Motorcycle Pictures of the Week - Ms. Glo

Here are my Pictures of the Week as displayed on the Motorcycle Views Website. These are taken from the Moto Pic Gallery. See Ms. Glo on her 2006 Honda VTX 1300. We need more pictures of men and women with their motorcycles. Get your picture in. For details, see Motorcycle Pictures of the Week.

If you'd like to see your bike as Picture of the Week, submit a picture of you and your bike along with a description of the bike.

FROM WICKED WILLY’S CHOPPER SHOP TO THE WHEELS THROUGH TIME: CYCLE SOURCE’S GYPSY TOUR POURS ON THE MILES, SMILES AND FUN!

May 18th, 2010. Rolling out of bed, it’s hard not to notice the steely gray of the clouds blocking out the sun. The dips in the pavement are filled with water from last night’s rain. Although the party isn’t until six PM tonight, I’m anxious to strap the bags to the fender and be gone. I decided a couple of weeks ago, I will be at Wicked Willy’s Pre-Gypsy Ride Party. It is the first biker party of the year for me. In fact it’s been several years since I had attended a party. I’m a wet blanket for the most part at parties…so I just don’t normally go. But this party held the promise of something else, something different. I wanted to go.

I was on my packed bike heading east into North Carolina, looking for roads that I hadn’t been on, to take me to Taylorsville, NC. OK, that’s almost impossible to do. While I hadn’t ever been to Taylorsville, the general direction to get there forced me to partake of several roads I had traveled on last year. All the same, I managed to leave the state of Tennessee without getting very wet. Once I got over the mountain and into North Carolina the clouds were basically stopped or slowed to a crawl by the low mountain peaks.

I meandered through North Carolina, slipping down this roadway and turning around when it ended in someone’s driveway: turning around to find another small two lane country road heading in a similar direction as me. I found the adventure stimulating. Its fun to explore, and I didn’t have to be anywhere for several hours. Eventually I found my way into the driveway of Wicked Willy’s Choppers. I was the 1st to arrive even though I had done my best to get lost and found.

IMAGE CAPTION: WICKED WILLY’S GARAGE

Wayne (the proprietor of Wicked Willy’s), was working on a chopper when I arrived. I walked into the shop and introduced myself to the guys gathered about a chopper on a lift. It turns out; this party is also the un-veiling celebration for this very good looking Yamaha Chopper. I learned Chris from Cycle Source was coming to photograph it for a layout in his magazine. I have some really great photos of this bike, but I can’t show them until the bike premiers in Cycle Source. I promised….

IMAGE CAPTION: THE BIKES ARE ROLLING IN

I’ve set my tent up in the yard where suggested. It was dry and under a tree. I was in front of the band stand by about half a football field. It was perfect. How strange though, to be standing in a chopper shop and many of the people who came to visit, to party, and to congratulate the builder rode all different models and brands of motorcycles. Everyone was comfortable at Wicked Willy’s!

This is the next “long distance” bike to come in. I fell in love with it. Classic. The owner (Wes) rode in from Missouri. I walked around it taking pictures, I really liked this EVO.

IMAGE CAPTION:Long Distance EVO

IMAGE CAPTION: EVO and DIE

Before long the parking lot was filling up with locals, all there to help celebrate with Wayne his newest Chopper.

IMAGE CAPTION: THE PARKING LOT IS FILLING UP

There were many bikes there either built by Wayne, or was on the road because of Wayne’s help. For instance, there is this trike that Wayne put together for a buddy. I wonder why I only got this much of the bike? Kick my ass sometimes.

IMAGE CAPTION: TRIKE BUILT AT WICKED WILLY’S

IMAGE CAPTION: Trike owner and friends

As the sun was setting, the grill was lit, the band fired up and the party was in full swing. Chris and Michael Lichner arrived, and very soon everyone was eating, drinking, and having fun. Did I mention the police blocked off the road? It was a true block party. We had the full co-operation of the town and the police. The Bar-B-Q was so damn good. Amazing how hamburgers and hot dogs can be so tasty after a long ride, and good company with fantastic conversation. I was lying on my air mattress, cozy under my sleeping bag by midnight. I slept like a dead one. I needed the rest. Ah man it felt good.

The next morning found many of the guests rousing from sleeping under the stars. We stirred about the shop, rubbing sleep from our eyes, packing our tents and bags, preparing for the ride to TillEy’s Harley Davidson. It’s my understanding it is only 30 miles from Taylorsville. How come we traveled 90 miles? HA! And we were late on arrival to Tilly’s too! It’s all good, I’m just glad my 2 gallon gas tank didn’t leave me high and dry before we arrived at Tilly’s. I fueled up, the tank took 1.8 gallons. Whew! So glad I got my carb fixed last year!

IMAGE CAPTION: THE GROUP WAITING FOR US AT TILLEY’S

When we pulled into Tilley’s we had a contingent of about 30 riders. Pulling into the parking lot, there were somewhere around 45 or 50 more riders waiting for us! After a brief layover at Tilly’s, Michael Lichner gave us the lowdown on what he expected from us as we traveled with him and his cameras. I couldn’t believe I was getting the opportunity to watch Michael Lichner, the great photographer at work. I am an idol worshiper.

As I’m walking into the dealership for the “rest facilities” I lock eyes with a woman who appears to recognize me. I had to go…but when I came back out, JoAnne Bortles came up and introduced herself to me. I was so happy to meet her at last. JoAnne is the owner of Crazy Horse Paint Shop. The fantastic painter of all things cool, beautiful or artistic on your tins and fenders!

IMAGE CAPTION: JoAnne Bortles

Before we leave Tilley’s parking lot, JoAnne is inducted to lead the motley group of about 90 bikes through hills and dales, over mountains and through townies. She did a very good job. The group was so large; many broke up into splinter groups. We were able to catch up with each other at gas stops. Chris loaded Michael facing backward on the bagger he was riding, and the two of them rode the inside lane, photographing the line as we charged up next to Chris and the bagger, following the hand signals given us by Michael (move forward, slip back, come closer left, move further right.)

How do I explain how comfortable it was to ride beside the Rock of Gibraltar of motorcycle operators? This man was dead steady through every turn keeping his line true and predictable as we rode wheel to wheel: the bagger’s rear wheel equal with our front wheels. It was, and still is an experience unequal to any other I’ve experienced. Riding like this on two lane mountain twisty roads rushing along between 30 and 55 miles an hour was an exploit that gave me the big time grins. These roads, these speeds, these people with whom I was privileged to share the roads with, still make me smile with pure pleasure. Almost better than sex, oh hell, who am I kidding, I think its right up there with sex, and it lasts longer too.

IMAGE CAPTION: CHRIS, MICHALE AND THE BAGGER

Eventually, as the sun was sitting low on the horizon our group pulled into The Wheels Through Time Museum. In the parking lot of WTT was a medium sized contingent of riders. I figure about 60 riders were waiting for us as we pulled in. Our group arrived finding a great strip of grass next to a babbling creek. Those of us who planned to camp unloaded our tents and equipment and set about our task of making a home for the evening.

IMAGE CAPTION: MY SPORTSTER AND TENT…

We soon learned Matt and Dale Walksler, had ordered a HUGE amount of pizzas to feed the horde. There were a few of us who were looking for something a bit… meatier. We were advised of a nice restaurant a bit down the road. It was serving rib eye…potatoes…and…ahhh it was so good at $10.00 a plate. Some had so much meat on their plates they couldn’t eat it all. OOOOO….decadent stuff.

Upon our return to Wheels Through Time, the party was in full swing. The Walksler’s had decided to keep the museum open all night. Upstairs, in the lounge area movies of pioneering bikers was flickering on the TV. Outside, shadows of men and women were dancing against the ground and the walls of the outdoor fireplace pavilion.

Further from the building was a larger open fire pit where many more men and women were singing to a lone guitar player accompanied by someone on mini conga drums. The guys and gals were singing, imbibing and enjoying the camaraderie of their brothers and sisters. I slept like a baby once more this night. Those of us who had left out of Slick Willy’s to travel the Gypsy Tour had almost 300 miles under our belts this day.

IMAGE CAPTION: OUTDOOR PAVILION WITH STONE FIREPLACE

Here are a few of the bikes you will find inside the Wheels Through Time Museum. You’ve got to stop in here when you come to Maggie Valley!

IMAGE CAPTION: I’M DROOLING AT WTT

IMAGE CAPTION: IN LINE 4 HENDERSON

IMAGE CAPTION: WHAT MORE COULD THE CRAFTSMAN ASK FOR

Friends, this story is getting long. We still have to get up in the morning, get our group together and ride onto “THE DRAGON” at Deals Gap then further up into the mountains riding the Cherohala Skyway from Robbinsville NC to Tellico Plains, TN. A mile high amazing route over the Smokey Mountain passes. This road offers spectacular views and a technical ride from North Carolina to Tennessee. Stay tuned for part II, where “THE GYPSY RIDE” MEETS BIG MOUNTAIN RUN IN TELLICO PLAINS, TENNESSEE!

QUAIL MOTORCYCLE GATHERING 2010: ROUNDUP

(A condensed version of this article will appear in the Quail Motorsports Gathering program this August)

As with the best of motorcycle gatherings, the second Quail began with an excellent ride in perfect weather, auguring well for the continued success of this event, now in its toddler year. If a morning lineup is any measure of success, then the variety of machinery ready to Ride was certainly impressive; 43 motorcycles arrayed on the walkway in no particular order, ranging from a ‘legal for a day’ Norton Manx racer with an open megaphone, to Craig Vetter’s recycled plastic scooter-cum-whale, to the eventual Best in Show winning BMW R50. Riders of more ‘experimental’ two-wheelers, initially nervous at a CHP escort, soon realized the good fortune of our parade leader’s protective wing, which precluded any…uncomfortable…questions about the matter of proper road equipment. Further, this meant all could enjoy the ride sans map, and revel in the sounds of singles, twins, triples, and fours, plus the visual juxtaposition of a hub-center-steered Vyrus cheek and jowl with a 1967 BSA Spitfire.

The Quail is fortunately planted on one of California’s finest motorcycle 100-mile day-rides, with Carmel Valley Road winding through intimate Oak dells along Carmel Creek, rising onto wildflower carpeted hillsides with breath-intake views of Arroyo Seco, and eventually doling us out into Salinas Valley. Steinbeck country yields flat asparagus fields vying with hill-planted grapes for River Road’s picturesque appeal, which hugs the edge of both. While skirting the nouveau appellation of the Santa Lucia Highlands, it seemed prudent both to stop at Hahn winery, and not to sample the merchandise, although quite a few saddlebags and topboxes were weighted with ammunition for the evening’s banquet.

Ducati were kind enough to loan three pre-production Multistrada 1200s for the event, on which lucky participants took turns experiencing the most civilized 140hp yet devised for cycling pleasure. A different species of Duc flew in under legendary artisan-customizer Shinya Kimura, whose hand-fabricated bodywork over an unsuspecting 997S broke new ground in his future/retro aluminum vision, and attracted admiring scrutiny during the day. The Italian marque proved a popular mule for the customizer’s craft, as a further two late model examples had been tastefully shaped to their owner’s wishes.

The 80-mile odometer mark brought the Ride through the gates of Mazda Laguna Seca Raceway, a moment eagerly anticipated by the group, as it meant free access to the track, and lunch! Quail Lodge’s executive chef Julio Ramirez joined the two-wheeled tour on his Honda, and miraculously, an elegant black-tablecloth picnic lay awaiting the hungry horde at the very pinnacle of Laguna Seca’s notorious Corkscrew. Early arrivers and support crew had a stunning view of 43 eclectic motorcycles winding their way through many track laps, while the entire Monterey Peninsula lay spread at the diner’s feet to enjoy through a fantastic meal. The adrenaline of ‘parade’ laps on such an esteemed track certainly stimulated appetites. The post-prandial jaunt over Laurales Grade on return to Carmel Valley made for an excellent digestif, leaving plenty of time to rest up before cocktail hour proper began at Quail Lodge.

Bonhams auction house, long a partner at the Quail Motorsports event, is equally committed to bringing the finest motorcycles in the world to the for the viewing pleasure of assembled guests, and the purchasing pleasure of a few! Friday evening’s cocktail party swirled amongst delectable machinery, while delicious hors d’oeuvres and champagne from sponsor Roederer Estate were a cheerily indulgent onslaught. The auction preview showcased incredibly rare machines from Europe, Asia, and America, and included small gems such as a 1957 Grand Prix Mondial with full ‘dustbin’ streamlining, big guns like the 1967 Münch Mammut with hand-hammered fuel tank, and early star power like the ex-Steve McQueen 1914 Indian boardtrack racer. The night’s banquet was surrounded by such riches, adding to an already august gathering of World Champions and legendary racers (Kenny Roberts, Wayne Rayney, Mert Lawill), big-time collectors, and rising stars of the restoration and customizing arts. Speeches were kept blissfully short, although the subject matter at hand, including featured charity Riders for Health, certainly merited attention.

The Saturday of the actual Gathering dawned bell-clear and calm, while owners, helpers, and pushers distributed wheeled treasures across the lawn with minimal fuss - plenty of space, clear section markings, and courteous staff made it look easy. The DiCE magazine ‘Mr.T’ van offloaded metalflake booty onto a well-stocked Customs corral, an area of the lawn and the motorcycle world which is simply booming, despite economic body blows to the most visible teledrama constructors. Artisan bike builders carry on doing what they clearly love, the expertise on display simply too good for even hardened originality freaks to dismiss. The Quail was graced this year with the début of Falcon Motorcycle’s just-finished masterpiece, the Kestrel, later awarded Best Custom by Dean Micetich of DiCE.

It didn’t take long before Quail Drive itself became a motorcycle parking lot, lined along one side with several hundred bikes taking advantage of perfect weather and a rare assembly of amazing machines. Attendance figures by day’s end were roughly double those of the first year, and while it was clear the crowd had grown considerably, the lawn never felt crowded, and it was always possible to get a decent photograph of any particular motorcycle. Chef Ramirez outdid himself again filling two tents with four-star luncheon; the fried chicken, cornbread, and terrifically spiced haricots vert jostled with an outstanding fresh berry cobbler with whipped cream for plate space. Complimentary wines and champagne at the Roederer outdoor lounge proved popular, especially with the press and photographers! An occasional running commentary provided by emcees Michael Lynch and Paul d’Orléans gave a bit of color and highlight to selected entrants, as they plumbed the depths of their catalogic memories for the fine points.

A relaxed atmosphere prevailed, the wind was apparently at sea, and if the venue didn’t feel just a bit decadent my mid-afternoon, you had simply forgotten your sunblock. The awards presentation continued a theme of ‘just us motorcyclists’, with Cycle World’s Mark Hoyer giving the nod to John Stein’s Manx for the Elegance in Action trophy after watching Stein bump-start the Norton and blat down the highway on the previous day’s Ride. Legendary star of On Any Sunday, Mert Lawill awarded the ex-Kenny Roberts ‘you don’t pay me enough to ride that thing’ TZ750 Yamaha flat-tracker the Competition Sport trophy. Craig Vetter, designer of the ubiquitous Windjammer fairing and Triumph X75 Hurricane (the original ‘factory custom’), had a yardfull of grass devoted to his designs for the Honda Goldwing, Triumph, and experiments with wind-cheating bodywork, eventually awarded his Innovation trophy to the Zero electric motorcycle. Michael Lynch felt keenly the diminutive 1960 Honda CB92 (Guy Webster) deserved the Design and Style award, as the combination of high-tech and high-style were a harbinger of the future for Honda’s dominance of the marketplace.

Tim Stafford’s Best in Show 1961 BMW R50 was simply clean enough for white-glove inspection, even after 100 miles riding the previous day. While the machine itself is neither rare nor the top of its model range, the Quail judging committee felt Stafford’s dedication to and perfection of his craft, combined with his willingness to risk his handiwork on the backroads of rural California, pushed the machine forward as an example of best practices all the way around. Sometimes it isn’t the flashiest, most exotic, or most expensive motorcycle which deserves our respect, but a solid machine exceptionally cared for which shines true in a field of excellent competitors.

And next year? May the doubling trend continue! As a solid foundation has been set for the Quail Motorcycle Gathering, additional features will be added in 2011, most notably the introduction of full concours d’elegance class judging. As word of the event’s success spreads, expect ever more exotic motorcycles from ever farther afield to arrive on the lawn. Gordon McCall is dedicated to the continued growth and improved quality of the Motorcycle Gathering, and given his track record with the Motorsports Gathering, we can expect world-class motorcycling in Carmel Valley for years to come.

HOW YOU FIND THEM #18

Not many sidecars appear on the pages of The Vintagent, as the plain truth is, photos of them rarely pop up in my mailbox, and that's usually what inspires a post.  The fascination of 'Chairs' is partly their obsolescence; anyone hitching a streamlined sidecar to a modern motorcycle is indulging in sheer cussedness, but stubborn people are usually interesting, and much can be gained by hearing out a polemical rant on the joys of throwing one's body weight into corners while steering the handlebars.  I've owned a few myself, and driven many more, from a late 20's aluminum zeppelin bolted to a hotted up Norton ES2, to an elegant Brough launch, a super clean Steib attached to what else but a BMW...R25/3! They all had their charms (many more could be added to the list), even if the little Beemer nearly pitched me into a canal in Berlin, very late one night.

This TT Hughes racing sidecar currently lives in Ireland, and owner Gerry writes:

"Definitely not for sale, I'm afraid! Too many good memories of courting days for one thing.  A pal and I have traded this chair back and forth for a long time.  He must have got it in the '60s.  I doubt he paid twenty quid. It used to be harnessed to a 1930 [Rudge] Ulster during the '70s and '80s, but I'm thinking about hitching it to my Series C Rapide now.  Yes, I know a Coventry Eagle Flying 8 would be more appropriate, but I didn't buy one when offered many years ago!  I have a picture of this sidecar being raced on the sand in Portmarnock (Dublin) by Norton man Dixie Deane in the '20s. (At least we think it's this one, anyway.)  Incidentally, it was leased by MGM for the movie "The Playboys" - made in Ireland in the early '90s.  The chair had some serious exposure time in the movie and was graced with both Aidan Quinn and Robin Wright (Sean Penn's wife)."

The TT Hughes is the ultimate racing chair from the Vintage era, and an excellent period writeup of its attributes can be found in 'Castor's' road test of an SS100.  Most 1920s sporting sidecars are very light, and have a simple rectangular chassis with a rigid wheel (matching the rigid rear wheels of just about all motorcycles in the day), and a body mounted on four coil springs or scrolled leaf springs.  As such, they're surprisingly comfortable for the passenger, with road shocks absorbed very effectively by the undamped springs, giving a floating sensation like an old-fashioned baby buggy.  Some claim that these early 'chairs' were actually more comfortable than modern examples with swingarm suspension and hydraulic damping.  They're certainly more fun!

The Hughes is slightly different in having a frame which encircles the body front and rear, although the passenger is suspended on leaf springs as per normal.  The full 'cage' of tubing makes the TT model extremely rigid, which helps handling of a fast 'outfit' immeasurably.  While the light weight of the typical underslung-frame sporting sidecar of the 20s makes for delightful performance (my zeppelin weighed around 70lbs), they tend to flex and wobble alarmingly when pushed hard, leading to quirks in bend-taking which are best avoided.  A description from the day really tells the tale; 'Each bend became a fresh will I or won't I challenge'!  The TT Hughes really solves the handling problem, with a penalty of weight - that tubing isn't chromoly or Reynolds 531; while certainly of good quality, it more resembles the stuff which carries water to your tap!

And Gerry, methinks you should flog the Vinnie and track down that Coventry Eagle 'Flying 8' - a combination to merit attention, indeed.

Rolling Thunder XXIII on Memorial Day Weekend

I just realized that Memorial Day is coming and that there will be another Rolling Thunder in Washington, D.C. on May 30, 2010. This is Rolling Thunder XXIII [1] and [2]. I remembered the feeling I had at Rolling Thunder XVIII in 2005. In fact, I wrote an article about it with pictures. Take a look.

I also noticed that a great video about Rolling Thunder is also available on YouTube.

I won a ROADRACING WORLD Hat!

Torch's New Hat

I got an email the other day from ROADRACING WORLD stating that I had won a free hat for taking an on-line poll. There were a couple choices so I picked out the one I wanted and it arrived in the mail just the other day. ROADRACING WORLD is one of my favorite sites for motorcycle racing news. The photo of the hat is from their On line Store where you can purchase your own, along with other items of interest. They publish a very nice magazine all about motorcycle racing as well, which I do not presently $ubscribe to. Any way, I just wanted to give ROADRACING WORLD a shout out and say, "Thank you!"

MotoGP racing at Le Mans will be on later today & you can bet I will be watching either live or recording to watch later in case something comes up. I have not been posting as much lately because I've been busy with a new job. It's actually the same job with a different company.

Ride on,
Torch

Motorcycle Pictures of the Week - Tami C.

Here are my Pictures of the Week as displayed on the Motorcycle Views Website. These are taken from the Moto Pic Gallery. See Tami C. on her 2006 Honda VTX 1300C. We need more pictures of men and women with their motorcycles. Get your picture in. For details, see Motorcycle Pictures of the Week.

If you'd like to see your bike as Picture of the Week, submit a picture of you and your bike along with a description of the bike.

In My Own Backyard....

Once again, I find myself pacing the LiL Girl in circles around my home town. Why? That's an easy question. My bike was ready to pick up from the shop. I had broken the drive belt over two weeks ago, dropped it off the same day, but they dawdled around fixing it until Sat. All right, I also asked them to change to fork oil in my bike. Turns out the parts were not available from HD, (WHAT?)FACTORY BACK ORDERED MY DUST CUPS! Then the parts department, rather than tell the service department there is a problem in Houston, just thought to let the B/O ride! I needed the bike to cover a first time bike event right here in Johnson City...yet I had no bike. Oh I was pissed. I gave Paul the parts man hell, told him I didn't care where he got the dust covers, "Just get the damn things." How hard can it be to have an open line of communication between the parts department, the service department and the customer? Oh bloody hell. Just get the fricken parts.

picking up my bike at service

Two weeks later, I come in to pick up my bike and Shannon (my favorite tech) is tweaking the last of the fork job. They bring me out my parts, yeowzia...the right fork I knew was damaged...because I had damaged it five years ago. Dented the dust cover by attaching something to my forks on the front fender. Dumb move. Never replicated again. I didn't fix it either. It was so bad...Shannon told me he couldn't believe the seal didn't leak. It just kept getting flatter and flatter. Smooching out and up the shaft. huh...why didn't I take a picture of that?

The service writer says my bike is becoming legend there at the shop. No one has ever seen a Sportster with over 150K on it before I guess. I just smile. She takes a licking and keeps on ticking!

IMAGE CAPTION: BROKEN DRIVE BELT ON SEAT


Ah well, water under the bridge now. Let's just lead Mom (my ride) back into Elizibethton and get the ride underway!

Passing by the Sycamore Shoals State Park, I notice there was a little hula baloo happening at the Watauga Fort. This State Park has a small fort replica depicting life at the Shoals in the early 1700's. I love these little hoop-la's they have during the summer. Encampments they are called. People from all over the region and beyond come to these re-enactments dressed in period clothing, work with period tools (iron smith, soap maker, rope maker...) and live the weekend as settlers and Native Americans would have during the early 1700's. It's really a fun thing to see! (I'll bet it's it's even better at night when they all get together and it's just them... no public eye!) Yes, these people seem to have it all!

Here is some of what I "captured" at the Fort.


IMAGE CAPTION: THE BOYS AT THE TAVERN


IMAGE CAPTION: THE SOAP MAKER


IMAGE CAPTION: THE BOYS RELAXING AROUND THE CABIN


IMAGE CAPTION: NATIVE AMERICAN MAIDEN


IMAGE CAPTION: FRESH TROUT FROM THE RIVER


IMAGE CAPTION: MAKING ROPE FROM HEMP


IMAGE CAPTION: LUNCH IS ALMOST READY

There is so much more to show you from the encampment, but to do so would mean you would have to miss out on the rest of my ride. So I'm leaving Sycamore Shoals State Park in Elizibethton TN. off of SR-67, and I fix my wheel to take me back into Johnson City, catching SR-11E to Greenville, TN. I figure I would hit the Lilac Festival happening there. Before I got there, I passed through old downtown Jonesbrough, TN. This little burg is Tennessee's oldest incorporated town. As I'm rolling down the hill on the back road into Jonesbrough, I see one of those history markers up rise to my right. It's on a small one lane track road. I decide to turn around and check it out. Here we go... HUH... very interesting history, this old house has. Not to mention, the really OLD cemetery sitting next to it!


IMAGE CAPTION: BUILDING STARTED LIFE AS A FEMALE INSTITUTE.

After stopping to photograph the sign, I walked to the crest of the hill to enter the cemetery. Most of the headstones indicated the occupants of this place died more than 100 years ago. I will show you some of my favorite headstones!






IMAGE CAPTION: PLEASE, DON'T BURY ME UNDER THE SHADE TREE!


IMAGE CAPTION: a beautiful stone knocked off the pedestal





I leave Jonesbrough and I'm on my way to Greenville for the Lilac Festival. I don't know what I was expecting. It was a bit of a disappointment to me. It was a great festival I'm sure...as far as they go today. But I was hoping for more of a hometown flavor to it. Instead, there were professional vendors everywhere. The food vendors were selling Lemon Aide at $4.00 a glass. That's what you expect to pay at events like Daytona Bike Week. I am disgusted. They aren't even local vendors. Eventually, I found a Mennonite family making the lemon aide right in front of me. The girls all dressed in their sweet old fashioned and crisply iron dresses and their little starched white caps. The lemon aide was $2.00 a glass and it was REALLY good stuff.

I didn't hang out in Greenville too long. Too many people, too many disappointments. Too few local people showing their crafts wares, and it was danged hot to be walking around in my chaps. Time to go. No pictures taken here.

I turned my wheel back onto 11E once more. I've decided to explore SR-351 North. It's a road I noted on my way here. I thought it would be nice to ride it and see what was there to see. SR-351 is a nice farming country road. Cattle and grazing land for miles. Old barns, and early 20th century farm homes were the norm on this road. It was quieting after my time at the Lilac Fest. Unfortunately the road does not go on forever, it ends in a t and I'll be darned if I can remember what the road designation was from here. I just turned East, and rode till that road ended, and headed south east until I came to SR-81 North. It's time to go home.

Motorcycle Pictures of the Week - Christine

Here are my Pictures of the Week as displayed on the Motorcycle Views Website. These are taken from the Moto Pic Gallery. See Christine with her 2000 Kawasaki Vulcan Classic. We need more pictures of men and women with their motorcycles. Get your picture in. For details, see Motorcycle Pictures of the Week.

If you'd like to see your bike as Picture of the Week, submit a picture of you and your bike along with a description of the bike.