Riding Around Lenoir City, et.al. With Paul & Terry

Saturday morning, 11 a.m., meet up with Paul at the gym for a ride.  Temp was about 43 and high today was around 60.  We were going to meet Terry at  Maryville HD and Terry was going to lead us on a ride covering some of his favorite back roads.  These included roads from Maryville to Lenoir City where he lives, up into the 1% neighborhoods of Knoxville and then we would part our ways back to the house.  It was a very windy day, all day long.

A fallow field which will be planted again in the Spring.  Earth tones, brown field, blue sky.

The area we rode first included a lot of very large dairy farms, cattle ranches and crop fields.  Although I think the Government has installed two missile silos at this dairy as a disguise.

Yep, there are two of them for sure.  We're a lot safer around here than you would figure.

Just nice straight out riding.  Kind of let it hang out a bit.  Starting to get back with one and the machine.

A few miles later we're on a very narrow two lane road, more like a lane and a half and the forward speed is adjusted accordingly.

Apparently the cold ground the the cold wind does not deter the amount of milk they give twice a day.  Or maybe they're just taking a rest break.

This is an up ramp for those that like to make a few whoop de doos, i.,. make your stomach feel funny.

Along the roads through the woods to Grandmother's house.  Sure hope that big bad Wolf isn't lurking by the road.

Just a little erosion problem in the pasture but hasn't lost a cow yet.

And friend, that is not a standard 1800 sq. ft. house off in the distance and mowing this yard will take more than a gallon of gas.

Just follow the curve, remember, follow the curve.

This ride is almost like a Western Cowboy riding the fence line.

Although there's not very much green, it just doesn't get much better than this on a winter's day.

Back to riding fence.  I wonder how much white paint it takes to do this fence?










We rode among the fingers of the TN River.   No skinny dipping today.

Meandering along on some more back roads before we got to the high dollar area.

Nice hillside farm.  If the buildings would have had brown roofs they would have blended into the environment.

An old, but graceful farm house.

The hedges on each side of the road are trimmed to fence post height.  Trimming is by a tractor with an elevated bushhog on a hydraulic boom.  Not even a bad bull could get through there.

Back along the TN River and the bridge crossing over it near Lenoir City.

Terry and Paul heading for the bridge.  This has been a rather long project.  There is a set of locks here as well as a Hydro Generating Dam.

That mushroom sticking up in the park is an impeller from one of the units.

Back to another winter back road.  Color pallet needed, blue and grays.

 The Three Amigos stopped for a pit stop, break and nourishments at a local Wiegel's convenience store.  Terry is far right, Paul in the middle and Redbug minus its rider.

After our break we rode through a nice neighborhood with a park that was along the lake.  Lots of joggers, dog walkers and 3 old bikers.

This is just one of the large homes in the area.  Just a wee tad bit larger than my house but with a lot higher tax bill.

From here we meandered over to Chapman Hwy., US 441 where we split for the house.  I stopped off at Arby's for a couple of sandwiches to take back to the house for Lupper.  My Frunk, the storage compartment where a gas tank usually is on a motorcycle, keeps it nice and warm.


It was good to take a ride today especially since it was with Paul and Terry.  We have ridden together several times and enjoy the company as well as the miles.  Although it was really windy and still pretty chilly, my new thermals and winter outters kept me snug as a bug in a rug.

Door to door for me was 117 miles of great fun and joy.  As you read this, I hope, my wish is for safety for you and yours along with peace and contentment. Until the next Valkyrie Adventure, ride/drive safe.  The life you save may be mine.

Riding The Back Roads Of The Back Roads

Thursday morning, Jan. 26, 2017.  Temps, 43 with a high of 53 for the day.  Second ride of the year.  Leg and knee feel good so it's time to take a ride.  Met up with my riding buddy, Paul, at McD's.  I was early and was talking with the Elderlies when he arrived.  He grabbed a cup of coffee and shortly afterward we garbed up (put on all the winter wear) and hit the road.  No plans of where to ride, just turned here and there and went so far back in the mountains that they didn't even pipe sunshine.  Thought I heard the banjos playing several times.

The sky was nice and blue with some big puffy white clouds.  The air was fresh and cool making for a great day in the saddle.

This was one of the better back roads we rode on.  Most were so curvy that I didn't have time to take a picture.

Then we hit some of the old goody roads that we've ridden many times.  This one ran along the side of the mountain with farms to the left in the valley.

You can notice the do not give up much land as the barn is very close to the side of the road.  These roads have 8' wide lanes.  Many have far less.

Small house but room for a garden and a small pasture.

Another one of my "Keep America Beautiful" pictures.

Smooth sailing, little to no shifting and just easing down the highway.  Nice to feel the breeze on the knees.

In this direction the clouds seemed to be getting darker and why are we still riding toward the dark clouds?  Just taking a small chance so that we can get another road in on today's ride.

Lots of muddy fields and pastures with the rains and snow we've been getting.  Good thing the hay is in a rack or it would be trampled into the ground.

This is a pretty large farm as it is used on both sides of the road.  The road is a ridge between two valleys.  And that house is quite large.

Road has a few wet spots as it did a little raining last night.  And you have to watch water run-off from previous rains.  Trying to ride the dry parts.

Another turn and we're running along the Little Pigeon River heading toward Walland, TN.

Lots of little houses along this stretch and some very vividly painted.

A nice shot of the sun reflecting off the water in the river.  A little muddy due to the rains.  When the silt settles it is very clear.

Some of the houses along this area.

Some are rented out for tourists and some are lived in year around by owner.

Coming up to the bridge.  Turn right you hit US 321 in Walland community. But turn left and you're still running along the river to the next turn off.

Getting closer to the mountains of the Smoky Mtn. National Park.  But they are still far off in the distance.

Rambling along the byways with views that are fit for a post card.

Rolling hills pasture land.  You can certainly tell where the vehicles have been traveling.

A church in the Walland Community.

Then we made a short stop for a cup and rest before hitting the Foothills Parkway between US 321 at Walland and US 129 at the East end of The Dragon.

Two scenes from the Foothills Parkway looking Westward.

Nearing the end of the Foothills Parkway.  Hanging a right turn here, no Dragon today.

US 129 in this area runs along the side of Chilhowee Lake.  Which is still a long way from being filled with water after the lowering this summer.

Just to give you something to look at besides trees.  Land side of US 129 heading West.

Then we start getting closer to US 411 the road gets narrower and more houses pop up.

My step falls picture.

Mistimed this picture but this machine is used to clear the right-of-way.  At the end of that telescoping boom is a buzz saw.  Machine has 6 wheels to help it get about off road.

But to heck with work, we're out here to have fun and keep those two wheels turning.

And turn they did.  Big roads, little roads, wide roads, narrow roads and sometimes we've even ridden on almost no roads.

Sun is having a difficult time trying to get its rays between the clouds.  Drives my camera crazy but looking at the road, it just seems to disappear into the woods.

Just a compilation of sky, clouds, mountains and earth.  He sure knew what He was doing putting all of this together.

Paul wanted to stop at this small cafe/store at an intersection of the highway so in we went.  Very friendly Lady running the place and it has all sorts of stuff hanging on the walls.  Paul was taken by the deer, hog heads mounted and hanging on the back wall.  I was more into the hot coffee and Coconut Creme Pie.

Heading back to the house we passed the Univ. of TN Ag Farm site.  Couldn't tell what it was but it was very green and healthy looking.

Old house that stands at the junction of two highways.  Reasonably Majestic.

One lonesome tree in the middle of the pasture.  Not much shade for a bunch but it's there anyway.

A big farm on one of the last roads of the day.  Lots of work by some folks to give us food daily.  A lot of people do not realize how much work goes into making that pot roast from the farm to the table.  Been there, done that.

Door to door, only 118 miles but a bunch of fun it was generating them.  This was the second ride for me this year and I sure enjoyed it.  Still getting back to being one with the machine and then it will be even more fun.

So until the next Valkyrie Adventure I hope you and yours takes some time to be together and enjoy this great country we have.  Believe me, it is not all riots, killing, and hating as is demonstrated on TV.  There are some great folks and great places here in the USA.  I differ on political issues with some people but that does not make me want to take to the streets in protesting.  Instead, why don't we just make ourselves happy so we can help make others the same.