June 17, 2012 - Why A.T.G.A.T.T.?

Thought i would share a couple of pictures of my helmet and boots after my incident on the 1st of this month.

The picture above shows the scar on the right rear of my helmet.  I am not a doctor, but I am sure that it saved me from severe head trauma.  I never knew that my head hit the roadway until I looked that the damaged helmet afterwards.

This shows the damage to my right riding boot.  The leather on the toe is worn down to the hardened toe box.

Finally, see the damage to the heel box and the ankle protection.

Thank God for good protective gear.

Ride with Pride and ride with protection.

Glenn "Gunny" Monroe

June 16, 2012 - We Gather Once Again

This will be a very short entry as I am still without a motorcycle after accident on June 1st.  Do not fear, however.  The insurance company has come through.  New riding gear for me and replacement parts for the cycle have been ordered.  With luck, I will be riding again next weekend.

As for the rest of the group, nine of us gathered for breakfast at Snellgrove's Restaurant in Plant City for breakfast today.  The group included Bill, Boyd, J.T., Robert, Carl, Scott, Marlena, Eddie and myself.  We were happy to have Carl and Scott join us after long absences   We were especially glad that that busted up old provocateur, Eddie, sporting a neck brace to support his broken cervical vertebra could join us.  Heal quickly, my friend.

For a variety of reasons, only three of the group (J.T., Boyd & Scott) took advantage of the beautiful central Florida weather to ride today.  As I was not along to report on the ride, I invite one of the three to send me an account of the day's adventure.

Until next week,
RIDE WITH PRIDE


Glenn "Gunny" Monroe

Update:  J.T. reported that he, Boyd and Scott had a 45 mile ride around eastern Hillsborough and western Polk Counties, with Scott dropping out after about 30 miles.  J.T. and Boyd eventually made it over to Fun Bike Center in Lakeland to take in their Fathers Day events.  They both took adantage of the sale prices to purchase new riding boots - Joe Rocket Sonic R's.

Boyd also got a sale priced oil change on his green monster.

June 5, 2012 - Day 5 - Hendersonville

On this rainy morning, Lloyd and I headed for Hendersonville, NC so I could look over the facilities at the Hendersonville Shuffleboard Club where I will be directing a national tournament in September.

Leaving Hendersonville, Lloyd and I returned to Sylva via US 64 and US 126.  We made a short stop at Looking Glass Waterfall in the Pisgah National Forest.

Lloyd and Looking Glass

After lunch in Sylva, we headed back to the motel for a rest.

Meanwhile, Bill, Boyd and Bryan headed off on a seperate run down to Dillard, GA, Highlands, NC, Bridal Veil Falls, and Franklin, NC.  Click here for Bill's Route.

All riders gathered at the cabin on Herron Branch Road for dinner that night.  It was then that we learned that Eddie was hurting too badly from his earlier tractor crash to continue the trip any longer and would be returning to Plant City in the morning.  Bill decided that it was best to close the cabin and return as well.  Boyd was already scheduled to return to Florida on the 6th for business.  As Lloyd had learned that one of his prized birds had escaped from home, he, too was anxious to return home to help with the search.  With that in mind, I also decided to return to Florida in the morning.  Bryan decided he would stay on in his campsite for the present.  By the way, we have since learned that Eddie had suffered a broken neck during the aforementioned accident.  He's one tough old bird!

June 4 - Day 4 - The Tail of the Dragon & Cherohala Skyway

We all gathered in Dillsboro again this morning.  As it was threatening rain, we headed straight to Deals Gap to tackle the Tail of the Dragon before the pavement became too wet to ride the beast.

View of Fontana Lake from NC 28.

After a quick stop at the Deals Gap Motorcycle Resort,

Tree of Shame at Deal's Gap

we made or first run of the day on The Dragon (US 129).  We stopped at the overlook at Calderwood Dam Road, then made the run back to Deal's Gap.

After a short stop, we headed for Robbinsville, NC via US 129, where we stopped for lunch.  We were soon on the road again, this time headed for the Cherohala Skyway.

Shute Cove from The Cherohala

Lloyd at Shute Cove.

We followed the Cherohala all the way to Tellico Plains, TN.  From there, we navigated up TN 360 to Chilhowee Lake where we followed TN 72 across the northern shore, back to US 29.  As the Dragon now stood between us and home, we were forced to make one more run across its 318 curves to pickup NC 28 and the Great Smoky Mountains Expressway back to Sylva.

We travelled 263 miles across some of the finest motorcycle roads in the U.S. and the rain held off until we we almost back to Sylva.  Another great day.  Click here for a map of the route.

June 3, 2012 - Day 3 - Bat Cave and Beyond

Today, the group met at the Huddle House in Dillsboro before heading east towards Asheville via I-40 (very boring, but necessary if we were to have time exploring the amazing roads in that area).  Click Here for the day's route.

We finally arrived on NC 151 which starts out with gentle sweepers that become increasingly tight.  The last few miles of the climb up to The Blue Ridge Parkway are very tight and challenging.

Boyd, Lloyd, Bill and Bryan along NC 151

Reaching the Blue Ridge Parkway, we turned north towards Asheville.  We made a quick stop at the French Broad Overlook while Billy backtracked to get some long range photos of the Biltmore Mansion sitting on a hill across the French Broad River.

Just southeast of Asheville, we picked up US 74A for a run over to Bat Cave, NC where we visited the Old Cider Mill.

Unfortunately, we were too early in the season for cider, but the beef jerky is excellent.

We next trekked up NC 9 to US 70, then on to NC 80 where we made a quick lunch stop at the ice cream shop.

The run up NC 80 to the Blue Ridge Parkway is one of the great rides anywhere.  From the bottom, it starts out with some gentle sweepers, but quickly changes to a monster.  At the southwestern tip of Lake Tahoma lives the first tight turn - a decreasing radius right that will bite you if you are not prepared.  In keeping with my policy of not naming those who commit unforced errors, the member of our group who claims a naked woman jumped out in front of his bike as he attempted to negotiate this curve shall remain nameless.  Suffice it to say that he is okay, although his machine had to be retrieved from a vegetation filled ravine on the opposite side of the roadway.  After a few roadside repairs, he was able to continue riding.

The Eastern Continental Divide where NC 80 meets the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Following the Blue Ridge Parkway back to Asheville, we made one stop for a few photos.

Once back to Asheville, we grabbed the expressways for a fast return to Sylva, 223 miles from our start.

June 2, 2012 - Day 2 - Sylva, NC

This morning Lloyd, Bryan and I left Dawsonville, GA, heading for Sylva, NC. The 115 mile journey northeast was fairly uneventful. Just before Sylva, Bryan broke off to find his camping site while Lloyd and I continued on to the Sylva Inn.

After dropping off our gear, we headed to meet the rest of the group for lunch 50 miles away at Hawg Wild BBQ in Pisgah Forest, NC. The route there down US 126 is one of the area's great rides. We arrived as the rest of the group, i.e., Bill, Boyd, Eddie, Danny and Kim. Unfortunately J.T. had become separated from the group and chose to head off on his own rather than rejoin the group.

After lunch, Billy led us on one of signature rides to nowhere on some of the area's more dramatic roads, including NC 178, NC 215, Charlys Creek Rd. and NC 281.  Click here for the entire route.

Lloyd, Bill, Boyd & Bryan at Charlys Creek Rd. & NC 281

My motorcycle substitute in front of a country church.

Where ya headed, Boyd?

June 1, 2012 - The Journey Begins - ATGATT

Today was the start of our 10-day adventure into the North Carolina mountains. While Eddie and Danny trailered their cycles, Bill, Boyd, J.T. And I gathered to ride our cycles north.

It was raining as we left Hillsborough County in rush hour traffic. We were soon north of Tampa on I-75, rejoicing that the rain had let up, when a car came down the entrance ramp and broadsided my Suzuki. The bike and I went down, sliding on our right sides across the highway. I came to a stop about 150 feet later.

Getting up, I found that my rainwear was in tatters and my full face Shoei, armored jacket and pants, and riding boots had all sustained damage. I, on the other hand, was unhurt, not even a road rash. I was very thankful to be a firm believer in A.T.G.A.T.T. - all the gear, all the time!

After righting the Burgy, being checked out by E.M.S. and filing the obligatory accident report, I was able ride the bike back to Lakeland for repairs, pick up my car and continue the journey north without further incident.
As my wife observed, this will be my first motorcycle trip in a car, but it should still be fun in my CLK320 Cabriolet.

BTW, all parties have arrived safely.

Watch for further update on the ride.

Ride With Pride
Glenn "Gunny" Monroe