Tuesday, March 22, 2021 - Orangeburg, SC

Ted took off early this morning for Jekyll Island arriving around 3:30pm.  Fred and I left around 7:30am arriving in Orangeburg around 4:30pm.  The weather was nice, starting in the 50s and getting well into the 70s.

Fred and I took back roads passing through many small towns, some in good shape and many on the decline.  We had lunch at the Palmetto Cafe in Bennettsville, SC.  We arrived there at 1:50pm and they close at 2pm but they let us in and served us after lunch.  They were very friendly and told us the white flowering trees in the are were either Flowering Pears or Dogwood.  Fred thinks they are Flowering Pears and I think Dogwood.

Tomorrow we head home.

Monday, March 22, 2021 - Williamston, NC

We had a full day today beginning with loading the bikes in solid rain, low 50s temp and wind.  We rode to the Maritime Museum of Ship Wrecks. It's a beautiful building with wooden roof arches and displays of historical artifacts from offshore wrecks including many during WWI and WWII. 

Next was a visit to the Hatteras Lighthouse. It was closed due to building rehab so we couldn't climb to the top.  We then headed up the road through rain and strong winds to lunch at Watermen's Bar & Grill. The rain lightened up during our ride to the Wright Brothers National Memorial.  It's amazing to realize it was only less than 70 years from Orville and Wilbur's first flight to the first moon landing.  The brothers did not go to college and yet designed and built their aircraft from scratch including a 200 cubic inch engine without a carburetor that produced 12 horsepower, propellers and cloth covered wings.

I must report there was an incident involving Fred removing his rain gear in the parking lot of the Wright Brothers museum with assistance from Ted. Photos below.

Tomorrow Ted will be blasting south to Jekyll Island while Fred and I will take back roads to Orangeburg, SC.

Our route today

Replica of plane used in first flight in 1903

Proof Terry was there

Proof Ted and Fred were there

Abovementioned incident in Wright Brothers parking lot

Fred failing removal of rain gear

Outside maritime wreck museum prior to rain gear incident

Hatteras Lighthouse

Lighthouse light

Sunday, March 21, 2021 - Cape Hatteras, NC

We left Morehead at 8:30am and rode our motorcycles to Cedar Island to pick up the 10:30am ferry to Okracoke Island.  The bike ride was very windy.  We crossed several bridges and causeways and it was so windy I crouched down with my chest resting on the tank bag. We got knocked around pretty good.  

Ted, Fred and I debated whether we should take the ferry due to the high winds and rough seas.  Ted decided to ride around Croatan Sound to meet Fred and me at our hotel on Cape Hatteras. Fred and I took the ferries.  Ted said the wind gusts on one bridge he crossed were the strongest he has ever riden through.  

The ferry ride from Cedar Island was 2 hours and 15 minutes and cost $10 per motorcycle. Our bikes were parked on the open deck with no tiedowns but they were pretty steady.  The ferry staff said we should stay by our bikes so we were in the wind for the duration.

Okracoke Island has very few residents and is pretty desolate. We had to wait about an hour for the ferry to Hatteras Island and it was free.  That ferry ride was more choppy than the the ferry ride from Cedar Island. We had to stay close to the bikes for the one hour ride to make sure they didn't tip over. Ted was waiting for us at the hotel and we walked to dinner. I had taken 2 Dramamine pills to avoid getting seasick which kind of konked me out early but I didn't get sick.

Terry wearing some specialized maritime safety head gear on the ferry to Okracoke

Fred making sure our bikes don't slide off the ferry

Outer Banks National Scenic Byway

Okracoke Island sand bags protecting the shoreline

Okracoke Island

Ferry to Hatteras

Confirming that the pointer made the trip

Sea shells by the seashore

Today's route

Video of ferry ride to Okracoke Island. Click HERE 

Saturday, March 20, 2021 - Morehead City, NC

We rode around 300 miles today in strong wind. Tiring but a nice ride.  The temp when we woke up was 37 and 41 when we started riding.  A little nippy.  After we checked into the hotel we rode out to Atlantic Beach after crossing Bogue Sound.  The beach road had single family homes and trailers on both sides of the road between 2 dunes.  On the way back to the hotel I stopped and bought Dramamine pills for tomorrow; we will be taking a 2 and 1/2 hour ferry to Ocracoke Island and later take a short ferry to Hatteras Island.  We had dinner at the Sagebrush Steakhouse.

Ted and Fred were required to take mugs shots before leaving Orangeburg, SC

Terry and Ted near Atlantic Beach, NC

Fred and Ted trying to look warm

Near Atlantic Beach

Friday, March 19, 2021 - Orangeburg, NC

Ted, Fred and I had a nice day riding around 350 miles. We stayed on back roads, mostly US 301, and saw a lot of the rural southeastern US.  The weather stayed in the 50s most of the day.  We had a nice lunch at the Rusty Pig in Glennville, GA. Below are a couple of videos I took from the road and pictures of us during dinner at Cracker Barrel here in Orangeburg. 

Ted at dinner

Fred at dinner

Terry at dinner

https://youtu.be/SxQRLdHryZ0

Ted click HERE 

https://youtu.be/jDVL5CsM2_E 

Fred riding click HERE

Thursday, March 18, 2021 - Gainesville, FL

 Ted is staying with us in Gainesville tonight and then tomorrow we meet Fred and head north towards the Outer Banks, NC.  Below is a picture of Ted's new BMW R1200GS Adventure he will be riding.  It's a beautiful bike.  Fred will be riding a new Triumph 900 Tiger Pro and I'll be riding my 2018 BMW R1200GS Rallye.  Three very nice rides.  We will be gone about 6 days.  Stay tuned.

Monday, March 1, 2021 - Home

I made it home safe and sound today around 4pm.  I met Fred for lunch in St. Marks and then headed home.  It felt good to be home.  Overall, a good trip.  I enjoyed meeting the Defective Gene Pool goofs and had no issues or problems on the trip other than a few minor physical issues - itching welts and my back got tired.  The new Sargent seat worked great - it kept me warm when needed and was comfortable on the long hauls.  I traveled 2,750 miles total on the trip in 8 days.  For the Long Distance Rider group, that is small potatoes, but for me, that is good.  General observations/comments:

• I missed not having my riding (and life) partner Susie.  I enjoyed the riding a lot, but it was not as much fun as having Sooz with me on the back of the bike when we can chat about surroundings and at night exploring new areas and finding good food.
• The landscape of the Texas Hills country was less than impressive.  It was nice and, like some areas of Florida, has a subtle beauty to it, but nothing that I would go out of my way to visit again.
• It seemed like every section of the Interstate system I was on was under construction and not fun to ride on - with the one exception of the portion of I-49 I took from Natchitoches to Alexandria, LA - that was a nice section of highway.
• People in Texas drive at or under the speed limit in the cities and towns which was very  frustrating until I recalibrated my attitude.
• The pastry I bought at the Little Czech Bakery made it home in good shape.
• I am really happy and impressed with my BMW motorcycle - it performed flawlessly.

Meeting Fred for lunch in St. Marks, FL

Trip summary from the bike's computer

Cleaning off the road grime at home