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Monday, April 28th 2008

12:02 PM

More excursions

Of a Friday (middle TN country talk), work all caught up, only one left in the office, having just finished my poverty lunch, I decided to enjoy the rest of this sunny day.

So, I hopped on the AG (adventure goat) and blasted east (which is actually more south than east) on I24. Exiting at hwy 64 I angled over to hwy 41 south and caught hwy 280 toward McMinnville.

I traveled through the town of Hoodoo, but it lived up to it's name by not having signs. So, I went through it or at least where it should have been.

280 changes names just about every 5 miles and has no signs calling it 280. But, I didn't get lost and managed to follow this rural two lane to McMinnville.

McMinnville is not a destination, just a town on the way to the very nice, twisty, hwy 30 near Fall Creek Falls. I was pressed for time a bit by now, so I made the old goat bellow climbing, and snap, crackle and pop descending this excellent road.

I was just about through the curves when I caught up with one of those low slung looking Chryslers. He was moving pretty good for a car, but was just plain old slow for a bike. And there is no safe passing to be done. So, I made a 180 and headed for home.

But I wasn't going to miss a chance for new road, so I took Bone Cave Road northwesterly with the general idea of passing through the Rock Island State Park area. By the time I got to hwy 70S, though, it was obvious that I didn't have enough time for that, so 70S to McMinnville, 55 to I24 and a rapid blast to the house. Good fun.

The next day, with, again, an afternoon, I took off without any plan. I headed south and explored country roads between hwys 41A and 31A down as far a Chapel Hill. A bunch of interesting tarmac, some through areas I can only describe as "out there". Fun though.

I tried out combinations of gear in preparation for the EaSToc trip in a couple of weeks. I believe I have a combination of gear that will work for all conditions 40° to 90°F.

A new rear tire goes on this weekend. Just not enough left for a 1500 mi trip. The Avon has been great....something like 16K miles and not on the wear bars yet.

With the Avons at one size bigger than stock, the AG is surprisingly agile through tight turns for my type of riding (which I would describe as brisk+). The modest weight and strong torque combine with pretty darn good road clearance to make a pretty quick ol girl.

 

 

 

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