Elizabethton, TN and Lake Watauga Backroads

Tuesday, July 11, 2017.  Meeting rider friend Paul at Exxon on Boyds Creek Hwy. at 7:30 a.m.  I got there around 7 and shortly afterward Paul rode up and we headed out.  Long ride today via Interstates 40 and 81 to speed things up before exploring, visiting and returning via main roads.  And it's cooler with an early start as the high was to be around 90 degrees F. today.

Heading north right out of my subdivision.  Ole Sol is already bright with more to come.

A little fog over the cool spots but not on the highway in our direction.  I-75 has a lot of fog issues but we're heading Northeast.

As I pass one of my favorite shots.  I need to take my telephoto lens camera and get some close-ups.  They have recently refurbished the bell tower and put a new bell in it.  It rang recently for the first time in many years.  It is the Island View School, retired.

A quick run on TN 66 to I-40 and then East bound toward Asheville, NC.

After a quick run we turned off onto I-81 and after a short sprint we saw merging signs to one lane of traffic.  Lots of flashing lights of all colors.

It seems an eighteen wheeler run off the road and landed on its side.  They were unloading boxes so the wreckers could flip it back over.  Probably in an hour they would close the entire highway so the wreckers could maneuver to position themselves for turning the rig back onto its wheels.

Mountains in the distance, traffic very light, wind in the face so ride, cowboy, ride.

Paul was riding the White Rat today.  It is his Burgman 400 Scooter.  I'm on Redbug, my Honda NC700X.











We skirted around Johnson City and arrived in Elizabethton, stopping off at Sycamore Shoals Park and Museum.  I've been to Elizabethton many times but had never visited the museum.

This area was very involved in the Revolutionary War as just down the road was Fort Watauga.  

Since the settlers had gone beyond the boundary the British had made with the Indians, the settlers decided they would make a bargain with the Indians so that they could keep the homesteads they had built.

A scene depicting a settler inside the fort walls.

In the lobby a man was using a foot peddled spinning wheel making yarn from his bag of wool.  Neat operation.

Out back of the museum was a reconstructed model of Fort Watauga.  Some people lived inside the fort but most lived outside and went to the fort for safety.

As you can see, the walls were not very tall compared to forts constructed out west.

A demonstration was going on as we were walking about the grounds.

One of the homes inside the fort walls with a supply of firewood.

 They had a Tavern inside the fort walls and Paul wanted to know if he could get a cup of coffee there.

When we left Sycamore Shoals we headed for the Carter Mansion.  A nice park alongside a river was a good place for some quiet thinking.  They had a great walk path.

A short ride and we arrived at the Carter Mansion.

Figured this may have been a small chapel as there were no signs posted.

Paul getting a close-up of the mansion sign.  His eyesight must be failing him.

Looking at the Mansion from the street.  Kind of plain compared to houses of today but in its time it was luxurious.  It was constructed with plank siding instead of logs.

An herb garden in the rear of the house protected by a split rail fence.

Looking at the rear of the Mansion.

It was not open so all we could do was take a picture of a picture to show how the inside looked.

Just up the street was the Tweetsie Railroad.  Here you can read a bit of history of railroads of the area.

 The engine had a huge steam drum and then I noticed something unusual.  The train had no steerage wheels nor trailers, just three big drive wheels on each side.

For the life of me I cannot remember what this huge monolith represented.  However, it was in the middle of the road so you had to go around it.

We were heading to see a covered bridge here.  Just to the edge of the bridge was a nice little gaggle of geese enjoying the water.

The covered bridge is used only for foot traffic, no horses and buggies, no cars or trucks, just feet.

Bridges were covered to protect the flooring, keeping it from rotting the timbers.  It was also a good place to get out of the rain, just saying.

From Elizabethton we headed on to Lake Watauga.

The lake was in the mountains and is well used by water lovers.  It was constructed by TVA in 1948 and is used as a Reservoir.

After riding around a great portion of the lake we changed our heading to go to Spruce Pine via crossing the mountains into NC and back again.

Down a lazy river in the hot summer time.  Sounds like a verse from an old old song.  Water is so smooth that it looks like a mirror.

We went through some great farm country on our trek today.  Those stakes on the right of the pic or for tomato plants.

Pasture land in the foreground and mountains on the horizon.  Dats where we're head'n.

Celestial picture, no hurrying or scurrying, just peace and tranquility.

Once there was hay but no mow.

A great corn crop in the making.

Just some straight narrow little roads but traveling through some very pretty scenery.  The curves are farther ahead.

A nice little country home if I do say so.

Did I mention that there are some churches in the neighborhood?

Would this be the road to nowhere?  Sort of looks like it just ends up ahead.

But it doesn't, thank goodness, for I do need to get back to the house sometime.

Riding across the mountains.

In a couple of places in this area you see these dirt/rock quarries.  Easy access but such a scar on the land.

Cool water with lots of room to play.  Just one of the fingers off a lake.

Whatever you do, keep to your right for that rock wall is a killer in more ways than one.

Another play place for the marine folk.

Back on the good roads, just a curve or two.

Making hay while the sun shines.  And this is a factual statement.

Pretty place, big place and a long way from Walmarts.

The shady roads are a relief from the sun for now it is hot.

Oops, the GPS didn't specify this was a gravel road but it is.  And this is just one of the two stretches we did on gravel.

Here's the other stretch.  Dusty, no mud holes and fairly smooth for rock.  But then Redbug was made for this stuff.  Sweet Thang, not so much.  She likes smooth asphalt or concrete roads.

Part of this area grows a lot of Christmas Trees.  Those little green thingys on the left are young trees.

Later we're back following a small stream.  You can tell you're by the water as the air temperature is a bit cooler.

This cemetery just seemed to go on

and on and on.  Didn't stop to pick out my spot.  May do it later.  They better hurry and get a fence.

More of those little spruce pines growing to decorate someone's living room for the holiday times.

Dead dried up little communities.  Sad, but life goes on.

No, the road didn't end at the church, it just eased on by it.  

Meanwhile back in TN, this highway construction wen on and on and on.  It will be a long time before they get all of that dirt and rock relocated and a good surface put down.  Then is will be a continuation of a 4-Lane highway.

Cooking it on down the road getting closer and closer to the house.  It has been a good ride, an educational ride and so far a safe ride.

 Several more miles of turns and curves and we would be getting to Newport, TN.  Paul stopped to take advantage of some economical gasoline so I bid him Adios and headed for Interstate 40 for the fast route back to the house.  Left at 7 and returned about the same time.  Long day in the saddle.  Total miles for me door to door was 338. 

So until the next Valkyrie Adventure, be kind to your neighbors and be safe.