Ride Reports

[dbsteffy]

We are reaching mid day, temp is in the high 60's, starting to get tired, we parked, walked, rode, repeat. We usually parked on the gravel sides of the roads, uphill or downhill, I often needed help pushing, pulling or lifting my bike out of it's spot, all loaded, it's about 675lbs. I wasn't embarassed, these are good friends, we've ridden together all sumer, they know my experience level.

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Getting hot and sore ......

[dbsteffy]

The day reached the 70's, only saw about half the bridges, really tired, have clomped around in the Harley boots for hours, snacked on too many sugary treats. We lost one bike about noon, prior committment, picked up another new couple, she was perfumed, manicured, coiffed, my sister riders and I were dusty, helmet-headed, wrinkled, weary.

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This is the longest bridge in the country, I checked, we also stopped at the dedication ceremony for the smallest bridge in Geneva, we missed the speeches (yeah) but did get cake (yeah).
We headed home on the freeway, tired, hot, sore, had enough of the scenic secondary and backroads, got home just before 4pm. We must have ordered a pizza, I know for sure that I didn't cook.
I really enjoyed the whole experience and the company, but I learned that when riding, I prefer a single destination with a long ride to and from, maybe 2. I wouldn't want to be constantly riding, stopping and going again, that really beats me ups. I'll do the Bridge Run again, but not for a few years.
Thanks for reading, Brenda.

[wingryder92]

Wow! The bridges are beautiful. We've got some pretty ones down here but several have closed to traffic due to their condition. You mentioned that the planks were a challenge...we have one bridge that is open that's "one-way" traffic and you take turns going across it. The planks on it go across from side to side and then on top of that are the planks about 3 wide that you actually ride on (could ride on the other planks if you wanted to) but when the group has gone across it we've had 2 "slip" off the planks for the tires and dump their m/c. Only had a few bruises and a few scratches on the m/c's. I agree with you about that on/off the m/c to do stuff or sightsee like you were doing. Usually if I have more than 3...maybe 4...things to do I go in the van and especially if those errands are close together.
Again. Your bridges are beautiful! And you made my feet tired too...
Debra
HAVE A SAFE RIDE

[DarkAngel]

Thansk for sharing The bridges are beautiful! I love riding thru the mts and enjoying the scenery, sometimes it's almost distracting. I think I would like to make some stops at times but the guys don't want to stop. So if I'm by myself I can stop wherever I want. and usually do.
It's getting cold here too, we'll probably go out tomorrow for a ride, would have went today but DH got busy and I hate to leave him here if he's off work. I rode Thursday last week, about 75 mile loop, 49-50 degrees.

Teresa

[ladyriders225]

Wow Brenda,
Thanks for sharing those pictures with us and your ride experience. That certainly would be the type of ride I would enjoy. Don't let me kid you, I love any type of ride. Anna

[tlc]

Looks like a long beautiful ride on a nice sunny day. Can't get much better than that!

Thanks for posting the pics

[wingryder92]

Morning Ladies,
Our GoldWing chapter rode to Anderson, S.C. yesterday to "capture" the Traveler's Plaque. We had 25 folks, 13 m/c's, 2 vehicles. A bunch of us met for breakfast about 0645 and then we all went to the meeting place to meet any who didn't come for breakfast. When we started out the temp was about 39 (depending on where you came from) and was cloudy and overcast. As we moved up the road the sun began peeping through and it warmed up to the 50's and was a beautiful day... for a little while. As we started home the clouds moved back in and the temps dropped some. We had a brisk wind most of the time so some had cold noses and cheeks while riding. The over-all trip was very nice. We had our general issues with the cagers who seemed not to see us or maybe who just didn't care. I think we all ate our share of the buffet so I'm sure they had to make a run to the farmer's market for more food. Don't know how many folks there were..maybe 100.. but I do know that the waitress was wore out by the time we left! For much of the time she was the only one there and finally she got a "little" bit of help. I told her "Glad you got some help" and she smiled and said "Not really". This was one of few rides that we took the interstate and on the way home we were really glad that we were traveling south. As we got closer to Atlanta we noticed that the north bound lanes were backed up. We first noticed that the two lanes of an off ramp were stopped and then it was the whole hwy. The back up was for several miles and was 3-5 lanes wide and we were sooooooo glad that we were headed south 'cause those folks weren't going anywhere soon! Heard on the news that there were a couple of events going on so the response shut the road down.

What is a Traverl's Plaque? Each region (5 states for us) has a plaque and any chapter from any of those 5 states can "claim" it by attending the meeting where it's being "given" away. The chapter with the most total miles ridden are the ones who take the plaque back to their chapter to give away at their next meeting. There were 3 folks who came from Tampa, Fl. with hopes of taking it back to Florida! We have had folks even come from Miami to capture the plaque. All of this is just for fun to promot visitation and camaraderie and riding.
Debra
HAVE A SAFE RIDE

[wingryder92]

Well I'm a little excited about our ride today and just had to tell somebody!!!! One of the ladies in our GW chapter has been looking at m/c's for a couple of months and she and I went out and looked at one and checked on several more. Well today the BF, his Mom, my friend, and I rode down to check out another m/c. Well before we left she became "almost" the new owner of a '94 tealish GoldWing. She gave him earnest money to hold it until after the holidays and things have settled down a little bit. She's been riding less than 2 yrs. and has been riding a Honda Shadow 750. She is so excited.
Now it's time to go finish wrapping and bagging those Christmas gifts!
Debra
HAVE A SAFE RIDE

[dbsteffy]

Merry Christmas Debra,
How exciting to be with your friend as she is bike hunting, better than purse shopping, it's going to seem like an eternity for her until she takes possession.

How many miles did your group ride to win the trophy? And you are much hardy than me, no way am I on a bike in under 55', did that once this fall, thought I was getting frostbite on my chin. I will happily be a warm weather rider, if I have to dress like I'm shoveling snow, time to curl up and read a book.

Hope there are some farkles under the tree! Brenda

[wingryder92]

Hey Bren,
That purse shopping has been the pits...especially when you want it to meet certain needs... have pockets (small/larger), zippers here & there, just has to have what you need for your stuff And it has to stay closed so that if falls over that nothing falls out.

We had a little over 3,700 miles for us to claim that piece of wood. Always have lots of fun when we do a "plaque attack". We'll give it away in Jan. to the group that shows up at the meeting and has the most miles.

We have those fair weather riders in our group too! Some won't ride if it's cold and some won't ride if there is the slightest chance of a rain drop falling! The coldest I started out in was 29 and that was many years ago and before I got electric gear. I think we might have ridden about 15 miles and I can tell you that I had on so much stuff that I could hardly move and I was still cold!! There are several different types of head/face covers that'll help keep that chin and those cheeks somewhat warm. Mine get cool sometimes with the full-face but it's not been to bad.

Our chapter rode 206,958 miles this year! Now that's only what was REPORTED to the ride educator. We report our mileage on the first day of each month and who ever has the most miles for that month gets a $10 gas card to RacTrac. There are two groups..the little boys and the little girls. We used to have one group and then we had several lady riders join the group so we now have awards for each.

Hope all you ladies got some farkles and bling for your m/c's
Debra
HAVE A SAFE RIDE