Suwannee River Rally 2020 & Florida Ride

[JeffH]

I just got home at 9pm. Sure was great weather.
1,219 miles. (Brent, Scott, Mike & I on the northside of Atlanta would all have about 1,220 something miles)

Didn't leave motel until 11:15. Stopped for BBQ (rural country Grocery with BBQ) in Pinetta FLA. Then up via Quitman GA. Zig-zagged around ending up going through Musella & Barnesville. Then super slab through Atlanta to the north side.

Mike, Scott & I rode 10 hours today but a lot of it backroads and off the beaten path. Peach trees are in bloom. A night run I-75 / I-85 through 'the A T L' is always sporting.

I heard from Brent too. He got home about 5pm as he had wanted.

Sure was great to see everyone. Had a good time.

Jeff

[MPittma100]

Rally

Scott, Jeff, and I went our separate ways towards home on the north side of Atlanta this evening exiting off I-285 and GA 400. We ran I-75/I-85 super slab starting in Barnesville, GA and guessed our way successfully through the downtown Atlanta super cluster - about 2 1/2 hours worth. Always exciting, especially at night on a bike. Non stop construction and a large number of aggressive drivers makes that ride most interesting.

Enjoyed seeing everyone and was also glad to see 8 XS1100s make it to the event. We had good Florida sunny (cool in the am) weather.

Mike

[speedlimit85]

Awesome trip. Great riding.

[JeffH]

Time to get at least a couple pics posted

XS11 Line up at the Rally

Steve & Alan had departed early to get back home to Alabama
'should have' taken a picture on Saturday when we were all there



Sunday afternoon before heading into the Osceola National Forest




Saturday Lunch Stop on the Suwannee River (food was very good)




Jeff

[soccer4m]

Nice XS LINE UP

Beautiful looking bikes El Jeffe, nothing like a lineup of one of the best bikes ever made. Thanks for the pics, and all of the rally riders to keep the xs legend going,,,,,got to make it out there for the rally,,,,,,,,,,Ride on, Mike in Sun DIego

[JeffH]

A few more Pics

……. from the Suwannee River Rally
sure was good to all get together again for laughs, eats and some good riding


XS11's waiting patiently parked on the sand under the spanish moss canopy




Brent and friend Steve who rode along with Brent Saturday at the Rally
Steve is friend, Biker and co-worker of Brents that is now blind
Think he said he hadn't been on a bike in 6 years so Rally Riding with Brent was a real treat for him, and us too.
HD was the right bike choice for tackling that job



Scenic stop along the Suwannee River, Jonathan & his bike




BikerPhil & machine on the banks of the Suwannee River




Mikes 11



Jeff

[bikerphil]

Hey Jeff, thanks for posting those pics, what an awesome time. Those go fast boats were great to watch going down that river.

[JeffH]

Hey Jeff, thanks for posting those pics, what an awesome time.

Those go fast boats were great to watch going down that river.

Yes, that was a great scenic stop with the bonus of seeing the boat event.
Those boat things sure were mostly ALL Motor with little boat
Normally the water is darker swamp water out of the Okefenokee Swamp in Georgia but with all the recent rains it looked quite clear.
Still a little too far from the Gulf to have it turning brackish.


Heading NE up the river
a


Panic Stop: spotting that partially submerged floating log, spotter waiving arms

hitting that debris at speed would certainly result in a very bad outcome


Boat accelerating in the curve against the backdrop of the Spanish Moss, sweet



There had to have been at least 30 or more boats go by while we were there. Yep, that was fun to watch.
It sure is nice we can get together and do some riding / exploring and eating. We need to do this more often.

Jeff

[MaximPhil]

Hi Jeff,
Thanks for the pictures and captions. Nice to see some old friends having fun.
Totally agree we should get out and ride together more. Once the virus has run it's course and temperatures have risen here in the North I will be able to look at rides to distant lands.

Phil

[JeffH]

Phew ................

Pulled a Rabbit out of the Hat on dates for the 2020 Florida Rally


Originally was evaluating whether to have the Suwannee River Rally March 5-6-7-8-9 -or- March 19-20-21-22-23

In retrospect, we sure picked the right date to get together and ride. With everything shutting down we sure wouldn't be going anywhere today if the Rally was this weekend. Tough to travel with so many restaurants closed (drive thru only, not too fun with a conga line of bikes) and various things open as emergency only.

Stay Safe and Be Smart
Jeff

[bikerphil]

Yep Jeff, we wouldn't have much luck getting a table for twelve nowadays. Too bad the Ole Country Buffet is closed now, I know it's your favorite place.

[MPittma100]

Social Distancing

Yep Jeff, we wouldn't have much luck getting a table for twelve nowadays. Too bad the Ole Country Buffet is closed now, I know it's your favorite place.

Lucky to get a table at all even for one. Take out only around here. I have been waiting to see if anyone that I know has tested positive. That happened today. Friend in Commerce GA found out he has the virus. Staying home appears to be best chance of avoiding this thing. Be safe.

[JeffH]

Certainly a missed opportunity


We should have made a "break for it" and headed West

like to West Texas

Remember we crossed the big Niner-Zero in Live Oak on Saturday on the Rally Ride after lunch. We should have made that left turn and let er' roll.
Extended the 2020 Suwannee River Rally into a 2020 Rattlesnake Rumble Rally out to Van Horn TX. Stop and see the Marfa Lights,
break off the route for an obligatory stop in Driftwood TX for some Salt Lick BBQ

Oh well. Stuck at home now. At least we can dream

Jeff

[MaximPhil]

Certainly a missed opportunity


We should have made a "break for it" and headed West

like to West Texas

Remember we crossed the big Niner-Zero in Live Oak on Saturday on the Rally Ride after lunch. We should have made that left turn and let er' roll.
Extended the 2020 Suwannee River Rally into a 2020 Rattlesnake Rumble Rally out to Van Horn TX. Stop and see the Marfa Lights,
break off the route for an obligatory stop in Driftwood TX for some Salt Lick BBQ

Oh well. Stuck at home now. At least we can dream

Jeff

Hi Jeff,
Maybe next year. I'd make the effort for a ride to Texas.
Phil

[JeffH]

This is the last thing we remember as scenery became a blur going into warp speed at 7,000 rpm in 4th


Jeff