The Road Beckons

After a brief hiatus it is once again time to hit the open road. An unfortunate incident involving a skateboard prevented my participation in last year’s annual trip and although I did get in a couple of extended weekend rides, one to Arizona to meet up with a bunch of Stromtroopers and one with my brothers to explore the Pig Trail and some other fine motorcycle roads in Arkansas, They are undocumented and don’t count as the big annual motorcycle road trip we look forward to each year. This will be the 3rd such trip in the last 4 years and the first to the Smokey Mountains, the BRP, and the legendary – Tail of the Dragon, not to mention the Cherohala Skyway, the Mile High Swinging Bridge, and various other points of interest on our better than 4000 mile, 10 day trip. We will also take the opportunity this trip provides to visit friends and family along the way.

The Plan:

Day 1 – The first day is the longest for me and the shortest for almost everyone else. The plan is for me to leave at around 5AM and ride to Lubbock, TX where Jason will join me for the ride to Carlton’s house in Garland, TX where we will be joined by my brother Mitch; a trip of 833 miles and 13 some-odd hours. One of the highlights of Day 1 will be lunch at Whataburger for the first time in ages (they don’t have these in Colorado…yet). Otherwise it is mostly slab riding – point A to point B just get there kind of stuff.

Day 2 – We had the option of just jumping on the highway and getting there (North Carolina) so we could spend more time in the Smokies or taking It easy and exploring some of the fine roads between here and there. We chose the fun way. That is what this is all about after all. So Day 2 will be about 450 miles through Oklahoma and Arkansas to Harrison – where last year the local Suzuki dealer was kind enough to take a rear tire off a floor model and sell to me in my desperate hour of need. Some of those Arkansas roads are like cheese graters. Highlights of Day 2 include: the Talimena Scenic Drive in Oklahoma (into Arkansas), and SR123. Should be great fun!

Day 3 – Day 3 promises to be a lighter day at 347 miles. We are mostly just working our way east at this point although we do anticipate quite a bit of fun on SR14. Tonight will be the first family visit. We’ll be seeing Uncle Joe and Aunt Shirley in Milan, TN.

Day 4 – This is planned as a point A to point B day: 400 miles to Bryson City, NC. The end of the day will take us through the Great Smokey Mountains National Park on US441. We will most likely dally in the park a bit and get into Bryson City late.

Day 5 – This is the big day final plans for which are as of yet not finalized. There is so much to do in the area and so little time that it is a real struggle to decide what to include and what can be left out. Current plans call for anywhere between a 250 mile, 8 hour day to an almost 400 mile, 12 hour day and several in between. What we all agree on is whatever plan we decide on it will include at least one pass through the dragon.

Day 6 – The BRP – Originally this trip was conceived as a trip to ride the length of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Along the way it got pared down into something a little more manageable in the time allotted. We will be traveling the length of the southern half of the BRP instead and then after a stop at the Mile High Swinging Bridge will scoot over to Johnson City, TN where we will visit Ted and Jane Ann Thomas. Ted was our Preacher in Germany in the early 70s and he and Jane Ann have had a huge impact on our lives and I really look forward to spending this time with them.

Day 7- Time to head home; It will be a meandering kind of day up into Kentucky and over to Nashville where we will visit with Josh and Kaitlyn Thames, Carlton’s Daughter and son-in-law. Nothing heavy is planned, just over 400 miles of some of the best roads in southern Kentucky.

Day 8 – This will be a little on the long side, 500 miles, but every mile should be either very scenic or very twisty or both. We are going to wiggle back up into Kentucky through the Land Between the Lakes and mosey on over to West Plains, MO along hwy 160; one of the best southern Missouri has to offer.

Day 9 – Still headed west. We will stay on 160 for more thrills until we turn onto 90 (even better) to head into Oklahoma. We will go through Jane, MO and this time we stop for pictures. Tonight we will visit another friend of the Family – Pam Parks lives in Bartlesville, OK. Her generosity abounds.

Day 10 – The last day. We will split up here and go our separate ways; for me, a slab day back to Colorado Springs. It won’t be as bad as day 1 though. This trip is only 655 miles.

All in all I am looking forward to a great trip with great company. We are making final preparations and tweaking plans and generally chomping at the bit to get on the road.