Ducati Monster Forum

Kitchen Sink => No Moto Content => Topic started by: KnightofNi on January 05, 2012, 08:27:54 AM

Title: driving westward.
Post by: KnightofNi on January 05, 2012, 08:27:54 AM
So I went down to Asheville, NC on 12/28 and was planning on hangin in the area or a bit and just being low key.
on fri we parted ways and i went to bomb some roads in the mtns and was going to take the blue ridge pkwy back north. i started on the west side of the city and the BRP was closed there. Found nother entrance and a few miles later it was closed again. I saw a pattern developing and posted a simple question on facebook. "north or west?"

there was no real concensus so as i was headed south at the time, i turned right and headed somewhere i have never driven.
i had no real plan, just go west and see if i could get to the rockies.
Total mileage from home was 4350, I haven't counted the gas stops, or done any other number crunching, but here are the pics i took with my real camera. the others are on facebook.

http://s237.photobucket.com/albums/ff167/kngtofni/westward/ (http://s237.photobucket.com/albums/ff167/kngtofni/westward/)


musings from the road
Kansas was not so much fun. the eastern part isn't too bad, but central to western KS on I70 leaves a lasting impression.
the mtns of TN were fun at 75mph until i got caught up in traffic that was afraid to use the long skinny pedal. after that, it got fun again.
i LOVE Colorado. the mountains, the beer, and the people were amazing. i could spend days riding/driving through the canyons and across the mountains. 
Drinking at altitude means i get drunkled faster. Thank you for proving this Buckethead.
Nebraska is worse than kansas. i had no cell signal so i couldn't listen to pandora at all. I couldn't even call someone to tell them how much it sucked.
I will post more as I think of it. I am verry happy to have had the chance to do this and am even happier to know there are people out there willing to let wierdos into their homes and feed them.

Also, a massive thanks to Buckethead for giving me a place to stay on sunday as well. And thanks for the beer i was sent home with. [beer] ;D

Title: Re: driving westward.
Post by: Buckethead on January 05, 2012, 08:35:20 AM
 [beer]

[evil]
Title: Re: driving westward.
Post by: lethe on January 05, 2012, 08:41:10 AM
not a bad trip.....for a girl's car  [cheeky]
Title: Re: driving westward.
Post by: KnightofNi on January 05, 2012, 08:45:03 AM
so here is the pic we took after the first bar.

(http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff167/kngtofni/westward/E45ADE9E-orig.jpg)
Title: Re: driving westward.
Post by: lethe on January 05, 2012, 09:04:03 AM
Quote from: KnightofNi on January 05, 2012, 08:45:03 AM
so here is the pic we took after the first bar.

(http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff167/kngtofni/westward/E45ADE9E-orig.jpg)
try as it might the Horse of a Different Color could not escape
Travis was overheard saying the Cowardly Lion is next!   :o
Title: Re: driving westward.
Post by: Monsterlover on January 05, 2012, 11:33:07 AM
[laugh]
Title: Re: driving westward.
Post by: AJ on January 05, 2012, 12:00:36 PM
 [laugh]
Title: Re: driving westward.
Post by: ducpainter on January 05, 2012, 12:07:19 PM
Are you still headed west?
Title: Re: driving westward.
Post by: lethe on January 05, 2012, 12:08:03 PM
Quote from: ducpainter on January 05, 2012, 12:07:19 PM
Are you still headed west?
no he's back now
Title: Re: driving westward.
Post by: ducpainter on January 05, 2012, 12:09:38 PM
Quote from: lethe on January 05, 2012, 12:08:03 PM
no he's back now
He's been talking about Cali...

forever.

Figured he'd take the trip seein' he was closer.
Title: Re: driving westward.
Post by: lethe on January 05, 2012, 12:12:15 PM
Quote from: ducpainter on January 05, 2012, 12:09:38 PM
He's been talking about Cali...

forever.

Figured he'd take the trip seein' he was closer.
I'm sure it crossed his mind

but then he saw a squirrel or a bright shiny object and forgot
Title: Re: driving westward.
Post by: ducpainter on January 05, 2012, 12:14:08 PM
Quote from: lethe on January 05, 2012, 12:12:15 PM
I'm sure it crossed his mind

but then he saw a squirrel or a bright shiny object and forgot
It was probably the painted pony that distracted him. ;)
Title: Re: driving westward.
Post by: Pip on January 05, 2012, 12:15:14 PM
Quote from: lethe on January 05, 2012, 12:12:15 PM
I'm sure it crossed his mind

but then he saw a squirrel or a bright shiny object and forgot

Perhaps he felt a strange kinship to that red squirrel he saw.
Title: Re: driving westward.
Post by: Buckethead on January 05, 2012, 12:17:50 PM
Wasn't any of ours that distracted him.

This late in the season they're all morbidly obese. They look like woodchucks with IZ_ tails.
Title: Re: driving westward.
Post by: zooom on January 05, 2012, 12:25:56 PM
Quote from: ducpainter on January 05, 2012, 12:14:08 PM
It was probably the painted pony that distracted him. ;)

painted with butter?
Title: Re: driving westward.
Post by: Monsterlover on January 05, 2012, 12:28:36 PM
[laugh]

Hallucinogenic butter judging by the paint job
Title: Re: driving westward.
Post by: KnightofNi on January 05, 2012, 02:18:26 PM
i had cancelled one PT appt to lengthen my stay so i came back to get the other ones in this week.

i was debating making my way to the pacific. i will still do it. i am making a plan for it. and getting a co-driver. The midwest BLOWS
Title: Re: driving westward.
Post by: CrashAstern on January 05, 2012, 07:31:18 PM
As a local to the Chicago area, I concurr on the fact that the Midwest blows for traveling.  Glad I've moved west to Seattle, where the Pacific really isn't all that far of a ride away :P
Title: Re: driving westward.
Post by: Randimus Maximus on January 05, 2012, 07:57:21 PM
Was this car on fire and chasing you?

(http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff167/kngtofni/westward/DSC_0419.jpg)
Title: Re: driving westward.
Post by: ZLTFUL on January 05, 2012, 11:09:41 PM
Sorry I couldn't come out and play when you passed through. Hope you enjoyed my food suggestion.
Title: Re: driving westward.
Post by: Grampa on January 05, 2012, 11:45:21 PM
No knight sightings in my woods :(
Title: Re: driving westward.
Post by: RAT900 on January 06, 2012, 01:36:07 AM
Great pics....my favorites are of the car with a mouth full of hay in (what appears to be) a failed attempt to improve milage

but I guess after the encounter with the horse your reasoning skills might have become a bit "unsorted"
Title: Re: driving westward.
Post by: Randimus Maximus on January 06, 2012, 05:42:15 AM
Quote from: RAT900 on January 06, 2012, 01:36:07 AM
Great pics....my favorites are of the car with a mouth full of hay in (what appears to be) a failed attempt to improve milage

but I guess after the encounter with the horse your reasoning skills might have become a bit "unsorted"

I think he was looking for increased downforce.  He says it was a tad windy driving across Kansas.
Title: Re: driving westward.
Post by: KnightofNi on January 07, 2012, 07:00:39 AM
Quote from: Randimus Maximus on January 05, 2012, 07:57:21 PM
Was this car on fire and chasing you?

(http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff167/kngtofni/westward/DSC_0419.jpg)

that is one of my favorite pics.

Quote from: ZLTFUL on January 05, 2012, 11:09:41 PM
Sorry I couldn't come out and play when you passed through. Hope you enjoyed my food suggestion.

the food was amazing. no worries about not meeting up. it was awfully late notice.
i appreciate the help i was given the whole way.

regarding the wind, it was strong enough that it was pushing cars all over the road. there was a freshly overturned tractor trailer in CO.
Title: Re: driving westward.
Post by: krolik on January 07, 2012, 09:59:10 AM
Quote from: bobspapa on January 05, 2012, 11:45:21 PM
No knight sightings in my woods :(

You're better off that way. Trust me. ;D
Title: Re: driving westward.
Post by: KnightofNi on January 07, 2012, 12:07:57 PM
Quote from: bobspapa on January 05, 2012, 11:45:21 PM
No knight sightings in my woods :(

if the mtns right there weren't so appealing i might have made it out that way.
maybe for the next attempt i'll make it that far