Weekend turned out to offer the first cool weather riding of the fall. Bright days Friday and Saturday lent towards great views as we rode to Iron Horse and around the NC mountains. Rain over Saturday night cleared by the time to pack up Sunday. Overcast start to the ride home with damp for the first 20 miles or so, then clear. There was something new for everyone on each of the routes we rode – always difficult in such familiar territory. For me it was a dry 567-mile weekend in great company.
Friday Jonathan S, Renee D and I rode north on GA400 then took a northwest route across country from Cumming to Chatsworth via Fort Mountain. Gas and coffee break in Chatsworth then north on US411/west on US64 to pick up TN30/TN315/TN310 into the north of Tellico Plains. Lunch at Tellico Kats where we happened to catch Don L and some of the BMW LT group staying at Iron Horse out on a day ride, Don having ridden up the day before. Then easy riding across the Cherohala, quick gas stop in Robbinsville, and arrived at Iron Horse just a few minutes after Jim M who had just started pitching his tent. Jim and Joe B had ridden a different route, with Jim electing to camp and Joe staying at the Two Wheel Inn in Robbinsville. The latter a very functional motel with motorcycle garages
Two Wheel Inn. Dinner Friday was a mixed bag. Some electing to eat at the lodge, others taking a 40-mile round trip to River’s End Restaurant (which failed to impress.) I snacked. 236 miles/5 hours moving.
Saturday all those noted, other than Don L who had babysitting obligations to manage, plus Ian F rode from Iron Horse to Sylva via Lake Glenville on a roundabout route. Started on NC28 but mixed it up by deviating via Burningtown/Iotla Church, through some spectacular cove scenery on nicely paved sweeping roads, and Sanderstown to pick up US23/US64 for a 10-mile blast before turning east along Walnut Creek/Pine Creek on a nice mix of technical and open mountain curves to NC107 at Glenville. Headed north, but added another variation to seek out some more twisties on the way to Sylva by deviating on a northwest track at Cullowhee that led into Dillsboro. Aroma of skunk at four different places along NC107 then corps of geese wading in the Tuskasegee River and a less-than-busy beaver roadside as we rode this leg. Lunch at City Lights Café in Sylva catered for all tastes. After lunch Jonathan and Renee left to do some sightseeing and shopping and would take a direct route back to Iron Horse. The rest of us headed east to pick up the Blue Ridge Parkway at Balsam Gap to ride back toward Cherokee. Little traffic on the parkway, and the clear bright weather gave us superb panoramic views, but, unusually, still not yet any fall leaf colors. Traffic was backed-up north heading over Newfound Gap as we exited the parkway, making us grateful that we had chosen not to ride over the top of the park this year. We navigated through a typically busy Cherokee and picked up the “old road” US19 route towards Bryson City. Short pause there to stretch legs, gas stop just before joining US74, and a quick blast back to Iron Horse. Paul E arrive shortly afterwards having ridden up during the day. All stayed on-site for dinner. Most ate at the lodge. Other fended for themselves. All assembled in the lodge later to share stories. Adult beverages were consumed. 156 miles/4 hours moving.
Overnight rain petered out to a light shower by breakfast Sunday and stopped completely in time for us to pack up and head home. Ambient started a few degrees up on the previous days, so one less layer of clothing from the start, and would be almost balmy by the time we hit the Atlanta suburbs. Jonathan, Renee, Joe, Jim and I chose a medium-paced route to Helen via Brasstown and Young Harris then Trackrock and Richard B. Russell for a snack lunch at Betty’s. The group then split with Joe and Jim making tracks home via GA400 (I think) while Jonathan, Renee and I wandered towards Gainesville for a final gas stop there before slogging down I985/I85 to our respective inside the perimeter homes. 175 miles/3 hours 40 minutes moving.
Total of 567/12 hours 40 minutes for the weekend.
GPX routes below.
L to R: Ian F, Jonathan S, me, Joe B, Jim M.
Actual routes.
Mark
1993 R100R