While Suzuki’s 650cc V-Strom is a fine
motorcycle, I immediately missed my S 1000 XR but rationalized this new experi- ence, thinking what better way to appreciate what you have than to have it taken away for a while? With the push of the starter button and a
quick familiarization with the controls, we were off. I’d put a couple thousand miles on the new RS and had my own opinions, so I was anxious to hear Ted’s. As we approached the store, the Harrel-
son brothers were already there waiting, and despite me riding Ted’s Suzuki, they jokingly agreed to let me ride along. I found it ironic that the meeting point was next to the School for Amazing Kids of Helena. I never did ask if there was any significance with this meeting point, and the conversa- tion immediately turned to the route. Vance, the high-miler of the group, said he had the perfect ride laid out, and after a few moments of getting reacquainted, we were off. Behind Vance on his R 1200 GS Adven- ture was Ted on the RS, Rob on his F 800 GS, me bringing up the rear, and Lee riding sweep on his beloved R 1150 R. We were rid- ing and all was good, and I found myself thinking about how much I’d looked for- ward to this trip. After a few miles on County Highway 17,
we quickly escaped civilization with a right turn onto County Highway 22, which soon merged with County Highway 10. With the trees bare, the gently rolling roads reminded me a bit of southwestern Wisconsin just after the autumn leaves had fallen, but
The crumbling remains of the brick furnace built in 1862 by owners of the Bibb County Iron Company and later sold to the Confederate States of America before being destroyed by Union troops.
before the snow and ice made riding impossible. After a stop for photography, a crude sign
pointed to “The House that God Built.” As the Yankee among the group, I was curious and followed the arrow, hoping the rest of the group would notice. Luckily, they did and Shelby County Road 251 took us north- east. Sure enough, about a half mile later we rode past the church mentioned on the sign. Though I’m sure the quality of His message is great there, God must have used nonunion labor to build the structure we passed. We continued down the road until it abruptly ended at the Cahaba River.
The Cahaba is Alabama’s longest free-
flowing river and contains a greater num- ber of fish species per mile than any other river in North America. In fact, eight of the 131 fish species found here occur nowhere else in the world. It is a biological treasure as well as Birmingham’s primary water source. Where the dirt road met the river, a lane
of concrete just visible beneath the water tempted us with a means get to the other side, but none of us was willing to challenge the unknown. A few minutes later, a battle- scarred Toyota Tacoma did what we were afraid to do, chugging and twisting its way
A long, leaf-covered road known only to residents living in the area. 74 BMW OWNERS NEWS May 2016
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