November 11-13. Trip to the North..

For a start. No I'm not crazy for riding my motorcycle to Wilmington Delaware in the winter time. So now since we have that misunderstanding taken care of. Here is a little about the trip. It was a simple trip I went up for my Aunt Donna's BIG Birthday surprise party for her big 60.. Simple ride mostly. Well is was supposed to be. Left Friday after work around 5pm. Since it was to late I made a pit stop in Yorktown VA. Where I spend a warm night inside at my Uncles house. Got into town around 8:30pm with an outside temperature of 39 degrees. and for riding 3 hrs straight in the dark I was warm and didn't notice really. (FYI heated grips are the shit.). Up and on the road early I was rolling by 9am. hitting little traffic thus far cruising up I95 north. Wasn't really till I hit DC when traffic slowed down but still wheels turning and I made it through grid lock free. Never thought it was possible. Arrived at the Hilton Hotel at about 2:30pm, 15 minutes before My dad rolled up in his pimpin black Lincoln Town Car. It was a boat. I could have easily put my bike in the trunk if needed. Anywho. Drove around in the Town Car picked up a new H7 head light and all is good as new.

Dinner time was great. Family all meet at this old place called the soda house. Made of the old style stone buildings of the north. Aunt Donna wasn't aware yet but the whole family was here for her night. And with the amount of planning I'm amazed on how she didn't find out. Night went on everyone's having a good time. couldn't as for a better night. 

Sunday is when it got interesting. Hit the road by 9am. Decided to head east more. Cruised up through New Jersey. Didn't stay long I think i took wrong turn over the bridge and ended up in a bad side of town. Few more lefts and rights I finally found my way to Pennsylvania where it was much nicer. Colors on the trees were just right and no snow yet. But I'll be honest with yea. North Carolina plates on a motorcycle in PA you get some odd looks. Finally made it south. Cruising down I95. Traffic was light until you hit a toll road. Which tolls suck up there. No discounts if you ride a motorcycle. They still charge 6 bucks to cross the damn bridge.    Which for that price I expected a nicer bridge with a view. crossing borders I made it VA. about 15 miles in Some Jackass decided to run me off the road. Only going about 45 due to traffic I guess he or she didn't want to wait. I went into the ditch ( still in control and on the bike) I almost saved it. Until the Front tire got caught in a soft spot in the ditch and everything just comes to a abrupt stop. Noise of the bike dives down back of the bike comes up and off I go. Hit my shin on something but no major damage to me. Bike took most of the fall and most of the damage. Once I got the bike back up on 2 wheels it starts right back up, and off I go. (Yes no-one stopped but one guy who helped me out of the ditch.). Made it to the next rest stop where I busted out the tools and got to work and hot to make it home and lets see what all damage there actually is. loosen a few bolts here and re-tighten a few bolts here. Zip ties here and bungee cords there. I'm back up and running for a 6hr limp mode ride home hoping nothing falls off.  Well nothing to crazy but it was a short weekend. and not to much of riding. Didn't really get to much sight seeing or cools stops in but it was fun. 

Total mileage for the trip was 955 miles. Almost but didn't get to break my 1000 mile weekend

Total as of now is $500 to repair the bike. 

Back Roads of PA. 

 

Friday Leaving to Head up North. I was very warm

At the rest Stop putting the bike back together. 

Broke the windshield and windshield mounts. Broke the this metal bracket that holds the headlight, cluster, windshield and turn signals. and bent the metal bar that hold across it too. Headlight now points up Fog light on passenger side was pushed back but was easily fixed. Passenger Turn Signal was also pushed back but was also easly fixed. Other than a little dirt no major body damage and everything works great. Also the new H7 Bulb that was replaced is also still good. 

Some mud that covered everything. Thanks to the new tire i had installed I was able to grip better in the mud to get out.

And the only damage to me was this. Nothing big. hurt but no broken bones so I'm happy. 

Bike is on standby but Shall be up and rolling soon. parts are ordered and on the way. 

Road trip Oct. 21-23 2011

Winter is around the corner so I thought I'd get one last Camping road trip in before it gets to cold. This trip consisted of 755 miles round trip through North Carolina and South Carolina. Friday the 21st wasn't really much left work at around 5:15 or so and went straight to the mountains. Saturday the 22 woke up early and was on the road by 7:45am. Topped of fuel and hit the blue ridge parkway for the morning chill and frost covered ground. My destination was Lake Jocassee where in North Carolina I was supposed to pick up a gravel service roads and ride south Toward the lake and camp on the lake. But due to two issues I was unable. First issue was My abs brakes decided to cut out leaving me with very poor and limited stopping power and there was a gate blocking the gravel road which i couldn't find a way around.  Randomly though my brakes started working and all electronics were back up and running. After taking a few random roads I went to look for a Place called Paradise falls. After riding past it a few times and a 10 minute hike through the woods I finally found it. The directions call for looking for a small little church. They just didn't mention the church is about the size of a small 2 car garage and some stone steps. I guess I was just looking for something alittle bigger or a sign by the road.  But as you can see it the photos below I'll add, it was worth the effort.

So since camping on the lake fell apart I wasn't sure where to go. Ended up finding a campground site off Lake Keowee a few more miles south of Lake Jocassee off Hwy 11. Which I wasn't aware Hwy 11 is a beautiful scenic Hwy of  South Carolina. Once I set up camp It was pretty boring from there. It consisted of a decent size camp fire, a cold beer from the gas station up the road, and a warm dinner with my feet popped up and relaxing.  Besides it being 34 outside over night I'll go ahead and save you the boredom of reading it.

Sunday was the day of Adventure where the GS got to brake free from the main roads later in the day. Hitting the road at 8am for most of the morning it was Scenic Hwy 11 through SC. Which was again cold but very Beautiful scenic views and great riding road. Recommend anyone with a bike to go ride it. Took Hwy 11 for a good while till I hit I-85 but I came across a old battlefield Called Cowpens National Battlefield where the American kicked the British ass in under an hr. It was a small place but I mean come one Americans kicked some ass. I'll toast a beer to that. But it was kinda cool seeing some of the old guns and swords they used and learning a little history at the same time.

Around noon I came to Charlotte where I could finally shed some layers of clothes and have lunch on Lake Norman. Which I'm never go back to this restaurant again. I don't know what it was but I felt sick after I ate

Uharrie National Forest was My last stop. I didn't really know where i was going or doing i just wanted to go off road somewhere and have fun. I came across one gravel road named Low Water Bridge road that sounded promising so i turned Right and it really was a low bridge about water level. Signs were posted everywhere warning of sudden flooding and the this road was subject to flooding during rain. Then I found another Gravel road that looked promising. For maybe 2-3 miles I rode this road not really knowing were it went but the compass said North so i kept going. Found out it was pry a hunting trail or Forest service road in case of emergency either way I enjoyed it and the GS got to get its feet wet again. It later dumped me out of some other road next to an old barn full of old junk and trash bags. Flipped a coin turned right this time. Saw I was on Pisgah Rd. and Came across an old covered bridge with was really cool. Seemed I wasn't the only visitor  There was a Chinese family running around with a video camera taping anything and everything. Father Followed his daughter with the camera everywhere she went for about 15 minutes. If i didn't know any better you would think they were going to burn the place down and they wanted to film it one last time. It made me laugh but I still enjoyed the bridge. Just wish we had more always makes road trips more interesting.
From there I came home and well was just cruising back.

Overall mileage for the weekend was 755miles. I was hoping to break 1000 but maybe next time. With brake issues and now needing a new rear tire I'd say it was a good weekend overall. Clear blue skies all weekend you just can't beat. enjoy the photos.. Bike is off to the shop Tuesday since the abs pump and brakes are all new.

Blue Ridge Parkway 8-22-11 8am

Blue Ridge Parkway View

Blue Ridge Parkway View

Blue Ridge Parkway View

Blue Ridge Parkway View

Blue Ridge Parkway View

Paradise Falls

My Favorite sign. only my brakes were

malfunctioning at this time. 

Some cool random bridge I came across

(UP) below the bridge

(DOWN) The top of the bridge

HWY 11

Sunday October 23 Photos start

Table Rock

Low water Bridge Road. 

Covered bridge in Uharrie National Forest. 

Upgrades thus far....

A few upgrades done to the bike since purchased make traveling easier. I have added a cell phone charger under the seat that follows up to the take bag that was also recently purchased. The take bag is a Wolfmans tank bag. with a map pocket and hold the music and odds and ends. Another upgrade was the GPS. Mounted next to the dash I can see where I need to go and keep my tracks when i leave the pavement. My favorite addition was the custom made pelican case that holds my tools. Mounted behind the licence plate a 8inch by 2.5 inch case is bolted to the bike. Holding the important service tools for any issue on the long roads ahead. Like many of our parents back in the day I have also added a sheep skin seat cover from Alaska leather. The sheep skin seat cover is black to match and has made traveling a lot better for my butt. Currently in the mail I have a new front brush guard extender for my front fender. Pictures to come.. 

Upgrades that came with the bike are a oversized givi windshield, and zenon fog lights that are extremly bright.

Parts have come from alaskaleather.com, touratech-usa.com, wolfmanluggage.com  and Garmin. 

The beginning

So I'm new to this blogging thing but I thought I would try it out. So to begin I bought a 2006 BMW R1200GS. Yes BMW makes motorcycle too. The GS was made for everything. It is the only bike that will make it around the world and will take the abuse like no other. In simple words I tell people its a dirt bike on steroids. The purpose behind the bike is to travel all over and go where you normally wouldn't go. Within the first month I have put over 3000 miles on it. purchased with 8500 miles in july and now Oct. 10 has 13K. I have made a few trips already that I won't blog about. I may post a few photo's if i fiqure out how but I will be posting new blogs with miles dates and locations of where I travel. If you have any locations, coffee shops, roads or places I should visit feel free to pass it along.

Day 1 after bringing the bike home

Not me just a cool photo

at the dealer picking her up

Outer banks taking the ferry to the main land from Oakacoke island

Weekend trip Raleigh NC to Savannah GA, then Charleston SC, Mrytle beach SC

then home. 

NC mountains 9am

Blue Ridge Parkway. it was cold and raining

Meet a fellow rider Blue Ridge Parkway

Red bike came from England.