300 mile ride today

[Obsidian16825]

My first ride with a group. I didn't know where we were going, and only vaguely knew where we were most of the time by town signs. My husband brought up the rear, in the car with our toddler. The group was mainly Gold Wings, a triked Silver Wing, a Roadstar, and me. We were twelve people at lunch. We switched leaders after lunch, when the morning leader and his wife went home. A couple of riders took cameras. I'm hoping to get some pics from them. One of them is going to work on a website for our chapter. I had the meeting time down wrong, so we were at the gas station an hour early, good oportunity for a cup of coffee. Around 9:00AM a flock of Wings pulled in. We chatted a few minutes, then headed out to meet another flock further down the road. It was about a quarter 'till 7:00PM when we finally pulled back in the home driveway. Towns I remember going through: Columbia, TN (where we started), Lewisburg, Fayetteville, Lynchburg, Tullahoma. Monteagle, Shelbyville. There were many smaller towns, but who knows if I can find them again.
I learned a lot today. I learned that when I'm confused, I forget to turn my blinker off. I learned that the BB-Q at the Jack Daniel's Distillery is freakin HUGE. No we didn't stop there, but passing thru Lynchburg was an event in itself. People charge $5 to park in their yards, $3 for motorcycles. I learned that the Tyson chicken farms really don't stink as bad as other chicken farms, but they still stink, but it's off bird droppings. I learned I'll willingly go places in a group that I don't want to go alone. I learned that putting on a pair of rubber gloves along with two pair of riding gloves keeps my hands pretty warm. When Goldwingers say it'll be an all day ride, I won't be getting home before dark, unless I break away from the group and go home early, probably not a bad idea with a two-year-old in tow. I can still scratch my nose at 55mph. My nose doesn't plug up like when I'm in a cage. I'm still exhausted and my head hurts, but I feel better than I do when I sit in a car or truck all day long. My homemade neck ring worked like a charm to support my head from buffetting.
It was only the last hour that I got a headache, after the sun went down and I started tensing from cold. I had a t-shirt, turtleneck, light sweater, mesh riding jacket, leather jacket, jeans, leather overpants, two pair of gloves (along with a pair of rubber gloves part of the time), thick socks, boots, neck ring, and full face helmet. The other riders kept asking if I were warm enough and if I wanted to borrow a scarf. I'll remember a scarf next time, and might wear a do-rag. My helmet has gotten a tad loose now that the padding is broke in. I might think about a windshield.
It's time for some chocolate.

[sdbrit68]

welcome to group riding...it can be a real blast

[cmptrmn.1]

Congrats. Group riding is a lot of fun.

[Tim_Stanley_47]

Originally Posted by Obsidian16825

Towns I remember going through: Columbia, TN (where we started), Lewisburg, Fayetteville, Lynchburg, Tullahoma. Monteagle, Shelbyville. There were many smaller towns, but who knows if I can find them again.

That is some of the area I learned to ride in many moons ago. I grew up north of Chattanooga in Soddy-Daisy. Monteagle Mountain is a fun ride in itself. Glad you had a good ride, I really miss the mountains this time of year when the leaves are changing colors.

Tim

[mcneese5]

Welcome to group riding I ride in groups often and I have had nothing but great times, I have learned you so need to watch out for the other riders, some may not be as safty minded as you are.

[Obsidian16825]

Tim,
The landscape still has a lot of bumps in it anytime you want to come back.

mcneese,
being the new kid in the group, the others watched out for me. I felt pretty protected, but Mark and I did discuss some of the unsafe and inconsiderate behavior we saw, after the ride. Once, when the morning leader stopped by the side of the road, his wife, on a trike, pulled out in the road and blocked traffic, then he, on another trike, blocked traffic. That was right before they went home. The shoulder wasn't a good place for a discussion.
Another time, at a gas station, the group took up all the spots at the pumps and didn't move the bikes after filling tanks. I was guilty too for going in to use the restroom while Mark filled my bike, and not moving her as soon as I came out, but moved Gracie as soon as I realized nobody else could get in. A guy in a truck looked pretty disgusted when he couldn't get to a pump, and left. I know how he feels. I've been irritated waiting to fill up while people leave cars after filling to go inside and shop. If you gotta pay inside, that's one thing, but if there aren't open spots at the pumps for people waiting, pull up to the building to shop, or do whatever.

[sdbrit68]

good points on the pumps obsidian