GS500 America Relay - Official Thread

[Slack]

Hey guys, sorry it's been so long.  Like Drastik said, I had to take a break from the web and catch up on real life for a bit.

So, on the 20th we went for quite the ride.  We (Drastik and I) meet in Roanoke and immediately hit some curvy mountain roads.  Which brings us to our first picture.  This is now called Drastik's Corner.  A grarly switchback to the left going up an insanely steep moutain side (Mt. Chestnut) directly after a decreasing radius hairpin to the right with a sudden change in elevation angle at the second apex.  A little stripe of gravel on the outside was all it took and the Baton had it's first victim.  We were going slow enough that nothing was damaged but a mirror.



After dusting everything off we continued on up into Floyd, Va stopping for a photo op at the court house.



From Floyd we wound our way over to Fairy Stone State Park.  We didn't set up the banner at the park because we were being swarmed by Japanese Hornets.





(not my picture, just showing you what was EVERYWHERE, incase you don't know what I'm talking about)


Then we headed west towards the snake.  We had planned on dipping into NC, but changed routs to hit a gas station and just kept our new course.   Along the way we stopped at a great overlook called lover's leap.  And we stopped for a photo at Grayson Highlands State park along the way too.







Then it was down into Tennessee.  Here is a photo of Drastik crossing the state line.



The snake isn't far from the boarder.  We rode it once then stopped at my Uncles (he lives on the snake) to enjoy some recliners, air conditioning, and a bathroom for a bit, before doing the handoff in his driveway.



Then it was another trip down the snake, bust a u-turn and ride down the 1st half (my favorite half) a third time before heading to the tunnel.







After that we shot back home up the interstate.  It was a great day, I had a lot of fun riding with drastik and hopes his leg heals soon so we can ride again.

[jestercinti]

WOW!  What an adventure.

Glad to see this moving along.

[steezin_and_wheezin]

Awesome update Slack! Hating I missed that ride.

Sunday the 4th I coordinated with Drastik to ride up to Lynchburg and get the baton. Slack, my dad(vtx1300), and I met at my house and we headed north. Had a great ride up and back home. Found a few little glitches with my gs, but she made it with flying colors. The aggressive body position with clip ons and gimbel rearsets was nearly torture on the longer ride. It felt right at home when we hit some turns though!

We rode, we had chocolate donuts, we shot shaZam! with Drastik and his friend Brandon(i think) for a while, we ate Ledo's pizza, then headed back home. Split off from Slack in Roanoke, cruised back to my house, and Dad rode on home. Was the longest ride my dad's or I had ridden on a moto.

I didn't realize we were getting photos of the hand off, so I dropped the ball on getting that photo'd..

I'll update the baton's travel path soon, and also have some gopro footage to edit. Until then here's a few photos;

My pops mid way though poking fun at me for the surface rust on my EBC rotor


Clicked over my 4's on the way.. missed my 5's on the way home


First arriving at Drastik's








After talking a bit and hanging the banner(crookedly, I get it straighter the next time!)




Fueling up before the ride home


Hey dad, "Whuut?"


Y'all New Yorkers got the Big Apple, but we got the Little Apple down herr(and an actual functioning pay phone!!)




Talking a bit before Slack splits and heads home




Great ride, good people, and great weather. Had a blast

I'll be out of town this weekend, and may be busy helping friends move next weekend. I've sent Huff a PM, but haven't heard back. I'm already in communication with Oz and he's willing to meet where ever needed to get this thing heading north! I will post with further plans as they unfold. Keep posted for a little gopro edit dropping sometime.

[afx500]

Looks like some fun adventures and good pictures  

[steezin_and_wheezin]

Its a bit long, but i whittled 3 hours of mostly straighter roads and city driving. Next edit should have a few more turns to watch.

EDIT: Not available in some countries.. Let me know if you have trouble and i'll pull the music off and upload one everyone can watch

[BockinBboy]

Nice cut steez!

Little paranoid with all the cops around the 6min mark? 

Jealous of those levers!

- Bboy

[Drastik]

I can't see the video from here (work), but I'll definitely check it out tonight.

It was great seeing you guys.  Feel free to stop by anytime! 

[Slack]

Nice video!
It'll be sweet when we finally get on some twisties with that camera.

We were passing Roanoke City Police Station/ Jail/ and Court House at 6min.  Honestly those were a lot of empty cars, they were out in force on 460 though, saw several people pulled, and it looked like one or two bikers being arrested (it's a straight road, way to easy to whip it up to triple digits).

[jestercinti]

Awesome. Just a thought...when October hits, it will be cold. Need to start thinking of heading south.

[steezin_and_wheezin]

Have had a few busy weekends lately. I have the baton still and will be ready to ride with it the last weekend in August(8/30-9/1). Huff's bike is currently down. So that means Oz would be the next one in line to head north. I have contacted next riders from the north and south to start coordination.

Jester makes a very valid point. It would be a shame to have it stuck in Maine for the whole winter. So I wanted to ask anyone still watching this thread if y'all felt we should go ahead and send it south?

[Paulcet]

I would hate to have it stuck up north, too. But the best chance of the guys up there to get involved within the next 2 years is to get up there now.

[oz353]

i am down to meet that weekend steez... my only question is who will i be handing off to?

[mr. happy]

i'm stopping by for the first time in quite awhile, coming off a road biking spill.  I've started the bike a few times, and should be riding in a week or two. I'm in vermont, but I don't know how much of a lone voice in the wilderness i am here.

just sayin hi. HIII!

[steezin_and_wheezin]

Not many people weighing in one the matter.. So the baton heads north!!

We knew it would take a while when we started. I think its better to get it to members close rather than hope/wish it comes back so they can ride a leg with the baton

Pm'd you oz. I'm not sure who you would prefer to pass it off to. Check out the map in the original post and start pm'ing people! haha

[BassWoW]

Just a heads up- Im still Game. In NH and my bubblez stand.

!!!

[ndlsjk]

I'm in Pa so might be able to catch the baton on its way back south.

[steezin_and_wheezin]

Sounds good guys, just be sure to keep an eye on the thread. Maybe go ahead and start chatting with your neighboring members to coordinate routes/meeting places.

Oz and I have our next hand off date set. August 31st we will be meeting up around the intersection of I81/I66 in VA.

Stay tuned!

[Zmerica19]

western ny rider here, would love to take part

[oz353]

I have received the baton from steezin and carried it north to Pennsylvania! a few more and better pictures im sure, will be coming soon from steezin. his camera has the hand off pic.

I rode 600+ miles in total today, Virginia is certainly a beautiful state. Even with the rain clouds   -> weather 
I rode through Gettysburg on my way to pick up the baton...



This is General John Beauford (not sure of spelling)  there are four cannon surrounding the foot of the statue, the one pointing directly at the camera is THE cannon that fired the first shot at the battle of Gettysburg. the Lt. who fired that shot spent 25 years, after the war, searching for this cannon...identified by serial number.



This seemingly ordinary barn at the battlefield was first a confederate then union field hospital. the wounded men who were brought there did not receive treatment for 20 days or so. during a very hot summer.



Against fatigue and rainstorms i finally made it to Natural Bridge Virginia...


Hehe two pictures there look as one and no photo chopping bwahahaha

[steezin_and_wheezin]

With a sick gf at home I wasn't able to ride as far north as planned. Fortunately Oz was willing and able to ride the extra miles to keep the baton moving!!

I'll definitely come further north when the baton is making its way south again.

A little on the ride;
Strapped the baton on and started north. Got to the original meeting spot a bit early, but it worked out perfect. Sat inside a/c and watched a serious storm roll through. Banner/Baton are really great any weather combo! The first laminated banner's ink would have definitely run after all the rain its seen.





After the storm broke I had enough time to keep riding a bit further north, and we decided to move the meeting location to Natural Bridge VA. Ran into a little rain on the way.. Then was able to explore around while Oz was nearing in









Unfortunately you can only see the full effect of the bridge from a 45 minute walking tour. You actually drive/ride across it on the main road(rt11), but they have high fencing on both side. Next best shot was with the main sign.



And the actual hand off photo this time!!



Had a great ride, and can't wait to follow the progress north. Thanks again to oz for trekking the extra miles. I'll get the google maps updated soon