[tcb] Re: I'm BACK!
- From: Dan Martin <danandkatrinamartin@xxxxxxx>
- To: tcb@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sun, 21 May 2006 07:47:39 -0500
Sounds like a GREAT trip!
Thanks for the trip report!
The "syndrome" sounds like passenger car tires on a bus.
(ask me how I know)
I run the Hankooks listed here on Homer now:
http://busdepot.com/details/tires.jsp
They made a bigger difference in handling than anything else I have
done.
On May 21, 2006, at 12:29 AM, j duncan wrote:
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
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