TYBEE ISLAND RALLY - December 2012

DeSoto Beach Hotel Tybee Island, Georgia
November 30 - December 2
Trip Report by Tony and Jill Barcia

The Tybee Island Rally in 2008 was our first BMW rally.  We had a great time exploring Tybee and Savanna all decorated for Christmas.  

The 2012 rally was in a different part of the island at the DeSoto Beach Hotel.  The hotel is the only "beachfront hotel" on Tybee and three blocks from the YMCA where they cook the Saturday night low country boil. We met our CCBMW friends, Jerry, Barb, Paul and Becky at the Hotel.   Friday night we walked to the restaurant where most of the other people attending the rally were gathering.

On Saturday there was a group ride to Guiton, GA and Vintage Motorcycles.  https://www.facebook.com/VintageMotors

The town and motorcycle shop were very interesting and we almost made it in time for their Christmas parade.   Actually Jerry and Barb did not miss the parade, they were able to get around the police who were stopping traffic from getting into town while the parade was going on.   Next time we will follow Jerry!  Later in the afternoon Paul, Becky, Jerry and Barb went to Fort Pulaski   to witness the firing of the cannons. http://www.nps.gov/fopu/index.htm 

Tony and I opted to go to the Tybee Island Lighthouse.   That was fantastic ... visiting the museum and Battery Garland across the street and, of course, climbing the lighthouse.  http://www.tybeelighthouse.org/

Saturday evening was the annual low country boil.   Jerry Duke and many others (whose names escape me) do a great job.   All you can eat shrimp, sausage, potatoes and lots more ... and beer or wine.  

It is a really fun end to the year's rallys.   And especially great to go there with other club members. 

RIDE WITH THE KNOBBIES - 2012

Catawaba Meadows Park, Morganton, NC
September 21 - 23

On Friday September 21st we rode to Morganton for a rally hosted by Knob Mountain NC Motorcycle Chapter and the city of Morganton for their 3^rd Annual "Ride with the Knobbies". The first part of our route to Morganton was on NC 74 circling around Charlotte on 218 at Polkton, a scenic country road that Bill told us about. Thanks Bill, for showing us how to get out of the traffic around Monroe and Charlotte.

The city provided access to Catawba Meadows Park with lots of tent camping and some RV hookups. A new well designed shower facility was just completed near the three large shelters.

Catawba Meadows Park

Table Rock  detachment Marine Corp League Sunday breakfast

The members of the Knob Mountain Club set up guided rides on Saturday for every type of ride people wanted … GS dirt track, fast and twisty, leisurely scenic rides or a ride to see both Mt. Mitchell and Roan Mountain. Anyone wanting to come up a day early and camp was welcomed and the Knobbies hosted a Friday ride as well.

Saturday's rides were all day, getting us back around 4pm.  The one Tony and I chose took us through 3 states. With Bobbi (our Knobbie guide), we traveled to North Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee.

Bobbi ... our exceptional guide

We departed Morganton on backroads getting on 421 toward Mountain City, TN.  From there 421 becomes 33 miles of 489 curves,3 mountains and 1 valley (the "Snake").  We stopped in Shady Valley, TN the “home” of the snake for lunch at the Shady Valley Store and purchased our snake decal for the motorcycle.

"Dragon Schmagon"

From there we went through Damascus, VA and onto Highway 133 to see Blackbone Rock Tunnel.

In the early 1900s when timber harvesting was a primary industry, a 20-foot-long hole had to be blasted through rock to accommodate the railroad.   Now known as “The Shortest Tunnel in the World,” after the blast and the track was laid, the train engine’s smoke stack could not pass through.  The tunnel’s top had to be hand-chiseled to solve the problem.

Blackbone Rock Tunnel

Friday, Saturday and Sunday morning,  restaurant /catering service brought a “food truck” to the park for lunch dinner and snacks. One could drive into Morganton for dinner or never leave the campground.  The food truck breakfast items and for lunch and dinner pulled pork, hamburgers, chicken, hot dogs etc. Saturday dinner (at the catering truck) was included in our rally fee, along with a great live band after the door prizes. A beer trailer provided local beers on tap for $4.00.

We had a great time and would recommend this rally to everyone. The “Knobbies” are wonderful hosts and put a lot of effort and friendliness into this rally. We met a fellow member, Rick Dixon and his friend Omar (who is interested in joining CCBMW).