Auburn 2014

[IamGCW]

So James and I did 1012 miles (his actual will be different due to varied start/end locations).  I had a max GPS speed of 93 MPH.  Gas mileage was around 32 MPG. 

We had great weather with lows of around 43 and highs about 82.  Winds were not bad and the company was great.  Our hotels were old but they worked out well for the group.  Joe picked them and did a great job of it.  Thanks to Jerry and Sherry for posting the few pictures, and knowing Billy got us front row seats at the place Doug identified in another post.   

The route.

Hmm, my bikes shadow has nipples, must be the cold.

Met James on I-75.  He has a fully wired and heated outfit.

Almost there.

First arrivers get room choice.

We meet and greet.

More greeting.

Trapped!!

No GPS needed, we're in Alabama.

We just stopped in the road for 10 minutes and chatted. 

Second room had a view of the Gulf.

Winter in Florida.

Apalachicola.

Looking for work, they catch shrimp but don't hire them.   

D-Day practice in Florida, who knew.

[TJ]

 

[Flrider]

Great pics, thanks for sharing. 
Looks like you guys had fun, like the view from the second hotel.

[Thunderbolt]

Looks like a lot of riding and back slapping going on.  Good deal Lucille. 

[Tundra]

Thanks for sharing Gil

[BCoy]

Great pics! Looks like you guys had a blast!  Thanks for sharing!
Bill

[James III]

Rolling out early Friday morning with a nice comfortable chill in the air, Gil and I made pretty darn good time moving up I-75. Certainly not the day after Christmas traffic that we both expected. Exiting at Tifton, GA onto 520 we moved at a nice pace toward Auburn, Alabama, experiencing traffic as always through Columbus, GA into Alabama.
As Gil mentioned, the hotel was good enough for our needs and the room heater worked fine. Yes it was cool in Auburn but as the afternoon progressed the fellow road riders from several states rolled in for a fantastic expanded tire kicking session. Having lived in neighboring Opelika, I rolled out to a favorite BBQ joint for a sandwich and a coke; then rejoining the still arriving group back at our hotel for some more shakin' and howdyin'. Gil and I headed out early for my normal bacon and eggs breakfast at the Waffle House around the corner then back to meet at the local McDonalds for a route briefing. With DDT leading the pack south we rolled down through Alabama on rt 51 enjoying a few stops along the way; sometimes for fuel, and as Gil mentioned, sometimes just because. Gil and I chose to ride in the back of the chain and the site of your fellow riders ahead rolling at times spread over a half mile or more long was memorable. Once again, traffic was non existent and the pace was really moving well. Arriving in Mexico Beach Florida, we couldn't have ask for a better place to holdout for the evening to enjoy the beach views and continue our tire kicking. Rick (Flask) and Kristy rode up and joined us for the evening; a pleasant surprise to have more Florida family join us.
Gil and I stirred up the local crowd and several interested folks in the group to view the overhead passing of the International Space Station; some of the best viewing I had seen of the orbital overflight.  
Sunday morning we took to the local dining nook for bacon and eggs and headed toward home. We stopped a few times for photos, and fuel; met a group out of Indiana heading to Disney World riding their Valks and made the panhandle turn south. Good roads and no traffic we slid into BBQ Bill's in Cheifland for a late lunch. Who should come in right behind us but Rick & Kristy. Some more chatting and on toward home. Gil and I separated at rt 98 and 19 as dusk was upon us I chose the tollway as a safer quicker path back to the barn in Tampa. After passing the 2nd pay booth I watched and followed what I thought was the ISS again; verified by Gil upon arriving home. Our bikes ran very well and I enjoyed Gil's companionship on the road, each doing our best to warn over our headsets of any road issues. I lost a turn signal bulb but replaced it at one of our stops to view the sites. A big thanks to Bruce (DDT) for our ride lead out of Alburn and some fine conversations with him and each member of the group. Weather was really perfect for this outing. Good call Smokin' Joe!!
Can't say enough about our riders; all top shelf folks! I think the most asked question to Gill and I was, "where's Billyboy, why didn't he come up with you all?"
Thanks again for the company of everyone that was able to attend, those that followed Gill and I on the map app and a big thanks to Gill for his adventurous spirit to join myself this trip. As always a thanks to our wives for encouraging our voyage.

James

[BF]

Nice ride report, but I'm pretty sure it's Auburn and not Alburn.  

[FloridaValkRyder]

Nice ride report, but I'm pretty sure it's Auburn and not Alburn.   

We know what he means though....

[James III]

Sorry BF,  hopefully all spelling errors were corrected.

I will go stand in the corner for one year. I'm done

James

[Pappy!]

James - Never knew you lived around Opelika.
Our last hunting lease was not far from there, actually between Opelika and Seale. We hunted that lease for several years until this season. Pretty remote up that way for sure!

[FloridaValkRyder]

James, you write the best ride reports. You should probably be a writer or something.

[reclaimerroger]

Always a joy to read about good rides.  Looks like you guys had a great adventure.  Thanks for sharing.
19 degrees here this morning.  Can't wait to escape back to FL.

[Tundra]

Nice report James, you write well.
Thanks for sharing

[Bert AKA,Valkaholic]

Thanks For The Report From Gill And James About Their Trip. After Reading This Entire Post, I Feel Like I Was On The Ride With Them..
Ride Safe,
Bert

[Farside]

Well what a great time it sounds like you all had on your ride. Even if the bike gave us all some evidence of a chill in the air!  I really wanted to make the trip over from Milton but the rain was pretty bad at times. Maybe next year Jeff (Crestview) and myself will be able to catch up w/ Joe's ride south. Thanks for the pic's and tracker you posted Gil. Good play by play James.... 

 Keith

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

It was a pleasure to ride and hang out with y'all . Thanks for the shirt James     I'd love to trade the 2XL for a XL 

[HayHauler]

Thanks for the report Gil and James.   Sounds like everyone had a large time. 

Hay
Jimmyt

[Valkahuna]

Thanks for a great report Gil and James! Your travelogue reminds me a lot of James and my trip last spring to Texas and the GOTF.  Looks like you had a bit more free time on this one. Thankfully for y'all the trip was a lot dryer.    Sounds like a good time was had by all. Thanks to your report I almost felt I was there!

[Bronxboy]

AWESOME