After a couple of days of rain there was a couple of nice days so rider friend Paul and I took advantage of it. Paul planned our route of backroads, some old and two new ones, up to Norris Lake and around to Maynardville, TN.
Spring weather, low 60s when we left at 8:00 a.m., skirted Knoxville and headed northward. Beautiful day with sunshine and a cloudy blue sky. After about two hours and 60 miles we stopped at a bike shop to stretch and see what they had on the floor. Not that we were buying but just looking. Problem was they had no coffee. After two hours we were still only 30 miles from Knoxville.
This is a concrete bridge which we have crossed umpteen times but it still is photogenic due to it being an arch styled bridge with no exposed steel.
That dead stuff on the left is last year's Kudzu which hasn't decided if it is going to come back again. That stuff is like a bad case of seven year itch. Practically impossible to get rid of. Sort of like the nutria rat and water hyacinth in LA. Best not to mess with Mother Nature.
And riding along this road you have to be very aware of "Monster Rocks". You never know when one of them will jump out after you.
Close to the Monster Rock is a huge rock quarry. It has been in operation for decades. For you folks in FL and LA, rocks are those hard pebble things that are hauled to your location from some place else.
Blooming flowers and trees, greenery along the highway and mountains off in the distance. How much better can it get. Hammer, Hammer.
Then the straight runs start into the curvy runs. Just love those highway signs with the squiggly drawing on them.
A serene pasture along the highway. What a difference a couple of weeks with rain, some sunshine and warmer temps can make.
One of many small country churches in the area.
What can be more peaceful than a pretty horse grazing in the pasture near the house. It never raised its head while we were passing. All's quiet on the home front.
And behind this modern log house is a river which is hidden below the bluff behind the house. Step outside for a few steps and drop the ole hook right in the water.
This was that river from a different vantage point. Rather shallow now but the spring rains will swell it up quickly.
Scenic old waterwheel driven grist mill. Now it's just a visiting center but in its day it was modern machinery. This water wheel is an "Overshoot" wheel as the water goes over the top of the wheel to make it turn.
We crossed numerous streams and rivers on this journey,. Some big, some middle sized and some small. All were peaceful. Love the sound of the gurgling water.
Just a larger version a little further along the route than the one shown above.
I just love these old farm houses. If only they could talk. This is the front of the house but the back looked just as nice. It sat on a bluff overlooking the highway and sat in the curve of the road.
The terrain changes frequently while riding. From small valleys, to large valleys to mountains back to no usable land between the mountains and so forth.
We rode up to a high vantage point above Norris Lake. You can get a panoramic view of the lake and developments built along its shore.
This shot is looking SW and at a finger lake off the main body of water. The problem is it is so far from a Walmart that you lose over a half day just to go get some more coffee.
Biker friend Paul, 76 yrs. and still riding, kicking and fussing. Google calls him once a month to see if there are any roads they missed mapping in East TN. Just kidding, but there's not many he hasn't ridden.
Another nice scenic view from one mountain top looking across the valley to another mountain.
That old building on the left ahead was once a grocery store with the family living upstairs. No long use, it stands representing another era in the history of America and East Tennessee.
The Flowering Crabapple trees are now blooming along with various shades of Dogwoods, Redbuds, Pear, Peach, Apple, etc., etc.
A little 1 1/2 laner road we tried out for the first time. Meeting a large vehicle in turns or on the hills can make you tighten up on the seat a bit if you're not alert.
These two silos represent an old old farm. They are no longer in use but time will eventually bring them down.
After our lunch of 3 mini-BBQ sandwiches at Sharps Chaple we headed back for Maynardville which was a bust. The museum we were going to was closed except for Sunday afternoon, Tuesday and Friday. We were there Thursday so no looking around. It is a genealogy museum. Would have been interesting. On down the road you could see House Mtn. looming off in the distance.
A few more curves, creeks and careful riding miles we decided to stop in Kodak, TN for a cup of free coffee at Mountain Motorsports, one of our local hang outs. After yacking a while with the staff, sipping a good cup of coffee, it was time to head to the house. I was going to be finishing early today for a change.
Temps got up into the 80s shortly after lunch and made it seem like summer again. Okay as long as you were riding but when you stopped you could feel the heat along with the humidity as rain was on its way. Got back to the house about 3:15 p.m. Total mileage today: 171 miles. All fun.
I hope you're having some adventures along the way. Remember, you only pass through this life one time so make the most out of it. Make friends, stay in touch with relatives, visit places you've not been and stay safe.
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