Topic: The Tail of the Dragon SOHC Tour June 2013 - CB750K4 and CB750K8

[Mooshie]

And pic of me squinting into the sun

Where the hell is your luggage?  You ride light!

[RAFster122s]

Mooshie, I'm guessing that their day trips from lodging aren't requiring they travel with the luggage.

Andy, Maybe the Honda dealer would give you a free tire change given the history your bike has revisiting them after all these years...

Did you get a chance to try Pepper's Deli in Boone? Are they still a good as they used to be? They had a killer turkey sandwich years ago when I lived there.

Hope the trip home is safe and a pleasant one.

[andy750]

After a thrilling ride up through Pisgah National Forest to a scenic waterfall you can park behind (see pics), we changed the rear tire to a new IRC tire that Jim had bought for me. Anders is a pro at this stuff and had his little compressor hooked up to the battery to provide air.

Took it for a test ride up to 80 and no vibrations or instability. Success! I took a pic of the tread worn down on the old tire after 1880 miles - you decide if it would make the 1000+ mile journey home...

Heading north tomorrow up the Parkway. Will stop in at Ferguson, NC to see Chuck if weather and timing are good.

Cheers
Andy

[andy750]

Ofreen - I am trying!

Mooshie - we have been making day trips since Monday, staying at the Rolling Brook motel (you can always here the rushing of the brook in Maggie Valley, NC - recommend it! Ill take a pic of the bike loaded tmrw - I think it's pretty light.

RAFster - no unfortunately did not get to the deli but found Galileos - bar and grill with outdoor seating - owned by a young couple who met in Boston - expecting their first kid and they are going to call it Allston See pic below if place - ah sorry it's on my camera. No Honda dealer we had tire irons and it came off easily and went on pretty easy. Test ride indicated balance is ok.

cheers
Andy

[Stev-o]

That waterfall pic is calendar material, very cool.

[andy750]

Thanks Stev-o

Prokop - here is the updated plan for next few days;

Friday - ride to Ferguson, NC to see Hondachopper meet then head up BRP hopefully getting to Roanoke by sundown.

Saturday - Roanoke to beyond Harrisburg 300+ mile day. Open to suggestions on a route that includes you! If you know some good roads to travel South to North let me know soon

Sunday - would like to get to Boston by 3pm so ideally would be a sub-350 mile day. Highway all the way

Cheers
Andy

[70CB750]

I would stay clear of 81, that interstate is just nuts, take 29 from Lynchburg, thats a nice road to ride and than 15 at Haymarket.  15 will get you to Harrisburg.

[andy750]

Thanks for the suggestions. Are you joining us?

[BobbyR]

If you come over the Tappan Zee and up the Merritt Parkway. I will buy you lunch. Even of it is raining. I still have the yellow pants. 

[andy750]

Excellent Bobby thank you very much!! Yes let's do it! Name a place and we will be there - ill update you Sunday morning of expected ETA.

Anders says to bring an Asian girl for him

[70CB750]

Thanks for the suggestions. Are you joining us?

Definitelly!  Somewhere between Culpeper and Charlottesville.

[andy750]

Prokop - great ill update you this evening with our location and guesstimate ETA at those locations.

Have a good day
Andy

[andy750]

It was a day of ups and downs literally...

Anders and I made an early start with the plan of riding up the BRP stopping off at the Honda Chopper meet in Ferguson NC then rejoining the BRP and ending the day in Roanoke.

Well as these things go it didn't go to plan...it was all going well on the first part - the BRP was empty, cold and foggy but we made good time. Anders had sped off and I didn't see him most of the morning but eventually caught up to him just before the turnoff for Ferguson.

We both have GPS and they often don't agree. Anders was leading so his GPS was followed. We came off the BRP and after a few wrong turns we ended up on some very minor roads that were very steep and twisty as they crossed the mountain. Eventually we came round a corner in the mountains and came upon what looked like an open junkyard...tires, wrecked cars, trucks all over the place...and the road ran out turning into dirt...what to do? We had spent so long getting to this point on these tight twisty roads..surely the dirt road would be short?!

[70CB750]

You are lucky, you did not run into a moonshine still 

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

Or hear banjos    Does 'squeal like a pig' sound familiar?

[andy750]

So I took the lead and went for it...as it seemed to be all down hill...

The road (Sampson road) was dirt/gravel mix with some size able stones thrown in for good measure...and rutted in places. The road down was steep with hairpin turns making it interesting. We reached the point of no return as going back up was not an option. We continued down and it was hairy. The GPS showed 10 min to the next turn...then 6 min etc etc...it just kept going on and on with no pavement in sight Eventually we came to a crossroads...up the hill or down the hill. Both our GPS said up but it looked like even more gravel and even more rutted. I always go down in these choices but Anders sped off up the hill...I followed but soon regretted it as it was bike jarring and loose gravel. I honked the horn for him to turn round..nothing...I honked and honked as I followed slowly...nothing. By the time I got up to a two-way junction Anders was nowhere to be seen...which way did he go?

I couldn't tell and both options went up! I turned round and went back down thinking I'd see him at the bottom. The downward way wasn't great but I eventually made it to the paved road (Rt268 I think) and this was the road the Honda chopper meet was on so I sped along this thinking I'd rendezvous with Anders there.

The road was great. Smooth, sweeping turns, tight hills, a joy after the dirt horror! I soon arrived at the Chopper meet and met some of the guys. As I was chatting to one of them I saw Anders speed past and so said my goodbyes and tried to catch up....

[andy750]

There were junctions and I was sure he'd be heading back to the BRP so I went that direction. As I was on Rt421N I saw Anders going South! WTH! I couldn't turn round so figured he'd be going to the BRP and so headed up Rt63 to get back on it. It was a long way to Roanoke as by now it was 2.30pm and it was 140 miles to go. I had no cell reception until 30 min from Roanoke I got an email from Anders...

He had met a UPS truck on the dirt mountain road and it seems in trying to avoid it his bike fell on his leg. Bike damage and leg damage apparently - however I have not been able to contact him since this email.

So I got to Roanoke at 6.15pm and call/txt/email Anders. Nothing. So I made the decision to ride up I-81 in the hopes of catching him on this tomorrow (he said he was heading home) so I can ride with him. I got 110 miles up the road and arrived at Harrisburg at 8pm.

Anders if you are reading this let me know where you are and where we can meet.

Andy

[andy750]

Prokop - I am in Harrisburg but as you have now read I am waiting to hear from Anders and will head straight home tmrw. Sorry to miss you on the ride North but at this point I think my achy body just needs to get home. Sorry

[andy750]

Sorry no photos today...they are on my camera...too busy holding on!

[70CB750]

Prokop - I am in Harrisburg but as you have now read I am waiting to hear from Anders and will head straight home tmrw. Sorry to miss you on the ride North but at this point I think my achy body just needs to get home. Sorry

Don't worry about it   I am glad you are ok and well on the way home.  I hope Anders will make it too safely with minimal damage. 

[andy750]

Got home at 6pm today after a Loooong Ride up the highway - 575 miles in 10 hrs  No one likes riding on the highway but its got to be done sometimes.

Here is the route from the last two days since leaving Maggie Valley -1033 miles in two days
https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Maggie+Valley,+NC&daddr=35.4023861,-82.7565582+to:35.5438595,-82.4992695+to:35.743115,-82.328954+to:Sampson+Road,+Boone,+NC+to:36.1386051,-81.5687494+to:Ferguson,+NC+to:36.2927129,-81.3373483+to:36.4327581,-81.057751+to:36.6525402,-80.518834+to:37.024727,-80.112752+to:37.1968292,-80.0083727+to:Harrisonburg,+VA+to:41.1084724,-74.1650918+to:Boston,+MA&hl=en&ll=38.32442,-78.75&spn=8.891346,21.643066&sll=37.149371,-80.06218&sspn=0.282407,0.676346&geocode=Fc72HQId1gcM-ymb0ayyP3RZiDHoNC4Z9RaV_A%3BFZIyHAIdMjwR-ymdqK2TtplZiDFB9IatlNG6lA%3BFTNbHgIdOykV-ynFp04SRvJZiDEzfQuoJW7qMQ%3BFYtlIQIdhsIX-ylzyslz3gNaiDGkKDuywF3J-Q%3BFc60JwIdFK4i-ymVX1rEW_tQiDFd8TbRoeWeEg%3BFW1uJwIdE1wj-ylRJrDS0vxQiDHCa-mKC6YhCg%3BFbafJgIdlmom-ylFq4I-8RpRiDELrHoJmp4-7g%3BFWjIKQId_OMm-yk9Ta0cBAhRiDGvf54uoP1POw%3BFXbrKwIdKSgr-yl9TUl_EZpRiDFJKNnCVieJKQ%3BFfxFLwIdTmEz-ymvSPpYEhRSiDEEiHMF3G544g%3BFdfzNAIdkJM5-ymbmHrukYJNiDH-3_nOMLzxXA%3BFR2UNwIdTCs7-yl9xs6LoXRNiDHEdkYCyRspUw%3BFaGxSgIdTI5M-ylVcQc_w5K0iTFfe73auWVOCA%3BFfhDcwIdnVSU-ylJTL-x-eDCiTEqIcEPz2FBuA%3BFZ9WhgIdw7bD-ykbMT0NLWXjiTGg6GIBJL98eA&oq=Sampson&mra=dpe&mrsp=11&sz=11&via=1,2,3,5,7,8,9,10,11,13&t=m&z=6



And here is the mountain section...barely marked on the map!

https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Maggie+Valley,+NC&daddr=35.4023861,-82.7565582+to:35.5438595,-82.4992695+to:35.743115,-82.328954+to:Sampson+Road,+Boone,+NC+to:36.1386051,-81.5687494+to:Ferguson,+NC+to:36.2927129,-81.3373483+to:36.4327581,-81.057751+to:36.6525402,-80.518834+to:37.024727,-80.112752+to:37.1968292,-80.0083727+to:Harrisonburg,+VA+to:41.1084724,-74.1650918+to:Boston,+MA&hl=en&ll=36.138429,-81.564732&spn=0.071535,0.169086&sll=37.149371,-80.06218&sspn=0.282407,0.676346&geocode=Fc72HQId1gcM-ymb0ayyP3RZiDHoNC4Z9RaV_A%3BFZIyHAIdMjwR-ymdqK2TtplZiDFB9IatlNG6lA%3BFTNbHgIdOykV-ynFp04SRvJZiDEzfQuoJW7qMQ%3BFYtlIQIdhsIX-ylzyslz3gNaiDGkKDuywF3J-Q%3BFc60JwIdFK4i-ymVX1rEW_tQiDFd8TbRoeWeEg%3BFW1uJwIdE1wj-ylRJrDS0vxQiDHCa-mKC6YhCg%3BFbafJgIdlmom-ylFq4I-8RpRiDELrHoJmp4-7g%3BFWjIKQId_OMm-yk9Ta0cBAhRiDGvf54uoP1POw%3BFXbrKwIdKSgr-yl9TUl_EZpRiDFJKNnCVieJKQ%3BFfxFLwIdTmEz-ymvSPpYEhRSiDEEiHMF3G544g%3BFdfzNAIdkJM5-ymbmHrukYJNiDH-3_nOMLzxXA%3BFR2UNwIdTCs7-yl9xs6LoXRNiDHEdkYCyRspUw%3BFaGxSgIdTI5M-ylVcQc_w5K0iTFfe73auWVOCA%3BFfhDcwIdnVSU-ylJTL-x-eDCiTEqIcEPz2FBuA%3BFZ9WhgIdw7bD-ykbMT0NLWXjiTGg6GIBJL98eA&oq=Sampson&mra=dpe&mrsp=11&sz=11&via=1,2,3,5,7,8,9,10,11,13&t=m&z=13

Today was long and for the last part hot 

Bike ran great up until the end...the rider not so much...using a stock K2 seat was not my best idea. Trip summary to come later.

Anders also made it home today.

cheers
Andy

[70CB750]

I am glad you both are home safe!  Congrats on finishing another big trip!

[Stev-o]

Update on Anders?     I'm a little surprised he keep taking off on you...

[andy750]

Ok Trip Summary:

Mileage covered: 2912 miles

No. of days: 7

Great roads found: Blue Ridge Parkway is really worth doing. Rt 194, Rt221, Rt64, Rt215, Rt279, Rt28S to Franklin, Elk Creek Road to Ferguson (so much fun!), anything going through Pisgah National Forest.

Motels to recommend: Hidden Valley Motel 7 miles or so from Boon, NC. Rolling Brook Motel, Maggie Valley (quiet, cheap and away from the road - and sleep to the sound of the brook), Pioneer Motel Front Royal, VA - at the start of Skyline Drive.

Restaurants: nothing in Maggie Valley (especially Frankies the Italian place!) Bourbon Barrel Beef & Ale in Waynesville, NC is good for a meal and a beer. Smoky Mountain Roasters is next door and is good for coffee and croissants for breakfast.

SOHC members met: 70CB750 (Prokop) - was great to meet you and see your one of a kind cool 750! Thanks for coming over and sorry not to have had more time on the way home.
 
Things taken and not used: my hot weather air mesh jacket. Temps were cool in the mountains especially on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Everything else was used.

Things to remember: always take ALL your own tools in case you get separated . I left behind a Philips #2 screwdriver and wish I hadnt. Had everything else more or less.  If you get separated rendezvous at the next meeting point - easy enough.Chain lube.  Carry a spare inner tube (I have done in the past and never used it but on this trip it would have been reassuring). Make sure you have good tires that wont wear out before you start . Get some paper maps in case there is no Wifi or cell reception.

Impressive things to note: riding a CB750 for hours and hours and hours on the highway at 70-75 mph all the time is good for the bike! Just check the oil now and again. The CB750 can handle mountain roads just great (paved as well as dirt ). No fuses blew, no mechanical breakdowns, no "old-bike" drama - the K4 was in tip top condition before leaving and returned the same way.

Quirky things to note: every biker waves in North Carolina and Virginia. No one waves once north of New Jersey. Most common question asked - "what year is that". Second most common question "are you guys in a club?".

Big thanks to Anders for coming along on this trip and for showing me some great roads. I hope your K8 isnt too damaged after the meeting with the UPS truck on the mountain road. And big thanks to Jim the other K4 rider who came across from Chattanooga to ride with us for a day! 

Ill add some photos tomorrow.

Thats it till next time!

cheers
Andy

[andy750]

Update on Anders?     I'm a little surprised he keep taking off on you...

Just that he got home ok today. I had said at the start of the trip that since he was the faster rider he should ride his own pace and wait for me at the end of the road. It worked well aside from a few instances Problem was there was no cell/text/wifi service in the mountains so if you took a different turn that was it....