DIXIE-STOC #1 October 24-27,2013

[challenger]

DIXIE STOC #1
October 24 – 27, 2013
--> RSVP Here <--

WHEN -- October 24 – 27, 2013

WHERE -- Little River Park, 18997 Hwy 21, Atmore, AL http://www.littleriverstatepark.com/ The campsites are within 100 yards of a brand new shower / bath facility! I was assured that if we rent 3 sites we get the 4th one FREE. The camp managers have waived the limit on the number of campers per site, so 4 or 5 are allowed for about $5.00 EACH per night. Once I get an idea of the total number of guests, I will begin reserving the sites.

WHAT -- A weekend of riding, camaraderie and adventure on the back roads of South Alabama and Northwest Florida.

PLACES TO STAY -- There are 4 hotel/motels within 12 miles ...

Muskogee Inn - http://www.muskogeeinn.com/,

Holiday Inn Express - http://www.hiexpress.com/hotels/us/e...iclientid=1962,

Hampton Inn - http://www.hilton.com/search/1/us/al...0/50?wt.srch=1 and

Wind Creek Casino & Hotel - http://www.reservationcounter.com/ho...Hotel%20Atmore.

--- FRI - OCT 25th – “Breakfast at the STAGECOACH” – http://www.viewmenu.com/the-stagecoa...enu?ref=google Rolling out about 0700 we begin our ride with a leisurely hop down AL 21 to I-65 South for a speed run to Exit 34 and then another 5 miles up AL 59 and the Stagecoach Cafe for breakfast. After the meal we continue north on AL 59 for a 2 hour ride to Camden. The first 58 miles over AL 59, CR 1 and other shorter roads, is a pleasant ride through the back roads of south Alabama. However, once we turn onto AL 41 there begins a whole new riding experience for some. RIDE AT YOUR OWN PACE ... RIDE AT YOUR OWN PACE ... RIDE AT YOUR OWN PACE. For you mountain riders it will seem like a little bit of home hiding out in south Alabama, but for you flat land and desert riders you will probably be praying for it to end ... Happily ... and SOON! This can be a challenging 32 miles of ups and downs, twists and turns, blind curves and hills that for a novice, might seem like a mini Dragon at 60 mph. There are speed limit signs at the entrances to the severe twisties ... HEED THEM! We have found a GREAT BBQ restaurant, http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/820041 , just 5 miles south of Monroeville in Excel, AL., and the route is set. RIDE – 246+ miles, TIME 5:00 + 3:00 meal and pit stops. The Sandman was kind enough to do a Garmin GPX file and I have included it for your perusal.


--- SAT - OCT 26th – “Breakfast at The ANCHOR” – http://www.yelp.com/biz/anchor-cafe-atmore Rolling out about 0700 we head south on Hwy #21 for 18 miles to Atmore, Al, where we will enjoy the “greasy spoon” cuisine of one of the best home cooked breakfast this small town diner has to offer. After breakfast we ride for an hour southwest some 51 miles to “Battleship Memorial Park"http://www.ussalabama.com/, just east of Mobile, Al. After exploring the battleship and museum we make a speed run on I-10 to Pensacola, FL and exit at 7A. Lunch will be on the go at a local WHATABURGER restaurant http://www.whataburger.com/, then we make our way to the "Museum of Naval Aviation"http://www.navalaviationmuseum.org/visit on NAS Pensacola for a visit. There is also a Honda shop enroute that we can visit if anyone is interested. Leaving the museum we negotiate our way north through Pensacola to and up US 29 and then FL 97 for a 53 mile jaunt ending Davids Catfish http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/74/78130...h-House-Atmore , or some other restaurant in Atmores Food Court. RIDE – 200+ miles, TIME 4:00 + 5:00 exploring + 2:30 meals.



For those that would like to spend time closer to the base camp but yet get a little riding in, Atmore will be having their annual Fall Festival - Williams Station Day - http://www.frontiernet.net/~atmoreal/stnday.htm near downtown from 0900 to 1700 on Saturday. Plenty of food, fun, and entertainment and the entrance is FREE!

--- SUN - OCT 27th – “Breakfast on the RUN” – OPTIONAL – For those that want to enjoy another breakfast there is the “food court” just south of I-65 - the Muskogee Inn, Hardees, McDonalds, the Waffle House, plus the Wind Creek Casino “all you can eat” breakfast buffet. Hope you enjoyed yourselves ... Y’all come back now hear!

THINGS TO DO … PLACES TO GO!

http://www.windcreekcasino.com/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Flomat...m/174185702053

http://www.wfrm.org/

http://www.gulfshores.com/things-to-do/attractions/

http://www.visitpensacola.com/****

[Mellow]

Looks like fun, I made this a sticky and added an RSVP link - will add to the home page and all the other stuff shortly.

[sandman]

I like the location planned if the campground works out. Is it still Claude Kelly State Park or has it gone back to Little River?

Thought I might like to look into a couple of ride routes for those long legged riders that sometimes show up. Looking at Stockton to Selma for Barbeque at Hancock's, R&B or Hickory Pit, ever been there? It's a 250+- loop from Stagecoach to Selma and back to the campground. Should be doable for lunch. Want to do a test run with me next week?

[challenger]

Gordon,

We have always called it Little River State Park ... but I think the actual campgrounds and swimming area are Claude Kelly ... or "the old swimmin hole"!!

Sounds Great ... this Fri OR Sat morning would be just fine ... rendezvous at Stagecoach and head up through Thomasville to Selma ... I'm always up for GOOD BBQ!!

Dan

[roginoz]

I haven't been to Alabama for a while. You guys won't laugh at me if I put butter and maple syrup in my grits, will you? Can I assume there is a motel reasonably close by for non-campers?

[challenger]

Hello,

Check the original posting ... I have added motel / hotels within 12 miles of the campsite.

Butter and syrup ... I've seen people eat rice with milk and sugar ... guess you'll do! I'm guessing you are from above the Mason / Dixon line!

Dan

[T_C]

Darn. Would love to be there but gotta be in Vegas for my little 'cuz getting married.

I wil be taking a southern way home.. so if anyone is still around 2 weeks later, I'll see ya there.

[challenger]

Sandman and I got in some prime time riding yesterday as we checked out one of the routes we are putting together for DIXIE-STOC. We met up at Stagecoach at 0750, but it didn't open until 0830 that day so we spent awhile talking, checking out our bikes and getting to know one another. Did I mention that it was cold?

We went in when it opened and ate a leisurely breakfast, trying to get a feel for time as if this was “Ride Day”. Stagecoach - http://www.viewmenu.com/the-stagecoa...enu?ref=google - is a very good, reasonably priced, country buffet style restaurant with the hours of operation in the link above. Breakfast for each of us was under $8.00 ... and VERY FILLING! Did I mention that it was overcast?

I had noticed on the 33 mile ride in from my home that the temperature indicator was only registering 1 bar, and I mentioned that to Sandman and he said I might be having thermostat issues and should have it checked before Spring. We finished our meals, paid our bills, emptied our bladders, geared up and mounted our respective STeeds. Did I mention that it was overcast and cold?

Once on the road, Hwy 59 north, the ambient temperature was a sweltering 46 degrees with the winds out of the WNW at 7 miles an hour and a riding speed of about 65 mph ... I’ll let someone much smarter than me do the math for the windchill factor. I had layered up for the ride and Sandman was electrified and toasty but there were still gaps where cold air crept in, I zipped my pockets closed and things warmed a bit. For the next 90 miles the temperature remained around 46 degrees and did not budge. Did I mention that it was cold, overcast and we were riding motorcycles.

Hwy 59 is 25 miles of well paved and maintained straights and twisties with hills and valleys but is not over taxing to the average rider, County Road #1 is another 22 miles of the same but the road surface is not quite as good, then you get 2 miles of US 84 and 8 miles of County Road 39 and both are very well maintained and quite easy to ride. Once you turn onto AL 41 you enter a whole new world. RIDE AT YOUR OWN PACE ... RIDE AT YOUR OWN PACE ... RIDE AT YOUR OWN PACE. For you mountain riders it will seem like a little bit of home hiding out in south Alabama, but for you flat landers and desert riders you will probably be praying for it to end ... Happily ... and SOON! This was my second trip, and Sandman and I plan on making several more before DIXIE-STOC, and it is and can be a challenging 32 miles of ups and downs, blind curves and hills that twist and turn that, for a novice, might seem like a mini Dragon at 60 mph. There are speed limit signs at the entrances to the severe twisties ... HEED THEM! I was enjoying going down hill through some lefts and rights, very comfortable in the middle of my lane when a truck approached that also looked to be very comfortable in the middle of my lane. He waved as we met. Climbing another hill I underestimated the sharpness of the right hander and drifted into the oncoming lane as we were switching back to a left hander, I grabbed more throttle and leaned over more than I had ever been just in time to miss an oncoming pickup truck. I think I still have some of my seat up my ... Passing through Camden we continue up AL 41 for another 38 miles on mostly straight well maintained roads with gentle curves until reaching Selma, Alabama.

The return trip will begin on Al 41 south until we turn left onto AL 89 for 11 miles then to AL 21 for 20 miles then AL 21/AL 47 for 22 miles on to AL 21 for the last 24 miles back to Base camp! There are a few nice curves during the return trip, but most of the next almost 100 miles is simply miles and miles of miles and miles and really enjoyable and relaxing. We stopped at a country store in Oak Hill, about 6 miles down Al 21, for a bladder break and it looks like a good spot to use during DIXIE-STOC. Here is a map of the proposed route for the long ride. E covers A which is the campsite location and starting point for our rides.


** NOTE on this trip. Going through Camden, AL, we detoured up AL 28 and over to the William Dannelly reservoir and adjoining power station for a picture and bladder break. Then we continued up AL 28 and across the power dam, turned right on AL 5 until it joined with AL 22 and rode that into Selma for lunch at Hancock’s. That was the BBQ Pits name and ... well ... pit it may be. The portions were good sized, the drinks were plentiful and the price was right $7.45 for a rib plate or BBQ plate and plenty of sides ... However ... The meal does seem to lay heavy for awhile before suddenly getting on the move ... Sandman can give a more detailed view of his experiences. We will be returning to Selma several more times in search of a GOOD BBQ Pit!!

[challenger]

I was so looking forward to the trip this Friday morning. The thought of adding another rider on our journey to find the best BBQ in Selma, Alabama has become a quest for me, but then I got a very early call from Sandman saying that he couldn’t make this run and that his friend has an impacted wisdom tooth. What to do ... I was almost dressed, the BeaST was warmed up, and my wife and son had already eaten breakfast ... what to do ... hug the boy and kiss the wife as they leave for school ... finish my morning coffee ... turn off the lights and heater and saddle up for a “three hour tour”.

At 0725 the temperature was 41F when I made five minute ride the Anchor, one of the restaurants highlighted in Dixie-SToC, and ordered a hearty breakfast, but not a meal good FOR the heart. Two eggs - hard scrambled, crispy bacon, well-done hash brows, wheat toast and a glass of OJ to finish the meal, $8.50 and DELICIOUS! I do NOT recommend eating a HUGE breakfast as you will NOT be hungry at lunchtime.

I pulled out just after 0800 and fueled up, the BeaST temperature registered 44F as I pointed BeaST north up AL 21 and the ride into Monroeville. Traffic was light and the school buses had already finished their jobs for the morning. I kept to the speed limits and the 41 mile trip took about an hour. I purposely wanted to go slow to give my stomach time to digest the breakfast.

Arriving in Monroeville just at 0900, I stopped long enough to get some shots of the old courthouse, made famous in “To Kill A Mockingbird”, and mount my camera on its stalk for the trip up AL 41. The temperature had risen to 47F as I rolled out of the courthouse square. There is some road construction going on just out side of Monroeville as they repair some of AL 41 that washed downhill. There are one or two really nice series of curves during the first 8 miles on Al 41 and the roadway is in good shape but it is just after the intersection of CR 39 with AL 41 that things really get interesting. This is my third trip up AL 41 and my confidence is improving and I didn’t wander into the oncoming lane or meet anyone in my lane ... mainly because I was behind 2 eighteen wheelers for about 10 of the 20 best miles of “The Sidewinder” ... That is what I am calling this little run ... after all the Snake and the Dragon are taken. The entire run between Monroeville and Camden is just over 40 miles with about 25 miles being twists and turns, ups and down and some white knuckle riding at its best. Because I was slowed by the 18 wheelers ahead of me I was able to really check out the curves, and some are banked the wrong way, like Deadman’s Curve in California.

It was about 1015 and 51F when I stopped in Camden to remove my camera and do a couple of deep knee bends. The first 15 miles out of Camden toward Selma still resemble parts of the Sidewinder but then it is a series of long straights going up and down ... slight curve ... repeat ... it is another 40 miles from Camden to Selma and I again took my time arriving at Lannies BBQ on Minter Avenue at 1125 and 57F. The entire ride of 121 miles in 3 hours and 20 minutes had been under a bright blue cloudless sky with the sun just off my right shoulder and not even the hint of a breeze. I wouldn’t see clouds until I turned back south and then a scattering of puffy white cotton balls would be sprinkled the sky.

Lannies is not on any main drag, it is not a fancy restaurant, it is more of a neighborhood snack bar from days gone by. http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/74/78405...B-Q-Spot-Selma The parking lot is mostly dirt with a small paved area, there is seating for about 36 but you order at the counter. Maybe it is a Selma thing, but this sauce on Lannies rib plate is also vinegar based and too bitter for me, however the fries and onion rings are great and plentiful! The drinks are bottled but I assume that sweet tea is also available. They have a complete snack bar menu with burgers and chicken and all the usual fare. The food is good, filling and reasonable $10.00, but the nicest thing is that it didn’t move, in fact it the onion rings did not bother me until the next day. After eating all that I could, I dressed, minus my scarf, snowmobile gloves, and sweatshirt and headed south at 1220 and it was 61F. The sun was almost directly overhead and there were a few clouds beginning to appear. I retraced the last leg of my trip down AL 41 until I reached AL 89 and there I turned left for about 12 miles of some of the best maintained roads with enough twists and turns and ups and downs to keep you awake and enjoying the ride at 60-70-80 miles an hour. There are a couple of places that you can push it even faster! Then it is a right on to AL 21 for the next 83.5 miles home. BTW it took me 1:55 minutes from Lannies to my front door, 118 miles, including 1 gas stop averaging 42 miles to the gallon for the entire trip.

For most of the ride the vast majority of traffic that I encountered was between Atmore and Monroeville, both going and coming. From Monroeville to Selma I had two cars overtake me and I was able to pass the 2 eighteen wheelers on a short straight in the Sidewinder. It was the same story on the return home, very little traffic from Selma to Monroeville and then traffic to my home.

Happy accident ... I asked the owner to put my leftovers in a GO box ... He dropped it in the kitchen ... 10 minutes later he brought me a completely new order ... I loaded it into the trunk and it was still warm at 1415 when I got home and put it in the refrigerator for my wife and son tomorrow.

Sandman said there is another BBQ in Selma, the Hickory Pit, and that he may explore it next Friday. I hope this one is better or not so bitter as the others were.

The SIDEWINDER is on the left and the route I took to Selma and back is the other.

This is a three minute short of some of the easier parts on the north side of the Sidewinder. It should not be nearly as boring as the other!

[challenger]

Another Friday and a chance for the Sandman and I to go in search of good BBQ and for me to improve my riding skills. We were to meet at The Anchor in Atmore, Al at 0800. I was late, that means I got there at 0750, at about 0810 Mike Brantley strode in. He’s about 6’1” - 6’2” and dressed head to toe in a leather riding suit. This was our first meeting and as conversation progressed we found out that we had both been stationed in Germany when we were in the Army. We reminisced about the speeds on the autobahns and the flat back road curves of the German countryside. Sandman arrived around 0830 and joined us in a hearty get to know each other breakfast as Sandman and Mike had also never met. We took our time, talked bikes, swapped war stories, and found out that we all celebrated our wedding anniversaries in November. Mike begged off from the ride, he was on a borrowed bike, a BIG V-Star, and was not familiar or comfortable riding it for a 250 mile loop. We walked to our bikes and said our good byes to Mike as he eased out of the parking lot and we headed north. The skies were cloud filled, the temperature was in the mid 40’s and the wind was out of the north northwest at about 7 mph. The high for the day reached 52 degrees around 1230 but by then we had our backs to the wind.

I stopped by my house to pick up my camera, it was on the way, then we continued north. I took a wrong turn and instead of us going up the route from Stagecoach we had previously ridden we instead “discovered” another route that was being resurfaced as we rode it - BOONEVILE RD to AL 59 into Uriah, AL, then AL 21 to Monroeville and AL 41 north to AL 221 and AL 28 to the Dannelly Reservoir for a pit stop and foto op! I am getting better with AL 41 and with Sandmans suggestions, internet reading, and practice I might be able to see Shueys tail light disappear over the horizon!

We left Dannelly Reservoir and headed back down AL 28 to the Camden by-pass and then north on AL 41 for seventeen miles turning right onto AL 89 - 12 of the most beautiful hills and valleys with mostly sweeping curves that really let you push your bike. We turned right on AL 21 for the six mile jaunt to Oak Hill and another pit stop before continuing down AL 21 back into Monroeville and around the town square, then four miles down to AL 136E and another three miles to MARK’S BBQ at about 1500, http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/820041. The food is GREAT, portions are big, prices are right and all in a warm, friendly atmosphere. This one is looking like a winner!

After the late lunch we headed west on CR 23 to Frisco City and then left down AL 21. Thirty miles later Sandman and I pulled in to the BP Station just north of I-65, topped off our STeeds, made plans for another run in 2 weeks, shook hands and headed homeward bound.