Riding the Tennessee Cumberland Plateau

Thursday, April 20, 2017.  It's in the mid-60s and raining.  So the ride is delayed until the rain cell passes through.  We will be riding wed roads but we will be riding.  Just a bit slower.  Should be nice until the afternoon when more showers are expected.  Today's ride will take us west about half way between Knoxville and Nashville, TN.  We will be riding the TN portion of the Cumberland Plateau.

                             












This Plateau aides my area a lot by having storms coming out of the SW, W, or N from having serious weather issues a lot.  The storms hit the Plateau and runs NE which often by-passes us.

We've ridden on the Plateau often and this ride was to run a new road or two.  The area his some beautiful farms and lots of rolling hills.  To get there you climb a mountain and then go back down it at a different location.  No large mountains on the Plateau itself.

Biker friend Paul and I pulled out around 8:40 a.m. for our ride.  Damp, cool and wet roads.  It would get better in a few miles.  Since it was so damp I decided to leave my camera in the storage compartment until we got closer to the area we were going to ride.  Interstate riding had some nice shots but not at this time of the morning.

One thing you will notice is that there are a lot less curves to maneuver up here on the Plateau than nearer to where we live.  We are roughly 115 miles West of Seymour to start our true ride.  That first mileage is just to start the real thing.

We exited I-40 at Crossville, TN and headed northwest from there.

Dogwoods were blooming and hardwood trees were putting on new leaves.  This is a hardwood paradise.

Cherrie trees were also blooming as well as some Azaleas and lots of bulb plants.

As you can see along the cuts of the highway, the stone in this area is plated or tiered.  And there is lots of stone.

This area probably produces over 50% of the stones used in building, decorating, etc., in the state.  They ship it out by the semi-truck loads in all directions, and in all sizes and shapes.

It is well known for crushed limestone as well as powdered limestone.

Our first break was at a convenience store located in Crab Orchard, TN.  It was coffee and snack time.  Redbug is in the forefront and behind it with Paul still astride it is his White Rat, a Bourgman 400 Scooter.  Old man's ride, it is an automatic.

After our break we head out continuing to head northwesterly to take in a couple of loop roads before heading back to Seymour.

TN tax dollars at work along this stretch of highway.  Big Tonka trucks moving lots of crushed rock and dirt to widen the highway.

Big Drilling Rigs with more Tonka trucks and trackhoes pictured here.  That is a pretty big cut they are making here.

 Still blue skies and puffy white clouds showing while the wheels are turning.

Seems the clouds are getting heavier and darker but progress continues.

Now we're getting really close to the Catoosa Wildlife Management area and near where our new road will take us.

The Plateau had some very large and beautiful farms.  Lots of cattle and horses raised in this area.  Looks like another one of those government disguised missile silos looming in the distance.

With all of the rains we've been having the ponds, lakes and rivers are catching up to full limit quickly.  Makes some nice reflections.  And everything is really green.

As we start on one of our new roads we start to drift to the edge of the Plateau and the roads get curvy again.

Also noticed along the way are new Spring calves.

A very nice and long wooden fence.  Somebody put out some money with all of those boards and posts.  Not to mention the labor to install it.  Don't think that was a weekend honey-do list project.

Little roller coaster hills just seem to ripple all around this place.

Hmmmm.  Looks a bit like rain in that direction.  Wait a minute, that's the same direction we're headed.

But meanwhile, the dark red leafed ornamental trees are a dark pretty contrast to the newer lighter green foliage. 

Over the hills and through the woods off to, no, that's a verse from Little Red Riding Hood.  We're just off exploring what's around the corner and over the hill. 

Then out in the middle of nowhere is Lanes Convenient Center.  Time for another break.  The lady running the store is second generation owner and she makes a darn good hamburger.  Paul had a corndog. 








The owner was babysitting her granddaughter who was about 2 yrs. old.  This was her school bag.  The dining area/grocery center was also her play room as it had colors and a coloring book on the floor.







Madelynn, between her grandmother's knees and another lady that had arrived bid us goodbye.  Cute tyke but a little shy which is a good thing.  Very nice folks.

Paul and I like to stop off at some of these local places.  Unfortunately over the past couple of years a lot of them have closed down.  They can't compete with the large chain stores.


Back on the road, through the woods and around the curves we rode headed back towards homebase.

Failure to stop at this intersection could cause you a lot of front-end damage if you notice the rock bluff across the highway.

Some more nice scenery and woodsy riding.  To leave the road surface on either side of the road would spell a heap of hurt.  Trees on one side and rock on the other.  Seems to change sides from time to time.

I really like the rock formations in this area even though some of it looks a little unstable.

The woods are so thick that the roads just seem to vanish among the trees.  It would be really dark here at night.  There's no street lights and very few houses.

You can tell we are on our way to get off the Plateau as you can see taller hills and some mountains off in the distance.

And that definitely looks like rain up ahead.  I don't care what that patch of blue indicates, it's that darker area beyond that matters.

Aha, a change in direction looks much more promising.

Still dry so it lets you do some turning and burning on the curves.

Elongated curves are fun to ride.  Just have to make sure you stay in control.  Headed back to the house so ride while it's dry.

I wonder if that pile of rocks was placed there as a marker for Big Foot territory.  A bit odd but interesting.

Sprinkles of rain.  Yep, last picture of the day.  Paul suits up and I store the camera.  Now its running TN 62 eastward which is a great curving sweeping bike road but today it will be a slower paced keep the tires on the road kind of ride.  But even with that, it has been a great day.  Rain has everyone cooped up so getting out today was a joy.



We had about 2 hours of drizzling rain on the way back to Seymour, it stopped just west of Oakridge, TN.  From that point to the house was dry so we made up a little time.  It was a great ride, 268 miles for me door to door and Redbug performed magnificently.  And overall, we got just a little damp. 

So until the next Valkyrie Adventure, I hope you stay safe, do something different, and enjoy your family members as much as possible.  I do miss seeing my family members since I am so far away but their faces and voices are forever with me as I ride.  May God enrich you and yours.