Friday 12/01/17 Ride

Fellow Riders,

• Seems Mother Nature is giving us another nice day so I’m planning to use it to scoot on up to Flat Rock, NC for some lunch at the Flat Rock Wood Room.  Hope you can join me.  If so, let’s plan to leave the Key Mart parking area about 10:30 AM this Friday.   Dan

Flat Rock Wood Room

• It certainly did not feel like December 1st for the riders that came out for a ride to Flat Rock.  The baker's dozen group included leader Dan, David D., Len, me, Gary, Steve G., Kevin, Doug (on his new ride - an HD Fat Bob (see pics below)), Bill (with newest edition of Full Throttle Magazine, including his six articles), Pat, Terry, Bob B., and OG Bob. Dan worked his magic and turned a ride of 60 miles into a nearly two hour run through the Upstate of South Carolina and into North Carolina.  On mostly familiar roads, the ride was very interesting as we traveled northward on roads we usually travel southward.  Amazing how different the road looks coming from the other direction.  Thanks to Siri and Sue, tables for 13 were set up (again in a room far away from their non-motorcycle customers) and we were greeted by our server Evangeline.  She told us about the specials for the day and took our drink orders.  After our drink orders arrived, the owner stopped by looking for Dan and thanked him for bringing the group in.  He also quizzed Bob B. about is Ducati, but declined an offer to take it for a ride, fearing he may then want to buy it.  Our group did a good job of trying out many items on the menu, including the special wings.  Bill was hungry for some coleslaw, but didn't want to pay the $3 upcharge.  The server must have felt sorry for him, because she eventually brought him a serving of the slaw and said it was on the house.  OG Bob ordered one of the tallest hamburgers most of us had ever seen and made a gallant attempt to consume it. It took a little while to settle the bills, and then we headed out.  David D. and I took the express route home due to some commitments we had and Dan led the remainder of the group on another great route home.  Overall, it was another great day on two wheels.     Steve 

Doug now has a photo of two "Fat Bobs"

OG Bob's lunch - ruler reflects actual scale......

Friday 11/24/17 Ride

Fellow Riders,

• Friday looks like it will be a good day for a ride.  I thought I would head up to Chattooga Belle Farms for lunch at Belle's Bistro.  A cool ride should help us get over any residual tryptophan from Turkey Day.  We'll plan to leave Key Mart parking area at 10:30.  Hope to see you there.    Steve

Chattooga Belle Farm

Trip Advisor - Chattanooga Belle Farm

• It was a sunny and slightly cool day for the group of motorcyclists that arrived at the Key Mart parking area for a ride to Chattooga Belle Farm (not to be confused with "Chattanooga Belle Farm" as noted in my email earlier this week. Note to self - pay attention to auto spellcheck corrections).  There were eight riders and three "cagers" that came for the ride.  The riders included me, Rob, Dan, Lesley (up from the coast for a rare visit from our former regular rider), Steve G., Bob D., Chuck G., and Kevin (the Campbell's Scottish Highlands Golf Course is closed for the season).  The cagers included Pat and wife Tamara, and Bill with copies of the November issue of Full Throttle Magazine.  He assures us he will have published articles in the December issue.  The ride to Long Creek took us through Oconee County on some familiar and scenic roads.  Chattooga Belle closes this weekend for the season, but they assured me they would be open on the day after Thanksgiving.  We arrived and were welcomed by a couple of friendly servers and they set up a table for eleven.  The server showed us where the self-serve drinks were and also took some hot coffee orders for those needing to shake off some of the chill from the ride.  After taking our orders, we were served fairly quickly with a variety of choices from their menu.  The restaurant was not crowded and we enjoyed the view of the mountains.  It was a perfectly clear day to take in the wonderful vistas.  After lunch, the cagers and a couple of riders took a more direct route home and the rest of us headed north toward Mountain Rest.  The ride north was scenic and virtually no traffic.  Although we did not stop, a quick glance at the overlook on Wigington Road was spectacular.  The lakes looked incredible.  As we headed south on Hwy 130, we made the usual cut over to gas up at Little River Road and Hwy 11.  Overall, it was another great day on two wheels.     Steve

Friday 11/17/17 Ride

Fellow Riders,

• Steve has run off to see his new grandson (can’t blame him for that) leaving us to fend for ourselves, so I’m planning to putt on up to Landrum, SC for some lunch at the Hare & Hound Pub.  If you would like to join me let’s plan to leave the Key Mart parking area about 10:30 AM this Friday.  Hope you can make it.     Dan

The Hare & Hound

• I'm sure it was another great day on two wheels for the ride to the Hare & Hound.  But I couldn't resist getting to hold this guy:

I believe he's smiling because he knows he'll get to ride a Harley with his grandfather one  day......
Photo by Jennifer Riley

Friday 11/10/17 Ride

Fellow Riders,

• This ride notice is a little early, but just wanted to let you know I plan on stopping by the Vietnam Moving Wall on Friday after we have lunch.  I plan on going to the Midtown Grill in Clarkesville, GA.  We can then head back so we'll be at the Blue Ridge Cooperative office at Hwy's 123 and 11, between 1:30 and 2:00, where the Wall will be on display.  I know some riders may be going for the opening ceremony as well.  Sounds like a good day to honor our fellow veteran riders and all those that have served and are serving.  We'll leave the Key Mart parking area at 10:30, this Friday.  Hope you can make it.    Steve

Midtown Grill - Clarkesville, GA

• Once again, a perfect fall day in the Upstate of South Carolina.  Eight riders, including me, came to the Key Mart parking lot for a ride into Georgia this morning.  The other riders included Len, Dan, Doug, David D., Terry, Neil, and OG Boob.  We made our way southwest by winding through the back roads of Oconee county, avoiding downtown Walhalla, and into Georgia across the Tugaloo River.  We went around the outskirts of Toccoa and continued on the less travel roads to get into Clarkesville.  This was the first time for a visit to Midtown Grill, and thanks to a call ahead by Paulette, they knew we were coming.  They had plenty of room and it was not too crowded.  Based on their menu, hamburgers seemed to be their specialty and that is what most people ordered.  OG Bob did provide instructions to the server on how the Philly Steak should be made and there were no complaints on how it turned out.  The trip home included a stop at the Vietnam Moving Wall located at the Blue Ridge Cooperative office at Hwy's 123 and 11.  Even at half the size of the original in Washington, D.C., it is a moving tribute to those that fought and died during that war.  A lot of ROTC students were on hand from Oak High School to get understanding of the sacrifice that was made for all of us.  It was a moving tribute and we owe our veterans so much, especially being able to spend another great day on two wheels.  Veterans - thanks for your service.   Steve

Vietnam Moving Wall Memorial 11/10/17

Friday 11/03/17 Ride

Fellow Riders,

• The weather temps are looking good for a ride to Clayton for lunch at the Universal Joint on Friday.  If that sounds good to you, we'll plan to leave the Key Mart parking area at 10:30.  Hope to see you there.    Steve 

Universal Joint

• Our string of great fall days continued today and made for a very enjoyable ride to Clayton.  There were ten riders, including me, that came to Key Mart to meet up for the ride.  The other riders included Dan, Len, Gary, Bill (and the latest issue of Full Throttle Magazine), Pat, Doug, Neil, Ed, and OG Bob ( welcome back from HH).  We took some of the usual roads on our way up to Clayton.  We did veer off onto Seed Tick Road (Rob showed us this once) to add some nice twisties and come into Clayton on Main Street.  Len decided more riding was going to be better than lunch, so he continued north toward Lake Burton.  Since Siri still refuses to "call Sue" when I ask, I sent a text to Paulette to call ahead and let the Joint know we were coming.  When we arrived, we had a table outside waiting for us.  By this time, the sun was shining brightly and it was perfect for dining outside.  The service was great and so was the food.  I was glad we arrived early and had a table waiting because it was getting crowded by noon time.  The ride home was on the always great War Woman.  I believe we hit that road at precisely the peak color.  The fall colors were a little late this year, but War Woman looked like a magazine spread.  The colors continued on Hwy 28, but did gradually fade as we rode to lower elevations.  Overall, it was another great day on two wheels.      Steve

Trip Advisor - Universal Joint

OG Bob, Ed, and some of the other riders really enjoying War Woman.....