Look Mama, I'm Going to Florida! I'm RIDING!

[GrandpaDenny]

Here I am in my hotel room in Henderson, NC. 408 miles in 8 hours, 6 minutes. Gertrude ran flawlessly! My cousin called me as I was on I-85 rolling into town, we're going to hook up some time tomorrow afternoon. Maybe I'll have time to replace the fuel filter in the morning. I wasn't able to do either that or the progressive springs before I left. I brought the filter with me.

Cruise control is working perfectly since I adjusted it. Piece of cake. I've become an expert at stripping the fairing off

I'll be putting some videos up on my blog at some point probably this evening. Cameras are charging. Can't believe I'm not tired yet; been up since 5 am.

Frankenfoot1074.blogspot.com is my blog.

[cranky]

... its the open road that brings ya to life!!!! ENJOY!!!! I'm leaving on @5K trip
Friday .... On the Road Again... just can't wait to get on the road again....
Sing it Willy!!!!!! GBG

[HMB Don]

Grandpadenny

Are you taking Interstate 85 south? If so what's your departure time. I live just off I 85 maybe a short ride south together

[sir old dirt]

Dennis,
So nice to read about your trip south. It has always been fun to roll along with the tunes and a slap of the rear helmet banging mine. Char always managed to do that a time or two during our days of "tooling" along. Yep, she could really relax.
Have fun.

[hank43]

My wife frequently banged her helmet into mine, but that was because she fell asleep! I frequently had to wake her up on long trips.

hank43

[Scott-(Altoona, PA)]

Beth's helmet often hits mine. Not because she fell asleep (that thought terrifies her ), but becauae she is relaxed and doesn't listen to the engine so she doesn't have any idea of when I'm going to shift. I often just smile, it reminds me that she loves me enough to ride along (she don't like riding much).

Denny, how was your ridding yesterday? Are you staying hydrated? The heat off thr roads will dry you out, drink water often and at every stop!!!!

[GrandpaDenny]

Grandpadenny

Are you taking Interstate 85 south? If so what's your departure time. I live just off I 85 maybe a short ride south together

Unfortunately, Don, because of the explosion of the coronavirus in Florida, I've cancelled my plans to go that way. I'm in Henderson right now (and soon will be posting pictures), and Friday am heading towards Deals Gap.

[GrandpaDenny]

Grandpadenny

Are you taking Interstate 85 south? If so what's your departure time. I live just off I 85 maybe a short ride south together

Unfortunately, Don, because of the explosion of the coronavirus in Florida, I've cancelled my plans to go that way. I'm in Henderson right now (and soon will be posting pictures), and Friday am heading towards Deals Gap.

[GrandpaDenny]

Today i did some 'splorin' around the Kittrell area, just south of Henderson. My great-great-grandfather, Green Stanton, was the last postmaster of the old post office, and I got a tour of the place from a distant relative (some kind of cousin, who knows how distant) who owns the place.

[GrandpaDenny]

[GrandpaDenny]

[GrandpaDenny]

[GrandpaDenny]

whoops a couple of those last photos are of the area near the old mill and family graveyard. I haven't gone down there yet, it's posted.

[GrandpaDenny]

6:43 AM, Gertrude is almost packed (boy I love the saddlebag liners - did I tell you guys about them?), and I'm hungry, and wanting caffeine, and on my way to the Dragon.

[ekap1200]

Hello Denny, Glad to hear of such a good run. I am glad to have noticed the major bolts to your frame GONE !!!! you may not have made this such a good trip without them. Looking forward to getting your progressive's in . You will want to go on another long trip. Have fun-stay safe-ride to live

[GrandpaDenny]

Well today was a KRONKIN' BLAST! Rode the Dragon twice, both times in the same direction. Just kind of worked out that way, as after I rode the Dragon the first time I rode the Cherowah (or however it's spelled) Skyway Loop, ending up back at Deal's Gap. I was too tired by that time to run the Foothills Loop backwards, so I ran the Dragon again. First time was nice and leisurely, behind three Harleys. Second time was late in the day, nobody was in front of me, and you should have seen Gertrude DANCE! We had a blast until it started raining. It was still fun after that, but at a slower, saner speed Before it started raining, she loved (and so did I) blasting out of the corners and braking hard coming in to them. What a wonderful bike! I did at one point get behind another Harley; he pulled over and let me go by. Same for a hot rod Mustang.

You're absolutely right, Gene, that would NOT have been fun with the missing frame bolt.

So now Gertrude is the Gazelefant With Two Tattoos. Pair of black dragons on her a$$. One for each ride. Also got a t-shirt, and one for my grandson, and a coffee mug, and two patches (one for each motorcycle jacket), and a fridge magnet. I was pleasantly surprised at the prices, they weren't horrendously overpriced at all! All of that stuff, plus some munchies and drinks, came to not much over sixty bucks.

I'm now in Knoxville, TN, meeting up with an old friend tomorrow. Monday... the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Now here's something that has me cornfused, befuddled, bemused, and bebothered all at the same time: At steady freeway speeds, Gertrude gets about 39.5-42 mpg. Dancing through the mountains, in mostly 3rd gear, with lots of way open throttle acceleration and hard braking, and yes, a few peg scrapings, she gets between 45 and 49 mpg. WTF?

[GrandpaDenny]

[GrandpaDenny]

Well, I'm home. Extra points for anyone who can name that quote.

The old girl ran beautifully, nary a problem except for a few things working loose, like the highway pegs. If you look at my avatar picture, or the picture I'd posted of us on The Dragon, you'll notice the highway pegs are down. Oops. They are no longer pristine and shiny <grin>. Yup, they took a bit of a beating on The Dragon. Lovely battle scars

Now that I'm home, and hopefully have the bugs worked out of the GoPro software, I'll have all my videos posted on YouTube or my blog or on here or *somewhere* in the next day or two.

[krasmu]

sounds like the bike did great and some memories have been made while touring some old family history. Perfect trip in my book. thanks for sharing.