500-600 miles per, by day 2 I’m stopping every 100 miles, lucky to get in 400.

My plan was to Ride hwy 49 to Augusta, GA, then work my way west until I hit Gulf coast of Florida, but strong line of thunderstorms pushed my east along the Atlantic coast.

Below are a few “lessons along the way”.

Lesson Learned: Near end of the day, turn off your cruise control. If you notice your speed keeps dropping, time to stop for the night.

Lesson Learned: Find place to sleep as the sun sets, get good night sleep, then go again early morning just before sunrise.

Lesson Learned: IF you have to ride at night, better to follow than to lead.  Follow a car about 5-10 seconds behind using their lights to look ahead for obsticiles, curve of the road, or wild life.  Better for a “cage” to hit dear then your bike.

I made it to Ocala, FL, little after sunset and checked into Days Inn.  TV had 1 channel with a wall mounted remote.  I never did find out what the button on the right controlled.

Next day it was off to BMW Tampa.  Didn’t really need a reason, but guess that’s why we ride in the first place.  I checked out the HID blubs for both Low and Hi beams.  Parts Guy says I’ll get about 10% more light, along with hotter white.  A little expensive, but worth investigating.  I head over to the Service Desk for lesson on installing bulbs.  I’m told simple operation, just reach up, remove the bulb, replace, and reinstall.  Sound simple, but somehow became a $50 job and 2 hour wait when I asked if they could do it for me.  I left $200 still in my pocket.  Contrast this to great customer service I get from MAX BMW last fall on my way to the BMW Rally.  MAX not only replaced a burned out low beam for no labor charge, but also topped off my oil again at no cost.

If your riding in the Tampa, FL area, you’ve got to head to south on I-275 to St Petersburg and ride over the Sunshine Skyway bridge.  http://bridgehunter.com/fl/pinellas/sunshine-skyway/ This unique bridge has limited support wires running down center and feels like riding over a 2×4 on stilts. On to Fort Myers and vist with mom.

While in Fort Myers I stopped at Sun Sports Cycle on Colonial Blvd to check out the CanAm, Honda, and Yamaha bikes.  Nice airconditioned building.  Oh, did I mention it was in the 80s!

Lesson Learned: Have enough free room in your bags to peel off and stow your warm riding gear.

After a few days visiting, time to head home.  I picked a route across Florida over to Atlantic coast.  Ride took my past Lake Okeechobee, US 6th largest lake that you can’t see from the road because it is behind a dike.  Riding across Florida this morning I followed 2 school busses, one white, one yellow.  Up the road was a collection of tin shacks, outside parents watched as kids played.  I watched as yellow school bus drove by while whites bus stopped.  Both kids and parents climbed aboard the white bus.  It was then I noticed sign “Harvest Bus” painted on side.  Next time I buy oranges, I’ll see faces of those boarding the bus.

I decided to visit NASA on my ride home.  Really, how could I pass it up, big rockets, lauch pads, explosive fuel, way cool.  I hung out with one of the astronauts as we planned a motorcycle ride on Mars for 2014.  I’ll be collecting CASH deposits at the next club meeting.

If you get a chance to visit the Kennedy Space Center, check out the Hubble 3D on IMAX, wow, just really freaking WOW.  Speaking of WOW, those Florida bug were huge.  I had to keep a rag in my jacket pocket to keep my face shield clean.

Lesson Learned: Only keep your face shield rag in you jacket pocket or you’ll be riding back to pick up your MP3 player.

After day at NASA and bug wipping on ride back north.  About every 30 minutes I would wiggle in my seat and stand a little just to keep blood flowing.  As night came the temp dropped.

Lesson Learned: Don’t try to change into warmer gloves while riding or you’ll end up riding back to pick up a dropped glove.

I stopped for the night at the Comfort Inn in Kingsland, GA. I was upgraded to poolside room. All night long trucks fly by I-95 so close I can see bugs on windscreen. Big yellow ones come out at 7am, bugs that is, messy splats.

With little sleep and almost edible breakfast I headed north toward Brunswick, GA where I intended to pick up US 27\US 25 for ride back to Augusta, then hwy 49 back to Clover.  My GPS indicated a twisty road on my right called “Sandy Run”.  I made a course change and headed over to see what Sandy had to offer.  After 2 miles I discovered SANDY was not someone’s name but the CONDITION of the road.   I did see mile after mile of 100 year old moss covered oaks reaching over the road.

Somewhere in the back roads of GA I road past an amusement park bone-yard with 30 or more old carnival rides rusting, long since ridden.  Already into the afternoon, I had too many miles to go to allow time to stop, maybe another day.  What unexpected treasures we’ll find if we take little time to ride the back roads of America.  All we need it gas and a direction to travel.

Speaking of unexpected, if you’re in Claxton, GA, stop in “Mrs. Rigers Restaurant”.  For great comfort food try the Sea Food Casserole.  For something lighter and more “international”, just north of town on US 25 is the “World Deli”, a must stop on my next ride through town.

After 1,500 miles hardest were last 60 miles back to Lake Wyle.  My tired eyes were taking too long to look from instruments to road ahead.  Another sign I needed to be home in bed snoring next to my wife and not on the road.  To keep alert, I would quickly count cars in front of me, forcing me looking forward down the road.

Lights reflecting off Lake Wylie were a welcome site as my R1200RT road over Buster Boyd bridge now just one traffic light and home.