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Trip Daily Journel:
September 12, 2003, Friday
We are all on the airplane, ready to leave at 4:00 pm. Dave Shoup, Dammit Janet, Kelly Mills, Sue Haley and me. Woo Hoo! Small
Continental Express plane. We're going to give Ralphy, our steward with braces, lots of trouble. Sue got the whole plane to sing Happy Birthday to our 23 year old pilot! 23!! The guys
picked us up in Knoxville. Had dinner at Texas Roadhouse, got into the Jacuzzi and in bed at 11:30 pm.
September 13, 2003, Saturday
Loaded up and left at 9:00 am. Rode across the Dragon, shopped and checked into Nantahala Inn. Great little place, woodplanked rooms, all
opening to a deck. Sue, Johnny, Lance and Sandra took the cabin down the hill. VERY nice, but found out it doesn't have a/c. Turned out not to be a problem though with the cool weather and a
fan. However, that light on the pole outside has got to go! Shines on the bed ALL night and no drapes. Dylan said he would try to throw the breaker for Sunday night. Had lunch at River
End. Some others went down the road to another restaurant, but we all met up and went on a nice ride. 28 to Highland, then to Sylva, Franklin, Bryson City. Abbott cooked hamburgers. We
had a campfire and took turns telling stories. Wade was hysterical. Lance and Sandra went to the cabin about 11:30 pm – we think.
September 14, 2003, Sunday
Abbott and Dylan had breakfast for us at 8:00 am. Temperature is 60 degrees. We ate on the deck and ready to leave at 9:00 am. Stopped
for gas in Robinsonville before heading to Cherohola Skyway. Low clouds, but good visibility.
10:00 am, we stopped at Cherohola for photos. Clouds are hiding the sun, so pleasant weather. Heavy sprinkle, so stopped for some to put
rain gear on. At 411 & 360, stopped to take off raingear at BP store. Had lunch at Victoria Station in Townsend. Very nice service. Waitress thought it was cool to serve us. Got
to Cherokee in time to shop before they closed at 5:00 pm. Afterwards, some went to Fontana Dam and reminisced about last year, when Sue and Johnny got engaged. Back at Nantahala Inn, Dylan and
Abbott set up tents so we could eat, even if it rained. Ribeyes, roasted corn, baked potatoes, everything! It was awesome! Mona Arnold passed out dragon charms to everyone. That was very
nice!! Told more stories and got to bed at 10:30 pm.
September 15, 2003, Monday
Group photo and another great breakfast. On the road at 9:20 am. Stopped to gas up in Bryson, and then on to the Visitor's Center at mile
marker 450 at 10:45 am. Foggy. Sun trying to come through. Put on Gortex at 62 degrees. Temp has risen to 68 degrees and back down past 60 degrees. 419 mile marker is Graveyard
Fields Trails. We hiked .2 miles to the small falls. Really cool walking through the trail. Falls are nice. Headed on to Pisgah Inn, had lunch and went to HD dealership in
Waynesville. Lee got a new tire. Stopped at a store to pick up supplies for Sue's "farewell" get together. Did laundry, then gathered in Sue and Johnny's room. Girls went next door to
Kleman and Shoup's room to work on farewell get together. Lance, Kleman, Wade, and I went to dinner about 8:15 pm. After dinner, we went back to Sue and Johnny's room. Reject, Lee, Shoup, and 3
Way stayed with Lee at the dealership while he got his new tire. They left the dealership about 7:15 pm and came home in the dark and fog on 151. Scared them to death with all the curves.
Reject has a problem with his brakes when they get wet. Bed by 10:30 pm.
September 16, 2003, Tuesday
7:00 am and an incredibly beautiful sunrise over the mountains. Kleman went into the dealership to get a new tire. Dave went in to get an
oil leak fixed. We'll pull out at 10:00 am because we want the low clouds to lift a bit, so we can see the gorgeous scenery. Pulled out at 9:50 am, 58 degrees, some of us went down 151. Others
went another direction. We met at 63 & 19, then on to Hot Springs. We met up with Kleman, Shoup, Johnny & Reject from dealership. Had lunch at Paddler's Pad. Great! Rode to
Mt. Mitchell. Some pulled off along the way to go on back to the hotel. Mt. Mitchell was ok. Should have probably stopped at the restaurant for a better view, but clouds were coming in.
Back at the hotel, Peggy gave everyone bars of homemade soaps that she bought in Asheville. Another great time visiting!
September 17, 2003, Wednesday
Sunrise is incredible. Clouds look like a lake through the mountains. Got as cold as 56 degrees. Stopped in Linville to gas and ate at
the Gristmill and Lee's BBQ. Great little shop, too! Rode to Grandfather Mountain. The summit ride was awesome. Walked across the suspension bridge that is 1 mile up. Everyone split
up. Lance, Sandra, Mikael, and Wade went to Linville Falls. Quite a hike, but worth it. Stopped at 151 for photos. It took Mikael only 17 minutes to ride down it for 4.5 miles and then 12
miles back to the hotel. Incredibly fast on those curvy roads! Got back to the hotel about 7:00 pm. Had dinner and then on to the farewell party in Sue and Johnny's room. Sue planned an
awards presentation with all awards going to Lance. Best Rider, Best Bike, Best This, Best That. The last presentation was a plaque with everyone's name as a thank you. They also gave us an
anniversary card. Very very thoughtful. Lance then presented his awards to those in the group that he felt deserved it. Best Bike went to Mona. Best Rider went to Kleman. Etc.
September 18, 2003, Thursday
Our 4th Anniversary! Lance gave me a Harley shirt and gold HD earrings, and he always gives the greatest cards! Today is a long day to Memphis, pulling out at 9:00 am. Mike, Peggy, Mona, Fred will go to Knoxville. Ross, Laura, Lee will go home. The rest of us will go to the Arkansas State Rally! Rode about 600 miles, and stayed at the Best Western. Bed at 9:30 pm.
September 19, 2003, Friday
On the road at 8:30 am. Checked into the Majestic about 11:30 am. Went to the Convention Center to check in. On to the dealership and
then a ride. Country is only ok after the beautiful roads we've already had. Queued up at Mountain Springs for the parade. SO MUCH FUN! People lining the streets. Some bikers
throwing candy. Need to remember that for next time. Ended at Long Shot Saloon for the CNS party. Sue's niece, Ann, and boyfriend, Severin, joined us. We went to the German
restaurant. Lance, Sandra, and Mikael stopped at the Puzzle Bar and ended the night at another bar close to the hotel. In bed at 1:30 am.
September 20, 2003, Saturday
Toofy, JaLayne, Reject, Dave, Kelly, Robert left this morning. Bob and Dawn are on their way. Sue is spending the day with Ann. Guys
are riding. All girls having mineral bath at 3:30 pm. Bob and Dawn didn't show until 12:30 pm. Dawn wanted to ride. She's lost a ton of weight since her hip surgery. Sue had already
left to meet Ann. Needing a butt break, Sandra had lunch alone and ran into Sue and Ann while shopping. We headed back for our spa treatment. It was wonderful. Cleaned up and went
downstairs to meet the guys who pulled in at 6:00 pm. Wade was still out with Heather, the girl he met last night. Guys are cleaning up. Had Italian food for dinner. Went to the porno
piano bar. Anthony and Chereesa met us. Went to Dad's Place. 2:30 am bed.
September 21, 2003, Sunday
Up about 8:30 am. It's supposed to rain. Wade took Lance, Sandra, Sue, Johnny to Texarkana where his sister, her husband, and his father
live. His family is very gracious. It was nice sitting outside and watching the hummingbirds. We walked across a field, over a little hill to the family cemetery, where JoAnn is buried. We
visited awhile longer, then headed towards home in rain. Special memories with special friends.
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