I got up at 6AM Thursday, May 3rd and went out to get the paper and the sky was very black in the north. I fixed breakfast and the clouds came rolling in here. It didn't look good for the start of my trip to Hiawassee, GA. I went ahead and got ready then looked at the radar and it appeared to be staying to the north around Kansas City. I went ahead and put on my rain gear and headed out. I zipped through Kansas City like I was the only one on the road as there was very light traffic. As I neared St Louis Lola wanted me to take I-64 so I did and it was a wise choice. Zipped through St Louis and I-64 comes out right at the Mississippi so over I went into Illinois. I stayed on I-64 the rest of the day going through Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky. I stayed in Lexington, KY the first night as I had reservations. It was a 650 mile day. I tried to get reservations in Louisville but with the Kentucky Derby there that weekend the rates were from $150 to $450 a night. I stayed here for $67 in a Comfort Inn.
Friday was another good day of riding. Have now gone 936 miles. I made it to Knoxville, TN about noon then headed south and east on two lanes.
These flowering bushes grow along the roadway in both Tennessee and Georgia and are so intoxicating.
US129 was the road I traveled on the most and it turns into what is called the "Tail of the Dragon". That starts in Tennessee and ends in North Carolina with 318 curves in 11 miles.
Well it wasn't much fun today. It rained a little and then I got behind a long line of cars that that kept stopping on the curves and made it quite dangerous. As it turned out a semi tractor-trailer rig was the culprit. He would have to stop on the curves to clear traffic before he could make the turn. Dummy!!!!!!!!! Kill Boy was along the route taking pictures and I acquired two.
As you can tell I wasn't going all that fast. I made it to Hiawassee about 3:30 and checked into motel then went to the rally. Bob Diehl and I shared a room that was within walking distance to the rally. The others camped out with several hundred others. They didn't get rained on though.
On Saturday 6 of went for about a 150 miles through Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina. Ken Krumm led the way and Bob Diehl, Lee Hunt, Walt Hoffman and Bob's friend from Florida followed. It was a nice ride with lots of curves.
Getting ready to ride!
After we got back we visited the vendors and told stories!
This rally always has a steak dinner on Saturday and you cook your own.
There were two big grills like this and it puts out lots of heat.
When it gets dark the big teepee will be lit. I didn't stay there to see it.
After we ate they gave away prizes but no one from Kansas won anything but Walt Hoffman from Manhattan got a plaque for the oldest male rider (80) and also for coming the greatest distance. He traveled over 1,200 miles getting there.
Sunday morning I headed south to Florida to pick up my 49th state. It was very hot and dry in southern Georgia. They were harvesting wheat in places. I stopped at a station for gas and the gnats were just horrific. I just filled with gas and left. They were in my hair and eyes and I just couldn't leave there fast enough. When I stopped to take the pictures of the Florida sign they were just as bad. I met hundreds of Harley's headed north coming from the Thunder Bay Rally in Panama City, FL.
My 49th State!!!!
Shortly after I took these pictures the sky darkened and the clouds rolled in. My first heavy rain of the trip. It was raining very hard and I pulled into a station for cover. The wind was blowing and the rain peppered down. It let up so I took off for Dothan, AL where I had a reservation at a Clarion Suites. Lola had trouble finding it and it was raining so hard I rode by it the first time. I had a free beer in the bar then bought three to take back to the room. I ordered in pizza and went to bed early. They had a great breakfast buffet and served me coffee and OJ all for free. What a deal! I hit the road about 6:30 and the temperatures remained cool all day. I had a period of rain in Alabama then late in the afternoon I stopped near Puducah, KY for fuel and called ahead for a reservation at the Comfort Suites in Mt Vernon, IL. Mary and I stayed there about 2 weeks before that and I had a free night then and used another free night. After fueling I only rode about two miles and the rain started. It rained hard and I had to pull off for a while. I rode out of the rain and dried off before I arrived at Mt Vernon. I checked in and they gave me coupons for 2 free drinks so I had two beers. I had a good stay there and headed for home the next morning at 7:30. It was the best day for riding yet. It started out cool and never got above 75 with only light winds. It just doesn't get much better than that for riding. Had some traffic as I was coming into St Louis over the river and staying on I-64. But once I made it though there it was smooth sailing. I stopped at Engle Motors in Kansas City for a head light bulb that burned out. Made it home about 2:30 PM and traveled 2,495 miles. I averaged 40mpg and spent $230 for fuel. It was a very pleasant trip and made it without any problems. I traveled though MO, IL, IN, KY, TN, GA, SC, NC, FL,and AL.
