COFSTA

Today, we (007, Broz, Griff, philter, and I) rode NC80 to Bakersville and 197 to Erwin for lunch at the world famous ( ) Hawg n Dawg. I think Griff had the hot dog smothered with BBQ (some hawg and some dawg)! I liked their hash brown casserole as a side dish for my jumbo BBQ sandwich. After lunch we took 19W back down to 19E and then suffered thru about 12 miles of 19E until we turned off at Crabtree Creek. Then we made a run down the 'Diamondback' (226A) to Marion where we all parted company for home. The weather , roads, and company were the best! Home at 6:15, 10 hours and approx. 370 miles for me. Ready to go again. Somewhere.

Griff, here's that route file-->>

Yeah the mess on 19E is pretty bad. The best thing to to do is try and go up and over Burnsville proper via Grren Mtn road to 197 or toe river road to 197 to double Island. That's progress for you.

tireatr wrote:Yeah the mess on 19E is pretty bad. The best thing to to do is try and go up and over Burnsville proper via Grren Mtn road to 197 or toe river road to 197 to double Island. That's progress for you.

The last time we were all together on 19E, I had to replace the rear tire on my VFR due to a nail. Probably best to avoid this as noted above, and also because it is a straight road with lots of traffic going through town. 19W was garbage, too, with gravel and inappropriately "cured" chip seal.

Fun ride, guys! It was great to trade off leads.

And thanks for waiting for me. Sorry I was running late - the 500 doesn't cruise naturally as fast as the K bike on the highway, which is a good thing. I will need to accommodate extra time to account for this in the future.

What a great day of riding. I have been waiting for this for decades, as I melted in the Florida heat, and regularly replaced tires torn to shreds on flat straight roads made with 100,000 year old seashells.

007 wrote:And thanks for waiting for me. Sorry I was running late - the 500 doesn't cruise naturally as fast as the K bike on the highway, which is a good thing. .

We all figured you had been seduced down Old 18 along the way....

007 wrote:

tireatr wrote:Yeah the mess on 19E is pretty bad. The best thing to to do is try and go up and over Burnsville proper via Grren Mtn road to 197 or toe river road to 197 to double Island. That's progress for you.

The last time we were all together on 19E, I had to replace the rear tire on my VFR due to a nail. Probably best to avoid this as noted above, and also because it is a straight road with lots of traffic going through town. 19W was garbage, too, with gravel and inappropriately "cured" chip seal.

Agreed on both counts. The only reason I took 19W all the way down to 19E is because I like riding those sweepers following the river occasionally. But next time we'll cut across on the north side to Double Island for sure as Ken suggested.

Nice meeting the new guys to the group Phil & Carl. Steve I like your new ride. Great to get out, it has been a while for me. Now back to the salt mines.
Broz

Looks like you guys are having a fun time wish I could join you but with these two hands i'm stuck at home. Have fun and be safe. Don

Ouch! Double-ouch! Damn Don, that doesn't look like much fun. When's the doc say you'll be able to ride again? We miss ya!

About four more weeks until casts come off and they operate to take the pins and plate out. Then rehab.

Yarbi wrote:About four more weeks until casts come off and they operate to take the pins and plate out. Then rehab.

Forgot about the final operation. Rehab huh? They tried to make me go to rehab but I said No, No, No.












(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psdAdW1g-sQ )

Don, that looks extremely not-fun!

beemerbob wrote:

007 wrote:

tireatr wrote:Yeah the mess on 19E is pretty bad. The best thing to to do is try and go up and over Burnsville proper via Grren Mtn road to 197 or toe river road to 197 to double Island. That's progress for you.

The last time we were all together on 19E, I had to replace the rear tire on my VFR due to a nail. Probably best to avoid this as noted above, and also because it is a straight road with lots of traffic going through town. 19W was garbage, too, with gravel and inappropriately "cured" chip seal.

Agreed on both counts. The only reason I took 19W all the way down to 19E is because I like riding those sweepers following the river occasionally. But next time we'll cut across on the north side to Double Island for sure as Ken suggested.

A nice alternative is to take 19W to a Left Coxes creek to Jacks creek, turn left and then turn right on Claremont school road 3 miles up the road. It goes over to 197. It's the only road that connects Jack Creek to 197 other than 19E to the south and north to the Toe river road through Green Mtn.

I've Been scoping out homes over there. Found a few nice ones, but they're pricey. I hope to have a place by Spring. prices being what they are It remains a buyers market. Value in Burnsville will go up as the 4 lane is complete and Burnsville becomes the next bedroom community of Asheville like Weaverville did before it.

Don... Damn man when you do it you do it right... errr wrong. Whatever!
I hope it's healing properly!

Those pictures are scary. So sorry you having to go thru this.
Broz