Steve, we’ll race :wink:
599 -v- 919 Battle Royal!

Orlando to Gatlinburg, Tennessee => 652 miles @ 10hr 21 min
Lansing to Gatlinburg, Tennessee => 608 miles @ 9hr 47min

I get a 32 minute head start and looser buys Tom's lunch?

Some who could participate...
yeroC
Vthoky
twm1010
mechanic77
antihero
Chris MotoGPFan26
Will
And obviously anyone else who’d like to...

Now all we need is a date and time for a Mini Swarm...

What are you using to base your distance and times?...

ps... it's challenge :P

Just did city "from/to" in Google Maps... Steve may even be closer yet as I know he lives east of East Lansing...

Now if it wasn't for Jobs, Families and Money this would be a snap!

I plan on going up there (TN) no matter what some time soon, mid June at the latest... The Honda Hoot thing is the 19-23 but don't think I'm too wild about that this year. Maybe the weekends of 9/10 or 16/17 with a day or two on either side.

:oops: Somehow I missed this original post and me the benefactor of the challenge. Not to worry, older chaps like myself have a small appetite.

All I need is a time frame so I can get the lawn nuked. Maybe the loser can tidy up the lawn. :thinking

I took a ride today to Marshall, NC and on to Hot Springs. At Hot Springs, we had completed 132 miles. That's 11 Dragons worth of twisties or a Dragon squared. For the return trip of 50 miles, we had to take roads with long sweeping curves with an occasional straight away. By the way, it was a cruiser day. 2Up with the wife on the Shadow cruiser and Penny, 1Up on her Harley. Wonderful sport bike route and commendable with a cruiser.
:ride

:!: I saw a 599 in Marshall today. Spoke briefly to her and her significant other (he was chauffering a Suzuki). I invited them check into this forum.

It's ok Tom...we know old(er) people need a bit of extra time, it will happen to all of us eventually if we are lucky... :mrgreen:

First ride today after fresh service, back rubber and SS brake lines installed... SO, I'm running out of excuses!

Seems there are many people in the TN and Carolina areas...we SHOULD be able to get a few of us together...I mean just to give the Canadians a run... 8)

A date, yes...about that...(flipping through calendar) :lol:

This could be interesting!


Saint Louis, MO 63139 to Gatlinburg, TN

Total Est. Time: 8 hours, 30 minutes

Total Est. Distance: 532.34 miles

I mean just to give the Canadians a run...
Good luck, my friend!! :D


One suggestion for you guys doing this 'challenge'. I think you should follow the lead of Spike TV's 'Bull Run' and do some night time light bulb challenges. You could mount a big spiked bar on your helmets and do circles knocking out the lights. Or you could... :D

:lol:

Hey Sachi, get in on this challange. Rnd might give you a ten hour head start. :wink:
It's just a hop skip and jump to the Mississippi for you.

By the way, I went to Deals Gap today. I hit it wrong going, lots of slow traffic. One slow Harley rider from Texas that shouldn't stayed in the flatlands. There was quite a few bikes at the Tail of the Dragon motel that were apparently going back and forth, again and again (quite a few riders do this). They come back in with that 'punch drunk' look or the strung out buzzed up look. Thet rest up and hit the Cherohala Skyway loop which is roughly 100 miles. Here is some links for the area.
http://www.dealsgap.com
http://www.dragonslayerphotos.com
http://www.photoreflect.com

Riding back, I had open road or almost. Zoomed right through. Had to pass a Gold Wing and sport tourer of some sort. Pretty good day and the weather was good.

Rally Up, the challange is out there.

...the strung out buzzed up look...
This will be me! I've never seen a change in elevation of more than 30 feet or so! :shock: :lol: (on the bike)

Actually a Hornet swarm to TN would be awesome and prolly a shitload
of fun. I'm interested. For the record Tom i like steak, fish, kebobs,
and of course burgers and franks on CHARCOAL grill!! :D While you're
at it, let's make it a kegger!! :lol:

Jawbreaker lives up in the Bristol area. He has his new bike and is getting his 'sea legs'and hopes to join the swarm.

Mid June and summer weather. We may have to hit the high mountain routes to have cool weather. :twisted:

So we had a date to work with, the members from Western Carolina, North Georgia and 'tucky could rally in.

:shock: Where did May go?

Right now I'm tring to wiggle in the 13th -17th of June...
The Hoot is 19-23 and don't really want to be a part of that...maybe next year.

Yea I'm game. Anytime you guys wanna meet up..I can usually get a weekend off when I want( Cause I've worked 10+ a day for 2 years,5-6 days a week :cry: ) But wouldnt miss a roundup... I live in Elizabethton, TN.. So anything withing,,,say ,, a thousand Miles is good :shock: ..

If any of you need an incentive, I have posted some Kilboy photos that was taken May 29 and 31 on the Putz'n trip. The numbers pics like 60 of 328 are the recent pics. Which ones do the members like. I may order my favorites on a CD with the higher resolution. 5 bucks a pop on CD so I may not order all. The photo is a cut n paste that at Photobucket

http://s116.photobucket.com/albums/o39/tomacana/DealsGap/

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o39/tomacana/DealsGap/Blend2.jpg

Very cool photos tom!! You a bad mother--shut yo mowf!!! 8)

Some who could participate...
yeroC
Vthoky
twm1010
mechanic77
antihero
Chris MotoGPFan26
Will
And obviously anyone else who’d like to...

Now all we need is a date and time for a Mini Swarm...

Hey, Rnd, thanks for the invite! I'd love to have a bunch of us converge on Tom's back yard some time. (Let's start a rumor (even if it's true) that he's a great cook and loves company!)

You don't think Mrs Tom would mind a bunch of thugs showing up there, do you? :D

Not if you would help with my neglected chores, but you did say a 'bunch of thugs'? :P

Only these manner of thug will br tolerated. From the Cynics Dictionary

DEBAUCHEE, n.
One who has so earnestly pursued pleasure that he has had the misfortune to overtake it.

:D

Vacation req submitted...

Do any of you have those lipstick camera things mounted to your bikes or helmets? It'd be interesting to see some of this action live, er um, sorta live.

Do any of you have those lipstick camera things mounted to your bikes or helmets? It'd be interesting to see some of this action live, er um, sorta live.

I did some shifter kart racing a while back and a couple of buddies had the lipstick cameras mounted to their helmets. They are AWSOME! I'll see if I can't dig up some footage.

Not if you would help with my neglected chores, but you did say a 'bunch of thugs'? :P

Only these manner of thug will br tolerated. From the Cynics Dictionary

DEBAUCHEE, n.
One who has so earnestly pursued pleasure that he has had the misfortune to overtake it.

:D

Chores?!?! I can mow, but I hate to rake. And I'm really not up for painting.

And by thugs, I meant Hornet owners... but you knew that already. :D

...Right now I'm trying to wiggle in the 13th -17th of June...
Ok so anyone who wants to get together... it's a go! Where am I headed...good question! Somewhere around "The Tail" and Gatlinburg (do they have an Ice Rink there?) Can you camp in that "little park" to the south?

SO if y'all know some places or a place I'll try and find it to meet you or we can designate a place and a time. Thinking about heading back Sat afternoon...

Sound off :thumbsup

Kinda up in the air for me to be truthful. My job has me booked solid
through June to the second week of July. Other than sundays the only day
i have off will be July 4. End of July i'm heading to Vegas with the mrs.
August would be a little better. But I live spur of the moment alot so
who knows. I haven't ruled it out yet.

Ok so anyone who wants to get together... it's a go! Where am I headed...good question! Somewhere around "The Tail" and Gatlinburg (do they have an Ice Rink there?) Can you camp in that "little park" to the south?

Sound off :thumbsup

I didn't notice the ice rink question. Yes, there is rink at Ober Gatlinburg. Don't you member the Tom Uber Bear :?:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5j0sGSnsME

You can camp in the Smokemont campground in the national park or Deep Creek which is in Bryson City. Check http://www.nps.gov/grsm/

LMAO tomacana... Maybe you should change that link...the first thing I noticed when I pulled it up was a pic of a Bear :shock: ...Camping anyone? lol Not to worry though..We have "gentle" bears up here. :wink:

Jawbreaker: that bear is Tom! How 'bout that :!:

Tom's a multi-talented fella, fo' sho'! :D

Tom - you are making me second guess the camping thing...bears on blades :shock: :lol:

I’m still searching Orlando for a 525 master link or a 520 42 tooth rear sprocket :( May need to just buy a new chain, and I wouldn’t complain too much as it would just be a procrastination tax.

Now...torque wrench (to put rear sprocket and wheel back on)...chain tool...power adapter...maps... a camera (broke mine last week)...anything else...oh yeah, an F-ing Plan...! Ha!

Thanks for the maps (you’ve posted these before haven’t you?), gonna print them out tonight and decide what I’m gonna do. But suspect whatever it is, you’ll hear from me by Wed afternoon.

30 hours to go...!

rndthought----------->Orlando to Gatlinburg, Tennessee => 652 miles @ 10hr 21 min
Super Sexy Steve -->Lansing to Gatlinburg, Tennessee => 608 miles @ 9hr 47min
What? I'm just sayin'... :lol:
BTW that was a LONG 652 miles...but anyone within 400...easy as pie.

Steve how's the vacation time at the new job looking? (will be in Mich Aug 10-13 if you're up for a burger...)