2019 Blue Ridge Gathering, Balsam, NC

Will be headed up the the mountains Thursday 10/9 – Sunday 10/12 for the annual 2019 Blue Ridge Gathering at Moonshine Creek, Balsam, NC. 

This is a gathering of motorcycle riders from near and far, getting together to camp and ride. There are plenty of excellent riding up there, and in my opinion one of the best riding areas in the country.

Taking the S1000XR, since it is made for these mountain roads. I can’t help it. It is just a beast of a machine, and riding it is a true pleasure, let alone on mountain roads in Western North Carolina.

Trying to get set up. Exped Downmat, Marmot Down Sleeping bag and Big Agnes Seedhouse II tent. Good stuff.

All set.

Below shots by my good friend Andy Morley.

Breakfast at Clyde’s in Waynesville, NC

Break somewhere on US 28 🙂

Hooligans

Yours truly on his S1000XR

Superb roads

New tires on the BMW S1000XR

New tires came in today. A set of Continental Road Attack 3. We’ll see how they do. Have heard a lot of good things about this tire.
So todays task was to replace the OEM tires on my precious superbike.

Shoes are off.

Lets get some elbow grease and get this done. Putting tires on the rims is really not that hard. Lots of lube and patience. The worst part is breaking the bead on the old tire. This one went on without issues.

All done. The old original OEM’s lasted 6300 miles. Not too bad, considering what kind ow bike this is, a very high performance bike with a close to 170 hp superbike engine.

Latest Axe Hangings

Latest axes hangs.

Kelly Works Vulcan Double Bit on a 36″ handle. This is a monster log splitter.

Kelly Works Vulcan

Collins Legitimus single bit on a 28″ handle. This is my go-to wedge banger when felling trees. Good all round axe.

Collins Legitimus

 Latest make. A Collins lightweight “cruiser” head on a Hults Bruk Handle. Using this as a camp axe. I really like how this thing turned out.

Collins

Samson

Samson is enjoying a nice early South Carolina morning watching our Purple Martins. They have fledged almost all their young ones, and so now they’re just having fun.

Be Kind!

Samson