RFP #13, Tennessee Dirt Devil Camp & Ride, June 8-10

[Nice Goat]

RFP = "Ride for Pie"

Why?  Because pie fixes everything!  And the bonus is ... I buy the pie!  And give you free stickers!

Ken and I have been talking about doing this event for some time now .... The time has come to finally do it.  Hopefully the weather will be great and the creeks will be just right in both depth and temperature.


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Friday, June 8th - Camping at Meriwether Lewis Campground on the Natchez Trace.  Map: https://goo.gl/maps/1NuEZ7CqfXA2.  I'm bringing a lot of stuff (cooler, pop-up canopy, grill, firewood, etc.), so I'll be driving up with the bike on the trailer.  Not sure yet what time I will be there, but hopefully early enough to secure a few campsites.  Make your way to the campground whenever and however you want.  There are lots of campsites there and plenty of trees if you want to hang your hammock.  However, there are no showers at the campground, so you can either (a) bring a camp shower or (b) take a "ho bath" (phrase stolen from Ken) in the restrooms, which they do have.

Saturday, June 9th - Ride as much of the TN Dirt Devil as we can.  Expect 200 miles of mostly smooth dirt roads with about 10-12 creek crossings.  Depth of creek crossings will depend on rain that week, but usually they are not too challenging.  Ken has ridden this area many times and knows the area well, so he has agreed to lead the ride and keep us off private land.  Wear swim trunks under your riding pants, so you can cool off in the creek, if you want.

Sunday, June 10th - Leisurely coffee and breakfast, pack up, clean up, and go home.


Breakfast - We will be eating breakfast at the campsite, so plan to bring your own camp stove, coffee, dehydrated eggs, pre-cooked bacon, bran muffins, Cap'n Crunch, etc.

Lunch - The Dirt Devil area is not very populated, so do not expect a hot, sit-down lunch.  We might be eating snacks at a gas station, but you should plan to bring snacks with you in a backpack or in your saddlebags.  We might be eating lunch under a shade tree or sitting in a creek.  Plan to bring a hydration pack full of water also.

Dinner/Supper - I intend to eat at the campground after I get a shower.  The campsite is only 10 minutes from Hohenwald, so you have the option of eating in town, if you want.  I will have pie in my cooler to share with everybody.

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So dust off that camping gear and come on out!  Let's get those bikes wet!

[Fencejumper09]

Following along for this one! Hopefully I can convince my wife that for safety reasons I need a shakedown ride and camp for Colorado!

[yamahamer]

Following with high hopes of making this trip.  ;D

[springer]

I should be back from North Carolina by then! A strong possibility I am!

[kdtrull]

Sometimes, depending on the number and length of stops along the route, it works out that we will be fairly near the Beacon Light Tea Room near Bon Aqua around lunchtime.
http://beaconlighttearoom.com/history.htm

It's not the only place around but it's a durn good one.  Diverting for a hot lunch can be a group decision.

P.S.  They have pie too.

The route covers some areas that are very prone to flood damage and/or erosion.  There's always another way around but a u-turn or two may be required.
I will do my best to do a pre-ride beforehand...but work is nutty right now so no guarantee.

There are horse and buggy clubs that ride parts of this area.  Some period of quiet courtesy may be required for the health and safety of the riders if we run into a horse ride.

It's a lot of fun, a lot of water, and fantastic country scenery.  Hope to see y'all there!

You can skip around this video for a preview.  It's from a fairly dry period in 2014:

[2372ighost]

Can l assume this is big bike friendly?

[Nice Goat]

Can l assume this is big bike friendly?

From what I have read/heard, you can do this route on almost any motorcycle, but you probably want to have dual sport tires installed.

[lazeebum]

It's big bike friendly, and you will want waterproof boots. There at are a few watercrossings.

[2372ighost]

Just got a pair of Forma Terra's. Hope to break them in so I can shift the klr.

[Fencejumper09]

I also have the Terras! Mine felt pre-broken-in straight out of the box! So Comfortable!

[kdtrull]

I've made a terrible scheduling mistake and I apologize.   :-[  The Warden and I will be floating around the Atlantic on Memorial Day weekend.
I've spoken with Glenn and believe he's going to try to choose another weekend.  Stay tuned...and sorry again.

[Nice Goat]

How do y'all feel about Jun. 8-10?

[kdtrull]

How do y'all feel about Jun. 8-10?

Good!

[Fencejumper09]

That is my birthday weekend and also the Perry Mountain 24hr!

I may be able to sell the whole birthday ride idea to the wife! Since we are getting OLD now the birthdays don't seem as important!

[jrobinson]

That is my birthday weekend and also the Perry Mountain 24hr!

I may be able to sell the whole birthday ride idea to the wife! Since we are getting OLD now the birthdays don't seem as important!

Your's may not, but hers does.....no matter what she says. :)