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9 bikes, 10 riders and 3 members in a cage traveled a total of 492 miles during the “Rip Roaring” weekend of festivities at the 2016 SCRC Spring Gathering in Asheboro, NC. The group met at the Scotchman at 421 & MLK to start the trip. After the pre-ride briefing, we were on our way around 9 am headed down the road via 421 to 76 to 87 and on to our lunch destination at the Pik-N-Pig in Carthage, NC. Our comfort stop was at the BP Station outside of Fayetteville where I met my new girlfriend (see below). She is a little stiff and quite thin from her profile but a real looker none the less. LOL After refueling both the bikes and the riders, we continued on our way.
Pulled into the Pik-n-Pig around 11:50 am where a previous Port City #162 member, Tom (Nat) was waiting for us along with Becky & John. Nat was still sporting his Port City #162 Vest and patches too…now that’s loyalty! They decided to meet us for lunch and then ride into Asheboro with the Group. Charles & Dottie arrived too which made our riding crew complete. Lunch was awesome and the desert was very tempting (especially for Brian) who has now earned the title of “Cakeman” assigned by none other than Toby of course. LOL After lunch we pointed toward Asheboro with 14 bikes and that darn red car who kept on following us, which was making Mike a little nervous as the Tail Gunner. Ha ha
Leaving there we rode over to Cox’s Harley-Davidson, which was only about 5 miles down the road. A great place complete with a fountain and very friendly staff. They even donated a few auction items and allowed us to post some flyers for our RTTS Event in June. From there we decided to go over to Deep River Campground to check in with our NC SCRC friends and let them know that Port City 162 has arrived! Not much going on there because some had either not arrived yet or were rolling in on Saturday for the day so after meeting and greeting a few Cruiser die-hards we headed out to get some supplies and returned to the hotel to let the party begin!
Wow, the meeting room at the hotel was awesome complete with 2 couches, a table set up for our food, a tub complete with assorted spirited beverages and plenty of chairs for the Cruiser Crew. Around 20 or so members enjoyed getting to know each other between Port City and other chapter members who joined us for an evening full of stories, jokes, jabs, laughs and fun. Our good friends, Paul & Pam Allen were there too! It was a great time and I enjoyed meeting some of the other chapter members and share stories of past and present. Most did not want the evening to end but Saturday was going to be a busy one so we turned in a little early.
Wow, the meeting room at the hotel was awesome complete with 2 couches, a table set up for our food, a tub complete with assorted spirited beverages and plenty of chairs for the Cruiser Crew. Around 20 or so members enjoyed getting to know each other between Port City and other chapter members who joined us for an evening full of stories, jokes, jabs, laughs and fun. Our good friends, Paul & Pam Allen were there too! It was a great time and I enjoyed meeting some of the other chapter members and share stories of past and present. Most did not want the evening to end but Saturday was going to be a busy one so we turned in a little early.
We were up at the crack of dawn much to the dismay of other hotel guests, after we cranked up our bikes. LOL It was misting for most of the morning which did not deter us at all because we were on a mission. A few returned to the Heritage Café (at American Classic Motorcycle Museum) for breakfast while most enjoyed the hotel breakfast. We then all left the hotel around 9 am or so and headed over to the campground to begin the 2016 NC SCRC Spring Gathering, which was starting with a 30+ mile Dice Run. The weather or specifically the misting and very light drizzle put a little damp(er) on things so they decided not to have members out manning Roll Stops and roll all the dice at the campground. After we finished our registration and rolls, the Port City Chapter #162 and the Roanoke River Chapter #283 members rode the Dice Run route. First stop was Zack White Leather Company in Ramseur, NC. Great place full of custom gun holsters, belts, vests and other leather goods. Several members bought custom belts that were sized and embossed while we waited.
We then decided to run the rest of the route without stopping and go to a new restaurant for lunch instead of the same ol’ Cruiser Gathering lunch destination. We arrived at America’s Roadhouse, with around 18 bikers and no reservations. Rut Roh! They were very accommodating and after a brief wait escorted us to our tables that were all set up. Wow now that’s service. We had great servers who took excellent care of us and guided us through their recommendations. A very large and diverse menu, which allowed everyone to enjoy the experience. My meal was awesome and most enjoyed their meals and the experience too. I think it surely deserved a return visit or two when we head back to Asheboro.
Most of the group returned to the Campground for the afternoon festivities with a few returning to the hotel and then on to exploring the Asheboro area. The weather improved in the afternoon slightly with the display of auction items, buying auction tickets, 50/50 tickets and the sale of Spring Gathering Patches and Rockers. After about an hour, and a brief presentation by our State Officer “Cricket” followed by a few words by me on our upcoming RTTS Rally, it was time to get the show on the road. It was Auction Time and guess who Cricket selected as the master of ceremonies? None other than Shorty and me. Rut Roh!!! We started out a little slow and unsure of what the heck we did to deserve this but then kicked into high gear with the precision of a racing team. A few jokes, jabs and funnies that would have put Laurel and Hardy to shame, which made the experience interesting to say the least. I had fun and I know Shorty won’t admit it but I think he enjoyed it too. Not too sure what the rest of the group thought but they did not hide under the table or run away pretending not to know us so it could not have been that bad. Ha ha
After the auction most of us rode over to the Pisgah Covered Bridge which is an old covered bridge that was really cool. Unfortunately, I thought we were going to ride over this bridge on our bikes and rode right past the entrance since it only allows pedestrian traffic now. After a no-so-quick U-turn several miles down the road we arrived. The Pisgah Covered Bridge is a wooden covered bridge that spans the west fork of the Little River in Randolph County, North Carolina. It is one of two remaining original historic covered bridges in the state and is designated as both a local and federal historic landmark. The bridge was originally built in 1911 at a cost of $40 and is a one-lane bridge, 54 feet in length. Many visitors have inscribed graffiti on the inside walls to commemorate their visit.
After the auction most of us rode over to the Pisgah Covered Bridge which is an old covered bridge that was really cool. Unfortunately, I thought we were going to ride over this bridge on our bikes and rode right past the entrance since it only allows pedestrian traffic now. After a no-so-quick U-turn several miles down the road we arrived. The Pisgah Covered Bridge is a wooden covered bridge that spans the west fork of the Little River in Randolph County, North Carolina. It is one of two remaining original historic covered bridges in the state and is designated as both a local and federal historic landmark. The bridge was originally built in 1911 at a cost of $40 and is a one-lane bridge, 54 feet in length. Many visitors have inscribed graffiti on the inside walls to commemorate their visit.
Now it was time to head back to the hotel to freshen up a bit and get ready for night two of the meeting room gathering. Hard to believe but I think the second night was better than the first! My cheeks hurt from so much smiling and laughing…much at Shivers and Travis’ expense of course. We all tucked in around midnight to get ready for our return trip on Sunday. Most of the group donned their rain gear since it was looking a little iffy and decided to go to IHOP for breakfast, while a few others enjoyed the hotel meal then met us at IHOP for the return trip back home.
We pulled out of Asheboro sometime after 8:15 am and headed east following 64 to 421 to our comfort stop in Dunn. After fueling up our bikes and getting some much needed refreshment, nobody would dare to say a word about the fact we might just dodge the ol’ rain clouds and make it home dry. Everyone that is except that Big Ol’ Texan, “Da Boy”! He no sooner says “I think we’re fixin to miss that there rain” (well not exactly but kinda) and the rain clouds opened up the sky with buckets of water like a flash flood! Freaking Mikey! I never heard so much cussing, hooting and hollering in all my life and I don’t think anyone would talk to him on the CB all the way home. Bahahaha We arrived at Johnson’s Grocery outside of Wilmington around 12 noon where we transferred some cargo and riders from the cage to the bike and guess who rode out to greet us back home? None other than that silver speeding bullet, Gwynn who rode into the place! He just happened to be out for a Sunday ride or so he says but I really think he missed us. LOL We then said our goodbyes and finished the journey home.
We pulled out of Asheboro sometime after 8:15 am and headed east following 64 to 421 to our comfort stop in Dunn. After fueling up our bikes and getting some much needed refreshment, nobody would dare to say a word about the fact we might just dodge the ol’ rain clouds and make it home dry. Everyone that is except that Big Ol’ Texan, “Da Boy”! He no sooner says “I think we’re fixin to miss that there rain” (well not exactly but kinda) and the rain clouds opened up the sky with buckets of water like a flash flood! Freaking Mikey! I never heard so much cussing, hooting and hollering in all my life and I don’t think anyone would talk to him on the CB all the way home. Bahahaha We arrived at Johnson’s Grocery outside of Wilmington around 12 noon where we transferred some cargo and riders from the cage to the bike and guess who rode out to greet us back home? None other than that silver speeding bullet, Gwynn who rode into the place! He just happened to be out for a Sunday ride or so he says but I really think he missed us. LOL We then said our goodbyes and finished the journey home.
All in all it was a fantastic trip with a variety of stuff to do for everyone and I for one am looking forward to next year. We didn’t even get the chance to go to the NC Aviation Museum or the Richard Petty Museum. Something to look forward to next year! A special thanks to Mike “Da Boy” for doing an exceptional job as Tail Gunner on the ride up and back along with Travis “Professor” for assisting while in Asheboro and to Shorty for allowing me to be his sidekick during the auction and to everyone who joined us on the trip. A special thanks to Paul & Pam Allen too for making the trip and joining us at the hotel! Most importantly to everyone who waited so patiently for this report.