GS500 America Relay - Official Thread

[afx500]

Pretty awesome pictures.  Hopefully there will be a route through Tennessee I could assist on.

[Slack]

I had a great ride, 580 miles total.

Stopped at the capitol building of West Virginia, yes the roof is plated in real gold.  Odd for one of the poorest states in the country.


It was dark before I made it to Virginia




I swung by Steezin's place on my way home.  He took some much nicer pics, I'm sure he'll post them soon.


Made it back to the garage about 2 am.

[jestercinti]

This is what I like to see!

It was nice meeting you Slack. I can't wait to see the progress.

[steezin_and_wheezin]

Was definitely good to see Slack again. Stoked to see this thing make another move. Slack still has it, we'll update once we figure out the next step

[RossLH]

If you're heading north up 95 through MD, be sure to let me know. I've got time and a running GS, I'd love to participate.

[bombsquad83]

It'd be awesome if we could have a google map of the route that the baton has taken.   You could check off the states with it as well.  Really nice work so far guys.  I'll bet there are some sore bodies after those long rides.

[steezin_and_wheezin]

Great minds think alike Bomb!! I'm working on getting the route on a google maps. I'm thinking of showing it on the participant/planning map as well as making one showing just the batons travel path. Jester and Slack, when you get a chance shoot me a rough outline of y'alls route and meeting locations. I'll update them on the maps

Big thanks again to Jester for getting this thing planned, organized, and in action! And to Slack being there for the first hand off!

[BockinBboy]

Had a blast riding through Loogootee, IN area on 150.  Highly recommended for anyone in the area, and its worth a couple hours riding to get to if you can get the time.  Really great area, shaded for much of the ride too.  Lots of other good roads in that area which take you further into the National Forest, but 150 was headed the direction we were headed, and was a great ride.

Rode about 250 miles with Jester and the baton, then another 250 miles down to Hopkinsville.  Looping back today with another 400 miles. 

Already planning my next trip...

Everyone continue to ride safe on the relay!

I'll shoot you the route we took, Steezin.

- Bboy

[jestercinti]

The route Friday and Saturday.  Cincinnati OH, Indianapolis, Danville, Louisville, Lexington, ending in Kenova, WV:



[attachment deleted by admin]

[Slack]

It was late already so I just rode 64E to 77S to 81N right back to Roanoke.

[Watevaman]

  What's your route steezin? You going to be going by Northern VA? I may not be able to carry the baton but if you'd like a riding buddy for a bit give me a shout if you're up here.

[ericboutin]

Well this is my first post.  This is a really cool idea!!  I joined this forum because we (my wife and I) just bought a 2006 GS 500F for her to ride.  I ride a FJR and she was riding a VLX 600 but decided she wanted something sportier and have her feet under her rather than in front.  Anyway we would be more than happy to partake in this adventure!  Even if when the time comes she isn't comfortable with a long distance ride I would be more than happy to take up the baton for her and help move this endeavor along!  I understand I would need to ride the GS which is fine with me...it is a great bike!  Anyway I added us to the Google Map.  We are in Upstate SC where I-85 and I-26 intersect so depending on the route south we should be available to help.  Great site, I've learned a bunch already!

[steezin_and_wheezin]

Sorry busy with holidays.. Slack still has the baton and I believe he is going to take it over to the Tail of the Dragon then we will be bringing it up north. I'll shoot him a message and will update back asap.

I have created the map showing the baton's traveled path. Made it its own map, and it should be editable by all just like the coordination map;
https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=216083428469334706913.0004e0c5747e482b5ae25&msa=0&ll=37.822802,-81.23291&spn=12.987285,28.54248

[Slack]

Spent the last 5 days away from computers, out with the family on the water.

Now that I'm back, it's time to plan the next leg.  I'd like to take the baton down to The Snake and hand it off.

I'm thinking of taking 221 south from Roanoke to Floyd
Then 8 south to 40 and 40 over to a little cut through, Iron Bridge road, which will take me right to Fairy Stone State Park.  http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks/fai.shtml#generalinfo
Then I'll take 57 E back over to 8 and take 8 down to 58. 
I'll take 58 over the Dan river and then hop onto the Blue Ridge parkway headed south and dip into North Carolina.
I'm going to get of on NC-18 and take a little road called Delheart back over to 58.
I'll follow 58 east all the way to Damascus going through the Grayson Highlands (where there are wild ponies).
At that point I'll take 91 south to Mountain City Tennessee.
The Snake starts just outside of Mountain City and runs towards Bristol on highway 421, roughly 25 miles of non stop switchbacks.
After all that traveling I'll ride The Snake a few times before heading up north on 133, where the baton will pass through the shortest (distance, not height) tunnel in the World.   http://appalachiantreks.blogspot.com/2008/02/worlds-shortest-tunnel.html
133 runs right back to Damascus, where I'll take 91 north a short stint to I81 and ride back to Roanoke on I81 north.

Hopefully some of you can meet me for at least part of the trip.  Steezin you could just come straight over on 8 and meet me in Floyd.  It's looking like around 9 hours of saddle time for me, so with stops I'm expecting to be out for 12 hours.  I'll probably start on a Saturday morning around 7:30.
So, who's coming?  This weekend?  next?  Who am I going to hand this off to?  Remember, it has to be after riding the snake (or you at least have to join me for that part of the ride).


Also, I did putt around Roanoke with the Baton.
I took it up to the Mill Mountain Star overlooking Roanoke, the largest Man Made free-standing illuminated star in the world.




I had to park the bike behind the star




Then, since I was only 2 miles away, I took the baton up onto the Blue Ridge Parkway for the first time.

[Gorilla]

come to washington STATE!

[Drastik]

I was on 221 and the blue ridge parkway yesterday. Swung by the D-Day memorial in Bedford too. I can join ya next weekend if that's when you decide to go. I have my kiddos this weekend though.

[Slack]

I was on 221 and the blue ridge parkway yesterday. Swung by the D-Day memorial in Bedford too. I can join ya next weekend if that's when you decide to go. I have my kiddos this weekend though.

ok, the 20th.  I can pass it to you to start back North on another leg.
Steezin how's the 20th for you?  Wouldn't want you to miss out.
Anyone else want to join for a bit?  These will be some epically twisty roads.

[jestercinti]

I like it guys, keep it coming!

[Drastik]

Whatever will help the relay works for me.  Sounds like you've got a VERY NICE ride planned. 

Also, my father and I are planning to ride from Lynchburg, VA to Durham, NC on 8/2 to see my brother (returning on 8/3).  Not sure if that will work out with the relay schedule, but just in case the baton is already heading back south during that time I'll gladly take it with me for a hand-off.

[Watevaman]

I was on 221 and the blue ridge parkway yesterday. Swung by the D-Day memorial in Bedford too. I can join ya next weekend if that's when you decide to go. I have my kiddos this weekend though.

ok, the 20th.  I can pass it to you to start back North on another leg.
Steezin how's the 20th for you?  Wouldn't want you to miss out.
Anyone else want to join for a bit?  These will be some epically twisty roads.

20th might work out for me if a trip I was going to participate in is still on.

my trip was going to start in Strasburg and go out into WV then loop back into Harrisonburg if you guys were going to be around that area.

not sure I'd take the baton (a month to organize a trip somewhere to drop it might be hard for me), but I do want to ride with you guys.