2007-12-29-AL, Stagecoach RTE [Archive]

sandman

11-13-2007, 06:44 AM

It's almost time again for the long distance rider's Stagecoach Cafe Ride-In.

This is an annual event that is held in Stockton, AL at the Stagecoach Restaurant. The parking lot starts filling up about 10:00AM and there's an awards ceremony (oldest rider, longest distance traveled...etc) after lunch and then everybody starts to leave around 2:00PM.

MotoMac would have won longest distance last year but there was a cold front coming through that he wanted to stay ahead of, so he left early. If you click on the link on the MTF calendar you can see a post of Sheila's GPS showing the front that chased a lot of riders out early.

This year it's scheduled for Saturday December 29th according to the MTF calendar.

http://www.mctourer.com/Calendar/dec07.htm

Hope to see some STs there again this year.

clmixon

11-13-2007, 08:17 AM

Save me a parking spot in the back with the cool bikes :cool:

Chris :06biker:

rulbe

11-13-2007, 09:39 PM

We left early too due to the rain coming in. This was a photo just before we left.

motomac

11-14-2007, 04:40 AM

That was my first Unigo trip and I was the second bike in the parking lot. I don't think I was the first to leave, but I wasn't far behind. The storm didn't catch me until I left Nashville the next morning. It was a toad strangler the whole way home from TN.

allandry

11-14-2007, 08:22 PM

Save me a parking spot in the back with the cool bikes :cool:

Chris :06biker:

Wow - you're buying a VStrom between now and Stagecoach...:D

But seriously, our little gang is planning on pulling out of Lafayette on Friday morning (12/28) if there's anyone from around here - or coming through from the west - that wants to hook up. I think we'll probably follow Hwy 90 along the gulf coast this year. I just got word that the bridges are finally open again. We'll overnight in the Mobile area. If interested in tagging along, let Chris or me know.

Al

Coop

11-14-2007, 08:30 PM

Wow - you're buying a VStrom between now and Stagecoach...:D Al

LOL!! You got the little booger that time Al!!

clmixon

11-17-2007, 03:07 PM

Coop...

nah...never mind, too easy :D

See ya later

Chris :06biker:

lddave

11-22-2007, 08:41 PM

I got a Wee Strom butt it is not setup enough for a trip from Texas to Alabama yet. If I can get away from work I will be on the ST. Wonder if I-10 will be opened by then?

clmixon

11-22-2007, 09:17 PM

I got a Wee Strom butt it is not setup enough for a trip from Texas to Alabama yet. If I can get away from work I will be on the ST. Wonder if I-10 will be opened by then?

No promises Dave,

The guvment is involved, thank god FEMA is not :eek:
They are saying 12/4 right now, we'll keep y'all advised....

Chris

RIDEMYST

11-24-2007, 05:21 AM

I'm planning on the ride up for my 4th year. Hope to put some faces with the names! Have a safe ride! -JEP-

clmixon

11-27-2007, 01:50 PM

I-10 is open again....

The well fire that had forced the closure of I-10 is over and the interstate is now open between Baton Rouge and Lafayette.

State Police had initially stated that it would not be open till the 4th but workers were able to clear the site faster than had been anticipated.

Chris

Mellow

11-27-2007, 02:43 PM

It's looking like I just might make this one.. would be a good last ride for 2007.

sandman

11-27-2007, 06:25 PM

It's looking like I just might make this one.. would be a good last ride for 2007.

Come on over Joe.

Sure hope the weather cooperates this year.

motomac

11-28-2007, 04:29 AM

Come on over Joe.

Sure hope the weather cooperates this year.

Yeah, I sure hope the weather is a bit nicer this year also. I don't think there was anyone there from West of the Mississippi last year.

clmixon

11-28-2007, 10:50 AM

Uhhhhhh, Mac........I am from West of the Mississippi, a whole 50 miles west, but I am west.

Chris:D

motomac

11-28-2007, 01:35 PM

Uhhhhhh, Mac........I am from West of the Mississippi, a whole 50 miles west, but I am west.

Chris:D

Sorry Chris, you are one of the few. I don't htink there was anyone from TX there. If there were they were wet.

ParkerBill

11-28-2007, 01:49 PM

sandman

11-28-2007, 07:19 PM

Dang, Gordon, I'd love to come to it, but my wife and I will be flying back home from Christmas in Colorado on the red-eye and I won't get home in time to do a 7+ hour ride to get there on the 28th. Unless, of course, I get some rest, then ride and get in later at night and motel it somewhere nearby. Hmmmmmmmmmmm, I have to think about this. :)

If the weather is cooperating this year the moon will be just off full. A late night ride might just be a beautiful thing to behold.

Be good to see you if you can make it over.

Lou65

11-29-2007, 04:08 AM

Yeah lets do this....

....we'll go to Sandman country.

h2orider

11-29-2007, 10:41 AM

If anyone coming through Tennessee and wants to ride together let me know I have typically left Knoxville round 3:00 AM and road down .

ParkerBill

11-29-2007, 10:45 AM

If the weather is cooperating this year the moon will be just off full. A late night ride might just be a beautiful thing to behold.

Be good to see you if you can make it over.

Thanks, Gordon. You're right, that late night ride might be great if the weather is good and the moon is bright!! Any nearby campgrounds?

sandman

11-30-2007, 07:40 AM

Thanks, Gordon. You're right, that late night ride might be great if the weather is good and the moon is bright!! Any nearby campgrounds?

This one is the closest to Stockton:

http://new.siteone.com/sites/blakeleypark.com/camping.asp

I've never been through the gate but it has a good reputation.

Mellow

11-30-2007, 08:01 AM

This one is the closest to Stockton:

http://new.siteone.com/sites/blakeleypark.com/camping.asp

I've never been through the gate but it has a good reputation.

Looks like a good spot. I'm gonna do my best to avoid I-10 this time.:doh1:

sandman

11-30-2007, 11:10 AM

Joe,

I overheard somebody talking about taking US 84 at last year's ride in, he said it went all the way to Texas and he had used it and enjoyed the ride. I wish I could remember who It was, I have trouble with my kids names...DUH!

I just did a quick route along 84 from south of Dallas (since I don't know which side of the city you live on) to Stockton, see what you think. It looks like mostly 2 lane to me, this could be a bad deal if traffic became an issue. I would have several routes that I could jump to just in case.

Gordon

Mellow

11-30-2007, 11:16 AM

I have a tentative route mapped out... will do the Ferry crossing again.

MAC_JD

11-30-2007, 12:09 PM

Joe, you want me to try and meet you in Dallas or east of Dallas?

JD

I have a tentative route mapped out... will do the Ferry crossing again.

Mellow

11-30-2007, 12:12 PM

Joe, you want me to try and meet you in Dallas or east of Dallas?

JD

Where will you be? I'm taking I-20 towards Shreveport.

MAC_JD

11-30-2007, 05:32 PM

Early in the week I'll be In San Antonio. Later part of the week I'll be in Houston. I'm easy, where you want to meet?

JD

motomac

11-30-2007, 06:03 PM

I stayed in Creola last year, but it was right on the Interstate at exit 19. This year I'm staying in Uriah. It is listed as Atmore on the web site. Claude D. Kelley State Park. It is just off 21 near 59. Looks like I can just go south on 59 and get to the restaurant with no problem.

Mellow

11-30-2007, 06:47 PM

Early in the week I'll be In San Antonio. Later part of the week I'll be in Houston. I'm easy, where you want to meet?

JD

Do you use a gps? I can send you the route. We can meet in Viva, LA or some place. that's right before the ferry crossing.. I'm avoiding I-10..

MAC_JD

11-30-2007, 10:32 PM

Please send me the route and I will plug it in my GPS. I'll meet you on the way.

JD

Do you use a gps? I can send you the route. We can meet in Viva, LA or some place. that's right before the ferry crossing.. I'm avoiding I-10..

sandman

12-01-2007, 08:10 AM

Thought I'd ride up to Blakely and Uriah tomorrow to get some pics of those campgrounds for you guys. I'll post when I can.

ParkerBill

12-01-2007, 08:15 AM

Wow!! Glad to see so many people that were at FL-STOC coming. As Gordon knows, I'm also planning to be there. Looking forward to seeing everyone.

Mellow

12-01-2007, 09:08 AM

Thought I'd ride up to Blakely and Uriah tomorrow to get some pics of those campgrounds for you guys. I'll post when I can.

Thanks Gordon, you da man!

sandman

12-02-2007, 05:03 PM

Blakely State Park Pics

Only had time to make it to Blakely today and looks like the campground is made for you guys, has new picnic table at each site, fire-ring and look at the pile of firewood I found at site #1 with deadfall all around. Unfortunately, looks aren't everything. There are no bath house facilities available yet at Blakely.

In talking to the ranger I found out the same old Alabama attitude of one tent per campsite crap unless the extra tents are family. He said there is a primitive area with campsites all around a central grass area that is available for multiple tent campers.

Guess this means if you want to stay at this park you guys are gonna need to be brothers or cousins, etc.

Mellow

12-02-2007, 05:10 PM

Thanks Gordon. I'd like to think we are all brothers and sisters.. just, adopted.

motomac

12-02-2007, 05:22 PM

Mellow

12-02-2007, 05:37 PM

Claude D. Kelley is now known as Little River State Forest. It is on Hgwy 21 just south of 59. I haven't come up with what facilities they have. Primitive camping allows 4 people on a site and is $10 a night. I checked my trusty dusty campground guide and they have showers also.

Still shows as Claude D Kelly SP on mapsource. Sounds like it might be a little easier to get more on a site. Sounds good to me.

ChipSTer

12-02-2007, 05:54 PM

Here is the official link to Alabama State Parks (http://www.alapark.com/)...
Here is a link that shows *all* the Alabama State Parks (http://www.stateparks.com/al.html)... Don't know what the difference really is... :confused:
:cool:

motomac

12-02-2007, 06:11 PM

Still shows as Claude D Kelly SP on mapsource. Sounds like it might be a little easier to get more on a site. Sounds good to me.

I think it is a recent change. The two links Chipster posted one lists it as CDK, but the other one doesn't. I hit one where it said formerly CDK and now is Little River State Forest.

sandman

12-02-2007, 07:39 PM

motomac

12-03-2007, 04:48 AM

I'll try to get up there sometime this week to check out CD Kelly for you guys.

It's a real shame about Blakely, there was firewood already cut up and deadfall all over the place, Mac would have been in heaven!

Thanks for the hard work of riding your bike all the way up there from Mobile!!!! That little pile of wood you showed would have lasted the FLSToc guys about an hour. :crackup The web site for Little River doesn't say much, but the write up in my campground guide gives a pretty good feel for this one. There are two listed on 21. The other is a private one, but small and doesn't mention tents. Ponderosa RV Park. Thanks again!!!

sandman

12-03-2007, 05:44 AM

Thanks for the hard work of riding your bike all the way up there from Mobile!!!! That little pile of wood you showed would have lasted the FLSToc guys about an hour. :crackup The web site for Little River doesn't say much, but the write up in my campground guide gives a pretty good feel for this one. There are two listed on 21. The other is a private one, but small and doesn't mention tents. Ponderosa RV Park. Thanks again!!!

You didn't see the rest of the area(see pic)there was deadfall all around site #1. Some of it was cut up but most of it was still untouched. It would have taken the FLSTOC guys a week to burn half of it. Looked like the rangers never cleaned up any of the fallen trees from the last hurricane, at least those away from the campsites.

Oh yeah it's such hard work to run up there, I would have made it to Uriah if I hadn't had to work on that greenhouse yesterday morning, I just ran out of daylight and my little camera wouldn't have made decent pics in the dark.

I couldn't believe there were no bath facilities at Blakely. The ranger said there were plans to build a bathhouse at the primitive area and the pull through area this year. If they continue the improvements this will be a nice campground in a few years but it's not even close yet.

sandman

12-04-2007, 07:22 PM

Beautiful day for a ride up to Uriah,AL and got some good pics of Little River State Park. These folks have a "heated" bathhouse near the ranger office, and bathrooms near the campground. This is one beautiful campground with campsites around the edge of a large open area. There is plenty of woods with deadfall around for Mac and Joe to create "the fire"

Check out the attached pics.

motomac

12-04-2007, 08:04 PM

Gordon, you are a champ. Thanks my friend. I had a pretty good feeling about that place when I checked the web sites and read the Campground Directory. Looks like it may be a site for BamaSToc next year!!! Thanks again Gordon.

sandman

12-04-2007, 08:47 PM

BamaSTOC, I said the same thing to Shuey this afternoon. We're now going to be looking for good roads to ride in the area.

Here are a couple of Shuey's pics of the bathhouse across the lake and the bathrooms near the campsites.

Mac, hope you have a safe ride down to Garner this weekend, and I was so glad to hear that Gail is up and around.

ChipSTer

12-04-2007, 10:04 PM

Good luck with finding decent motorcycle roads in the area... Most everything is flat and straight... A better endeavor might be to find points of interest/destinations... That is if BamaSToc is held there next year...
:cool:

ChipSTer

12-07-2007, 11:21 PM

I plan on leaving Prattville around 6:30 AM and taking this route (http://tinyurl.com/3xhjth) down to Stockton... If anybody wants to join me, I'll be at the intersection of Hwy14 and Hwy82 (Chevron Station) about 6:15 AM topping off the gas tank etc... :04biker: Expected arrival time is between 10:30 & 11:00 Central Time...
P.S. Should my *undeserved* reputation precede me; it will be a leisurely pace (expect gas mileage in the high 40's, low 50's)...
:cool:

sandman

12-08-2007, 05:47 AM

P.S. Should my *undeserved* reputation precede me; it will be a leisurely pace.
:cool:

OK,

You're right your reputation is underserved, but it's fun ain't it? :headbang:

Glad to hear you're coming.

Lou65

12-08-2007, 07:30 AM

OK,

You're right your reputation is underserved, but it's fun ain't it? :headbang:

Glad to hear you're coming.

I don't know who you Guys are kidding, I was there......hehe

Shuey

12-10-2007, 10:23 AM

No good roads? If you're riding south in Alabama, try Route 41 from Camden south to Monroeville - you'll have a great ride! Gordon and I tried it out after a local wing rider in Uriah recommended it and it was so much fun that I rode it back. Curves and hills - it's all you want in a ride. It's part of ChipSTers route too, and the rest of his way south on 59 looks great on the map! :D

Shuey

12-10-2007, 10:55 AM

If anyone's heading west to Stagecoach from Florida and doesn't want to just ride the interstate, I can link up in Crestview about 7:00'ish (CST).

Winged_STer

12-13-2007, 08:30 PM

Shuey,

I am thinking of running up there for the event. I would be interested meeting you and others riding up from central Florida. You think to your area around 7'ish? That would mean I would have to leave here around 4'ish:confused:

I think I could do it... is the air even out by then?

Gary

PS> got the shirt. Thanks!

Winged_STer

12-13-2007, 08:40 PM

Oh my... I just looked at the map. I'd have to leave at midnight.:hyp1:

I may have to reconsider the logistics of this. Gonna depend if there are any other riders going up from the Tampa Bay area. It's about 450 miles just to Shueys. Not sure I want to do that by myself in the middle of the night.

We'll figure something out. Anyone else interested from the area?

Gary

Shuey

12-14-2007, 02:01 PM

You've got a standing reservation at the Wolfe B&B if you want to come up the day/evening before - clean stall for the STeed and clean sheets for the rider! Late check-in not a problem.

Oh my... I just looked at the map. I'd have to leave at midnight.:hyp1:

I may have to reconsider the logistics of this. Gonna depend if there are any other riders going up from the Tampa Bay area. It's about 450 miles just to Shueys. Not sure I want to do that by myself in the middle of the night.

We'll figure something out. Anyone else interested from the area?

Gary

Winged_STer

12-14-2007, 08:07 PM

A most gracious offer. Thank you. I will PM you for the details!

ChipSTer

12-25-2007, 09:39 PM

Dang it... Weather is calling for rain... I did this thing last year in the rain... Ain't interested in doing it in the rain again... :banghead:
:cool:

motomac

12-26-2007, 01:08 PM

So, who's camping besides me????

SilverSTreak

12-27-2007, 09:50 PM

Weather is looking OK so I'm shooting for a SaddleSore 1000 for the round trip - hope to meet some of you there.

Probably leaving Tampa area around 1:00 AM - I-75 to I-10 most of the way. Should be there right about 9:30 AM

ChipSTer

12-27-2007, 10:20 PM

Well... now that the rain has cleared up, I still can't make it... wife is have a minor out patient procedure and needs someone to be around for 24 hours (I thought her mother was going to do it... turns out I am going to do it...) That'll put me leaving the house around 2:00pm... Way too late... I guess I'll catch up with you guys some other time... :eat1: Eat some for me...
:cool:

h2orider

12-28-2007, 07:18 AM

I will be leaving on Saturday about 3:30 AM headed down to stagecoach planning on continuing the ride to mobile after lunch for SS 1000 and then return home planning on being at the restaurant round 11:30 hope to see some of you all there . Mac I will try to look you
Hope everyone has a safe ride their

Kreis

ChipSTer

12-28-2007, 09:22 AM

If I didn't know better, I would say the weather is just about exactly what it was last year....:22yikes: Is this event Jinxed?
:cool:

sandman

12-28-2007, 09:29 AM

dduelin

12-28-2007, 11:32 AM

If I didn't know better, I would say the weather is just about exactly what it was last year....:22yikes: Is this event Jinxed?
:cool:

Day trip it. The forecast for Saturday itself is good across Alabama.

dduelin

12-28-2007, 01:38 PM

I try to park against the grassy area at the East side of the lot.

We need to get a group pic for the site if you guys can meet up in the grass about 1:00pm.

Looking forward to meeting new folks and seeing old friends again.

Ride Safe!!

Gordon,

I am going to try and make it for the lunch, I can't believe I have to ride all the way to MS to get enough miles in to make an attempt on a SS1000!

motomac

12-28-2007, 03:30 PM

Chipster, when I came through Prattville a couple of hours ago, it was the only place on this trip I saw sun shine. South of there to Atmore it poured. It quit as I turned off the Interstate. I set up camp at Little River and now I'm having catfish and hush puppies at Dave's in Atmore. See ya'll Saturday.

SilverSTreak

12-28-2007, 05:34 PM

If anyone's heading west to Stagecoach from Florida and doesn't want to just ride the interstate, I can link up in Crestview about 7:00'ish (CST).

Shuey - Not sure how the timing will work out, but we (me and my BMW buddy) are getting off I-10 and onto US 90 just ahead of Crestview so will be on the lookout - anyplace special in Crestview? Also I'll be on CB Channel 3 if anyone is looking.

Mellow

12-28-2007, 05:44 PM

sandman

12-29-2007, 05:17 PM

The recurring theme for the Stagecoach ride seems to be riding in the rain. We did have a couple of hours to stand around the parking lot and meet and greet without getting too wet.

The lunch buffet by the folks at the Stagecoach restaurant was especially good this year.

Sorry I didn't get a picture of everyone but there is always a lot going on.

Here are the pics I got today. It was good to see you guys again.

1. Chris Mixon with Al and Liz from Louisiana

2. Orlin and Gordon from Alabama

3. Shuey from Niceville, Dave from Jacksonville, and Bill from Tampa Florida

4. Chris from Maryland

I hope I haven't forgotten anybody, there were a bunch of folks from Tampa, FL.

The longest distance award went to a rider from Washington State (3100 miles)

The oldest rider award went to the gentleman pictured below at 71 yrs old

The oldest bike ridden was a '75 Harley.

The youngest rider was 27 yrs.

motomac

12-29-2007, 06:10 PM

Well, that's my last RTE of this year. I should have left earlier, but I thought since I missed out on the LD award last year maybe I had a chance this year. The guy from WA was on an HD and was on a quest for back to back BBG's but snow in Northern CA nixed his chance. Was great to see all the STers there and meet some new folks. Gordon, if I didn't thank you for lunch THANKS!!! Oh my GPS decided to route me a different wa) home so I in Gadsen AL for the first time of my life.

ChipSTer

12-29-2007, 06:58 PM

Gadsden, AL is a nice place... There are a lot of RV parks and one state park; Nocalula Falls (I probably misspelled that!)...
The forecast may have called for clear weather all across Alabama for Saturday, but judging by the pictures of the parking lot, that wasn't exactly true... Hope you guys had fun and I'll catch you at a future STOC event... :D
:cool:

gene

12-29-2007, 07:09 PM

Hey Gordon who was the Chris from Md, was he one our
ST guys ?

Shuey

12-29-2007, 07:13 PM

My first RTE and it was a great one. Thanks to Gordon for starting the thread and providing the invite. Nice seeing the friends I knew already and meeting a few new ones; more faces to go with the screen names. If I could just remember the real ones! It was also great to congratulate Mac and give his hand a shake for being awarded this year's MOTY!

I rode North for a little fun when I left and only had to go about 5 miles before I hit dry roads and no rain under overcast skies. Went up 59 to Uriah then headed East and South. Was back in the rain within 10 miles and rode in it most of the way home. Good thing I brought THREE pairs of WATERPROOF gloves! Very little traffic and a great ride!

PS: Apologies to "Silver STreak"- it would have been great to meet up in Crestview, I didn't check the forum this morning. Saw your STeed at Stagecoach and wondered who's it was. 'till next time.

sandman

12-29-2007, 08:41 PM

Hey Gene,

Yeah he was your buddy H20 and he was wondering where you were at:Chair1: :crackup

Really was some screwy weather out there today and it's still here.

motomac

12-29-2007, 08:54 PM

Hey Gene,

Yeah he was your buddy H20 and he was wondering where you were at:Chair1: :crackup

Really was some screwy weather out there today and it's still here.

WOW, the farther North I went the better it got. It was 63 when the sun started its decent. 55 when I pulled off here in Gadsen. Good night.

dduelin

12-29-2007, 10:43 PM

Yeah, there is the forecast and there is the real weather. Thanks Sandman for staying a bit later and watching me eat as I arrived after everyone else was done but I did get in 1029 miles in 19 hours and 58 minutes. I rode through heavy rain and lots of fog in eastern and central AL in the wee hours but by 11:00 AM the sun was out where I crossed the state line into MS. That did not last long as it became cloudy and damp again as I arrived at the Stagecoach. Upon leaving for home I was in steady rain within 15 minutes of leaving Stockton. It finally stopped raining 100 miles later. Still, I had a good ride. My garage is always warm and dry but I can't ride very far in there.

Lou65

12-30-2007, 12:16 AM

Well Dang....I was late to the party and there was nothing
left but puddles....it was 250 miles to Stockton and I only saw one motorcycle the first 220 miles (a preview of things to come), when I rolled into the Stagecoach Cafe at 2 PM there were no bikes.....so I just puttered back home.

Sorry I missed seeing everyone, but I had a great ride anyway....had a hundred miles of rain and 20 miles with a little sleet, but it was 50 degrees so it was no problem.

When I left Bham at 9AM, I thought I was going to the grocery store, but the Beast got the Best of Me and I ended up in Mobile....came down the back way (in a few places the roads were smoking...Chipster?) and back up to the Magic City on I 65. Glorious every minute.

PS Don't tell anybody but I cruised some of those lonely
S Al. counties at 90....think I still have a little adrenaline
goin.....

sandman

12-30-2007, 06:53 AM

Lou,

I wondered what happened to you.

The weather drove everybody away early this year. The parking lot only had 4 or 5 bikes left when Dave got there at 1:00pm. We were the last ones to leave about 10 mins to 2:00pm. We just missed you.

I guess you slipped by the Strate Toopers that usually hang around those roads. I love it when that happens.

Sorry we missed you but I'm glad you got that STeed out for some exercise, even if the weather was sloppy.

ChipSTer

12-30-2007, 07:06 AM

...came down the back way (in a few places the roads were smoking...Chipster?)...
PS Don't tell anybody but I cruised some of those lonely
S Al. counties at 90....think I still have a little adrenaline
goin.....
I had to stay home this year. The wife had an out patient procedure and needed someone to stay with her for 24 hours. Originally it was going to be her mom, but something else came up for her, so the duty fell to me... I normally go pretty fast down some of those county roads, but 90 is a little extreme even for me... :crackup Good thing you didn't get caught... Some of those 'county' guys are not real friendly... DAMHIK! :22yikes:
:cool:

SilverSTreak

12-30-2007, 12:47 PM

OK, Sandman did leave me out of his list, but I may have been there and left before he got there.

Me and my BMW buddy Larry left Sun City Center FL at 1:00 AM. It was warm (68) and clear and all the weather reports I read at midnight said the storms would be over by midnight so I figured by the time we would be getting up there it would be fine... NOT!

When we got up around Gainesville it cooled down significantly enough to force a stop to dress warmer, and shortly after that we were in and out of pea soup fog. That continued off and on until we got to Tallahassee where the fog became solid - and then about 30 miles west the rain started. It was light at first but soon became a deluge. I could feel the water shooting off my front tire onto mu boots at times. The visibility was the WORST I have ever encountered - between the dark, the fog and the heavy rain. We did press on hoping we would punch through the front - yeah right. It rained pretty much solid and mostly heavy all the rest of the way to Stockton.

We got off I-10 at exit 70 (285) and picked up US90 west from there. It was 7:45 EST when we rolled through Crestview - I kept a keen eye out for Shuey but didn't spot anyone on or near a motorcycle. We got onto 31 in Flomation where after sitting through 3 cycles of the light we finally had to run the red.

We got into the Stagecoach parking lot at 8:43 (7:43 local time). There were only 6 bikes in the parking lot. (See 1st attachment) We went in and half of those bikes were owned by a crew of folks who also came up from the Tampa area - but overnighted in a hotel somewhere. (See 2nd attachment) Sorry - I don't recall all the names, but one who signed our IBA witness forms was Clement Lemieux from St. Pete. I did meet Motomac (standing on far right of attachment 2)who was also there with the Tampa folks. For a while it looked like that might be all who would show!

Eventually bikes started trickling, then then pouring (almost) in. (See 3rd attachment) I cat napped for a while while my buddy Larry chatted up some folks he had met previously, including one guy he met in Hyder, AK.

We decided to leave at about noon (11:00 local time) and it was chilly and sprinkling on and off. The further east we went the better it got and by the time we were in Tally it was clearing up nicely. We managed to get back to Sun City Center at 8:15 PM - capping off our SS1000 with 1050 miles in 15:48 not including the 3:26 we spent at the Stagecoach.

motomac

12-30-2007, 03:27 PM

OK, I'm home. What a heck of a day this has been. I feel like I've been rode hard and didn't even get put away, let alone wet. Congratualtions to those of you who accomplished your SS1000's. This was definately not the optimum weekend to do that. I only got in a little over 700 miles today and feel like I did 1500. It rained from Gadsen AL to Knoxville TN. Not a hard rain, but cold and steady. 43 when I left AL, and steadily got colder the farther north I went. It got to 32 just north of Knoxville and then jumped up to 36 where it stayed the rest of the ride. The sun tried to poke out of the clouds twice after I got to Ohio, but didn't do a thing for the temperature. Again congratulations to those of you who did your SS's and Lou and Dave, I'm sorry I missed ya'll.

Added a photo of Shuey,Gordon, Orlin, and Chris