So here ya go. Link to last weekends ride up 421.
So a few notes to add to the trip.
77 is not bad first thing in the morning, in the afternoon/evening it is really not so nice. When Josh and I left that morning we got up to Statesville in a hurry, one- because we were running late, and two, there were no cars on the road. However coming home was another story.... Darn left lane bandits were out like crazy. Oh well.
Josh and I had been wanting to get up to "The Snake" again because the last time we went we were less than prepared, riding wise, for what it had to offer. It was my first trip out on the FZ and while I didn't do too bad that time I was still trying to figure out this asphalt stuff, lol. That and that was the first time Josh and ever seen corners to speak of.
Those are some pictures from our first time up, The Snake, last fall.
Since then Josh and I both have improved greatly since we have made several mountain trips in the late winter and early spring. So we felt it was time to go back to see how we improved.
It was much more enjoyable this time! We have learned to read each other when riding and have a pretty good trust riding together now since we have made so many trips. I normally take he lead when we are out and as I am taking corners I normally glance in my mirrors to make sure Josh is still back their and watch him exit corners.
For the most part he was right there with me the entire way untill this sharp right hander. It snuck up on me thats for sure and it was all I could to stay in my lane and pull through it. So I turned back to watch Josh. Well it spooked him a bit and he stood the bike up and was forced to break the double yellow. He was less than happy with himself about it since we really hate when people do that. Thankfully there wasn't any on coming traffic so everything was ok.
After the stop at the store and we had that truck incident, it got in my head a bit. But then again if you worry about everything that could happen you will never be able to get out and enjoy things. But I do hug that white line a bit more now.
When we found our way back to the twisties, Josh and I checked out again and like Dad said it wasn't that we were going fast it was just being able to carry a consistant speed through the corners. Mom played, "Mom" and managed to fuss at me a bit over the radio. I know she just misses doing that a daily basis.
A little ways into Hwy 58 we met a FZ1 coming down the mtn but it odd was because he shut the bike off as he approached us and then took both hands off and pointed and Josh and I. I didn't think much about it, but it turns out that the person riding the bike was person I have been chatting with on the net who lives up that way. We were going to meet up that weekend but he avoids Shady Valley on the weekends due to the amount of THP. Small world!
As Dad mentioned we ended up getting stuck behind some of the slowest people and it always seemed to happen at the best parts of the road! Oh well, I guess things happen for a reason sometimes.
We made it home safe and sound, ironicly with the exact same amount of miles on the trip meter as my parents. I mean exact. Odd.
Overall it was another great ride, but then again I don't think I have ever had a bad one. Riding a bike is by far one the most enjoyable things I do. No matter what kind of bike or what the terrain. Being on two wheels is what I enjoy the most, there is just something about it. It can't be explained...
Hard to believe that GSXR has 12,000 miles on it! He has had it a year now, 1,000 miles a month. He is stoked about it. I think he is going to make himself a plaque, lol.
Here you can see the intercom system on the right side of the bars and my iPod mount as well in the center. This turned out to work well, however the bumps in the road would tend to mess with the iPod and cause it to freeze up. I will need to work on a better mounting system for that in the future.
I had a time installing those flush mount turn signals there in the front of the bike. The old ones were not the right size and were not very visible. These a bit larger and they mount a bit different. I spent a good bit of time cutting away the inside of the fairings with my trusty dremel tool. But here you can see them as well as the bags mounted to the new rack.
Our first stop on the first day just outside of Kershaw, S.C. The mural on the building I thought was pretty neat as well as the sunset as the day came to an end.
The next stop was at the Georgia Welcome Center off Hwy 301. Unfortunately they are closed on Sundays, however that didn't stop us from having fun. It was small building, but it had a nice wooded area behind it that had picnic tables and swings and such for people to enjoy.
So I couldn't quite get the camera to pick up all the colors in the sky here, but man was it wicked. After we got through Daytona we had to take I-95 South for a bit to make a little time. Well we made a quick stop for fuel a little ways out side of Daytona and the sky's were looking a bit scary. Yes that bight spot is the sun... weird huh.
The next day when were in Clewiston we went and saw the family for a bit, then went out for a little tour of the the town. This area is right off the lake, and is next to one of the many pump stations for the lake. They turned this area into a park with a play ground and have some of the older engines and pumps that ran for years set up on display. I am sure Dad will go into more detail about these pumps and such, so I will leave that up to him. All I can say is, wow! They were big and moved alot of water.
These pictures were taken just out side of my Granddaddy's house. I always thought the canal in front of the house looked neat with the the large palms that line it. I thought the trees made for some neat shots.
"Rut Roh Shaggy" We found a young gator' on one of the canal banks just outside of Clewiston. I wanted to be sure I got some gator pictures before I left Florida, so we 
On our way out of Clewiston we stopped at one of the many orange groves that lined the side of the road. As we rode down the road all you could smell were the oranges, so we had to stop. I have never really been fond of just eating orange slices, but I love orange juice. We plucked a couple nice ones and I sucked the juice out of a few slices and that was the best O.J. I have ever had.
Our next stop was at Avon Park. Mom and Dad spent alot of time their when they first got married and lived in that area. It was a really nice park with lots of trails to walk down and plenty of chances to see wild animals. As you can see in the pictures that was the walkway they had build to take you over the swamp areas, including where the gators were. It was neat getting that close to a live gator, and it made for some nice photos as well. You could spend several days out there walking all the trails and enjoying all the park had to offer. However we didn't have that kind of time, so we just did a couple that Mom and Dad knew were nice and then we headed out.
Well just up from Avon Park was the Sebring International Speedway. I had hoped we would be able to stop and just see the track on our way home, so we made our way towards it. Turns out it was testing day for the IRL cars. We got lucky! Those V8 Honda's we screaming and were really getting the job done coming out of the hairpin and down the back stretch. The girls were less than amused, however, Dad and I were loving it.
Somebody should tell him he put his motor in sideways...
The reason rail cars are now rear engine. Don lost half of his right foot due to the clutch exploding in this picture.
I think he might have had a bit of an air leak on that one...
As I sit and think about all the vechicals I would love to drive, this isn't one of them. Some how I just can't stomach the thought of sitting on the rear end like that...
So from now on when someone says they blew up the motor in something, this is what I will think of. Now I have seen motors get destroyed at races, but I haven't seen one do that and I have a feeling that was a heck of a site.
I am going to go on a limb here and say those motors got a bit hot...
They really should have had this car in its own room where you could get better pictures of it. It is by far one of the most amazing cars there. If you have nothing better to do, Google Swamp Rat 34 and do a little research, you will be impressed.
Overall Milage: 1867.5 miles