I was amazed and humbled about the pic that I posted getting

[solo1]

that response.  I don't have anywhere close to the miles under my belt that most of you have.  As a small thank you ( or punishment)  I am posting the little story here as I remember it on that 1600 mile ride to the Smokies in the summer of 1949.

                    
                    A 1949 Trip to The Volunteer State and assorted side meanderings



It was July 1949, a very good year.  I’ve had my 1946 Matchless 500 thumper for one year.  Our little Matchless group of about 5 riders had ridden on  many short rides.  Although my Matchless was a hard tail with a sorta bicycle seat, it still was comfortable for me.   However, it was time to get on the road for a little longer ride.  My buddy ,Vic, had just bought a new Matchless  and it had a big improvement, a springer frame ( full suspension front AND back).  We decided to go south toward Tennessee.
Vic and I loaded up our cardboard suitcases put them on our luggage racks and left Ft. Wayne
on a nice sunny day and headed south. When we stopped at Muncie Indiana for lunch, we found part of
the kick starter missing on Vic's brand new Matchless. He had not done the Matchless drill which was to get out the wentworth wrenches and tighten EVERYTHING after EVERY ride. . From then on I had to push him to start it or sometimes he could get his foot just
right to kick start. An auspicious beginning.

We continued on to Mammoth Caves Kentucky the first day. 300 miles on a hard tail. My butt was not
quite as hard (yet).
The second day we started out ok but the weather turned nasty. We stopped at the side of the
road and put on our "rain suits" They were war surplus big ole one piece suits that looked like
camo duct tape (and just as sticky) and smelled like cosmoline. Ridmg into the wind we looked
like a poor mans version of the Michelin Man. Going through Summer Shade it was pouring
down. Same through Eighty Eight (what a wonderful name for a town). Passing on through we
rode down a really steep curvy hill into Burkesville. I remember that red clay mixed with water was running
lengthwise down the road causing a big puckering on my posterior.

Now, both of us, looking like a wet mass of thrown together duct tape, had to wait for the small
ferry to get us across the river. After crossing we headed for the nearest restaurant to get coffee
(for dipping our hands into, LOL.) After about four cups each we were WIRED! We decided to
keep on going and not stop at Sergeant York’s birthplace, Pall Mall..
By now the rain had quit. The scenery was great and the Matchlesses took on the hills and curves willingly.. We spent the second night in
Oak Ridge.

On to Gatlinburg. A miserable two lane road filled with what passed for RV's then. Our thumpers
made short work of them! In Gatlinburg, there were enough motels to find a nice one but no
traffic, no Dollywood, no nothin'

We rode through Smoky Mountain National Park about three times and I can only remember two
interesting things about that, except for the outstanding scenery and the rhythm of the road. I
was following Vic and gazing up at Mt. Laconti and ran off the road. I low sided the bike in the
wet grass, no damage to me or the "M". Of course Vic went on his way. He finally came back and
I'm struggling to get the bike back up the hill, he's laughing his a** off. Under a dire threat from
me that I won't repeat here, he finally helped.
The other thing is that I'm probably (maybe) the only rider that rode down from Klingman's Dome
to Gatlinburg with the engine purposely off. All I could hear was the wind and the chain. Neat,
neat, neat! Drum brake front and back! I did have it in 3rd gear with the clutch disengaged
though so I wasn't completely stupid, I thought.

On to the BRP. Beautiful! It hasn't changed except for the traffic. It was a pain though to get off
and on, get off and on, etc, but it was worth it, except, maybe for the time we were off and came
around a curve and there was a long pile of gravel three feet high in the middle of the road that
went on for at least a mile, I ended up on the left oncoming traffic side with Vic on the right
I can't remember much about this BRP ride except that it was beautiful, curvy, vacant, and had a
45 mph speed limit which we ignored. If it had been raining I would've remembered more, you
know what I mean.  We rode a portion of the Shenandoah, if I remember, and we turned back and headed for home
 The remainder of the trip was uneventful and curvy (we are getting a little hohum about the
 curves now).
 One last observation. The view from the top of the Ohio River valley after crossing at Madison,
 Indiana was spectacular on old highway 7. Today, you can't see it because of the growth of trees
 and homes.


As I look back on some of those exquisite memories of riding, I can’t help but think how times have changed.  Us old goats were riding before many were even born.  We had to meet and beat all challenges due to bad maps and roads, vibration and breakdown prone motorcycles, riding gear not made for riding, etc.

Yes, times have changed.  Sometimes our age and experience go for nothing. Sometimes, we are not recognized unless we meet certain criteria. Unfortunately, our physical shape and stamina no longer readily lends itself to ride two wheeled heavy motorcycles. so we are left to watch while other riders younger than us carry on the torch (and rightfully so).

However, watching is ok as the high spot for us old geezer riders now, is that we have nothing left to prove.  We have done it, we recognize what we have done, and in the end, that’s all that’s needed.

We stand, tall,  old riders with limitations, but PROUD!!!!

Wayne, Solo1

[Daniel Meyer]

 

[KY,Dave (AKA Misunderstood)]

 

[Jay]

Outstanding!!
Not many have experienced such adventures.  Thanks for sharing!

[Oss]

 

great report  thanks for posting

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

As I've said before I always like to read your stories and I admire you....That standing ovation at InZane was well-deserved and I was proud to be a part of it .

[flamingobabe #44]

Thanks for sharing....I agree with Joe.....I was proud to stand for you at Inzane....you deserve it>>>>

[old2soon]

Thanks for sharing your adventure with usd Wayne. Almost felt like i was there with you. RIDE SAFE.

[sheets]

Saaa-LUTE!! ... as two wheeled enthusiast and ex-military. I'm getting a little long in the tooth myself, although to you just a whipper-snapper. Where I stand on the ladder of life these days some call me an old has-been. My response to the whipper-snappers of today is; better to have been, than to not have been at all! Right on! Ride on! ... carry on --  sheets     

[Thunderbolt]

I didn't make Inzane, but would have been among the folks giving you the ovation.  You mention things that we take for granted, like you had to wait for the ferry to get across the river.  We rode from Fl. through the Smokies to cool off on the way to the first Inzane in Paducah which was very hot when we got there.  While there we rode a ferry across the Mississippi into Missouri.  I rode the bike onto the ferry, but my wife said she would walk on thank you very much!!!!

[Fatboyman05]

 
 

[FryeVRCCDS0067]

As I've said before I always like to read your stories and I admire you....That standing ovation at InZane was well-deserved and I was proud to be a part of it .

I was trying to find the right words but Joe already found em.
I'm truly proud to know you Wayne.
Mike F

[Sodge]

I've looked at those pictures several times since they were posted....
Everytime I think about how many obsticales you had that aren't a thought today

Reliability of the bike, comfort, rain gear, better roads, availability of gas, food, lodging.

Never met you, sir, but I do read your posts......keep posting 

[Bama Red]

Truly a veteran of the pioneering days of motorcycling, you and your contemporaries such as Vic paved the way for those of us who follow today. Much of what we take for granted today didn't exist back then, and y'all were making the safety manual up as you went along. Its an honor to be amongst such as you, Wayne.

[bigvalkriefan]

Thank you for that.
I salute you.  

[Whistler]

Thanks Wayne! Proud to know you!

JDW

[Stars and Stripes]

 

[RainMaker]

Wonderful story and I was also proud to be one of the standing admirers in Bellaire.  Thank you!

[Ice]

Wayne,

as always thanks for the story and I agree with Joe, I always like your stories...I feel like I was there, thanks again for sharing. Makes you think about how easy it is nowadays and how it was then but you still rode...

[MacDragon]

Great story Wayne.

[Dag]

Thanks Wayne... 

[bigguy]

Thanks for the post Wayne. It really is inspiring to read about such great adventures. By the time I got into to biking, (about five years ago) it was all the rage. I don't imagine that you guys were following a fad in 1949. You guys leave some mighty big shoes to fill. I hope the generation that follows us can find the same inspiration from my age group that we find in yours.

[eric in md]

awesome story wayne ...

[HayHauler]

I was one of them standing and clapping at IZXI and very proud to do so. 
You are a great story teller.  Probably need to write a book or something so we can enjoy them over and over.  Talk to Daniel... 

I didn't get to buy you that scotch we talked about, but I figured you were busy with your son and family members.

Offer still stands for next year.

Hay 
Jimmyt