Annual Transalps in the Blue Ridge Rally

DirtDOG · 10-05-2003, 10:39 PM

A couple of my Transalp riding friends invited me to tag along to for their annual rally in the north Georgia mtns. What a hoot, two Transalps, Kaw. Super Sherpa, Honda Helix 250 and F650 have a three day ride of great interest. I know the Honda Helix has caught your attention. My friend Gerry bought it at a flea market about 6 weeks ago and decided it would be a good idea to join 40 or so other's for a dual sport ride in Georgia. Also in attendance was our good friend Haskell on his Sherpa, he turned 77 this year and still can hang with us in the woods. Everything about the weekend was top notch and I'm just going to let the pics do the talking.

As I pack the bike Friday morning!!

The view from my street

Lake Rhodhiss

Lake James

Paddy's Creek Road

Old Hwy 70

A stop at the Scooter shop in Swananoa, NC

The new Vespa

This guy just bought this 79 Vespa

One of the higher points of the BRP, weather was pretty ourstanding on this day

Slowly working our way to Georgia via the best roads in the southeast US

Met these guys from Quebec and Ontario that could ride a GW like it was a CBR 600, we had a fun 20 mile downhill run on highway 215 and took no prisoners.

We arrive at TWO after 7 hours and 275 miles of a mix of dirt and paved roads.

Krautbikeman shows up with his AT, it was a busy area around his bike.

We rolled on out to our rustic digs, great place to stay.

We return to TWO next morning to start the "Ride of the Helix"
This bike showed up, I've always liked these and this is the first time I get to see one in the flesh.

Pre Ride meeting, Haskell states that he isn't getting any younger and they need to get going.

Before I go on, I must say that some of the photos are blurry as hell and it's just hard for my camera to do action shots when I'm trying to ride with one hand and shoot with the other. I think they capture the spirit of the ride so I will post them anyway.

Foot race going on, not sure how long but we passed lots of them on the first leg of the ride

First stop

I was riding as the sweeper so I got to watch the Helix rip up the terrain. Lots of laughter in my helmet.

77 years old and still gettin' it!!!

So I give it hell and transform myself into wetdog

Helix time

Everyone got a few turns in the water

Lunch at the Riverside

Fresh trout and pork tenderloin

Back at our shack, we get to watch returning sport bikes nail the corners in our view.

Pop's takes a snooze after 70 miles in the woods. He's a tough bastard and I like riding with him.

The Helix at days end.

A few parting shots from the porch.

He does 100 miles of dual sport and gets a damn flat on a paved road.

Plug doesn't hold so we try again and succeed.

Not a bad place to break down.

This is a union job and it's break time. See ya

porterfish · 10-06-2003, 07:38 AM

cool report DD, love the helix

Pengaleng · 10-06-2003, 08:16 AM

Ha...ha...way to funny. Helix....

Jabba · 10-06-2003, 12:26 PM

That Super Ten belongs to a friend of mine- I just rode one a couple of weeks ago for the first time.... Neat bike! All I could think of was Stephan Peterhansel winning umpteen Dakars on that bike- great pedigree. Troy's bike looks like it's in sweet condition- did you meet him? Prolly spouting some lies about a recent trip to the alps?

B12Teuton · 10-06-2003, 12:56 PM

Somebody buy that guy a Zuma II or something!

DoctorIt · 10-06-2003, 01:01 PM

Why did I spend big bucks on a damn GS adventure? Could have done the same with a used Honda Helix!!

Kinda like the time I thought I was all badass adventurer for hauling up this gnarly, washed out and narrow fire road to a real nice lookout spot - admiring the view when a 30' camper came crashing up... DAMN!

Nice pics, thanks!

cycomoto · 10-06-2003, 04:31 PM

That's my Super Ten you're posing with. If it was in the morning I must have been inside eating breakfast. Sorry we didn't get to meet.

The day turned out well. I did the ride led by "Transalp Pete Tamblin". Transalp is his first name but we call him Pete. I left Atlanta at 6AM to meet at T.W.O. and returned home at 9PM. 550 kilometers (the Super Ten doesn't do miles, but if it did, it would have been 340). Only about 30 km was offroad from Murphy, NC to Tellico Plains, TN. The FS road was pretty beat up from 4WD traffic from the Dixie Run.

Just so you don't think that I was intruding on the Transalpers day, I usually ride with my wife who has a 1989 Transalp. She had to work but I got to play!

G.Kennedy · 10-06-2003, 06:52 PM

Love the helix. Can you get Jesse's for that thing?...What about extra lights?

DirtDOG · 10-06-2003, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Said vonMotoMedic:
That's my Super Ten you're posing with. If it was in the morning I must have been inside eating breakfast. Sorry we didn't get to meet.

The day turned out well. I did the ride led by "Transalp Pete Tamblin". Transalp is his first name but we call him Pete. I left Atlanta at 6AM to meet at T.W.O. and returned home at 9PM. 550 kilometers (the Super Ten doesn't do miles, but if it did, it would have been 340). Only about 30 km was offroad from Murphy, NC to Tellico Plains, TN. The FS road was pretty beat up from 4WD traffic from the Dixie Run.

Just so you don't think that I was intruding on the Transalpers day, I usually ride with my wife who has a 1989 Transalp. She had to work but I got to play!

I'll introduce myself next time I see the bike. I just got in from another 70 miles in the woods with some really tough sections in the mix. I like the bigger bikes but they wouldn't be as much fun as the 650 Dakar in the enviorment I am most frequently playing in. Might you be around next weekend for our little party at TWO?
If so, look forward to meeting you.
DD

El Chivo · 10-06-2003, 08:03 PM

In my country when we see thinks like this guy off roading a Helix, we just say: It's not the ARROW, it's the INDIAN

El Chivo
Caracas, Venezuela

DirtDOG · 10-08-2003, 05:09 AM

Quote:

Said El Chivo:
In my country when we see thinks like this guy off roading a Helix, we just say: It's not the ARROW, it's the INDIAN

El Chivo
Caracas, Venezuela

Well put Chivo.

Ostrich · 10-08-2003, 08:17 AM

Cool pics man. I never thought of a helix as an adventure bike until now.

Stromtrooper246 · 10-08-2003, 03:04 PM

Some of the members of the V-Strom mailing list were also at TWO with the Transalps. Here are a few photos.

Rider · 11-01-2005, 09:38 AM

What a great goddam ride report!

dlrides · 11-01-2005, 09:57 AM

Lake Rhodhiss ? Just might know where you are

. DirtDog, would you by any chance know the Story brothers would you ?

10-05-2003, 10:39 PM	#1
DirtDOG ^OP Same Dog, New Tricks Joined: Jan 2003 Location: The Globe -- NC Oddometer: 17,753	Annual Transalps in the Blue Ridge Rally A couple of my Transalp riding friends invited me to tag along to for their annual rally in the north Georgia mtns. What a hoot, two Transalps, Kaw. Super Sherpa, Honda Helix 250 and F650 have a three day ride of great interest. I know the Honda Helix has caught your attention. My friend Gerry bought it at a flea market about 6 weeks ago and decided it would be a good idea to join 40 or so other's for a dual sport ride in Georgia. Also in attendance was our good friend Haskell on his Sherpa, he turned 77 this year and still can hang with us in the woods. Everything about the weekend was top notch and I'm just going to let the pics do the talking. As I pack the bike Friday morning!! The view from my street Lake Rhodhiss Lake James Paddy's Creek Road Old Hwy 70 A stop at the Scooter shop in Swananoa, NC The new Vespa This guy just bought this 79 Vespa One of the higher points of the BRP, weather was pretty ourstanding on this day Slowly working our way to Georgia via the best roads in the southeast US Met these guys from Quebec and Ontario that could ride a GW like it was a CBR 600, we had a fun 20 mile downhill run on highway 215 and took no prisoners. We arrive at TWO after 7 hours and 275 miles of a mix of dirt and paved roads. Krautbikeman shows up with his AT, it was a busy area around his bike. We rolled on out to our rustic digs, great place to stay. We return to TWO next morning to start the "Ride of the Helix" This bike showed up, I've always liked these and this is the first time I get to see one in the flesh. Pre Ride meeting, Haskell states that he isn't getting any younger and they need to get going. Before I go on, I must say that some of the photos are blurry as hell and it's just hard for my camera to do action shots when I'm trying to ride with one hand and shoot with the other. I think they capture the spirit of the ride so I will post them anyway. Foot race going on, not sure how long but we passed lots of them on the first leg of the ride First stop I was riding as the sweeper so I got to watch the Helix rip up the terrain. Lots of laughter in my helmet. 77 years old and still gettin' it!!! So I give it hell and transform myself into wetdog Helix time Everyone got a few turns in the water Lunch at the Riverside Fresh trout and pork tenderloin Back at our shack, we get to watch returning sport bikes nail the corners in our view. Pop's takes a snooze after 70 miles in the woods. He's a tough bastard and I like riding with him. The Helix at days end. A few parting shots from the porch. He does 100 miles of dual sport and gets a damn flat on a paved road. Plug doesn't hold so we try again and succeed. Not a bad place to break down. This is a union job and it's break time. See ya

10-06-2003, 08:16 AM	#3
Pengaleng Hellbilly Peckerwood Joined: Jun 2003 Location: Georgia Home Boy Oddometer: 3,516	Ha...ha...way to funny. Helix.... __________________ _____________________________ .. . . (MotorBike are good.!)

10-06-2003, 12:26 PM	#4
Jabba "HOLD THE LIGHT!!!" Joined: Nov 2002 Location: Just east of the Pine Beatle- Evergreen, CO Oddometer: 12,423	That Super Ten belongs to a friend of mine- I just rode one a couple of weeks ago for the first time.... Neat bike! All I could think of was Stephan Peterhansel winning umpteen Dakars on that bike- great pedigree. Troy's bike looks like it's in sweet condition- did you meet him? Prolly spouting some lies about a recent trip to the alps? __________________ "Everybody loves cunnilingus!" Chacifer "The road to paradise is paradise" Jacques Yves Cousteau

10-06-2003, 12:56 PM	#5
B12Teuton Thumpwhore Joined: Sep 2003 Location: Acworth Georgia Oddometer: 250	Helix Somebody buy that guy a Zuma II or something!

10-06-2003, 01:01 PM	#6
DoctorIt vrooom! Joined: Sep 2003 Location: Springfield, MA Oddometer: 5,661	crap! Why did I spend big bucks on a damn GS adventure? Could have done the same with a used Honda Helix!! Kinda like the time I thought I was all badass adventurer for hauling up this gnarly, washed out and narrow fire road to a real nice lookout spot - admiring the view when a 30' camper came crashing up... DAMN! Nice pics, thanks! __________________ Erik Professor for hire.

10-06-2003, 07:38 AM	#2
porterfish Debaser Joined: Dec 2002 Location: Ft Myers, FL Oddometer: 2,527	cool report DD, love the helix

10-06-2003, 04:31 PM	#7
cycomoto Adventurer Joined: Oct 2003 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Oddometer: 41	That's my Super Ten you're posing with. If it was in the morning I must have been inside eating breakfast. Sorry we didn't get to meet. The day turned out well. I did the ride led by "Transalp Pete Tamblin". Transalp is his first name but we call him Pete. I left Atlanta at 6AM to meet at T.W.O. and returned home at 9PM. 550 kilometers (the Super Ten doesn't do miles, but if it did, it would have been 340). Only about 30 km was offroad from Murphy, NC to Tellico Plains, TN. The FS road was pretty beat up from 4WD traffic from the Dixie Run. Just so you don't think that I was intruding on the Transalpers day, I usually ride with my wife who has a 1989 Transalp. She had to work but I got to play!

10-06-2003, 06:52 PM	#8
G.Kennedy ... Joined: Oct 2002 Location: Venice, CA Oddometer: 1,848	Love the helix. Can you get Jesse's for that thing?...What about extra lights? __________________ '85 K100RS '05 525EXC '08 Hypermotard

10-06-2003, 08:03 PM	#10
El Chivo Adventurer Joined: Mar 2003 Location: Venezuela Oddometer: 34	Wise words In my country when we see thinks like this guy off roading a Helix, we just say: It's not the ARROW, it's the INDIAN El Chivo Caracas, Venezuela

10-08-2003, 08:17 AM	#12
Ostrich Jaded and Happy Joined: Jun 2002 Location: Fresneck or Bust Baby! Oddometer: 8,731	Cool pics man. I never thought of a helix as an adventure bike until now. __________________ If you use Geico watch out. The buyout for my car was way below any objective figure (KBB, NADA, etc.). Also, I could not get in touch with anyone on the first try during a claim resolution. Just because it's a zoo out there doesn't mean you have to view it from a cage! Don't be an impulse buyer... afterall you have time..

10-08-2003, 03:04 PM	#13
Stromtrooper246 Lost again Joined: Dec 2002 Location: Jupiter, Florida Oddometer: 248	V-Stroms at TWO Some of the members of the V-Strom mailing list were also at TWO with the Transalps. Here are a few photos. __________________ Proud supporting of Pyndon in the 2013 Dakar Rally! www.lyndonposkittracing.com stephen 13 Tiger 800 02 Guzzi V11 Tenni T105

11-01-2005, 09:38 AM	#14
Rider Moderator Emeritus Joined: Dec 2001 Location: The Heart Of It All Oddometer: 2,102	What a great goddam ride report! __________________ 2012 FJR1300 - In Search Of Fast Sweepers My Voice

11-01-2005, 09:57 AM	#15
dlrides 1:1.618 Joined: Jul 2005 Location: Newton NC Oddometer: 4,795	Lake Rhodhiss ? Just might know where you are . DirtDog, would you by any chance know the Story brothers would you ?

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