It's been a while since I've done one of these (8/14 wow!). I'm a bit rusty, so go easy on me. ;)
I HATE typing on my cell phone, but here we go ....
It's mid-April, so that means another Tellico SME. I still have yet to miss a Tellico event in the 12? years I've been a maggot.
Due to bald front and rear tires and the expense of moving, I haven't really rode much since the October Tellico SME. The week of the SME , I was able to get a rear sneaker but couldn't afford the pair.
You could barely see the wear bars on the front, but they were visible. The plan was to slab it to Knoxville, play a little on the Dragon and the Cherahola, then park Saturday if need be, and baby it via interstate the whole way home.
Again, the bike has been parked since late October. In that time, the tag has expired.
I headed over to pay that before leaving town only to find that there is a financial hold on it. The lady said it likely has to do with my license. I know what it's about and it amounts to a clerical error, basically.
Meh! I'm not fighting city hall today, I'm Tellico-bound! sketchy front tire, expired tag, suspended license and all. I did my equivalent of a hail Mary and pointed the bike to I-40.
While slabbing across 40, I felt what seemed to be a consistent tapping on my left shoulder. I'm riding solo ... WTF?!?
I check the mirror, and see it is the wind pushing against my suit. It didn't look like the material was being pushed in much, but I really felt it on the skin.
It was odd. I remember musing that it was my guardian angel patting me on the shoulder for not causing any undue stress.
I get to 129 and turn south and am fine until I get into Maryville. Then I see a cop coming off the entrance ramp,.
There was no time to slow down and get behind him and there are traffic lights ahead. Yippee!
At one of them he was within sight of that tag. I promptly pulled into the Foothills Mall parking lot to for a .... safety check. I should check my tire and ensure my gear was still fastened well.
With that took care of, Cloud9 and I are rollin' with no sight of Johnny. After that, my guardian angel wouldn't be tested again until much later.
The ride dowñ 129 to the Dragon was a bit crowded. I was thinking that help me behave.
However, by the time I got to the bottom of the mountain, there was no other southbound traffic ... ALL THE WAY to the store.
Yeah, you're damn right I let that beast breathe a little. I should've clocked the run. (grin) That was good stuff.
There are pictures here if I can figure out how to do it on this device ...
http://xtremesportsphotography.photoreflect.com/store/Orderpage.aspx?pi=0QAK028X050860&po=860&pc=1786
http://killboy.photoreflect.com/store/Orderpage.aspx?pi=04RK02O00C0136&po=435&pc=954
If you looked that front tire still seems to be holding up. I continued to feed her a little down through the stretch along the river. You can just lay into those curves forever.
I had to stop for a splash of gas before crossing the Skyway. While stopped, I checked that front tire. It was still holding up okay. Yay!
Again, once I got to the fun stuff, I had a clear run. This is unreal.
I tore through the twisty bits by the Santeelah. By now, I was totally dialed in.
I was hitting the marks, just totally in tune with the bike and the road. It was amazing.
For context, the Skyway is 45 miles or so long. Playing a little on the Dragon, or along the river as I had been don't put as much heat into a tire as, oh I don't know .... a spirited run across the Skyway.
For whatever reason this bit of logical thought eluded me while I was in the act of doing just that. Uh Oh!
I DOO love that road though, and find it hard to behave up there. Remember that comment about not testing my guardian angel again until later? It's later!
I've just started coming down the mountain on the TN side, entering a hard right and the front skittered out for a moment. It's happened before, but it's always scary.
It washed and I instinctively pused that thing over more and it found traction. Either that, or the guardian angel that was with me pushed us over.
I hit that next left and it did it again. Same reaction, same result. It just happened ... twice. As Mr. Spriinger says, as you pull from that luck bag you better add to the skill bag.
It really wasn't until I got to Hunt's Lodge that I realized that my guardian angel really earned its wings today!
I have already awarded the dumbass to myself, but I know I'll (deservedly) get more.
As it turned out Jack had a front tire that was the same brand and size tire as what I had ... and with about the same amount of tread as when I left the house. Maggots rock!
I decided to wait and change the tire Sat. while everyone was out riding that afternoon.
This would allow me more time with my maggot family as they filtered in. The night passed way too quickly as I laughed with CMac, Paige, and Tim most of the night. Always a good time with them, I haven't laughed that hard for a while. Good stuff!
I have no idea how late I was up. Funny how that statement comes up when Christopher and I get together.
I slept in .. late ... like waaayyy after breakfast kind of late. I must've needed it. I know I felt rested when I finally did get up.
I mulled around a bit, then got motivated and pulled the front wheel. Jack led me through mounting it.
I put the wheel back on and went up to Tellico Beach to get some lunch. Did a quickie shakedown run up to the Bald River Falls turnoff and went back to camp.
Laughed a bunch more with great people that I just don't get to see often enough. The Saturday night fire tends to die early as most folks head out on Sunday.
On Sunday, I had the bike packed rather early (for me). I left a little before noon. I did baby it and the tire, bike, and rider made it home just fine.
Thanks again to Jack, Lori, and the group. These events are therapeutic for me.
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