North Georgia mountains

[sermn8ter]

I rode about 200 miles with a guy from church and his son, and a buddy from work. We went up through Helen, GA, on into Hiawasee, and then came back down another way back through Helen and home. Great ride. Several sections had some real nice twisties to go through. Hwy. 129 and Hwy. 17 if I remember correctly. It was pretty cool, we had four different bikes. Mine was the oldest of course. I have an '80 Special. My buddy from work rides a '99 Sportser 883. The guy from church had a Vulcan, not sure what size, but it was a big V-twin, not sure of the year, but didn't look too old. His son had a brand new, still had the dealer tag on it, Suzuki Bandit 1200. The interesting thing about it was the engine, carbs, and air box looked like you could have pulled them off my bike, (except the engine didn't have all the oxidation mine does...great paint on it. ) I had no problem keeping up, if anything it was the other way around, especially for the Vulcan and the Sportser. I could easily blow by them or leave them in the dust if I wanted to. The Bandit was a different story. We didn't try to race or anything, but he had plenty of motor there, and I got the feeling he could pull off any time he wanted to. It was a sweet bike. Pretty straight up sitting position, not leaned over or in a fetal position like some sport bikes. Fantastic day for a ride. The temp was about 80-82 seemed like. Not too hot, not too cool, even in the mountains. We stopped in Helen and ate some pretty good barbecue at a place off the back street that obviously welcomed bikers. Feisty Barbecue if your ever up that way. Great thing was the old bike ran like a champ. I had been having some trouble and thought it was carbs, even though I had them cleaned and synced not long ago. Turned out to be dry rotted gas lines, and kinks in gas lines. Shortened up a couple of them and got rid of the rot and she ran like a champ.

[sermn8ter]

TWO

Went back up that way again today. Went on past Blairsville and road up to Murphy, NC. Ate at a great little cafe on Peachtree St. called ShoeBooties. If you are ever up that way, stop in. Came back down Highway 60 and stopped by TWO to get a look at the place. I plan to go up the the VJMA rally next month and ride with everybody. Some great roads up that way. I didn't go down Wolf Pen Gap/180, where my buddies said all the real good twisties are. Saving that for next month. We still hit some pretty good ones. To tell the truth I like the sweepers better than the twisties. Getting longer in the tooth I guess, but I don't care to scrape my pegs on the highway much. I do enjoy the ride though. That is some of the best riding around. I have a friend who rode with us today and he is going up to ride the Dragon next week. They are riding up one, spending the night, then riding it and going home the next. Wish I had time/cash to go, but not now. I think I heard mention that it could be part of the 300 miler on Saturday at the rally next month. It will be more like 400 for me. I'll have to ride about 70 up before it gets daylight to be at the 8 am meeting.