Well, this is sure more mundane than the Swiss Alps and other recent fare in this ride-report forum, but, hey, you have to play the cards you are dealt.
In this case, it was the Georgia Guzzisti "Cold Butt Ride."
This is an annual event in January, and, contrary to its name, is rarely cold enough for heated grips, much less heated gear.
This year, while wet and foggy at the start, was another warm January day in Georgia and Alabama. The intended route (as contrasted to the unpaved taken) was a c.250-miler from Atlanta to Cheaha State Park in Alabama. See http://www.alapark.com/cheaharesort/Trails/
After breakfast and benchracing at a Cracker Barrel, Wayne actually led us pretty much along the Ga. SR 166 to (Alab.) SR 46 to Heflin, where we picked up SR 281 to the park lodge atop Cheaha Mountain. After lunch, we took a southerly return, via SR 49 to Lineville, then SR 48 to Georgia, and SR 5 into the metro area.
Of course, Wayne would not be Wayne if he did not follow his GPS when it showed a wiggle he had not seen before. That led to Wayne's favorite sign: "Pavement Ends." But, that, too, can be fun, even when the clay is slimy as a snail's trail. On the bright side, no one visited the pavement or mud. That was a near thing on the northern end, in particular, of SR 281 near Heflin.
I am convinced that Alabama's DOT or the park folks deliberately put down loose stone about the size of BB's to discourage motorcyclists. Scares me feceless everytime, with yesterday a bit worse as I decided I'd try to keep up with Wayne and Yaniv. Watching the pea-gravel rooster tail from Yaniv's EV made me nervous, and I felt my Norge lose its rear end a few times, slowing me. I rationalized that even Wayne wasn't going that fast 'til he sent me a video last night. He was taking movies one-handed and over his shoulder while I struggled to keep up. Dispiriting.
Anyway, here are the pix. Having trouble posting the vid, but Wayne may help with that later.
2009 Georgia Cold Butt Pix
Bill
In this case, it was the Georgia Guzzisti "Cold Butt Ride."
This is an annual event in January, and, contrary to its name, is rarely cold enough for heated grips, much less heated gear.
This year, while wet and foggy at the start, was another warm January day in Georgia and Alabama. The intended route (as contrasted to the unpaved taken) was a c.250-miler from Atlanta to Cheaha State Park in Alabama. See http://www.alapark.com/cheaharesort/Trails/
After breakfast and benchracing at a Cracker Barrel, Wayne actually led us pretty much along the Ga. SR 166 to (Alab.) SR 46 to Heflin, where we picked up SR 281 to the park lodge atop Cheaha Mountain. After lunch, we took a southerly return, via SR 49 to Lineville, then SR 48 to Georgia, and SR 5 into the metro area.
Of course, Wayne would not be Wayne if he did not follow his GPS when it showed a wiggle he had not seen before. That led to Wayne's favorite sign: "Pavement Ends." But, that, too, can be fun, even when the clay is slimy as a snail's trail. On the bright side, no one visited the pavement or mud. That was a near thing on the northern end, in particular, of SR 281 near Heflin.
I am convinced that Alabama's DOT or the park folks deliberately put down loose stone about the size of BB's to discourage motorcyclists. Scares me feceless everytime, with yesterday a bit worse as I decided I'd try to keep up with Wayne and Yaniv. Watching the pea-gravel rooster tail from Yaniv's EV made me nervous, and I felt my Norge lose its rear end a few times, slowing me. I rationalized that even Wayne wasn't going that fast 'til he sent me a video last night. He was taking movies one-handed and over his shoulder while I struggled to keep up. Dispiriting.
Anyway, here are the pix. Having trouble posting the vid, but Wayne may help with that later.
2009 Georgia Cold Butt Pix
Bill
