Friday 06/28/19 Ride

Fellow Riders,

• For this Friday's breakfast ride, I thought I would go to Randevu Restaurant in Cashiers, NC. Afterward, if there's still no rain threat, we can take another long and winding route home.  If that sounds good to you, we'll leave the Key Mart parking area at 8:30 am.  Hope to see you there.       Steve

Randevu Restaurant

• Another good day for a breakfast ride - cool and clear.  Joining me today were Len, Ray, Harve, Doug, Steve G., Terry, Bill, and OG Bob.  It was good to have OG Bob along again because the orange gloves help me see the last bike in the group.  We took the better paved option and went up Hwy 130/281 to get to Hwy 64.  There were some rough patches on 64, especially in some of the curves.  NC may be slipping in their road upkeep.  With a call ahead, they were ready for us and had us set up outside under the gazebo.  It was very pleasant seating as we were served our coffee.  Our server was an intern from the Philippines and was very organized in getting our orders correct and in a reasonable amount of time.  After we finished, a couple of riders took the direct route home  For the ride home, the rest of us took Hwy 107 north to Hwy 281 for a very scenic and winding ride home.  There was very little traffic to contend with, but the farther south we went, the road surface got pretty rough for a few miles.  As usual, by the time we got down the mountain, the temperature was definitely rising.  When we stopped for gas, a couple of riders mentioned seeing a coiled snake on the road. I didn't see the real snake, but I do notice the the SC DOT is creating a lot of tar snakes on some of the roads the way Georgia does.  Ugh!!  Overall, it was another great day on two wheels.    Steve

I see how I could have missed it....

  

Friday 06/21/19 Ride

Fellow Riders,

• It looks like we're getting cooperation from the weather folks this Friday.  I'm planning to ride to the Cupboard Café in Dillard, Ga.  It will take a little more than an hour to get there, but the breakfast is worth it.  If this sounds good to you, we'll plan to leave the Key Mart parking area at 8:30 am.  Hope to see you there.    Steve

The Cupboard Café

• The perfect first day of summer was a day for a perfectly large group of motorcyclists to come out for a breakfast ride.  Those joining me included Len, Gary, Terry, Rob, Ray, Russ, Harve, Bill, Pat, Doug, Chuck G. (first Friday ride in quite a while), Neil and friend Wayne (heading for Oregon tomorrow for the ride to honor Gold Star families), and Ed.  We took a pretty familiar route so we could get to our destination in about an hour.  (Note - riders tend to be hungrier in the morning.)  The cool temperatures in the mountains felt great and the sun was shining brightly as we arrived at the Cupboard Café.  Thanks to the call ahead by Paulette, they were aware we were coming, but had not quite gotten the table set up.  This gave some the chance to take a restroom break before eating.  Our server did a good and organized job getting our drinks and taking our orders. For the large group, it did not take too long to get our food, but as happens with large groups, one part of the table inevitably gets going first.  After the good meal (next time I'm getting the home made corned beef hash) some of the riders took a more direct route home while I headed for Highlands and and a winding ride down Hwy 28. You could definitely feel the temperatures rising as we made our way down toward Walhalla.  Overall, it was another great day on two wheels.   Steve

Approximate size of Russ's Breakfast Burrito.
Kudos to the man that Russ is - he finished it!!

  

Friday 06/14/19 Ride

Fellow Riders,

• The weather is looking pretty good for Friday, even a little on the cool side.  I'm thinking it will still be a good day for a breakfast ride to Grill @the barn in Lake Toxaway, NC.  After breakfast, I plan to head north on Hwy 281 for some curves and mountain riding.  The return home will be through Cashiers.  If this sounds good to you, we'll leave the Key Mart parking area at 8:30 am.  Hope to see you there.   Steve

Grill @ the barn

• Fourteen riders turned out on this 14th day of June for a breakfast ride.  It was unseasonably cool, more than some of us expected.  Those joining me were Lesley, Doug, Gary, Steve G., Len, Bill, Pat, Neil, Ed, Rob, Harve, David H. (first time rider - welcome!), Jeff, and me.  The direct ride up the mountain to Lake Toxaway was cool but quite beautiful with the clear blue skies.  The call ahead by Paulette worked out and they had us all set up.  They told her that 14 was overwhelming for them and weren't sure they could handle us.  They must have taken a deep breath and decided they could use an additional 14 customers this morning.  There were only two servers, one a rookie, but the main server was setting up water for us as we walked in and got us coffees right away.  Given the large number all at once, the orders came out in fairly good time, although Harve had to rush through his because some had finished by the time he was served.  We may have to scratch this one off our list.  After lunch, several riders headed back home and the rest followed me on our route north on Hwy 281 and then south on Hwy 107 through Cashiers. By the time we hit the gas station ay Hwy 11, you could start to feel the warmth of the sun.  Overall it was another great day on two wheels.   Steve

Good food and service, but a large group really makes them nervous.


Our after breakfast route.

Friday 06/07/19 Ride

Fellow Riders,

• After more than three weeks without rain, the forecast for this Friday looks like a rain make-up day.  With projections of 30 - 40% chance of rain, I thought I would go to breakfast at Dimas Brothers Cafe located in Seneca at 400 S. FairPlay Street.  Dimas Brothers is in the former Betty's Hungry House Cafe.  The owner of Vangeli's, Evan Dimas, has purchased this restaurant after it closed a few months ago.  If you're interested, let me know if you plan to attend so I can call ahead.  Hope to see you there.   Steve

Dimas Brothers Cafe

• The weather folks got the forecast right this week.  There was definitely a lot of rain, once again, on a Friday.  It was a good reason for 10 of us to check out the new owners of the former Betty's Hungry House Cafe.  Those joining me were Len, Dan, OG Bob, Chuck, Bill, Pat, David D., Larry (long time no see), and Ed.  With a call ahead, they had a place all set up for us in the back room.  Our server Kelly took pretty good care of us by keeping the coffee coming and getting all of our orders right.  Len asked her if the DBC biscuits were as good as Betty's famous biscuits, and she basically pled the fifth amendment.  The food was very tasty, especially the French Toast according to you-know-who, and we were served in pretty good time. Half the table did get a few minutes head start on enjoying the meal, but it wasn't that long of a wait.  We'll probably alternate between Dimas Brothers in Seneca and Sisters in Salem when we have these rainy Fridays.  Overall, it was another great day, just not on two wheels.    Steve    

Nicely done interior.