Loop Ride To Spartanburg, SC

I've been busy doing other things along with the rainy weather we've been having here in East Tenn. is the reason I haven't posted much lately.  This is a ride with my friend Wendy back a few weeks ago.

About a 7:45 a.m. take off from my house.  A bit of fog but mostly high off the road.

Got to Wendy's house about 10 mins. away and bright sunshine.  She had her trike out and ready.  I just quietly parked Sweet Thang beside it.

We took off a few minutes later heading up Boyds Creek Hwy. to TN route 66.  This passes in front of my old Island View School.

Just past the school there is a farm house and barn.  It's in that cluster of trees near the power pole.  Nature has almost reclaimed the place.

Rt. 66 and I-40 Jct. just ahead.  We shall take the Easterly route today.

Running across the French Broad River on I-40.  Early sunlight makes a pretty picture.  Riding early so we can beat the heat.

Friend Wendy behind me.

Made a breakfast stop at a Micky D's near Dandridge for some coffee and a bite to eat.  Mostly needed the coffee or at least Wendy did so she could get those eyes open.

Love riding on I-40.  Very scenic.

Getting ready to enter one of the tunnels.

Wendy still staying in range.  She's a very good rider and stays tucked in close by when following.

This route takes us very near Asheville, NC and then we take I-26 in a SE direction to Spartanburg.

One of the reasons for this ride was to go to a restaurant, Southern Fried Green Tomato.  Well, it wasn't in Spartanburg, it was in Greenville.  Since it was already well after 1:00 p.m. and my stomach thought my throat had been cut, we stopped and at at Rafferty's.  Very good dining spot.  I'll get my directions down better next trip.

We left Spartanburg and headed back towards Waynesville, NC via US 276.  A nice road with some great sweeper curves and scenic also.

It's such a nice highway to ride and the weather was great today.

The shady areas was a good relief from the heat.

Then we made a quick stop out in the middle of nowhere at the Canteen for a cool drink and a pit stop.

Lots of wild flowers blooming along the right of way.

Some of the intersections at a few of the towns planted wild flowers which really brightens up the area.  These were mostly pink and reds, looking like poppies.

These flowers were all white, like maybe a wild daisy.  Whatever they were it was much nicer to look at than weeds.

At Waynesville, NC we hit I-40 again this time heading West back to TN.

At Newport, TN I pulled off to get gas.  Wendy went trucking on to her house. After gassing Sweet Thang up I headed out onto the superslab and headed to the house also.

Today was a great ride.  Weather was nice, roads excellent, good eats and nice company.  Can't get much better than that.  For me door to door was 392 miles.  So until the next Adventure, you had better enjoy some of your life. Tomorrow is not guaranteed.