Harley Road Trip...

[Crawlin]

So as a last minute thing before I start school, a couple of guys from work, customers, and I invited my dad along, went on a road trip down south.

I think final tally was right under 1800 miles in 4 days. We went down through Chicago, Indianapolis, Louisville, Bowling Green to Nashville. That was the trip down. Right about 600 miles. We stayed at the Union Station Hotel. AWESOME place. From there, the next day we took Natchez Trace Parkway. AWESOME two lane road. Entire thing is 444 miles. We only did about 200+ miles on our way through Alabama into Tupalo, Mississippi. It's like Deal's Gap, but only on the west side of the state. Less sharp turns, so nice and easy for the Harley's. From there we headed up to Memphis. On Saturday we spent the day running around Memphis. SHot over to Graceland just to see it since we were there. Didn't go in the house or anything, just took pics from the wall. Went and visited a couple of the dealerships(H-D) and even a Victory/Can-Am dealership. I needed a new helmet, haha. On Saturday night we went down to Beale street. AWESOME place. Tons of live bands/blues singers. Lots of people. It's like River Splash everyday down there. Sunday we shot up through Arkansas and Missouri and into Illinois. You forget just how long of a trip North/South in Illinois is until you get there and it says - Chicago = 375 miles, hahha. Made it in about 6:30 last night and I am still tired. I got a couple of pics. Most of the time we were riding so it's hard to grap a snapshot while riding, but I got a few.

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It rained quite often. So pop's is all geared up. We'd put the gear on and it would be a signal for it to stop raining, haha.

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Pulled over changing out of it. Got too hot at times.

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Parking in special area thanks to the people at the Union Station

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Inside the hotel was beautiful. It's an old train station made into a hotel

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Stain glass ceiling. Was HUGE.

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Hwy100 in Nashville. You believe it? hahaha.

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Parked about 10 min into Natchez Trace. Such a beautiful view

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The whole Trace was like those photos. And these next ones were coming up to a mile long bridge over the Tennessee River.

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Upfront parking hotel in Memphis.

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Bumpis Harley-Davidson

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Southern Thunder Harley-Davidson(Bruce Rossmeyer dealership)

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Graceland Harley-Davidson

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This place had a bunch of cool can-ams.

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Rip place for lunch in Memphis. I had so much BBQ it's unbelievable. So much better than any place up here. One place we ate at that was recommended was in a gas station, haha. Little untrustworthy but was so good. Then we ate at a place called Rendevous in Memphis. It's in a back alley. Definitely some of the best ribs I've had.

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Elvis' ownership cards for his H-D's

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Can you see the house way back there? hahaha.

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Now headed home...

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Craig's blacked out FLTR

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Don't know why, but this thing was HUGe so I had time to reach and grab the camera.

Pop's has a ton more pics that I'll try and get and put up. He was taking alot of snapshots while riding. It was the first really long trip either of us has ever taken. Was a TON of fun and I can't wait to do it again.

[jbiscuit]

Nice Chris! Rendevous is one of the best rib joints around. Glad you got to check it out. Sounds like a fun trip

[CannotPost]

Awesome! I did that trip last year, motorcycle trips are lots of fun. This years trip was my 13th.

Also graceland was a snooze IMO.

[domokun]

Rendevous has been on man VS food. haha. I want to go now :(

[juicedimpss]

sweet pics,wish i could have gone.....just for the ribs.

[Crawlin]

Not the women on Beale Street? :) Or at "The Pony" (I didn't partake.)

[pOrk]

How much oil did you leave on your trip? ;) Looks like you guys had a blast, thanks for sharing the pictures!

[juicedimpss]

Not the women on Beale Street? :) Or at "The Pony" (I didn't partake.)
yeah,like i said.....the ribs.
:banana1:

[British_Ben]

Thanks for sharing the pics Chris. Looks and sounds like you guys had a great time.

[Car Guy]

I might have missed it but where was the train station turned hotel located...???

[Crawlin]

No oil. Only oil left was from a car that came and parked on the same spot at the Memphis hotel that we were at after we had left for the day. When we got back, there was a lady that was freaking out to make sure the bikes were ok since she saw the oil. Was pretty funny when we realized it was none of the bikes.

[Crawlin]

That one is in Nashville. They have on located in St. Louis as well I guess that's even more decorated.

They are part of the Wyndam(sp?) hotel group.

[British_Ben]

Hmmm, heard some more stories around the dealership of some fun being had on this trip.

So when can we expect the NWS pics? :rolf

[Crawlin]

Like I said... I didn't partake in some of the events as my dad was with me and he's not a huge "participant" in those type of activities. But there were some other cool shots I'll post up.

Since my cousin lives in Nashville he stopped in for some fun on the first night and there were some funny pictures taken. Apparently they make these thin mesh tattoo sleeves that you can put over your arm. Full length sleeves. So some fun was being had with those.

[SSmike1]

HEY CHRIS, your an official BIKER now!
===================================
glad to see you and your dad can do stuff like that!

Memories you will NEVER forget!

Jill and I go for many 1 day or 1 night bike trips
right here in WI.
I LOVE my Harley! can't imagine why anyone would buy anything else!
:)

[SSDude]

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i209/z28kid98/Harley%202009%20Road%20Trip/DSC00604.jpg
Don't know why, but this thing was HUGe so I had time to reach and grab the camera.


FYI Saw that on a bike trip a few years back

World's Largest Cross

Effingham, Illinois

Lording over Interstate highways 57 and 70, the "Cross at the Crossroads" was built for broadly noble religious reasons -- and to out-size every other big cross out there, especially the giant cross in Groom, Texas, which was both its inspiration and its toughest competition.

[jon_we4]

Thats really cool Chris. My dad has a group of guys he rides around with. Putting 1,000 miles on in a weekend is normal for him. In fact they are a little nuts.

But I'd really like to get into it one day so I could do a few trips a year with my dad.

[Crawlin]

You should do it! Good bonding experience. Heard a bunch of stories from when he was at Penn State. Heard him trying to convince me to see if I can join the same fraternity, haha. All kinds of random stuff and jokes he pulled. Amazing what gets brought out when you are around a bunch of guys, haha.