The Big Loop, TN - NC - TN

Thursday, April 14, 2016, 7 a,m., temp was mid 40s to start ending in low 70s during the afternoon.  There was a 25% chance for rain but most of that was well below us at this hour.  Should I stay or should I go.  I went.  Dressed warmly with newly received replacement of heated gloves, I mounted Sweet Thang and pushed her out of the garage into the cool crisp morning air.

Red sky in the morning, sailor take warning.  Well, some red but some bluish purple also.  Reason for buying and hauling rain gear.  Time to go.

Turned out of the subdvision heading north and the sun was coming up quickly this morning.  No heavy mist to burn off.  Just like flicking a switch for the ceiling light.  One minute it's off, the next it's on.

Meet up at Exxon on Boyds Crk. Rd.  Today we had bider friend Paul who put the ride together and joining us was biker friend Rober with his Spyder.  Paul asked me earlier if I was interested in a long ride.  I said that's why the wheels were made round.  For that ride length I was going to do it in comfort thus taking Sweet Thang.  He rode the White Rat, his Burgman Scooter.

This was going to be the route of the day.  Starting in the Seymour area, over to Sevierville, through Pigeon Forge, bypass Gatlinburg, cross the mountain to Cherokee, south and east of Cherokee through Cashiers and Sylva, NC and onward to Maggie Valley, NC via the Blue Ridge Parkway to I-40 and end up going through Newport and back to Seymour.  And the day was jussst right.

The grass was greener on the other side of the fence.  And my favorite little school house early in the morning.

The sun was making its way out from behind the clouds adding color to that which was already present.  

We cruised through Sevierville and Pigeon Forge since it was about 8 a.m.  Lots of cars parked already in Pigeon Forge, this is Rod Run, greatest free car show on earth.

Mountains early in the morning covered with some high lofty clouds glaring back from the sun's reflection.  One of the first real nice viewing areas after entering the Park from the Gatlinburg side.

That black object on the left is a turkey trying to decide when to cross the highway.  Today we started by seeing a Canadian Goose, then we saw a total of 11 feathered turkeys, unknown number of featherless turkeys, and I was watching for a Partridge in A Pear Tree but the closest we came to that was Doves on a Power Line.

Spring is just starting to come to parts of NC near the mountains.  Very few trees budded out.  Amazing the difference in just a few miles and a tall hill makes in climatic conditions.

We entered Cherokee, skirted the major downtown portion and stopped on the SE side at McDs for a bite of breakfast.  These ceramic bears are all around Cherokee painted various colors and with various tribal symbols on them.  Really neat.

After breakfast we hit the road again, all good paved roads and all with lots of curves, hills, mountains and an occasional river or stream.

First a little church and then later a big church.  One way to tell the area has grown in population.

Interesting sights along the way from timber along the roadway to old barns that have seen their better days.  Relics of the past slowing falling to the ground.

Pear tree lined drive way to a wood and wire fence enclosing the homestead.  Forever changing vistas.

I love it when you can see multiple curves that gives you a clear line of sight so that you're not always trying to figure if something is coming at you.  Wonder how they bent that steel guard rail to match the road.  Just a question to ponder on.

Old businesses that are out of business, just the hulk of a once prosperous and thriving establishment.  Today, getting to be an eye sore.  Wait, that's a produce stand and the good stuff hasn't come into season yet.  Get a grip, guy.

Some of these roadways appear to have been gnawed out of the rock like a rat would know a hole in the wall.  I wonder if there is such a thing as a rock rat.  He'd be tough to trap and would give a cat a real fight.

By now we were up on the Blue Ridge Parkway.  Here's my two riding buddies (Robert on left and Paul on right) holding up that sign.  There's probably a million miles of riding between them and 500 years, or at least 150.  No rocking chairs for these two.

Just a feeling of peace.  Hazy today.  But beautiful anytime.  Wait a minute, I'm starting to sound sentimental.  Must be getting really relaxed today.

The Appalachian Mountains of TN and NC.  It just doesn't get much better than this.  It just looks like they go on forever.  If I were an artist this is one of the things I would like to paint on canvas.

 Lots of nice pull-offs on the Blue Ridge and enough scenery to drain the battery on the best digital camera.

 And they just go on and on and on.

Who's that handsome knight on that gorgeous steed?  Why it must be Sir Gallon Head.  But it looks like he is really have fun.

Shortly after this we dropped off the Blue Ridge into the town of Maggie Valley, NC. 

And shortly after entering Maggie Valley we were leaving this little town to be on our way to I-40 via US 276.  Maggie Valley is the home of Wheels Through Time, one of the best motorcycle museums in the country.  Mostly Harleys and Indians, from 1914 to mid 1950s.  And they all run.  The owner is world famous for restoration of these type old bikes.

U.S. 276 is one of the straighter roads we rode on today.  It connects US 19 to I-40 and saves some miles as well as not having to ride through Waynesville, NC.  Nothing wrong with the town, it's just a quicker way to the interstate.

Running I-40 would be much better if the speed limit was up a bit but they have it down to 55 for cars and 50 for trucks with no trucks in left lane for any reason.  It does do a lot of cork screwing through the mountains but that low speed limit takes the real fun out of riding it with a bike.

And finally we point it towards the house.  It has been a fabulous day to ride and not a drop of rain.  We had some good laughs, saw some nice sights, and enjoyed mutual friendship.  Not to mention enjoying the ride.  Today was 281 miles door to door.  Sweet Thang performed like a beautiful ballerina, just tip toeing through the hills.  Love that big girl.



So another adventure comes to a close.  Thank the Lord for a safe journey, a nice day and great friends.  We often get involved with so much day to day stuff that we forget to remember a lot of people that we've met and places we've gone and how much fun we use to have.  So the challenge today is, call up an old friend or family member and let them know that you haven't forgotten them.  Then hug your own family.  They are yours so enjoy them.  Ride/drive safe.