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So I literally just walked in the door from bike week, and wanted to get online. My brother has been "borrowing" my digital camera for a while, so I bought a disposable one down there... dropped it off at the store - I will try to figure out how to get some pictures online afterwards.
I had thought about going since last weekend. I didnt see any talk about it on here, and the forecast was rain all week (around Washington DC where I'm from), and rain down in SC also. So I figured it wouldnt happen. Anyways, Tuesday when I got home from work (2pm), it was sunny out and I just couldnt help it. Called a buddy to cover for me, hopped on the bike, and left. About a 500 mile ride... Stopped every 100 miles or so to gas up, walk around a few minutes. A nice dinner around sunset.
As I got closer and closer, started seeing more and more bikes. Got into town, and bikes accounted for maybe 70% of traffic. Harleys accounted for at least that of the bikes... Anyways, everyone was really friendly. Only been riding two years, have heard stories of bike weeks and Harley clubs, but everyone was good hearted. Some rough sarcasm seems to break the ice.
It was tough finding a cheap room by the boardwalk... kind of had the feeling the managers didnt want to rent to bikes (as there WAS vacancy, but no bikes in the lots...) but then you would come across some that were overrun with bikes... so I could understand if that is their choice. All the same, maybe I was just reading into it.
Spent Wed and Thurs crusing around. Made friends with some Harley riders at the motel I found, so spent all Wed cruising backroads of SC with them. Thursday spent solo... although I did stop off at some diner where I saw a yellow/black KAT. Some younger woman who loved the bike. Only been riding this season. Told her about the forum, we'll see if she joins!
Some bad rain storms throughout, but that kind of made it more enjoyable. Bikes piled up under bridges, at gas stations, wherever there was cover. And of course all Harleys, and then I'd come in with my helmet, jacket and KAT (no helmets required over age 20 in SC). Sure I stuck out and attracted some jokes, but a joke right back and then it was copacetic.
Some things I wish I had thought about... saddlebags. My longest rides before have been 3-4 hour days with one overnight. A backpack worked out great. Strapping a stuffed backpack and bike cover under a cargo net kept pushing into my back, and was tough to get weighted centered. Gloves... my gloves were clearly not waterproof, so I took them off when soaked... but then my hands got sunburned... go figure. A few times I rode through heavy rain, absolutely soaking my jeans and jacket. My jacket is waterproof, but well, everyone hates wet jeans. I found as soon as the rain passed though, riding around 70-80 with my knees out dried them pretty quickly!
Anyways, I just really enjoyed the experience, thought I'd share whatever with you guys. I'll see what I can do with the pics. This one shot at a gas station was pretty typical of everywhere. As if you cant spot a kat... its the only positioned front on as opposed to sideways (only way I could get it under the station's roof...)
I had thought about going since last weekend. I didnt see any talk about it on here, and the forecast was rain all week (around Washington DC where I'm from), and rain down in SC also. So I figured it wouldnt happen. Anyways, Tuesday when I got home from work (2pm), it was sunny out and I just couldnt help it. Called a buddy to cover for me, hopped on the bike, and left. About a 500 mile ride... Stopped every 100 miles or so to gas up, walk around a few minutes. A nice dinner around sunset.
As I got closer and closer, started seeing more and more bikes. Got into town, and bikes accounted for maybe 70% of traffic. Harleys accounted for at least that of the bikes... Anyways, everyone was really friendly. Only been riding two years, have heard stories of bike weeks and Harley clubs, but everyone was good hearted. Some rough sarcasm seems to break the ice.
It was tough finding a cheap room by the boardwalk... kind of had the feeling the managers didnt want to rent to bikes (as there WAS vacancy, but no bikes in the lots...) but then you would come across some that were overrun with bikes... so I could understand if that is their choice. All the same, maybe I was just reading into it.
Spent Wed and Thurs crusing around. Made friends with some Harley riders at the motel I found, so spent all Wed cruising backroads of SC with them. Thursday spent solo... although I did stop off at some diner where I saw a yellow/black KAT. Some younger woman who loved the bike. Only been riding this season. Told her about the forum, we'll see if she joins!
Some bad rain storms throughout, but that kind of made it more enjoyable. Bikes piled up under bridges, at gas stations, wherever there was cover. And of course all Harleys, and then I'd come in with my helmet, jacket and KAT (no helmets required over age 20 in SC). Sure I stuck out and attracted some jokes, but a joke right back and then it was copacetic.
Some things I wish I had thought about... saddlebags. My longest rides before have been 3-4 hour days with one overnight. A backpack worked out great. Strapping a stuffed backpack and bike cover under a cargo net kept pushing into my back, and was tough to get weighted centered. Gloves... my gloves were clearly not waterproof, so I took them off when soaked... but then my hands got sunburned... go figure. A few times I rode through heavy rain, absolutely soaking my jeans and jacket. My jacket is waterproof, but well, everyone hates wet jeans. I found as soon as the rain passed though, riding around 70-80 with my knees out dried them pretty quickly!
Anyways, I just really enjoyed the experience, thought I'd share whatever with you guys. I'll see what I can do with the pics. This one shot at a gas station was pretty typical of everywhere. As if you cant spot a kat... its the only positioned front on as opposed to sideways (only way I could get it under the station's roof...)
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