September 6, 2021 - Macon, GA

We decided to start heading south today by taking back roads through Athens and getting a room in Mscin tonight. Tomorrow I'll head home to Gainesville and Ted will go to Orlando.

Today was a mixed bag of some heat, a little rain, traffic and slightly mixed up directions (possibly my fault).  

Morning at the cabin

Getting ready to head out this morning 

Me wondering where Ted went

September 5, 2021 - Bryson City, NC

We spent a lot of time in the saddle today, didn't cover a lot of miles but spent a lot of time on nice, mostly 2-laned country roads.  We had breakfast at the Fryemont Inn in BC and began heading towards Hot Springs, NC by way of "The Rattler", a very twisty road, 206 turns in 24 miles.  It was a fun ride and the best part was there wasn't much traffic, unlike the Tail of the Dragon. We stopped at Ferguson General Supply Store which starts The Rattler heading north and had a nice chat with an old Geezer who tried to sell us one of the housing lots that used to make up his farm.  They were too rich for our blood.

We stopped for coffee in Hot Springs and a bite at a small local owned bakery and cafe. Next stop was the jam packed Little Switzerland resort which was too crowded so we turned around and left.   There was a fair amount of traffic heading back to BC through Asheville.  Instead of waiting for dinner we stopped at an Ingels grocery store for some salad stuff and went to the cabin.

Ferguson General Store

Ferguson General Supply Store

Start of The Rattler 

Ted gearing up next to a $55,000 Honda Gold Wing trike

September 4, 2021 - Bryson City

Ted and I did a lot of riding and eating. Breakfast was at a local place in town. We rode around and ended having a late lunch at the Tapoco Lodge on the Cheoah River built in 1930 by Alcoa Aluminum to lodge employees of former hydroelectric dams.

When we were riding around we rode to Clingman"s Dome in Smoky Mountain National Park and saw a black bear only about 15 feet from us in the parking lot.  It happened so fast we didn't have time to get a picture.  

Video of Oconaluftee River in Smoky Mountain National Park HERE

Ted sitting on cabin porch in his LL Bean slippers

Tapoco Lodge on the Cheoah River 

Tapoco Lodge on the Cheoah River 

Fontana Dam

Terry at Tapoco Lodge on the Cheoah River 

September 3, 2021 - Bryson City, NC

 Ted and I left Brunswick around 8:30 AM and got in to Bryson around 4:00 PM, had dinner and hot to the cabin around 6:00 PM.  The cabin is owned by Chris a friend of Ted's who is also his SnapOn tool guy. 

The weather was great and the traffic wasn't too bad except for around Columbia, SC on I-26.  We took a little detour to Pisgah resort area on the Blue Ridge Parkway. We got to over 6,000 feet elevation and the temp dropped to 63 degrees. 

Sam and Max gave a pair of sun glasses that correct my color blindness and I wore them all day. I really like them and they work great, especially on the bike in full sun.

This an example of Ted's routing expertise - riding around in circles

Ted sitting on the cabin porch in Bryson City 

I took this selfie while riding today wearing the new sun glasses that correct my color blindness. They work great. I really like them especially when riding when it's sunny. 

Sitting at Pisgah resort 

Ted on his BMW R 1200 GSA

Flooding damage

Sunset at the cabin

September 2, 2021 - Brunswick, GA

I am leaving this afternoon to meet brother Ted in Brunswick, GA where we will be staying tonight.  Tomorrow we head up to Bryson City, NC to a cabin of a friend of Ted's.  The weather looks decent now that Hurricane Ida is gone.

The trip tracker for this trip can be found here: HERE 

The picture below is one Sooz took of me sitting on the GS, without riding gear, obviously.  I am ordering a new seat from Russel Day Long Seats and they wanted a couple of pictures of me on the bike to help them properly size the seat.  

July 2, 2021 - Gainesville, FL

Why does it always rain at the end of a motorcycle trip?  About 10 miles before pulling into my Gainesville garage the clouds opened up and started raining.  It always seems to happen.

I got home around noon and calculated I rode 5,900 miles on this trip of 2 weeks.  My brother Ted safely arrived at his house in Jensen Beach at 4:30 pm today.  Today was uneventful which is good.  The temps never got above 80 which is amazing for this time of year.  It was cloudy all day and rained pretty good a couple of times but never lasted more than 10-15 minutes.

I'm pretty tired but not alarmingly so.  My back is a little sore but not as bad as it was a week ago.  I am in good riding shape after this trip.  I had no major events, no injuries and saw some great parts of the Country I have never seen before; overall a fantastic trip.

Take care and travel.

July 1, 2021 - Atlanta, GA

We are spending our last night on the road just south of Atlanta. I should be back in Gainesville by mid-afternoon tomorrow. 

Today was a nice day of riding about 540 miles on mostly very good roads with light traffic. Of course, coming near Atlanta it jammed up but we kept moving.  Outside Memphis traffic also jammed up but for a different reason.  The I-40 bridge crossing the Mississippi River is completely closed diverting traffic in strange and annoying ways.  We were maybe 20 miles away from Memphis but things clogged up because there really aren't many options.  Overall not too bad but it's no fun sitting stopped on a warm motorcycle in full sun and upper 80s temp wearing riding gear.  But we got through it okay.

I took no pictures again today but I posted one below from earlier in the trip that may bring back some memories.

Remember the dinosaur?

June 30, 2021 - Little Rock, AR

Not a lot to report tonight and zero pictures.  Ted and I rode about 550 miles in temps ranging from the mid 70s to mid 90s. It was hot by the time we called it a day.  Tomorrow we plan about the same distance which will get us just past Atlanta.

June 29, 2021 - Salina, KS

Something is happening in little Salina, Kansas.  We are staying at a beautiful, one year old Homewood Suites hotel in the little downtown area about 5 miles from I-70. It really does not fit in the community. Also, we rode up the elevator with 3 guys who said they were from San Francisco hunting for run down hotels to turn into apartments.  Something is going in.  Could be oil, wind, solar, natural gas. Very curious.

Today was a big day and it turned out wel.  Last night when riding to see Savannah for dinner an error message came on my motorcycle indicating a computer issue and it said I could ride it to a service center. So we were at the impressive Denver BMW motorcycle shop right after their 9am opening. Two hours later were back on the road after a thorough checkout which found a disconnected wire to the radiator cooling fan.  No big deal.

After about 450 miles we landed in Salina, KS.  Tomorrow we will keep heading towards Florida. 

The Denver BMW motorcycle shop

The showroom

Our $165 per night room in Salina

June 28, 2021 - Denver, CO

It was a beautiful ride heading south from Rapid City towards Denver.  The morning was cool and the sun was out. The speed limit was 80 mph so we obliged.  Rolling hills with what look like large mounds mixed in at random. Then we would roll over a hill and look down on miles of straight 2-laned road.

I miss my regular riding partner Susie who acts as navigator and photographer while riding "pillion" on the back seat.  That's why I don't have any nice landscape shots while riding.  I could stop and take a few shots but I would never catch up with Ted.

The traffic coming into Denver was bad. Very crowded and fast. We are going to have dinner tonight with Ted's daughter. 

Ted making his new full-sized BMW motorcycle look like a mini-bike

We waited at least 15 minutes for this train to pass.  It was so long it had 2 engines in the middle of the line to keep things moving. 

Me, Savannah and Ted mug shot - celebrating Savannah's 24th birthday

June 27, 2021 - Rapid City, SD

Ted and I had an early start heading towards Mt. Rushmore. Temps weee very comfortable and it wasn't as windy as yesterday. We got there around 1:00pm and hit a major downpour on the way up to the mountain. There were crowds but not as bad as I was expecting. Lots of families.  

Tomorrow we're heading down to Denver to visit Ted's daughter. 

Mt. Rushmore

Ted lost in thought or just lost

Proof I was there

Riding in the rain

June 26, 2021 - Hardin, MT

I am sitting on the back deck of the Fort Custer Golf Course in Hardin, MT as I write this.  The temperature is in the 70s, sun is low and there is a light breeze.  We decided to leave Great Falls a day early and head towards Rapid City.  We are going to check out Mt Rushmore and then head to Denver to see Ted's daughter Savannah. 

Montana Big Sky

A real golf cart at the Fort Custer Golf Course

June 25, 2021 - Great Falls, MT

Today was a day of rest. Ted and I slept in, had a nice breakfast and then went to the rally. The rally was good but we were both a little disappointed. There weren't as many vendors or maybe it's because we have been to several of them and they are starting to look the same.  We talked to some folks and Ted washed his bike. We then went to a shop to look around and then to lunch. 

We are staying another night here. We're planning on visiting the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center. 

The floor of the BMW Rally

Ted waiting in line to buy some merch

Action photo of Ted washing his bike

June 24, 2021 - Great Falls, MT

Dave, Clyde and I left Cody around 7:30am and headed towards the Beartooth Pass Highway.  It was a beautiful ride of hairpin turns rising up to just under 11,000 feet.  We were riding with snow all around us.  Temps got down to 51 degrees at the highest altitude and near 90 when we wound our way down the mountain.  

I went to the BMW rally site as soon as I got to Great Falls.  I registered and arranged to get a new rear tire installed because the current one is showing a lot of wear.

I also met my brother Ted and will be spending time with him as we eventually start heading back to Florida.  We are scheduled to spend 3 nights here which is good because I'm a little tired. 

The route I took today

Along the Beartooth Highway

Me stretching my arms at high altitude in my hi viz jacket

My brother Ted in Great Falls with his new motorcycle he bought in LA

June 23, 2021 - Cody, WY

My new friends Dave and Clyde and I rode from Murdo, SD to Cody today. The temps ranged from upper 60's to 97. Skies were mostly clear and sunny.  Long sections of I-90 had a speed limit of 80 mph. Plus it was windy at times. It was really beautiful especially in the morning. Rolling hills of grassland for miles and miles. I think sections we rode through are called the Buffalo Gap National Grasslands.

Wyoming was similar for awhile with base elevation of 4,000-4,500 feet above sea level. We then began to rise when we left I-90 and took Hwy 14 with elevations topping out at just under 8,000 feet.  

I changed my plans to meet my brother Ted in Great Falls, MT tomorrow, one day earlier than my original plans.  It will be fun to see him. He flew to LA, bought a used 2016 BMW K1300 S and started riding up the California Coastal Highway. He will be in Great Falls tomorrow. 

Below are pictures from my site seeing yesterday. Hopefully the wifi is better in this hotel.

Entrance to the SPAM Museum in Austin, SD

My SPAM friend and I watching the  SPAMalot video. My son Sam and I also saw the Broadway show in NYC several years ago

An amazing selection of SPAM

The Dignity Statue in ND

This shot gives you a better idea of the scale

My bike fully loaded

Looking west from the Dignity Statue at the Missouri River

Action photo of Dave and Clyde trying to figure out how to pair their Bluetooth intercom systems on their helmets

Street sign outside our hotel in Cody, WY