FBAD: Life on the Blue Ridge

[Fast Ferris]

This is our new friend Jim, who was sitting out on the back deck at Mt. Pisgah Lodge
quietly creating his lovely water-color paintings and visiting with the occasional curious tourist.

Denise and I chatted with Jim for perhaps an hour, very much enjoying his take
on the mountain way of life (he was born and raised just down the Parkway from Mt. Pisgah) and the world in general.

Such a peaceful, gentle soul, this man.

[Fast Ferris]

I found this pretty little love note waiting for me upon returning from a quick pit stop along the Parkway.
Thanks, Babe.

[Fast Ferris]

One of the Parkway's many obligatory photo stops, with an emphatic from the co-pilot...

[Mr. Magoo]

Originally Posted by Fast Ferris

Gracias, amigo! How's the new ride treating you?? :-)

It's great! Spent a weekend in the mountains tossing it around on a long break-in ride and had a lot of fun riding with inmate Sweetfeed. Serviced it, cleaned it, and then Trish and I took the back way to Savannah last weekend to support friends at a ballroom dance competition on the river. We had a great ride and great fun riding and dancing. Took another backway home which was fantastic. We found ourselves in the middle of nowhere Georgia, very low on gas, and somewhat lost ... rolled into a shabby little store near Hiltonyia (sp) that had pumps. I roll up,park,and notice a sportbike parked in front. Took a closer look, got off and walked over and took a jaw dropping drooling look. It was a brand new Ducati Panigale. Right there in the middle of, forgotten by time, deep country Georgia, and not mountain Georgia. I was a astonished. There are very few in the country and I've never even seen one. The owner and I chatted and he had me swing a leg over. What a machine! Crazy! He lives around there and was putting break-in mile on it before he took it to his other place in Blairsville. Funny what you find just blatt'n around the countryside. It was a great trip on a great bike. Love-n it!

[Mr. Magoo]

Originally Posted by Fast Ferris

One of the Parkway's many obligatory photo stops, with an emphatic from the co-pilot...

When I was at school in Cullowhee in the early 80's I had a house on Speedwell Rd. that I shared with three other geology majors. We all had dual sport bikes. We would ride up Cullowhee mountain, take trails for a couple of hours, roll through a balsam grove, up a steep embankment, and pop out onto the parkway right at that sign! Good times. Tourists at the overlook always gave a double-take. Used to roll the Parkway to Graveyard field to pick blueberries.

[Fast Ferris]

Franklin awaits. Time to catch a draft and beat feet
(and hope that guy's duffel bag doesn't suddenly fall off in front of us...):

[Fast Ferris]

[Fast Ferris]

[Fast Ferris]

~ This. Doesn't. Suck. ~

[JB2]

No it doesn't Ferris and great pics as usual my friend. Great weekend was had by all. Dickey broke down on the way home about 35 miles from his place. He lost the top end on at least one cylinder. Gentleman Jim had his sights set on Cody, WY to meet up with a friend today. He might be home by the end of the weekend. Must be nice to be retired and have the means to travel endlessly around the country. Yes, I am jealous Mr. Attebery!

[Fast Ferris]

Originally Posted by Mr. Magoo

It's great! Spent a weekend in the mountains tossing it around on a long break-in ride and had a lot of fun riding with inmate Sweetfeed. Serviced it, cleaned it, and then Trish and I took the back way to Savannah last weekend to support friends at a ballroom dance competition on the river. We had a great ride and great fun riding and dancing. Took another backway home which was fantastic. We found ourselves in the middle of nowhere Georgia, very low on gas, and somewhat lost ... rolled into a shabby little store near Hiltonyia (sp) that had pumps. I roll up,park,and notice a sportbike parked in front. Took a closer look, got off and walked over and took a jaw dropping drooling look. It was a brand new Ducati Panigale. Right there in the middle of, forgotten by time, deep country Georgia, and not mountain Georgia. I was a astonished. There are very few in the country and I've never even seen one. The owner and I chatted and he had me swing a leg over. What a machine! Crazy! He lives around there and was putting break-in mile on it before he took it to his other place in Blairsville. Funny what you find just blatt'n around the countryside. It was a great trip on a great bike. Love-n it!

Great story, and nice new wheels, amigo:



Have I told you lately that you suck?!?

[Fast Ferris]

Originally Posted by Mr. Magoo

When I was at school in Cullowhee in the early 80's I had a house on Speedwell Rd. that I shared with three other geology majors. We all had dual sport bikes. We would ride up Cullowhee mountain, take trails for a couple of hours, roll through a balsam grove, up a steep embankment, and pop out onto the parkway right at that sign! Good times. Tourists at the overlook always gave a double-take.

Think our Harleys could replicate that ride up to the Parkway???

[Mr. Magoo]

Originally Posted by Fast Ferris

Great story, and nice new wheels, amigo:

Have I told you lately that you suck?!?

Think our Harleys could replicate that ride up to the Parkway???

Hehehehe ....


The ride: sure .... up the Parkway. The HD's up the trail would too much like work for me ...

We'll hook up soon I believe. You might have to be patient, I'm slow and look around alot ...but don't really get anything really done; like taking beautiful pictures....

I still want to buy ya'll lunch for making the effort to attempt to see me race at VIR back then ...

[Fast Ferris]

Originally Posted by Mr. Magoo

You might have to be patient, I'm slow and look around alot...

Hmmm, Kristi and Carlos have painted an entirely different picture of your riding style...

I still want to buy ya'll lunch for making the effort to attempt to see me race at VIR back then ...

Well, in truth we didn't try very hard to crash the gate at VIR that day, as we heard you were slow and liked to look around a lot!!

Lunch sounds good; we'll bring the ceegars. Where would half-way be for us and you? Little Switzerland-ish??

[Mr. Magoo]

Originally Posted by Fast Ferris

Hmmm, Kristi and Carlos have painted an entirely different picture of your riding style...


Well, in truth we didn't try very hard to crash the gate at VIR that day, as we heard you were slow and liked to look around a lot!!

Lunch sounds good; we'll bring the ceegars. Where would half-way be for us and you? Little Switzerland-ish??

Racing changed me. Now, it just feels pointless to go fast on the street. Probably just getting old... sometimes I do lose my mind and ride at velocities some would deem reckless. I miss racing, but now have to get the kids through University... which is thrilling in itself.

That day at VIR, I did have a good look around. In one of the 600 classes, the rider in front of me highsided going into the rollercoaster and blocked all available lines. I had to ride off the track at race pace, and ride it out, all the way down the grass hill before I was waved back on the track by the corner worker. Nice little tour.

Little S sounds great, I'll try to get a date out of Trish. We work lots of weekends. Mike.