August, 2011 - KickStandUp!

KickStandUp.com
The Hooch
Dual Sport Ride
Every June, the Georgia
Recreational Trail Riders
Association (GARTRA) holds
a two day dual sport ride in the
Chattahoochee National Forest north
of Dahlonega, GA. For at least the
past five years, John Medicus from
Woodstock, GA has been organizing
and running the event. It’s hard to
imagine how much time and effort
goes into staging an organized dual
sport ride, but John makes it look
easy….it’s not. There are usually
about 100 riders from all over the
southeast who ride it every year. If you
ride a dual sport motorcycle, you will
love this event.
This year I came to the ride with Rick
Trimble and Will Perry; both extremely
competent local riders with lots of
off-road racing experience. Because
this ride was designed for novice and
experienced motorcyclists, I’d been
concerned that they would be bored
and not have a chance to use their
skills. I shouldn’t have worried – as in
the past, the routes for both days had
a wide variety of different features with
bypass and shortcut options for those
riders who are on big adventure bikes
or have more street oriented tires.
There are also technical sections on
each day’s ride that will require your
full attention, and on Saturday’s route,
there is the opportunity to explore the
technical trails in the Whissenhunt
ORV area that is maintained and
improved by GARTRA’s dedicated
volunteers. So, there’s something for
everybody and we all got in plenty of
good riding.
Accommodations and Camping
Doug Graydon
For the past four years or so, the
“Hooch” has been based at the Old
Mill Campground, which is at the
intersection of Skeenah Gap Road
and Highway 60, about 30 miles north
of Dahlonega, GA. There are hookups
for motor homes and campers; sites
for tents along with showers and
restrooms. There is a large covered
pavilion where you register for the
rides, and also eat dinner on Saturday
night after day one. If you don’t want
to camp, there are several motels in
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