Hey, Guys

I'm heading east from my home in Norman, Oklahoma to Nashville this Friday. I'll be leaving Nashville and working my way to North Carolina the following Tuesday, maybe do Deal's Gap, then making a loop back home towards the end of the month. Bryan lives a little farther east than I'm planning on riding unless things go faster than I'm thinking they'll go, but I'd love to stop in and say hello to anyone on the way if it could work out. If you're anywhere on my route and would like to give me the town you live in and a phone#, shoot me a pm or email at bill_dragoo@hotmail.com. Email would be best.
I'll be riding my Dyna Sport. If anyone would like to join me for a part of the trip, jump in. I don't care what you ride. I plan to work something up for the Ride Oklahoma Magazine from the trip as well, so this may be a chance to get your photo published! No promises, but that's how it happens.

Bill Dragoo
Norman, Oklahoma

 

If you make it as far as Asheville....I might be able to offer up a room and a few cold ones depending on the date. The wife just loves it when I offer up a room to a complete stranger...but that's what us Harley folks do...LOL!
I did the Trail of Tears ride in 2001 from Chattanooga to Oklahoma....what a great ride!
Are you sure you don't wanna tackle this on the KLX?

 

Thanks, Snal. I may actually get that far, so tell the wife to water down the beans!

I'm camping and doing a few motels, so it's really not a bed I'm asking for. Folks are busy and it is does bother some to be so familiar. I just thought it would be fun to line up a few possibities for a high five along the way, just in case.

Bill

 

Well...the wife informed me that we'll have company next week...up for my step-son's graduation, but let's definately do the high five thing if you get this far. You might also want to check out NC hwy 9 just east of Asheville if you have time, this is our local mini version of the Dragon, and leads from Black Mtn. NC to Chimney Rock/Bat cave/ Lake lure...very popular with all motorcyclists...nice little mom-n-pop riverside motels too. MargaritaGrille is a lakeside grille/bar, and a big Harley hangout with a motel around back. This is where "Dirty Dancing" was filmed.

 

Oklahoma to Nashville. Thats a pretty good long ride. I've done the trip a few times in a car. The ozarks are very nice in the fall. I-40 east is direct route, and the apps mountians are not really too bad in climbing. I found I-64 worse for the mountians. If I remember, its about 1,400miles and 14 or 21 hour drive (straight), a 2-day trip for sure when not to push it so hard. FYI: It seems to take forever to get out of Tennessee.

 

Yeah, I understand that Tennessee is a really long state. I've driven it once and I flew it twice in an old, antique airplane I had when I was 19 years old. It was even long in that! I would imagine that it'll feel like a continent on the Harley. I'm looking forward to it though. I just hope the weather holds.

Bill

 

Yeah, I figure Apex would be a bit out of your way. I think it's about 7 hours from where I'm at to the western border of the state. Plus, I'll be heading up to NJ at the end of next week for the NE ride. I'd love to meet you though. Safe travels, sounds like a lot of fun.

 

Dang, Brian. I'll be that close to your Northeast ride! I wish I could just ride the KLX there and come along for that one. I have an even longer trip June 3rd or I'd be trying to get creative about that.
We're off to China for a couple of weeks. I sure hope we can scare up a couple of dual sports while we're there to ride and write about. My wife's son is a backpacking guide there and we're off to visit him.
Such a big world. So few places you can ride a motorcycle. Too much water....

Take care,
Bill

 

Well, I've made it to Nashville. I spent the first night camping in the national forest at Hot Springs, Arkansas. The second was a primative campsite near a graveyard on the Natchez Trace. The weather couldn't be better for a ride on these old roads. The Harley is doing fine, although there are plenty of places where the KLX would be even better. I haven't spent much time on the highway. Instead, I've keptto the narrow local roads and the stories they tell with old barns, buildings and people, some of whom haven't been out of the county for years, if at all. Turkeys and deer play chicken with me every few miles, but fortunately I'm not in the mood to challenge them by screaming around blind corners too often. I will be in Nashville until tomorrow, then I'll head on to North Carolina, hopefully by way of Deals Gap. The weather promises to hold for a few more days. Spring is always a crapshoot for rainfall, especially in the Blue Ridge Mountains. I'm sure I'll get my share before returning to Oklahoma in a week or so. I'll see if I can post a few photos.

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Old Locomotive at Queen Willimena Lodge on the Skyline Drive in Arkansas

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