Retired and Trippin

Tim parted company with our group this morning, headed to a place on the lake. The rest of us left Rolla at 7:05 AM and traveled north to Jefferson City, MO, where we stopped for fuel. Then we rode nonstop to our respective homes in Kansas City arriving by 11:00 AM. A 222 mile morning with a high temperature of 84. No photos were taken today.

We departed Sweetwater, TN at 7:55 AM (it was 67 degrees) and traveled secondary highways to Lebanon, TN, where we hopped on I-40 into Nashville. Nashville traffic was terrible. We caught I-24 westbound, which also goes north. Just north and west of Nashville we stopped at a Dairy Queen, where we enjoyed some ice cream. Interstate 24 took us into Kentucky and at Paducah we turned west. We crossed the Ohio River into Illinois. A short time later we crossed the Mississipi River from Illinois into Cape Girardeau, MO. From Cape Girardeau we traveled north on I-55, west to Farmington, and then west to Rolla, MO. It was a 545 mile day. We stayed at the Pear Tree Inn, where we enjoyed some complimentary snacks and adult beverages before having a meal at the nearby Steak and Shake. The high today was a humid 96 degrees. To see the photos taken today click on the following link:  Day 7 Photos

The plan was to leave Bristol at 8:00 AM. Larry, however, could not find his prescription sunglasses. He went back to search his room, where he did not find his sunglasses but he did find his iPad that he'd forgotten. Eventually the sunglasses were found hiding in his motorcycle trunk. All is well that ends well. We finally left at 8:20 and it was 66 degrees. We traveled southwest to Gatlinburg, TN and had lunch at a Burger King in Pigeon Forge, TN. Then we rode the Foothills Parkway near Townsend, hopped on Highway 129 south (the Tail of the Dragon) into North Carolina and stopped at Deals Gap. All types of motorcycles run the Tail of the Dragon! The Cherohala Skyway took us back west into Tennessee, where we stopped for the evening in Sweetwater. Our travels today took us 275 miles and our high temperature was 86. A BEAUTIFUL trip! To see all the photos taken today click on the following link:  Day 6 Photos

After leaving Helen, GA at 8:25 AM (62 degrees) we traveled to Asheville, NC and just east of there we jumped on the Blue Ridge Parkway, which we rode to Boone, NC. Along the way we stopped twice. Once at the Craggy Gardens Visitor Center. And again at Mt. Mitchell State Park, where we ate at the restaurant near the top. From Boone, NC we traveled north and west into Tennessee. We stopped for the evening in Bristol, VA. We thought we were in Bristol, TN until the next morning when we realized we were on the Virginia side of Bristol. It was a beautiful day traveling 296 miles with a high temperature of 76. For all the photos taken today click on the following link:  Day 5 Photos

At 8:30 AM we left Dahlonega, GA and traveled north. It was 65 degrees and cloudy but later the sun appeared. It was a pretty route through curves, hills, and more tree shaded highways. Soon we were in Tennessee and at Tellico Plains at the west end of the Cherohala National Scenic Byway. The scenery along the Skyway was beautiful. At the east end of the Skyway we stopped for lunch in Robbinsville, NC. After lunch we traveled back south into Georgia, where we stopped in Helen at another Holiday Inn Express. We traveled 243 miles and the high temperature was a nice 82 degrees. To see all the photos taken today click on the following link:  Day 4 Photos

We rode/drove away from Jasper, AL at 8:30 AM. It was 65 and cloudy but clouds soon gave way to sunshine. After a short distance down the road we arrived at our big stop for the day - the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum in Birmingham, AL. They have an impressive building with four floors of motorcycles and cars on display. There is also a race track on the grounds that was being used by crotch rocket racing type motorcycles. It was interesting to watch. After some Alabama BBQ (not as good as KC BBQ) we traveled on to Dahlonega, GA, where we holed up in a Holiday Inn Express for the night. We rode 267 miles today and the last 80 miles included scenic curves, hills, and tree shaded highway with 80 degrees and low humidity. It was beautiful. The high temperature today was 86. For all the photos taken today click on the following link:  Day 3 Photos

When we departed Hardy, AR at 8:00 AM it was 68 degrees with mostly sunny skies. We traveled south through Arkansas and about 120 miles south we saw significant wind damage. Trees were uprooted or broken off, carports damaged and roofs partially blown off. We crossed the Mississippi River from Arkansas into Mississippi on Highway 49. We had lunch in Batesville, MS . . . . and stopped for the day in Jasper, AL after traveling 416 miles. The high temperature was in the high 80's again, but a little less humid than on day 1. For more pics from today click on the following link:  Day 2 Photos

Good friend, Bill, planned this motorcycle trip. Bill rode his Honda Goldwing, accompanied by fellow Goldwingers Gary, John, Tim, Larry, Bruce and my brother, Carl. Bill invited me to tag along in my Ford Mustang GT. The plan was to depart at 8:00 AM but, due to morning showers, it was delayed to 10:00 AM. We traveled secondary highways from the Kansas City area to Hardy, AR traveling 384 miles. The high temperature was 88 degrees and it was very humid. We had a good lunch at Honey B's Bakery and Cafe near Camdenton, MO. The power (and the air conditioning) went out in our motel that night at 10:00 PM and didn't come back on until 2:00 AM. Fortunately the storm that took out the power also brought in a cool front so it wasn't too bad. To see more photos taken today click on the following link:  Day 1 Photos