Tri-State Run: TN, NC, GA and The Dragon

November 2, 2017, Thursday.  Cool start, warm up during the day.  Meet up with Biker Friend Paul at the Exxon Sta. on Boyds Creek for 7:30 a.m.  We were going to do an all-dayer ride.

Early out with the sun just starting to think about getting out of bed.

And just a tad bit of fog in places.













Gives the scenery an eerie look.

This is our route for the day.  Over the mountains to Cherokee, NC, down along the mountains to Hiwasse, GA, back across The Dragon to the house. 

Well on our way passing my old school house area.

Love those sunrises.  I should get up earlier, well sometimes.

Riding on TN 66 going toward Sevierville.  Not much traffic at this time today.  Unusual.

Riding the Spur between Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg.

Missing Gatlinburg by taking the by-pass and it's a pretty ride also.

Looking toward the Chimney's early in the morning. 

Such pretty scenery even at this hour.

The charred tops of the Chimney's from the fire a year ago.

And then some breath-taking scenery.

Crossing over the mountains and heading for Cherokee, NC and beyond.

I think we hit the colors right at their peak.

Leaving Cherokee heading south.

Mr. Sunshine is up and it's going to be a nice day to ride.

High puffy clouds, blue sky, nip in the air and the whirring sound of tires on the pavement.  How much better can it get.

And to think that some people have to work.

Heading for Hiwassee, GA.

Just letting the pictures tell the story.

Cows grazing on the hillside.

Dark clouds may be in our future but for now they are far far away.

The road keeps going and the wheels keep turning.

When is red red?  When it's red, of course.  And a little purplish hue in the background doesn't hurt either.

To paint some of these scenes you would need to bring all of your colors.

Stark naked trees appear shamed compared to all of the colored leaves on the other trees.

NC highway scenery heading toward GA.

Now who could not enjoy all of this color.  It's so pleasing to the eyes.

The road appears to ride off into a tunnel of color.  Hmmm, think I'll just see where it goes.

Heavy dark clouds, dark mountains in their shadows and color in the front.

My Post Card picture.

A whole lot of chiseling went on to carve the road out of this rock.  If you look close you can see the drill bit marks on the rock face.

Mysterious how the roadway winds it's way through the mountains.

And then, pow, you're on a different road running alongside a river so you must be in Peach Country.

Rural fence rows alongside a rural road, all leading to the mountains in the distance.

Wooden barns and wooden fences.

And then we have high visibility white fencing as well.

Hiwassee Lake, GA.

Break time, pit stop, coffee.

Road up to the top of Bell's Mtn. in Hiwassee, GA.  It's steep, don't let this view fool you.

And it got steeper and more narrow with two way traffic too.

But what a view from the top.

The lake with all of its fingers were so visual from this scenic point.

It was pretty wherever you looked.

There's also a hike if you feel like climbing all of those steps.  Paul was brave.  I stayed at the bottom and waved at him.

Well, everyone did not adhere to the sign but most did.  I don't think I've ever run across a sign like this in all of my travels.

Apparently it was okay to paint the rocks which really made the place look better.

Looking at the viewing platform on top of the mountain with its painted rocks.

Paul on his way down.  I wanted to check his pulse rate but I don't think I could count that fast.

Looking eastward from the parking lot.

Not bad scenery looking in that direction either.

Reminds me of a lion's head.

As Newton says, what goes up must go down, so we headed back down that narrow steep road.

A good place to check your brakes out.

Eventually we got to the bottom and headed for Robbinsville, NC where we would jump onto The Dragon.

And the road leads us back toward TN.

A field of corn had been harvested making this view look like there was a tan crop but what you're seeing are the stubbles of the corn stalks.

We stretch it out a bit heading for Robbinsville as the day was over halfway gone.

Dropped onto a rural road headed for Deal's Gap, NC.

Some nice turn and burn roads in this area.

Crossing one of the fingers of Fontana Lake.

Leaf colors are so pretty.  Wish they would last longer.

Another river, another turn or two and then

we're there, parked and ready for a pit stop and coffee.  We have made it to

Deal's Gap and The Dragon.

After a little coffee, some visiting with fellow riders we took off for the house crossing over the 318 curves in 11 miles.  A nice ride if ridden sensibly.  Can be the last ride if ridden crazy.  It claims one or two lives each year.

From tis point we hit the Foothills Parkway and onward toward Seymour.

The big barn on the Univ. of TN Ag. Farm.  It has been a great day for our ride.  Weather was excellent, scenery was fantastic and the body is a bit weary.  All in all, 273 miles door to door.

So, until the next Valkyrie Adventure, be thankful for what you have, it's that time of year, for some others have a lot less.  There's nothing like living in the USA.  See its beauty.