Topic: Team Southeast Coastal - Leg #1. FL, GA, SC, NC, VA, WV

[madmtnmotors]

Woo-hoo! Jerry's got me on the list! Let's get this party started! Glad to be a part of this, and looking forward to following along about all the interesting travels our baton is about to see.

[drones76]

Once I hear back from drones I'll know more. I'd like to kick things of from the speedway on Saturday, March 12th (if chosen to do so). Starting early at the speedway will allow enough time for a photo op at the Iron Horse burn pit and some photo ops up the coast, arriving in Jax late Saturday afternoon or early evening that same day. I'll plan on staying overnight in Jax and riding back home Sunday. That also leaves Sunday in case the weather goes foul, or we might could start on Friday if the weekend weather looks bad.

As soon as I get the word I'll get to work on routes/times/dates if I'm fortunate enough to be selected as the "Zero-mile" launcher!

Great to have you as the starter.  I think we should call the start of this endeavor, March 12 from Daytona.  Our only other chink in the armor is a pickup at Jacksonville from madmtnmotors on the evening or the 12th or the morning of the 13th. 

Are there any of the Georgia guys or anyone from Northeast Florida that can pick it up and head north towards Savannah?  Once we get to northern GA we seem to have more numbers.  Starting to get it going. 

Nikkisix wants to bring the mascot to Rockingham (on the 19th.) for Sam to run it around the track.  So we are looking at:
Dayton(12), Jacksonville, Savannah, Charleston, Columbia, Rockingham(19), thru Charlotte area, Cherokee to start the Blue Ridge run heading north.

With the above in mind, we need to come up with a timetable.  I am open to suggestions. 

[bender01]

The 13th from Sav to Charleston would be perfect for me! Ill probably have to drop off and come home from Charleston. Guys coming south still welcome to overnight in my backyard on the 12th . Heres the yard!

[madmtnmotors]

I could possibly continue further North, Savannah is potentially within reach. Would make for a long ride home though. Saint Cloud, FL to Savannah, GA is 300 miles one-way (600 miles round trip). Using secondary roads I might stretch it enough to qualify for an Iron Butt award! Maybe Brunswick or Darien? We're closing in! I'll get to working on routes/times this weekend.

[Tugboat]

Hey y'all - trying to figure out the handoff from your group to ours. Several of us are in Nashville - Spanner1 had mentioned that he might be up for a ride up into KY to pick IT up. A couple of other guys up in KY too. Y'all still thinking about VA --> WV --> KY?

[Bluto]

I could possibly continue further North, Savannah is potentially within reach. Would make for a long ride home though. Saint Cloud, FL to Savannah, GA is 300 miles one-way (600 miles round trip). Using secondary roads I might stretch it enough to qualify for an Iron Butt award! Maybe Brunswick or Darien? We're closing in! I'll get to working on routes/times this weekend.

Hey madmtnmotors.......

Great to hav ya on board as the official starter......Us north Georgia guys are sure hoping you can bring it all the way to Savannah.  Our ride down from Atlanta to Savannah is probably gonna be about all we could do in 1 day.

Maybe we can get a south Georgia member to jump in.  Gotta be a few SOHC's runnin around Savannah.

Keep in touch,

Bluto aka Bill

[madmtnmotors]

Thanks Bluto, looking forward to putting some faces to the names of some of the forum members. The excitement being generated in all of the forums is contagious!

Looks like Atlanta to Savannah is 300 miles one-way as well, so much of my planning will be for a Savannah hand-off. Savannah also has it's share of historic sites so we should be able to find a picturesque site for photo ops and hand-off.

Not sure if I can be trusted with a toothy lizard though, given my history with the "El Lagartos" for each of the last twelve years...

[Trav-i]

Madman it would be so awesome if you could help us out.  I'm hoping to be one of the NEGA group headed down to pick, and meet you.  I'm so hoping that this all goes off with out a hitch.

Travis

[bender01]

Madmtnmotors
The new WW2 monument is on River St. in Savannah its the second pic in attached web page. The bridge behind it goes into SC which is the rt youll likley be taking to Charleston! If you want to go about 30 more minutes into SC you could camp at my house and all could head north/south fresh sunday AM the 13th.
http://www.army.mil/-news/2010/11/10/47988-savannah-welcomes-world-war-ii-memorial/

[madmtnmotors]

Wow, that's a powerful backdrop, considering Japans role in WWII. There are some stark contrasts, especially in the diplomatic inroads achieved in just a generation or so. Looks like a great place to meet, with the understanding that as ambassadors we would be required to conduct ourselves accordingly.

I'll post more info as my research develops and PM's/e-mails will start to fly as we get closer to launch!

[Bluto]

Hey Drones,

Do we have somebody on board from Charleston to Columbia?...(or is that supposed to be us)  And...Who's picking up in Columbia?

Just tryin to get it straight.

Bill

[wardenerd]

i'm in Charleston to wherever.  NC mountains sound good

[blackhog02]

I'm in Charleston.  Could go down to HHI and/or up to the upstate.

[Cvillechopper]

Wow!  I haven't been on the forum much lately (chasing my 7 month old around) so am just picking up on this.  Looks like the trip is coming into VA from the south to Roanoke then heading to WV but if you need a rider to pick up in Roanoke and head farther north in VA let me know. Would love to hit the pkwy for a full day of riding...

James

[Blueridgerunner]

Wow!  I haven't been on the forum much lately (chasing my 7 month old around) so am just picking up on this.  Looks like the trip is coming into VA from the south to Roanoke then heading to WV but if you need a rider to pick up in Roanoke and head farther north in VA let me know. Would love to hit the pkwy for a full day of riding...

James

I'm supposed to pick up around Fancy Gap on 3/27 around noon. We could hook up somewhere around Mill Mtn.

[jtb]

Drones,  have you got an idea when you will get to the handoff point in WVA?  Team SE is chompin' at the bit, we just need to know where and when to go.

I've got Barbers lined up as a hand-off point, and they will participate in some fashion.  That needs to be on a Saturday or Sunday so anyone from your patch who wants to can be on hand.  A lap on the track will depend entirely on who has it rented that day, and if they break for lunch.

[Cvillechopper]

Wow!  I haven't been on the forum much lately (chasing my 7 month old around) so am just picking up on this.  Looks like the trip is coming into VA from the south to Roanoke then heading to WV but if you need a rider to pick up in Roanoke and head farther north in VA let me know. Would love to hit the pkwy for a full day of riding...

James

I'm supposed to pick up around Fancy Gap on 3/27 around noon. We could hook up somewhere around Mill Mtn.

I don't know where Mill Mtn is but might be down depending on where the next stop is.  Is there a master map for this leg?  I haven't seen on yet but noticed that some of the other teams have a route map that's been updated a few times.

[Blueridgerunner]

Near the intersection of BRP & US220

[wardenerd]

there is a fabulous motorcycle museum in Maggie Valley NC

[bluezboy]

Hey Drones,

Do we have somebody on board from Charleston to Columbia?...(or is that supposed to be us)  And...Who's picking up in Columbia?

Just tryin to get it straight.

Bill

 hey guys, I may have to do the Columbia to Blueridge portion since I may not have time off from work to ride to Savannah and then back up to Columbia, but once we have firmer dates in place I'll know what I can do. It's easy for me to zip over to Columbia from ATL. I'll be wathcing to see how our ride grows. vern

[Nikkisixx]

Hey Drones,

Do we have somebody on board from Charleston to Columbia?...(or is that supposed to be us)  And...Who's picking up in Columbia?

Just tryin to get it straight.

Bill

 hey guys, I may have to do the Columbia to Blueridge portion since I may not have time off from work to ride to Savannah and then back up to Columbia, but once we have firmer dates in place I'll know what I can do. It's easy for me to zip over to Columbia from ATL. I'll be wathcing to see how our ride grows. vern

Bike week ends on what, the 13th?  I plan on picking it up in Columbia then taking it to see Sam at Rockingham on the 19th. Then through Charlotte and on to the Parway.  From the Rock to Fancy Gap by the afternoon of the 27th to hand it to BR runner

[Cvillechopper]

Near the intersection of BRP & US220

That's pretty much Roanoke, right?  I could definitely take the hand-off there and head north.  Maybe someone would want to meet near Buena Vista or Lexington  and head west to WV if there isn't a plan for getting into WV yet...

Also, I just got the "OK" from the wife to take a day (or so) for this which is big since she'll be on baby duty without a break for that time.  Good stuff!

[Cbowers]

Im in for the SC parts, just let me know when so I can make sure Im off work. I may ride some of the parkway too. I am more interested in riding the parkway so I may catch back up with everyone in cherokee depending on how everything goes. I could do Charleston to Columbia.....Or we could cut out columbia and go straight to rockingham. That may leave some people out though that were planning on meeting in Columbia. Do I need to find a campground around Columbia for everyone? We have a couple of stateparks that would be good to stay in, they are in the middle of nowhere though....if you need supplies.

[madmtnmotors]

Okay, here goes...

   This is the preliminary route/schedule I propose for the kick-off leg. Bear in mind that we may be able to shift this a day either way to accomodate inclement weather. We will know more as kick-off approaches but the following route/schedule is my primary intention:

7:00AM TO 7:30/7:45AM- Breakfast at Denny's 2990 West International Speedway Blvd, Daytona. Just a mile or so West of the speedway, on the North side of US Hwy 92 (Speedway Blvd) just West of I-95. It's going to be a long day, gonna need some bio-fuel!

DENNY'S HAS MOVED! (glad I called) The new address is: 1446 Int'L Speedway Blvd, Daytona Beach - (386) 258-5460
From I-95 take Highway 92 (Speedway Blvd) EAST to just past the speedway and Denny's will be on the left just past the speedway.

8:00AM TO 10:00AM- Daytona Speedway, browse vendor displays, photo ops.

10:00AM TO 10:30- Leave speedway head East on Speedway Blvd (US 92) to US 1 North to the Iron Horse Saloon.

10:30AM TO 12:30PM- Live Bands, photo ops, the best medium-rare steak sandwich you've ever had (for lunch), burn pit(*)?

   *I question my foray into the burn pit because of the distance I have yet to cover from that point forward. Add to that the fact that I appear to be a "Lone Wolf" on this leg so far, so I cannot risk dropping the ball due to a mechanical failure just to bake the back tire off. If we get some more support riders for this first leg I might reconsider, but for now I am planning on foregoing the burnout in light of the bigger picture.

12:30PM TO 3:30PM- Travel from Iron Horse at Ormond up to Jacksonville:
   -US 1 North to I-95 North (short segment, maybe 8 to 10 miles) to SR 100 East to SR A1A (Flagler Beach)
   -Now we are crusin'. The coastal highway runs right along the beach almost all of the way to Jacksonville!
   -Take SR A1A North (coastal highway) all the way to Mayport (East Jacksonville)
   -Catch the Mayport/Ft George Island ferry across the St. Johns River over to Ft George Island (Yay! My first boat ride on a motorcycle!).

4:00/4:30PM TO 5:30/6:30PM- Travel from Ft George Island to Savannah:
   -After the Mayport/Ft George Island ferry, continue North on SR A1A to Fernadina Beach.
   -SR A1A connects with SR 200 and turns West towards Yulee.
   -Take US 17 North from Yulee to I-95 North.

Now the options are slim. Sticking with US 17/SR 25 North will parallel and criss-cross I-95 all the way to Savannah. Looks like I-95 North, from just North of Yulee, all the way to Savannah. Again, if there are more supporting riders for this first leg I may be inclined to go with the secondary road (17/25), but if I'm flying solo I would likely complete this leg on the interstsate. I hope to make Savannah before nightfall on Saturday, March 12th. I have some friends who ride but don't know if they are up for going all the way to Savannah. We shall see. Hand-off location to be coordinated with recieving riders.

Times are approximate and I've tried to leave some cushion for photo ops and to allow for the slower average speed while moving up the coastal highway.

Those planning on hooking up in Savannah, now the ball is in your court!

See attached map.

I plan on staying over in Savannah so we could even hook-up the morning of the 13th (Sun)

[Bluto]

Madmtnmotors..............Great plan......

For the Metro Atlanta guys (and there has to be more than just Trav-i and me that want to do this).........

We need to leave early enough Sat. the 12th to meet up with Mad in Savannah that evening.  No ideas yet on the route.  I do hate I-16...but it is the quickest route.  Not opposed to 441 to Dublin or whatever else y'all come up with.  Any of you west Atlanta or Kennesaw area guys...we can meet anywhere down the road south of Atlanta.

That Saturday night we have been invited (weather permitting) to camp in  Benders back yard (Bluffton).  Might grab a cheap motel if the weather sux.

Sunday am we head to Columbia ( I suppose...still unclear as to whether we are going to Charleston 1st.  Seems a little redundant since Nickkisix is picking IT up in Columbia and he lives in Charleston)

Then I suppose we  take some pictures... #$%* and moan a little and head back home.  Probably gonna want to hit I-20 and make some time.

What WE NEED is some more metro Atlanta riders...cmon y'all.  I know we have guys/gals out in Villa Rica...Marietta...Kennesaw....

How bout you coastal guys putting some time estimates and routes to columbia out based on local knowledge.



Like madmtnmotors said....everything is pending a whole lot of stuff....but..so far so good

Mad...hope you can get some partners!!

Cmon Atlanta....jump in there.  PM me or Trav-i for cell numbers.

Later

Bill aka Bluto