Coast to Coast (and back?) with an Italian Supermodel

Whoa! What's going on 'ere mate? Is that an almost-smile!? Don't tell me yer losing the trademark 'wolverine scowl' we've come to know and love...?

*chuckle*

A bit of a smile actually don't fit you too half bad

Yes, 25 out of Leeds is an awesome road. I grew up there, but I could put you in contact with my dad. He lives in Birmingham, but he's a Bimmer rider . Check out Slice in Lakeview. They make their own pizza and have a pretty long beer menu too, including local brews. There are several good BBQ joints around too. The best one in on 79 on the back side of Jefferson State College, but you would probably need help to find it.

By the way the ride down 65 from Birmingham to Montgomery is boring as hell.

:)

Not yet. I really do like a lot the south has to offer and would definitely like to get back to Nashville, but so far California is still the only place I can call home.

I'm practicing for the camera, Platinumgrit!

Thanks for the recommendations, ewaugh. The road last night from Savannah to Macon was super dull and filled with radar traps. Going to have to play mind games with myself to keep awake from here on out.

This point reminds me of a book I read about 20 years ago. It was titled something like Generation-X. I recall the statement "nobody is really from anywhere anymore because we all have the same stores in our strip malls"

Sounds like you need to cross another boarder and get the hell out of Dodge. I would really like to see pictures of the Ducati riding through the Andes, no?

Antihero re cookie cutter USA, being originally from the UK having travelled extensively in Europe to Siberia, the big box culture is the least appealing feature of the US, the whole sameness, but I have to say little enclaves I have visited and lived places like Sausalito CA, Virginia City NV, Taos NM, Bozeman MT among numerous other places still have a sense of an identity. Keep traveling

The Andes would be nice, Greg....definitely an enclave that has an identity, as RingGap puts it. now that I'm in Alabama I'm back to being a little amazed, believe it or not. I'm having a difficult time understanding what half the people say half the time. I'm fairly good with dialects, but the only one I've run into that's harder than pikey is some of these Southern voices!

Word from back home today was pretty hilarious. My uncle went into a Ducati dealer to see a Panigale in person. Here's his experience: "I explained your journey, and he was adamant that I was mistaken, because a Panigale isn't the kind of bike someone takes cross country (and back), or off pavement, or....I insisted that's exactly what you're doing ON A PANIGALE, and he insisted again I'm wrong, as did the Counter guy."

More news from back 'home': After 12 days, Dr. J has light and heat. He's having to siphon gas from his 1098 and 1199 to feed the Multistrada, though. Today he saw the National Guard escorting 5 gasoline tankers. Society breaks down in 3....2....1..... (ok maybe not, but it breaks down sooner than we expect).

Ours is an oil-based civilization. Cut off gasoline and everything grinds to a halt. Cut off electricity too, and you've got a crisis on your hands. Glad to hear the Doc's making it.

^ Truth... when you see military escorting a fuel tanker, you know shit got real.. thats some mad max apocalypse stuff right there. Too bad the interest in finding alternative fuel sources is kinda vague.

This is a RR out of the ordinary!

It has taken me a couple of weeks to read up on the thread - it has been both entertaining and stimulating reading.
I look forward to following your continued odyssey.

Shades of "One Second After", by William R. Forstchen.....

Keep up the resolve!

happened to stop by the local Duc dealer yesterday, saw two 1199s , was thinking damn how does Anti sit his ass on that tiny triscuit of a seat all day :eek1 One had a stock seat the other optional gel, I know which I'd go for for my boney butt.

As a resident of the fine state of Georgia, I can advise that the above road has more radar traps than anywhere else because it is the safest on which to drive fast. Straight and with little traffic, it's perfect for revenue enhancement.

Hey there antihero! It took me yesterday and this morning to read these 58 pages, and I have been loving it. I plan to do a similar trip circumnavigating the US starting near Toronto, on my 1975 Honda CB750. Looking at July and August of 2014 right after I retire.

I know your trip is not finished yet, but with your philosophical/riding/writing/photography skills, you are just the kind of guy who should embark on a South America tour with an Italian supermodel, and report while on it, in the not too distant future. I would imagine that you could obtain sponsorship to finance this future trip based on the popularity of this one. I know it's too soon to be thinking along these lines for you, but please keep it in the back of your mind, as you finish this current trip and remain in the here and now. This has been way better than the Zen and the Art book which I did also appreciate.

Thank you, thank you!

Ducati should be sponsoring you.

BTW, going in for my 3rd shoulder surgery in a year (same shoulder) here soon. Life is good.

Thanks, guys.

I'm envious of you, Schneller! You have the goal in front, whereas mine is mostly behind.

Best of luck with the surgery, Sgt.

So onto the next installment: Birmingham. Specifically, Barber Motorsports Vintage Museum.

I had been sitting in a coffee shop (free WiFi) in Savannah when some guy walks in and heads straight for me. "Is that your Panigale outside?" :) He also rode and happened to be a professor of art history at one of Savannah's art schools. He also worked on a Red Bull art/motorcycle project. Honda used to have the slogan, "You meet the nicest people on a Honda." I keep thinking the same about my experience with Ducati, only I substitute "most interesting" for "nicest". In any case, I start picking his brain about the south and he recommended (strongly) that I hit up Barber. Sure, why not--what's a few hundred miles.

So that's how I ended up at Barber. And it was completely worth it. Barber houses a collection of over 1200 motorcycles and racing cars. It's the largest motorcycle museum in the world and also houses the largest collection of Lotus race cars. Unfortunately not all are on display at the same time, but from the pictures you can tell there is definitely no shortage of eye candy.

I gasped a few times during my visit--most notably at the Britten and the Supermono (the latter blew my mind when I first saw it at Laguna during the early 90s at the GP).





Mike Hailwood's bike (!)

And my favorite--a Laverda with two pie tins to catch the leaking oil!


What really ruined my day was that there was a track day going on. My brain is still screwed up, so seeing/hearing/remembering all the days I spent on track without the capability to be there is all bitter and no sweet.

You just missed the Vintage Festival at Barber. I go every year and it is an incredible experience. I the museum, did you notice those two beat up BMWs with all the luggage and maps? Those are from another wanderer, RTW. You can read the story in "Investment Biker." I hope you rode Dunnavant Road (25) while you were there.

Cheers,

Mike