Following the meeting in Mena, AR, I was off to Oklahoma. As I mentioned in my last post, it was time for a new set of tires. Tim Kiser of Tim's Yamaha in Mena, AR (http://www.timsyamaha.com/) did an awesome job of calling all around to dealers and now had me all set up to get a new set of tires for the bike at Sehorn Yamaha (http://www.sehornyamaha.com/) in Shawnee, OK. When I got there, these guys treated me right, not only on the price, but immediately mounted the new tires and set me back on my way. The network is pretty impressive.

Back on the road, I could feel the weather front setting in which got me to thinking that, if I am going to even have a chance at getting to some folks in the northwest before winter, I was going to have to make some adjustments in my route. Del Albright had suggested to me earlier in the ride that perhaps I should go as far as I could to the northwest and then come down that coast instead of continuing in the intended clockwise pattern which would lead me up the west coast near the end of the ride. I knew at the time he suggested it, I might need to consider that option and now was that time. The current front was reaching clear down to OK making for 50+/- degree weather that included rain.

The Rocket City Rock Crawlers is a long standing member of the BlueRibbon Coalition. I appreciated spending time with some of their leadership while I have been here in Alabama. This full size four wheel drive group has been around for nearly as long as the BRC, having formed in 1992 and been busy since. They are a very family oriented club that is involved with charities like CASA and were very involved in helping during the recovery process when the whole area was hit with all those tornados recently. Visit them at http://www.rocketcityrockcrawlers.com/

We met at a BBQ joint in Madison, AL (just outside of Huntsville) for dinner and discussion on Monday evening (Oct 1). Among a host of subjects, we talked about the broad loss of access to public lands, which has created a significant shift to private parks. This has presented a whole new set of challenges for park management related to the high cost of insurance for parks to operate.

The people showed up to the Dixie Run this year in droves. In fact, I was told it was the largest they have had since 2006. I believe it. The crowd gathered at the pavilion for the dinner and raffle was HUGE!

The Dixie Run was first held in Tellico, but has since been moved to a private park called Golden Mountain. This event has something for everyone and is very well organized. In addition to the very challenging trails offered at the park, there are kids games (including a large bouncing house castle), clubs of the SFWDA providing breakfast and lunches, catered dinner, a raffle second to none I've seen, and a generally festive atmosphere. Some described the event as the "Disneyland of Off-Roading." People had a great time.

While I was there, I had the opportunity to talk with a lot of enthusiasts about their concerns on issues and suggestions for BRC. The discussion was often centered on the obvious loss in Tellico, but they are equally concerned on many other issues. This event draws people from all around the US, although most are from the surrounding states which is the demographic of SFWDA.

The people of SFWDA are gracious to welcome you readily at their campfire and almost always offer you some food or refreshments. I was reminded again of how wrongly motorized recreationists are portrayed and vilified. I met and talked with businessmen, engineers, doctors, lawyers, educators, blue and white collar workers, mothers and fathers, teens and children, all who just want to enjoy their chosen form of recreation responsibly together. Every meal, including the catered dinner and raffle are started with a prayer.

From Longwood, FL (where I woke up on Thursday, Sept 27) to the SFWDA Dixie Run in Sparta, TN (where I needed, and wanted to be by Friday, Sept 28) was a bit of a jaunt, especially with a stop over for a short meeting in Daytona Beach. It was definitely time to stretch the Tenere's legs for a little over 700 miles.

On Monday (Sept 24) I left Dahlonega, GA headed toward Tallahassee, FL. I left early, hoping that I would beat the morning rush through Atlanta. No such luck. I am witness to the fact that these people get up early so they can jam together. I've seen some rush hours in big cities, but Monday morning through Atlanta has got to be one of THE.

And, by the way, it was a bit nippy at 45 degrees... That'll wake you up at highway speed (before the rush traffic of course). Another thing that'll wake you up is the dew build on the painted areas of the road. I'm just sayin'.

As much as I layered up in the chill of the morning, I layered it all back off by the afternoon in Southern GA and Northern FL. I'm thinking there are still some of my clothes lying by the roadside between the GA and FL state line. (No it wasn't a "YIPPEE! RIDE NEKKID!" thing.) It was still around 80 degrees in Tallahassee as I pulled into the parking lot of where I was meeting with the leaders of the Tallahassee Trail Riders (http://www.tallahasseetrailriders.com/).