The "Life Is Good" Tour
2 week roundtrip to the Great Smoky Mountains:
Freedom van Gogh ('89 Vanagon w/Subie conversion):
2,430 miles total
Up: All 2-lane, 1,367 miles on US 79S, over US 84E, Up the Natchez Trace
Pkwy (beautiful!) over US 64E and finally on TN roads to Deals Gap, NC.
Back: 1,063 miles on US 64 to I75 to I59 to I20 and finally US 79S.
3.3L = Testosterone
3.3L also ='s 12.8 miles per gallon
Harley (my bike, so named 'cause it's a Honda blowin' oil):
1,671 miles total
1,367 up (see above)
304 miles in the Schmokies
54 miles per galloon on the Trace @ 50 mph
38 miles per gallon elsewhere @ 65++ mph
Tamed the Dragon @ 318 curves in 11 miles. Note: 2 others in our party
spilled beans and another broke a rib. 1 contributed to the Tree of Shame.
I grabbed asphalt with my pegs and received thumbs up by the crotch-rocket
group. It was a good trip! We all lived to tell about it, regardless of
"The Thing"!!
Personalized Denim shirts on on the way to all participants.
If you plan a trip to the Smokies, check out www.thetreetops.com. Ron &
Nancy have a sweet deal for house rentals in the area and the property is
located on the Cherohala Skyway. We stayed at the Ridge (hot tub, pool
table, ping-pong table, foosball, et al) Also check out
http://www.tailofthedragon.com/ for info on the area. What a freakin'
BLAST! Busses in the Boonies for us TCB'ers, maybe????? What a buzz that
would create!
Great parks discovered while on this trip: TX St RR History Park in Rusk,
TX (this is where the space shuttle Columbia 1st began it's breakup),
Natchez State Park, MS (the start of the Trace Pkwy), Jeff Busby (1/2 way
on the Trace), and Roosevelt S.P, MS (1/2 way on the return trip for your
fix of mosquitos).
Dennis: I regret not having stopped on the way back. I was advised to take
a different route due my need to high-tail it back. I was truly looking
forward to sharing a cup of joe with you. Spiked, of-course. PsychoBluie
it is then, even if my spot is relegated to the Wal-Mart parking lot. :(
Question to the TCB'ers: Is the infamous "Vanagon Syndrome" that
squirrelly feeling of bobbin' 'n' weavin' all over the road? I can
understand it when it's windy out but Freedom was ALL over the road, even
in calm conditions. I had the frontend checked by the stealership prior to
departue and all was fine. Freedom still felt like he had a mind of his
own, though. Good thing beer calms the nerves. JUST KIDDING! ;)
Next trip: BBTP! See all TCB'ers there!
Busses, bikes and friendships forever,
Duncan
