Motorcycle Alabama

RFP = "Ride for Pie"

Why?  Because pie fixes everything!  And the bonus is ... I buy the pie!  And give you free stickers!

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THIRD ANNUAL --- TENNESSEE DIRT DEVIL RIDE & CAMP!!!

Friday, May 29th - Set up camp at Natchez Trace Encore Thousand Trails Campground (https://www.rvonthego.com/tennessee/natchez-trace-rv-campground/) on the Natchez Trace.  Map: https://goo.gl/maps/p2iR4ZUF1iCAc2cD6 (https://goo.gl/maps/p2iR4ZUF1iCAc2cD6).  Make your way to the campground whenever and however you want.  I'll be there by 4:00PM.  I have reserved one cabin (two people) and two campsites (max 20 people).  There are plenty of trees if you want to hang your hammock.  There are showers and restrooms next to the campground.

Saturday, May 30th - Ride 166 miles, mostly TN Dirt Devil.  Mostly smooth dirt roads (some not so smooth and unfortunately, some pavement) with 20-25 creek crossings.  Depth of creek crossings will depend on rain that week, but usually they are not too challenging.  We will stay on public roads and avoid private property.  Lunch will be at/near the gas station due to Covid restrictions on restaurants.  Wear swim trunks under your riding pants, so you can cool off in the creek!  Back at the campground, there will surely be plenty of entertainment and lively conversation.

Proposed Route is 180 miles (counter-clockwise, tracks attached, map below):

• Leg A - 63 miles to gas station
• Leg B - 38 miles to lunch & gas station
• Leg C - 31 miles to waterfall and cooling off in the creek
• Leg D - 48 miles back to Hohenwald and campground

Faster pace this year!

Sunday, May 31st - Leisurely coffee and breakfast, pack up, clean up, and go home.

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Important Notes:

• KSU at 9:00am Saturday!.  We've got a lot of ground to cover in the morning, so be ready!
• We are not going to a gas station first, so if you need gas, please fill up Friday afternoon/evening.
• It may be hot & humid, so please wear a hydration pack with 2-3 liters of water.
• We may encounter horses & buggies ... slow to minimum speed and be as quiet as possible as you pass.
• Watch for dogs and other animals.
• Bring your own camp food, camp stove, dehydrated eggs, instant coffee, tuna packs, crackers, Count Chocula, etc.
• No organized breakfast or dinner plans, but Hohenwald is only 20 minutes away from the campground, if you prefer not to eat camp food.

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Hopefully the weather will be great and the creeks will be just right in both depth and temperature, so dust off that camping gear and come on out!  Let's get those bikes wet!

Link to 2019 ride: http://www.motorcyclealabama.com/rides/index.php?topic=3438.0 (http://www.motorcyclealabama.com/rides/index.php?topic=3438.0)

Link to 2018 ride: http://www.motorcyclealabama.com/rides/index.php?topic=2723.0 (http://www.motorcyclealabama.com/rides/index.php?topic=2723.0)

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Dual-Sporting/i-j27F8x9/0/887ba162/X2/IMG_1781-X2.jpg)

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Dual-Sporting/i-W5xj6nj/0/3b4c47b7/X2/IMG_0757-X2.jpg)

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Dual-Sporting/i-vXH3L9x/0/b6349119/X3/RFP15-166-X3.png)

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Most of the creek crossings are less than 24 inches deep.  This route is generally big-bike friendly, but it depends on your skill level.

- Some of the creek crossings are slick!
- There are a few places with soft, deep gravel!
- There might be downed trees!
- There is a 1/3 mile stretch that might be super muddy!

Looking forward to another great ride!!

these are some of the best rides ever, looking forward to it !

I missed last years :( I will definitely go this time. Too much fun

I put it on the calendar. Last ride was great!

Planning to make this! You should too!

Using the AT for this one @Nice Goat?

Quote from: rider_marc on February 01, 2020, 07:33:28 PM
Using the AT for this one @Nice Goat?

Nope... KTM

Hey Goat, is this one still on?

They haven't opened the campground yet, but hopefully it will be open in the next couple weeks.

I hope this campsite opens!!

UPDATE! - This ride is still on... But the campsite has changed!

The state and federal parks are taking their sweet time about reopening, so I had to find another place for us to camp.  This place is about six (6) miles south of Meriwether.

Natchez Trace Encore Thousand Trails Campground - Link (https://www.rvonthego.com/tennessee/natchez-trace-rv-campground/)
Map: https://goo.gl/maps/p2iR4ZUF1iCAc2cD6 (https://goo.gl/maps/p2iR4ZUF1iCAc2cD6)

This is a big RV campground which used to be a KOA but is now owned by Encore Thousand Trails.  I've never stayed here, but the photos look good.  They have cabins, tent camping, RV slots, etc.  They also have showers!  The campground is beside a lake, and there is a swimming area. 

They seemed easy to deal with on the phone.  I have reserved a cabin (two beds) and two campsites.  They say no more than 2 tents or 10 people per campsite, and they have no policy against hammocks.  If we need more campsites, they said that it should not be a problem that weekend.  The cabin was a little expensive, but it's right next to the tent camping area.  I tried to get their largest cabin ("The Lodge"), which has eight beds, but it was already taken.

It's not ideal, I know.  We prefer the Meriwether campground, which is free and more primitive.  But we'll have real showers this time.

Looking forward to seeing everybody there!

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Dual-Sporting/i-DThF2S7/0/c9accf79/XL/campgroun-XL.png)

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Dual-Sporting/i-4qwzxMJ/0/9f9d6209/L/campground2-L.png)

I modified the GPX tracks "A" and "D" to show the new starting and ending point.  The updated GPX files are attached below.

"B" and "C" tracks remain the same (in the first post).

We'll probably eat lunch at/near the gas stop.  Restaurants in TN are at 50% capacity, so Beacon Light Tea Room only has 10 tables and only six per table.  Since we don't know how many people we will have, or what time we will arrive, it's not fair to the restaurant to try to reserve 33% of their capacity.  Don't worry... I'll have pie at the campground that evening.

Since we are not eating at the Tea Room, we can push the start time to 9:00am.  We won't be in such a hurry if we have no appointments.

Lessons learned from last year and previous rides....

• This is a fantastic route that we have planned.  The morning is classic TNDD from the official map, and the afternoon is the best of Ken's Hickman Loop.
• Probably 85% of the route has some shade over the road.  Lots of cool vistas, old farms, old houses, etc., and ... water!
• Most of the creek crossings are easy, but there are a couple that have loose gravel or slick rock bottom.
• We are going counter-clockwise again this year.  Same swim hole as last year — shallow and crystal clear.
• When we start Saturday morning, please have enough fuel to go 65 miles to the first gas stop.

I'm looking forward to it!  It's going to be a great ride and camp weekend!

DANG.....wish we could make it.  Y'all have fun.

CAUTION to those on "big bikes" that may be 2-up....it's a challenge...LOL

Going to make this one!   The last planned ride I made with the group was Dual-sporting the Free State 2018.   Finally the stars align and I don't have a conflict!!   

Kevin and I completed the pre-ride today.  It's going to be another awesome ride!

Four days... who's coming?

I'm in! Probably won't get there until Friday night.

I am, along with 2 friends from work and my son.   We have 2 cabins reserved.

Count me in. Looking forward to a great ride.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I'm in.  According to child care, wife may ride also, also affects whether we or I show up Friday night or ride up Saturday morning.  Looking forward to it.

Quote from: Nice Goat on May 25, 2020, 07:14:32 PM
Four days... who's coming?

I'm coming  😁

I haven't ridden there before.  Looking forward to it.

Maintenance reminder for everyone...make sure your stuff is good to go before Saturday morning so we're not all mocking you trailside while sweating.

Just cleaned my bike up from last weekend's pre-ride, and while cleaning the chain I felt the familiar wheel clunk of shot bearings (which pissed me off, because I'd just installed new SKF bearings last summer).

I rolled it back into the garage and prepared to pull the wheel and bearings in hopes I could find some new ones locally tomorrow. Grabbed the axle nut.. and it was loose.

I must have forgotten to snug it down all the way after installing/adjusting the new chain last week and it gave just enough play to allow some wiggle. Luckily I caught before it wallowed the bearings out somewhere in BFE this weekend.

Quote from: KevinB on May 27, 2020, 09:12:26 PM
Maintenance reminder for everyone...make sure your stuff is good to go before Saturday morning so we're not all mocking you trailside while sweating.

Just cleaned my bike up from last weekend's pre-ride, and while cleaning the chain I felt the familiar wheel clunk of shot bearings (which pissed me off, because I'd just installed new SKF bearings last summer).

I rolled it back into the garage and prepared to pull the wheel and bearings in hopes I could find some new ones locally tomorrow. Grabbed the axle nut.. and it was loose.

I must have forgotten to snug it down all the way after installing/adjusting the new chain last week and it gave just enough play to allow some wiggle. Luckily I caught before it wallowed the bearings out somewhere in BFE this weekend.

But Kevin you are the Maint KING !   :) 

Rivers here came up big time today (mainly central and east I believe).....maybe they did not get so much rain up there.  Or hopefully it will drop out fast for you guys.

Quote from: Johnny Tobyone on May 28, 2020, 07:51:38 AM

But Kevin you are the Maint KING !   :)

And I'll probably still wind up being "that guy"...

Quote from: Johnny Tobyone on May 28, 2020, 08:01:02 AM
Rivers here came up big time today (mainly central and east I believe).....maybe they did not get so much rain up there.  Or hopefully it will drop out fast for you guys.

Johnson's Station (closest observation point to Dirt Devil area):
Last week: Rain total 0.5" (all on Friday), Kevin and I rode Saturday, no problems.
This week: Rain total 0.83" (spread over three days, no rain Friday or Saturday)... I doubt we will have any problems.

Huntsville has had 0.74" in the last 24 hours (1.33" in the last three days), so the ground is more saturated, leading to quickly rising water levels in creeks and streams.   Amazing how 90 miles makes so much difference, but it works to our benefit this time!

Looks like I'll be there 7:30 pm

I can only come for the day on Saturday.
Going to try to be there when the gates open at 8 AM

Ride brief tomorrow morning at 8:45 next to the bathrooms adjacent to the tent camping area!

Only took a few pics...was having too much fun riding and forgot.

(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200531/291ec2ed6d334b7577a1d3ee2ccce8ec.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200531/fc33f5460a850c77c40dfd361888193e.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200531/a6fa14c4c68ffb38f19d9c521e7c1f8f.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200531/ddb675ba03c0edc48967a53f6f23fd54.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200531/a0726e81fb1de275ce40bcbee25c1841.jpg)

Thanks Glenn for once again putting together a great ride. This has become an annual ride that is a can't miss event! And TURTLE PIE!

We had a great time this weekend.  I didn't take any pictures since I was in front and also it was all I could do to follow the GPS and stay on course.

We started with perfect weather and 13 bikes:

Glenn, Kevin, Tony, Landon, Rich, Keith, Brad, Steve, Brian, Tom, Dave, Steve, and Natalie.

About a third of the way through segment B, at the corner of Lick Creek and Shoal Branch, we picked up Tom and his brother John, from Michigan.  They were reading a paper Dirt Devil map and trying to find their bearings.  I offered that they could join our group, which they happily accepted.

About five minutes later, Landon's rear tube blew a seam.  We tried using Slime but it didn't hold.  Then we replaced the tube and all was better.

I was the only person who dropped their bike in a creek.  It was 5mph and 3" deep, but it was more slippery that anything I've ever seen.  I wasn't even able to stand up due to the algae.  I had to scoot on my ass to the edge to stand up.  I started directing people to the other side of the crossing.  Sometimes it sucks being the first one across!

We didn't even get to Bon Aqua until around 3:15pm, and we still had 70 miles to go.  The gas station had a nice selection of sandwiches, wraps, salads, fruit, etc., in addition to sodas and chips.  It was a good shade tree lunch.

The afternoon pace turned out to be much faster.  Mill Creek Road was nice.  The water was clear, the obstacles were visible, and the mud field was dry.

In the interest of time, we blew right past the swimming hole and headed for the gas station in Hohenwald.  The weather was still perfect.  People bought their ice and beer, and we headed back to camp for well-deserved showers and food.  We finished the evening with a huddle around the camp fire to share some beers.  Kevin and Tony had me laughing so hard that my side started hurting.

All told, it was a great trip and a great ride with great guys and perfect weather and cool, clear creek crossings.

Make sure to watch Keith's video below.  He put a LOT of work into it, but it shows almost every creek crossing.  Great music and commentary also!

Thanks for putting it on, Natalee and I both had a great time.  She felt really accomplished about the steep rutted, ledgy descent before the long creek crossing where you come out on the same side.  I have footage and will share when I get it edited, it may be up to a couple of weeks still.  I've viewed it, but haven't had a chance to trim and stitch it all together.

Quote from: thinwater on June 07, 2020, 08:00:17 AM
Thanks for putting it on, Natalee and I both had a great time.  She felt really accomplished about the steep rutted, ledgy descent before the long creek crossing where you come out on the same side.  I have footage and will share when I get it edited, it may be up to a couple of weeks still.  I've viewed it, but haven't had a chance to trim and stitch it all together.

That was Ben Fly Road... it's a good one!

Looks like a great time.  I didn't have a dual sport bike for this event so I missed it again.  I hope to make it next year!

Thanks for sharing the pictures and videos.  Sorry I had to miss it again. Hopefully life won't get in the way next time.

Thank you for a great ride!  ;D

And thank you for the PIE!  ;)

Thanks again for getting this together. This is only half the ride because we had to be back in the Heart of Dixie for church the next morning.  So there is no footage in this after the lunch spot.
https://youtu.be/5YemvIXjWnY