Ride

Quick ride report.  Friday, Saturday and Sunday went, more or less, to plan.

Friday Jim M and I met up in Alpharetta and Jim led us to Ball Ground where we joined Billy W.  Left Ball Ground at 12:15pm and took the planned route north to Jasper, jogged east and north west to pick up Hwy52 and then Big Creek, Doublehead, and Newport to Dial.  Snack at Dial Country Store then on towards/along Hwy60 to TWoS.  Arrived there at 3:00pm about 45 minutes ahead of the crowd.  Jim and I pitched our tents while Billy waited for TWoS reception to open so he could get into his cabin.  Hot and dry to this time, then just before dinner the heavens opened up but by this time Jim and Billy were ensconced in the lodge waiting for dinner, and I took shelter under the washroom canopy to cook up my meal.  Typical storm in that it came and went, leaving just some damp patches around the site.  From Ball Ground, 71 miles/1½ hours riding, with 1 hour stopped for breaks etc.

Saturday six of us, Billy, Jim, and I joined by Bart B, Don L, and Scott ?, left TWoS at 10:00am to ride the planned loop to Tellico Plains and back.  Headed northwest from TWoS joining US64 west bound just north of Copperhill.  Lots of tubing and canoeing activity as we rode US64 along the Oconee River before heading north along Hwy30 through Reliance to Tellico Plains.  This last section was new to all of us and proved to be a gem.  Nice mix of gentle twisties with a few faster stretches.  Lunch on the back porch of Tellico Kats was, as always, good food with a great view.  Group spilt at this point with the GS-team of Bart, Don and Scott seeking out gravel routes along the “Dirt Cherohala.”  Their return to TWoS would later be seriously hampered by fallen trees across some of the main highways, the result of a very strong storm that passed through the region late in the afternoon  Billy, Jim and I headed south on Hwy68 then east on Hwy123/294 towards US64 then cut off south on US129 to Blairsville.  We took the “Candy Mountain” detour loop along Hwy294 (missed the turn but doubled-back a mile or so.)  Nice, slower, twistier alternative to just running along the main highway, although the road surface on the last two miles of the seven-mile section left a lot to be desired.  Quick gas stop in Blairsville, then continued on US129 south to Wolf Pen Gap Road back to TWoS.  With about nine miles still to go along Wolf Pen Gap the storm that would cause problems for the GS-team hit us.  This time with much more temper that the previous day’s pop-up.  Nowhere to stop safely to suit-up, so we carried on.  Arrived back at TWoS at 3:40pm soaked-through to find their power was out which would delay dinner service for about two hours. Of course, within a few moments of getting back to the campsite the storm abated.  The rest of the evening warm and dry.  We were joined by Susan B who arrived from Hiawassee after her own detours necessitated by trees down on the east section of Hwy180.  176 miles/4¼ hours riding with 1½ hours stopped for breaks etc. for “my” group.

Sunday we all picked our own routes home.  For me this was Hwy60 south to the stone pile, right past the R-Ranch/Black Mountain/Camp Wahsega/Hightower Church/Siloam Church/Davis Chapel to bring me out on Hwy52 where a quick jog east took me to Hwy9 and on to Dawsonville, then continuing on Hwy9 to pick up Hwy400 at Browns Bridge to home. 87 miles/1¾ hours riding.

Great fun.  Thanks to all for the company.  Would do it all again, but preferably without getting wet!




Mark
1993 R100R

GPX Files Attached

"Friday" has Ball Ground to TWoS.

"Saturday" has TWoS/Reliance/Tellico/Blairsville/TWoS loops - The "Candy Mountain" version is the intended/preferred, but there's an option to short cut this if time/weather is an issue.

Mark
1993 R100R

Gentlemen,

I wish I could ride up with you, but I can't make it to Suches until Sat afternoon. Looking forward to seeing you there!

Susan

BMWMCOGA Director at Large

2014 F800GT
1990 K75S

Billy, Let's stick with Chevron in Ball Ground.  Running to TWoS via Big Creek etc. is one of my favorite routes, so it is no compromise at all. 

Jim,  If you've not been there before, pulling into TECH Alpharetta can seem odd as it is tucked away behind the fire station.  Bear right as you pull onto the fire station apron off of Webb Bridge Rd. and keep going 200' or so to the building at the end of the service road.  See you there.

Mark
1993 R100R

Mark, that sounds like a good plan. TECH Alpharetta is only a few miles from home, so I'll plan to meet you there around 11:00 AM Friday.

Meeting at the Chevron in Ball Ground works for me, but I can just as easily meet you guys in Alpharetta if that would work better since you'll both be there.  I guess it depends on if you want to take a different route or if you're going to go through Ball Ground anyway.

Billy Way
2004 BMW R1150RT

Billy/Jim et al:

Here's my thought.  Subject to adjustment after input.

Meet Friday Noon at Chevron gas station located at the intersection of Ball Ground Hwy. and Cartersville St./A. W. Roberts Dr. in Ball Ground.

Expect to depart 12:15pm.

Travel north to pick up Big Creek Rd. at Hwy52.  Big Greek Rd./Doublehead Gap Rd./Newport Rd. to Dial Country Store (Van Zandt's Riverwalk Grill & Grocery).  Short break then towards/on Hwy 60 to TWoS.

From Ball Ground to TWoS approx. 65 miles/1¾ hours riding plus break time at Dial Country Store.

Jim, I'll actually be at TECH Alpharetta on Webb Bridge Rd, Alpharetta in the morning.  Could connect there is that makes sense for you.  Earliest that I'll wrap up there is 11:00am.  It's about 25 miles/40 minutes from there to Ball Ground.

Mark
1993 R100R

Hey guys, I'd love to tag along. I was planning to leave Alpharetta around noon on Friday, maybe we could meet for lunch somewhere convenient for all and plan a "circuitous" route from there. Thoughts?

Hey Mark!  Count me in on any riding you plan.  I'll be there this weekend as well.  Let me know what route you plan to take up to Suches on Friday.  I'd like to meet up and tag along if you don't mind.  I live in Canton but can meet up with you along the route.

Billy Way

2004 BMW R1150RT

Other than planning to attend this weekend’s get together at TWoS I do not have much of a plan.  Expect to ride up leaving Atlanta noon-ish Friday which gives plenty of time to take in a circuitous route.  If weather cooperates will probably will do a northwest loop into southeast Tennessee Saturday something like I’ve mapped here.  Back home Sunday.  Happy to have company, or to participate in a better/more organized plan.  Any ideas?

Mark
1993 R100R