Modern Vespa

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Mea culpa!

Mark

I regretfully will be able to attend this year's Spring Gathering due to preparing and leaving for the 2018 Scooter Cannonball Run.

I was looking forward to riding in Tennessee once again, and seeing my old homestead in Chattanooga.

I am looking forward to the Fall Gathering this year, and Lord willing I will make that one.

Sorry to hear that Mike.

Meanwhile, I have been given the green light to ride, so I’ll be on 2 wheels this spring.

The conflict is a bummer. Too bad you can't do both. We will be thinking of you guys on Cannonball.

This is awesome news. Glad you are back as a full participant.

Finally able to suffer for the good of the group.

Work, building a house, moving from Georgia and multiple trips to Virginia have severely impacted my riding plans. I finally managed a check ride Saturday. Half of the planned route was great and other half way to straight. I will be checking out another second half this weekend and hopefully the portion of the other ride I have not tested.

Thanks for your "hard" work, Fuzzy. I'm really looking forward to this!

LM15, we'll miss you. Good luck with your Cannonball prep.

TN_Sooner, looking forward to actually getting to ride with you again

So, what are the ride plans? Is it going to be like normal, everyone riding in on Thursday and heading out Sunday?

Mark

[quote="CubsKing99”]... Is it going to be like normal, everyone riding in on Thursday and heading out Sunday?

Mark[/quote]
Yes

I wish I could go since you guys will only be an hour from me but I can’t get off work. Boo!

Can you make it in evenings for dinner and fellowship at least?

SInce LM15 has bowed out this spring I now have a bed available if anyone is interested. Email me at ponydrvr1@gmail.com if you're interested.

Yay!

Good news indeed!!

I get off work at 6pm so probably not. I'm sure everyone will probably have eaten by then. I did however just buy a new quick charger for my Zero. Hopefully, it will be in by next week. I can get a full charge off a 240V charging station in 1.5-2 hrs. I'm still trying to get the pain off the plastic on my MP3 so I can get it repainted. If anything changes I'll let you guys know but as of right now it does not look good for me. I've been so focused on my daughters'' gymnastics that I forgot to ask off for the gathering.

KevinK wouldn't let me suffer alone and helped me carry the load yesterday for the good of the group.


Google maps failed to warn us this planned route was closed. Well at least there is a plan C.

We did find a good feul stop and worked especially hard verifying quality.

After KevinK and I split up I developed a loose chain problem and had to cut the check ride short and return to cliff dwelling to make repairs. (Still under construction but garage complete) Rode this morning to verify alternate to closed road. Will have to check end of ride next week.


Cliff Dwelling

Definitely an arduous day!


Fuzzy is planning for some beautiful spots.

And there will be some areas of adventure.

excellent job you 2, sorry I can't help been super busy around here this past month and still have lots to do.

cannonball prep x's 3 scooters.
folks wanting electrical jobs
sister-in-law renovating her house, total gut job and rewire and replumb.
New house inspections and scheduling work and closing things.
standard honey do's around the house
AND I still can't find time to do GPS loads for the cannonball.
hopefully I can take a break and come down on Friday on the Guzzi and ride at least that day. probably the only day though.


Sure glad retirement has rewarded me with all these things to do and not work 40 hours a week for a paycheck. Think I might have to find a job just to have some free time again.

Boy, I'm glad I was able to get my MP3 started without having to bug you, OAD!

Now, if it'd just rain already to clean the streets of all the piles of salt so I could get out and ride...

Mark

Okay, I am going to try this again.

I was referred to this ADV Rider forum thread by a friend, who had ditched his Garmin GPS when it died on him.

He bought a used Kyocera cellphone and is using it.

Read this thread and it may be an alternative GPS or primary GPS device for someone.

I am seriously thinking of getting one and using it on the 2018 Scooter Cannonball Run.

http://advrider.com/index.php?threads/ultra-rugged-kyocera-phones-gps-smartphones-my-guide.1206076/

Why not just put your regular phone in an Otterbox or Lifeproof case and use that?

Well, according to the thread, the Kyocera Duraforce series and some others can run GPS "off line" of the cellular service and can download and use maps with routes and tracks offline.

It is an interesting read, the first page or so of the thread explains this in much greater detail and clarity.

It seems to be a less expensive alternative to say a Garmin 59X series. And seems to be easier to create routes and tracks. And, the Duraforce series is water and dustproof.

A pre-owned Verizon Duraforce Pro (or XD) seems to be the best choices.

It looks like you could just ride around the barricade on the left.

Barricade not a problem but didnt pack floaties for water crossing with bridge out.

we could always do some dukes of hazard crossings.

You go first. We'll be right behind you (with our cameras on), promise!

Managed another ride yesterday to finish checking Saturday ride. It is a good mix of twisties intermixed with scenic sweepers. There will be 4 descents and 4 climbs of the plateau to valleys below. Circle about 170 miles. Not planning a stop at Lodge factory store on the assumption no one wants to pack cast iron cookware for the remaining 140 miles of ride. It is 20 miles down I-24 from hotel if someone wants their own side trip.

Hope to check out Friday ride tomorrow.

It looks like Weather.com is predicting a full week and weekend of T-storms. 80-90% chances on our riding days.

So, how worried should we be about getting washed out?

Mark

I was just checking the weather forecast. Its 80-100% rain chances every day
in Tennessee. Oy! The written description says it is scattered showers (as opposed to a non-stop all day rain), but even that gets old pretty quick. The best part is that the temps seem to stay in the 70's, so we shouldn't overheat with rain gear on.

I’ve been watching the future cast for a few days. It is moving between 40% (scattered)and 80% (steady), so I don’t think they have a clue yet. Of course, they don’t have a clue much of the time.

George Dickel distillery tour. Friday at 10:00 am.

I made reservations for 10 - cost is $12 a person and I will need to confirm our number before we leave for the distillery Friday morning.

Made it by Dickel on my check ride last week. Not sure how I got back.

May finish the check ride Thursday morning if anyone is there early feel free to join me.





Last edited by Fuzzy on Mon May 14, 2018 4:44 pm; edited 1 time in total

Saturday morning?

Corrected. Need to start making posts before I have my wine.

I'm going to pull the ripcord. It just doesn't make sense to drive 700 miles, spend 4 or 5 nights in hotels and end up likely not being able to ride anyway...

It's a big bummer, but what can you do?

On the plus side, it looks like I'll have time to get all of my bike work done now, along with a bunch of other stuff around the house that's been piling up...

Mark

I’ll have to see if I can get ready the night before and come down early. Do you have a time in mind?

Probably around 9 central time.

So.... We're going to pull pitch on this one, breaking our Gathering streak. Pretty bummed about it.

Nor and I hope you guys are able to get some dry riding in!

I understand the decisions to bail out of already small group due to Cannonball next week.

By my count it is down to 6 of us.

Old as Dirt
Kevin K
Tennessee Sooner
Pony Driver
Buddy19520
Fuzzy

I scheduled off work and will get there Wednesday evening, but for me it is home now. Some good roads and plan to make the best of it.

Good nights sleep followed by much improved forcast.

Saturday weather is now predicted "Sunny"

Friday's weather percentage at Monteagle down with description scattered.

Friday morning's destination says showers in afternoon. (Tullahoma, TN)

Friday afternoon's destination is 20% chance rain. (Scottsboro, AL)

If you guys can change back you might want to reconsider bailing. [/quote]