Picnic Ride With Wendy

April 22, 2020, Hump Day, was a beautiful Spring day.  Way to pretty to stay in the house and watch a whole lot of nothing.  So Wendy and I decided to take a motorcycle ride to enjoy the day.  We backed the bikes out of the garage and departed around 11:00 a.m. heading in a loop ride starting in a southerly direction.  She decided to bring a blanket so that we could have a picnic lunch on the grass someplace.  Good idea.  I haven't had a picnic lunch in ages.  I've eaten a lot using my bike as a picnic table, eaten sitting on my bike or leaning against it but to carry a blanket for such an occasion was not on my list.  Today was different.

The map below is the route we took today.  Since she hasn't ridden much this year I planned a route that would be easy on her with good roads and roads with minimum traffic except the Interstate 40 piece.  Her carpal tunnel left wrist can't handle too many of the roads Paul and I ride on.  Shoving that trike around is like pushing an ox cart forward from the back.
                                                                                                                    

Wendy getting ready to pull out on her HD TriGlide.  I double checked all of the bolts and screws before we left.  LOL, the Devil made me do it.

We left the house, rode down Boyds Creek Hwy. to Chapman, crossed Chapman Hwy. and down US 411 to Maryville.

Wendy riding behind me towards Maryville.

We gassed up in Maryville (it's cheaper there than near the house) and headed on South on US 411 to Madisonville.

Nice rolling hills and a very blue sky.

At Madisonville we turned West on TN 68 over to Sweet Water.  By the time we got there it was time for lunch.  I pulled into a Hardee's, walked up to the drive-thru window to pick up our order while Wendy spread the blanket for our picnic lunch.








Picnic lunch and then we were off again heading over to Spring City.

On the road again to Spring City.

That red barn just shined sitting among the green grass.  Picture doesn't do it justice.

These were some out buildings on the same property as the red barn.

A far away look at the cooling towers for the Watts Bar Nuclear Power Plant.

A Transmission Tower sits on the island and is one that carries power from the Watts Bar Plant Station.  This is a TVA power plant, one of many plants and Hydros in Tennessee.

Clinch River, the cooling water source for the generating plant.

At Spring City we turned North to head to I-40 which we would take back towards the house.

Just a nice driveway to a home well off the highway.

A monument alongside the interstate highway.  Kind of odd.  Almost missed taking the picture.

We took I-140 from I-40 and later took the  Topside Rd. exit which will take us over to Alcoa Hwy. and John Sevier to US 441.

It was break time for a coffee and some water as we turned onto Topside Road.






It was a great day and a good safe ride.  Door to door was 178 miles.  We didn't stop to gas up so my bike is probably running on fumes, well not exactly, it hasn't gone into the reserve mode yet, but it needs some petrol.  Hers also.  Gives me something to do between rains.  We got back early enough that I had time to mow the lawn and check on the grass I planted a week back.  It's growing and is about 2" tall.  However it will need to have some replanting done as the heavy rains washed a lot of it down from its original planting spots.

So, until the next Valkyrie Adventure, stay safe from the virus and other issues that may harm you and/or your family and enjoy each day you have.  Keep in touch with family members especially us older folks.  Be thankful for what you have.  It's not permanent.