The Unplanned Ride

It seems ages since I've been able to ride more than a few miles running errands what with company (which was greatly enjoyed) and the rain (thought I had moved from the swamps of LA to the rainforest of TN).  But Wednesday, July 8, I mounted Sweet Thang at 7:30 to meet up with my fellow biker for a ride that did not have a pre-planned route or destination except to be back in the house area by 2:00 p.m.

It was one of those "iffy" days where God, the Weather forecasters, and us did not have a good feeling as to if it was going to rain, when it was going to rain, and if we could get a ride in before it rained.  Very overcast, humid, dampness in the air and "where's the sun" stuck in your head.

Boyds Crk. Hwy. North out of the subdivision, looking at the sun trying to come out but desperately struggling.

A few miles further up Boyds Crk. Hwy. you can see the clouds laying in the valleys.  An artist only needs a touch of blue, white and gray but a lot of green.

I met up with Paul at the Exxon and got there early enough to actually drink a full cup of coffee before he rode up, yep, early too.  Donned the helmet, cranked Sweet Thang and we headed onward to Rte. 66, TN style.  As we got to the intersection of 66 Paul pulled into the Pilot station there which I found odd as he usually starts out with a full tank of gas.  Arriving I noticed he rode right up to two bikers that were waiting there.

They had called him the night before to say they wanted to join in on the ride.  Irwin and Dave, two guys I have ridden with before, have known Paul many years.  So after a short chat, Paul pulls out, me next, Irwin and then Dave.  No particular route, just follow the leader.  And since Paul has ridden all, and I do mean all, of the roads around here, he was the leader.

We took some winding back roads through the farming country Northeast of Sevierville.  Everything was very green from all of the rain we have had lately and with the warm weather you could almost hear the grass grow.

Lots of hay under the shed and still more to come.  Problem now is the farmers can't mow the grass because it will rot on the grown before they can bale or roll it.  The longer it grows the tougher the stems get.

Then the sun peaked out for a few minutes just as we were riding along side a cedar tree lined road.  Due to the size of the Eastern Red Cedar trees you could tell they were really old as they grow very slow.

That's a steeple on the ground and it has been there as a yard decoration for as long as I've lived in TN.  Is that a speck of blue sky I see to my right?  Why yes it is, just a speck.

I just love some of these roads around this area.  If you look close we are exiting one curve to go into another curve to the left and then to another curve to the right and then left and then right as it fades out of the picture.  Good thing the speed is only 45 mph.  Or there abouts.

And how does my garden grow?  Green green green.  And pretty clean considering the rain.

An old tobacco barn very near the road.  Since flat land is hard to find they use every bit they can and over the years the roads have widened and it looks as if you're going to knock the corner from a building or ride through it.

This was a breakfast run, a first for a Mexican Rest. that had just started to serve breakfast.  Paul had a 2 for 1 coupon.  Meal was good, but a little pricey for a breakfast.

After breakfast we headed out again with our route taking us by Walters State Community College in Sevierville.  There are about 5 such campuses around East TN.  This one has several medical programs such as X-ray Techs, Nursing, etc., along with other programs.

Sky was darkening again.  We had a 20% chance of rain today and it kept looking as if we were going to get the remaining 80% at any time.






A short time later and another road change we found ourselves on this narrow two lane county road.  Notice there are not shoulders and not mistakes when running off the pavement as there are barbed wire fences on both sides of the road along with some sturdy trees as stops.





As we rode by one of the homes of a 1%er (rich folk) we then entered an old neighborhood with split rail fences in some areas and stone fences like those found in Ireland.

Now we were for enough north and east to see the mountains in the distance. Lots of clouds covering the mountain tops and they didn't look too friendly.

                     
All I can say about this is Kudzu, Kudzu, Kudzu and you don't need a Kleenex.  However, it does have a faint sweet fragrance.  It is way worse than crabgrass, poison ivy or Bermuda.  There's very little that can rid a place of this stuff.  But if they ever find a real good use for it, the South can definitely supply the need.

Corn fields are in full production as are the tomato fields.  Gonna be a bumper crop this year if the rain will slow down.  And to some extent it has.  No rain in our area for 3 days but that is coming to an end as Saturday and Sunday have heavy rain predictions.

Country churches and winding roads seem to have something in common.

 Did I mention the weather was very unpredictable?  Well, that cloud sure looks like rain to me and Paul is still heading in that direction.  Maybe his bike doesn't know how to make a U-turn.  Then maybe we're not to smart to keep following him.

Pleasant views along the way including a nice bunch of flowers on a hillside lawn.

And now as I ride through the green tunnel of never ending, I pray no ogres, monsters and/or zombies lay in wait for a fat tasty morsel.  I sure hope if they're there that they had the forethought to bring along some medicine suitable for indigestion.

A short burst of flat smooth roadway and then we changed directions to run alongside a fast flowing stream.

A turn or three we found ourselves on the Foothills Parkway near Cosby, TN.  Pulling into an overlook area gives a great view of the valley to the west.

It also makes a great backdrop for a bike picture.

Heading back we passed this well constructed old barn with a silo whose top was missing.  You don't see many brick barns in this area as most are made of wood/lumber sided.

Scenic river view prior to us coming into the town of Newport, TN.

The bridge railing on this route is well decorated with Petunias in hanging baskets.  Would look nice on my front porch but this area is tough and I wouldn't want to spend the night in their jail.  Or anyone else's jail for that matter.  They do make a pretty sight as you drive into town.





This Unplanned Ride took us over some pretty roads, through some beautiful country side and was enjoyed by all four of us.  I think it was an even better ride since it wasn't planned.  A Mexican breakfast omelet, a Trailmix snack later to be topped off with a homemade fresh strawberry cobbler with vanilla ice cream.  That was Lunch.

Total miles today, 125 door to door.  Not a long distance but for the amount of time, a good trip.  No rain.  Good fellowship.  Magnificent scenery and real comradery.  So until the next Valkyrie Adventure, be nice, be charming, be adventurous.