Trip Report

[Chrisj CMA]

Ok,so five of us from the panhandle decided to go to the Barbers Museum and look at some motorcycles.  I had never been plus there were some roads I had not been on that for Florida or Alabama were the best we get down here.

We began Friday morning with a breakfast at Cracker Barrel Then up through a bunch of small towns meandering east a bit to avoid Montgomery Al.  We reached Lineville Al right on schedule and had a good BBQ lunch prior to heading up the mountain to Cheaha.  I wanted to stay both nights up on the mountain since we didn't have a Cheaha gathering this year that I heard about anyways,  more about the Cheaha mountain experience later.  

Were not that big on pictures, we took a couple but not a running documentary to include food pics.  Sorry.

The ride up the mountain was great  for us flat landers, we rarely get to do any twisties so this was a treat.  Weather was perfect and we got to the top about an hour early, luckily our rooms were ready.

I had all intentions of going back down the mountain for dinner because I remember how bad the food was at the restaurant up there.  News Flash....they have redone EVERYTHING having to do with services on the mountain.  The food was great, the service was fantastic. They are planning even more upgrades and renovations next year so its definitely a  worthy destination for those of you that have been and were not impressed  or for those of you that have never been!

So Saturday we head down to Oxford for Breakfast to avoid rain starting on the mountain, (that worked perfectly) then from Oxford we hit the freeway I-20 to the museum, it was less than an hour and we got there right at 1000 when they open.

I loved the motorcycle parking circle they had right up in front



Here are just a few of my favorite bikes they had in there

Of course the red and white Valkyrie



with only 10.1 miles on the clock



then a few of the others











We hit some rain coming back from the museum, but it wasn't awful and we rode out of it by the time we got back to the mountain.

So, the food at the restaurant up on Cheaha.  Friday night they had a country buffet with Chicken, Pork, beefsteaks (they were actually good) and a salad bar the was surprisingly good.  Saturday night they had a seafood buffet that was even better.  Sauteed and boiled shrimp, Fish, chicken, and stuffed Crab that was REALLY good.

Sunday we had the breakfast buffet on the mountain and then headed down.  We made great time and avoided all the pop-up showers that were foretasted

This is me and Keith (Farside)  we planned the route together and I led the ride (he usually leads but needed a break from the responsibility)



I got home before 2pm and as soon as I got the bike inside it started raining.  Perfect ending to a great adventure.

[MAD6Gun]

 Nice ride report Jeff. Someday I would like to get a chance to ride down there.

[Chrisj CMA]

Keith tracked his miles. He did 720. I'm 40 miles closer to the start so it was around 640 for me. All four Valkyries performed flawlessly. The one Gold wing did perfectly as well they are all Honda's that's what they do.

Bike all cleaned up and ready to relax

[Valkorado]

Of all our members,  only your bike could look as clean as one with just 10.1 miles on it!   They're twins!  

[Farside]

  Great long weekend trip Jeff. Nice report too! Yep the Cheaha State Park has had 2 millon invested in the park with more on the way according to the Superintendent who was on site. She was working hard Sat. night around the Restaurant helping with the big crowd. Dinner both nights was good and Sat. night had a band playing some good music. Big things are on the way for sure. 

[sixlow]

Sounds like a great ride. Thanks for posting Jeff, Nice to see you and Keith. I gotta get to that museum someday. 

How's Bill doing ?

[Chrisj CMA]

Sounds like a great ride. Thanks for posting Jeff, Nice to see you and Keith. I gotta get to that museum someday. 

How's Bill doing ?

Keith can say more about Bill but he's doing better and should be home in a week

[Oss]

Thanks for posting that report   Nice pics also !

Cheaha is on my bucket list

Oss

It is a long list

[Rams]

Great trip report.    Never cared to see a pic of someone else's plate anyway.   Loved the pics you did post.
All but that one of the 10 mile Valkyrie.   These bikes were built to ride, would rather see Ali there when she's finally done.  

Rams

[Chrisj CMA]

Great trip report.     Never cared to someone else's plate anyway.   Loved the pics you did post.
All but that one of the 10 mile Valkyrie.   These bikes were built to ride, would rather see Ali there when she's finally done.   

Rams

I bet they would take Ali on and display her if that day came and it was offered.  There were some weathered bikes with cool storied on display.

[DDT (12)]

Jeff,

Thanks for the memories! Been riding around that area many, many times... Glad to hear about all the improvements going on up there, too! I agree, the best 'twisties' that far south, but you did leave me hanging... no mention of grits or pie!

DDT

[Chrisj CMA]

Jeff,

Thanks for the memories! Been riding around that area many, many times... Glad to hear about all the improvements going on up there, too! I agree, the best 'twisties' that far south, but you did leave me hanging... no mention of grits or pie!

DDT

Sorry Bruce no pie. I think there was grits on the breakfast buffet but the desert both nights was peach cobbler. It was really good and with a little imagination and careful presentation it could be made to look like a piece of pie

[henry 008]

Thanks for posting that report   Nice pics also !

Cheaha is on my bucket list

Oss

It is a long list

+1 

[msb]

Great report and photos. Looks like quite the museum there. I've never noticed in previous pictures of your bike...what are those rear shocks ?

[Chrisj CMA]

Great report and photos. Looks like quite the museum there. I've never noticed in previous pictures of your bike...what are those rear shocks ?

Those are Interstate OEM shocks from a wrecked bike I bought from a friends insurance company to part out. Carl, there was no fixing this one!

Anyway I wanted the shocks because they were much lower miles than the ones I had. The bad news was that they were rusted. So I sanded them down until all the rust was removed and then painted them black. I didn't like the painted look so I put on some carbon fiber tape and red pin striping. I still wasn't that crazy about them but I get so many compliments that I left them on and have grown to like them.

[msb]

Great report and photos. Looks like quite the museum there. I've never noticed in previous pictures of your bike...what are those rear shocks ?

Those are Interstate OEM shocks from a wrecked bike I bought from a friends insurance company to part out. Carl, there was no fixing this one!

Anyway I wanted the shocks because they were much lower miles than the ones I had. The bad news was that they were rusted. So I sanded them down until all the rust was removed and then painted them black. I didn't like the painted look so I put on some carbon fiber tape and red pin striping. I still wasn't that crazy about them but I get so many compliments that I left them on and have grown to like them.

Ahh, the pinstriping threw me off...I can see them now thx. They look good.

[Hook#3287]

Of all our members,  only your bike could look as clean as one with just 10.1 miles on it!   They're twins!  

I was thinking the same thing, but chances are, Jeff's bike was cleaner.

Great report.

Someday.

[Chrisj CMA]

Of all our members,  only your bike could look as clean as one with just 10.1 miles on it!   They're twins!  

I was thinking the same thing, but chances are, Jeff's bike was cleaner.

Great report.

Someday.

Ya there was a tiny bit of dust on that 10 mile bike

[Hook#3287]

Of all our members,  only your bike could look as clean as one with just 10.1 miles on it!   They're twins!  

I was thinking the same thing, but chances are, Jeff's bike was cleaner.

Great report.

Someday.

Ya there was a tiny bit of dust on that 10 mile bike

haha . If anyone could find it, it'd be you.  To bad Barbers is so far away, great employment opportunity for you