Day 2 Roadtrip 2011

There is another blog entry for day 2, but it is not posting to the page properly. It had multiple pictures that may have caused an issue with size. Here is a summary of day 2. I left Pam's house in Blairsville shortly after noon. We made a trip to the dump in Blairsville, and if you can believe it, there's a beautiful mountain view from there. I rode to my friend Bill's house in Blueridge. There's a video at my Youtube page: www.youtube.com/peteykale. Bill !nd I worked in the same office in Tampa. He retired a year before I did. His home is scenic and remote. It's a great environment for enjoying the birds and other critters, including bears, so I'm told. I left Blueridge for Canton, NC and the Moto Guzzi National Owner's Club rally. A fair amount of the ride was on a large 4 lane, up and down through hills. As I approached Murphy, NCI saw a bike shop and several bikes parked outside. I turned back and pulled in. I met a couple of Harley riders who managed the parts and service shop. One said he'd owned a 750 Le Mans back in the 80's. He liked the Moto Guzzi, and wished me well on my trip North. The other rider said, "I've half a mind to load my bike on the trailer and ride up there with you. I wondered what the connection was between 'ridiing', and 'trailer'. Bit hen again, he 'rides' a Harley . Arriving at the Blue Ridge MC CampgroundI was the only Guzzi rider. I was early. The event did not start until Friday, bit there were a number of other riders. Mostly Gold Wing riders. Talking to several, I think I understand more clearly what my 'wing', friend Greg was telling me about bringigbthe 'big' tent and the chair with arms. The wing riders I met gave a couple of barbeque spare ribs that were delicious. It certainly tawted better than my backpacking food. Each wing rider and several chaors qith arms. Now I get it, Greg. The end of the day brought an impromptu jam. A rider from Jacksonville was playing the campground's guitar, and I had my mandolin. (I'm glad I brought the mando as opposed to the chair with arms!) He taught me how to play dueling banjosand we played ot pver and over until we both were yawning.