Breezing By Bald River Falls, Graveling in The Gorge, Cherohala Skyway and The Dragon

This is the first long ride of 2016.  Thursday, Jan. 7, 2016, 8:30 a.m., 30*.  Rolled the 700 out of the garage looking more like the Michelin Tire Man with all the clothes on than a biker.  Heated gloves plugged in and turned on to hot hot hot.  Pulled out for meet-up with bike friend Paul but needed to top off gas tank before pull out time.  Finished and at 8:45 Paul pulled up and we pulled out for Vonore, TN, about an hour's ride south.  Traffic was light and we cranked it a bit so that we could meet up with friend Marc at the Food City south of Vonore.  Got there a bit early so Paul and I had a quickie breakfast while waiting on Marc.  Marc was riding up from Evensville, TN which was about an hour's ride south of Vonore.  Now that you have the lay of the land, let's ride.

I stole this picture from Paul but the day didn't start out looking exactly like this but isn't this a great looking East TN morning view.

One of my favorite old red barn shots down on U.S.411 south of Seymour.

And this pasture full of Black Angus seemed to have no worries at all, not knowing a carnivorous beast was riding by thinking of burgers, steaks and pot roasts.

Paul getting ready to top off his fuel tank while friend Marc was visiting the store for a cause.

Shortly afterward we three departed for some fun via some different back roads over to Tellico Plaines, TN.

Another glorious day in the land of the free.  No mine fields, no rockets flying overhead, nothing but peace and the sound of wind whistling past my helmet and the quiet purr of the engine.

We traveled along easily today as there were few to no vehicles on the road.

Farm animals/pets have heavy hairy coats due to the winter cold weather.  And the main part of winter isn't here yet.

Nice rolling hill farm country but mostly into cattle than row crops.

A quick stop in Tellico Plains so Marc could top off his tank and we were back on the road "Cherohala Skyway" which crosses the mountains into NC.  This covered bridge is the entrance to a very nice resort lodge just outside of Tellico Plains.

Riding along the Tellico River gives some nice views and scenery.

We were going to run the Cherohala for a short distance and then take a side road over to Bald River Falls which is in the Cherokee National Forest. 

With all of the recent rains the streams and rivers are flowing well.

Each bend gives a different view with some water tumbling over rocks, some small drop-offs or squeezing itself between large boulders.

And then you see the mist in the air.  By now it is about 40 degrees.  Between my bike and the bridge railing there is ice and the entire area is very slippery.

One of God's great pieces of artwork.  This is Bald River Falls.  It measures between 80 and 100 ft. high.  When the water is really flowing after heavy rains the mist covers the entire bridge with a cloud.

You can imagine this multiplied several times over.  You'd need a seeing eye stick to help you get across the bridge.

Paul on the left and Marc on the right.  One crazy old man and then just a crazy man but then you only live once right?

After leaving the falls we continued onward along the river to our next adventure which was going to be the North River Road, a stretch 18 miles in length that went through the mountains and would loop back to the Cherohala.  Most of this 18 miles was gravel, which in TN is crushed limestone rock.  Nothing is round.

Several nice picnic areas along the way and some great views of the water rushing toward the falls.

We are now on the gravel and this is a two way road, it's just all that wide in some places.  However, the speed limit is 25 mph so that makes it a bit easier to handle.

A lot of the area is covered with moss so you know it is damp and cool most of the time.  And by now you have seen about all of the water pictures you want to see and if so, hit escape.

For there are more coming.  To hear that rushing water makes some people want to rush to the bathroom and to others it just lulls them to sleep.

With the recent rains dust wasn't a real problem but there were some chuck holes that could hide a crawfish boiling pot.  Thank goodness I was following Marc so when I saw him jerk his Trike around I knew there was at least one big hole ahead.

The stream in the mountains narrowed but the tumbling action continued, just the falls were not as high.

It was very scenic back here and spaced every so often was a camping spot.  Camping is allowed in the designated spots and you don't have to worry about seeing your neighbor, especially in the summer.  Bring all of your needs for there's no store close by nor any facilities like running water, hot showers, electricity, etc.

That white spot sort of in the center of this picture is not a waterfall.  It is frozen run-off from a culvert beneath the roadway.  We were going to cross it shortly.

In a bend of the road we decided to take a stretch break, eat a snack bar and gab a bit.

Back on the road again looking out for debris from some strong winds up in the mountains.  We noticed a lot of trees snapped off and pushed out of the ground in several places.  The winds can get quite high up in these woods.

A nice arch bridge covering this old gravel road.  It is part of the Cherohala which meant it wouldn't be too long before we made a turn to get back on hard pavement and run the Cherohala over to the short cut to the Dragon.






My camera battery died so I borrowed this picture from Paul.  We noticed the pavement was damp so apparently there was a light rain earlier or it had been very foggy.  Determined that it was fog and we soon confirmed our answer.



Now the Cherohala climbs to over 5400 ft. in elevation.  The temperature is cold enough here at 1 p.m. to maintain frozen water on the sides of the rocks (that white stuff you see in the bend of the curve). 

Which meant the road surface may have just a touch of ice on it.  Now put this all together and your cheeks will tighten up just a bit and your throttle hand will go very lightly on the twisting.  Fortunately for us it was not ice on the roadway, just moisture from the fog and warm enough to keep it from freezing on the roadway.

Our route to us by the Joyce Kilmer Forest.  We stopped for a little while as Marc had not been there or at least had not been there in a long time whichever applies.

It is a very pretty site usually but the high winds and rains had brought down a number of trees.  This forest is one of the few virgin forests left in the area.  Lots of trails to be hiked and enjoying nature.  Here's a couple of nature things enjoying the view from the bridge.





This stream runs beneath the bridge and meanders on down along the roadway that enters the area.










We stopped by Santeetlah Lake which has the Brookside dam.  There is a small community here built along the sides of the mountain.  Paul and I have been here several times.  It is very pretty, quiet and a long way from a Walmart Store.

We followed a rode that took us down to the bottom of the dam thinking that white streak was overflow iced but it wasn't.  It was running water.  Made an interesting picture anyway.








Now for the rest of the story.  Santeetlah Lake drains water through this pictured pipe to a lower level.

That rushing water from the pipe then turns the generator of the Brookside Station power provider to form another lake and a river that allows the water to continue down the mountain.  It's not Niagara Falls but it does the trick.

Heading onward toward The Dragon.

After running The Dragon, and with only one vehicle, if my memory is right, on the road besides us, we come to a turn off facing this beautiful old lodge.  Now to run along the lake to the Foothills Parkway.

Cherohala Lake is very low on purpose as TVA is getting ready to do some dam inspections/repairs if it will stop raining long enough to draw down the water level.  Normally the bottom of the tower legs are just above the water line.

We said goodbye to Marc who headed back to his home while Paul and I hit the Foothills Parkway headed to Walland and a cup of coffee before heading back to our houses.  The Smoky Mountains from the Parkway.

And finally a few back roads later we arrive at our start-up point to check the mileage of the trip and Paul's odometer.  We both filled up and zeroed out odometers that morning as we usually do but today was for another purpose.  Paul recently changed the sprocket size and rear tire of his bike and needed to see how much his odometer and speedometer was off.  It came out to read about 9% less mileage and slower that it shows.

Total mileage for me today, door to door, 188.  Gas mileage riding the 700, 72.5 mpg.  Total amount of fun, too high to calculate.  So until the next trip, I hope all of you will get out, even if it's a bit chilly, and enjoy this good earth.  And don't forget to tell someone hello.  Maybe even that you love them.  Be safe.

The Last Ride of the Year

December 31, 2015, the last day of the year and the last chance to ride in the year of 2015.  Temp., 46 degrees, sunny day, no rain expected, high of 54.  A great day to turn the wheels.  Met biker friend Paul at the entrance of my subdivision at 9:40 a.m.  Heading West just kind of rambling.  Paul has several routes mapped out on his GPS and we adjust according to time and conditions.

Shortly after we headed West out of Seymour we started taking backroads in a SW direction.  Paul had to stop to adjust his camera in a very good place for if we get hit they can just throw our carcasses over the fence into the cemetery.

Just past the above cemetery is a beautiful old Methodist Church.











Roads were a little damp from the previous day's rains but still furnished a good grip for the tires.  As you can see, they are not 55 mph roads.









With the leaves all gone the woods look rather naked but does enhance visibility in some areas.

We're still riding in the outskirts of Knoxville on the SW side.  Some beautiful homes in this area, big houses.









The road we're on passes a fairly large marina, stuck back in coves, some places with sheltered slips and some, like sailboats, moored along the slip.









We arrived in Lenoir City and stopped to take a look at the new bridge being constructed.

Paul taking a picture of the scenery while I'm taking a picture of the bikes.  My Honda NC700X on the left next to his Honda CB500.

This art object is the impeller from one of the units in the hydro plant located here.  Water running over it is the driving power for the generator.

Lenoir City is an old town.  This is the first time I have ridden into the town center.  We usually take a by-pass route.

Down the main drag of Lenoir City.  I've been through similar towns all over the U.S., little country towns where everybody knows everybody.

Shortly out of Lenoir City, on another backroad, we passed this pasture with a number of colorful goats.  Need one or two of those to keep my grass clipped.









Some of the houses on some of the roads we ride just have a friendly look about them.  I can just imagine someone sitting on the porch waving at passing vehicles just because they are friendly.

To the right of the above house was an above ground propane tank.  Or maybe it's folk art and I just don't recognize it.  In some places it would be turned into a BBQ meat smoking lip smacking cooker.

These small country roads have a character of their own.  They just wind and snake their way from one small community to another eventually all being joined by this thin ribbon of black asphalt if they are lucky.  Some areas still connect over the mountain on crushed rock roads.

Notice no lane markings.  One reason to make sure you stay on your side of the road.  Meeting a vehicle requires some slowing down and moving over.

A little later we find ourselves on the back side of the TVA Kingston Power Plant.  This is a huge, let me repeat, a huge power provider in this area along with all of the hydros.  It's a coal burner.  An endangered species.

All of TVA's facilities are well maintained and provide boat ramps, camping, picnicking, walkpaths, etc., along with fishing.  Some have all and some have only one or two such facilities.

Later we roll into the outskirts of Harriman, TN.  And this neighborhood looked a bit rough to say the least.

On our way to Windrock ATV park.  It's a large operation where people, families, solo riders bring their ATVs, dirt bikes, etc., to ride.  Lots of roads and trails with lots of mud holes.

Near the parking area just inside the entrance to Windrock is the Windrock Coal Miner's Memorial Wall.  It has the names of all of the miners that worked in the Windrock Mtn. mines.

From Windrock we took a road over the mountain that was crushed rock.  With all of the recent rains the road was well packed and good to ride.  It is roads like this that I bought the NC700 bike for as it's suspension is sturdy.  You still have to be careful with the rock rolling from beneath your tires and you soon learn to stay off the front brake, use back brake only.

For a ways a stream ran alongside the road way.  Or maybe it was the roadway that ran along side of the stream.  Either way, looking too long at something could cause you some trouble.

Later the crushed rock turned into aslphalt.  Notice no shoulders, striping and no guardrails.  Not a good time to make an oops.

Way back off in the mountains are some old homes, mostly grown up with bushes and trees.  And it's a far piece to Walmart.

Up up and over the mountain we go.  This is about the 3rd or 4th mountain crossing today.










We were back on another dirt road but this one was a bit wider.  However, it did have some serious hairpin turns.

At the top of mountain we took a little break to climb up to the top of Walden Ridge.

On top is like standing on the backbone of a dinosaur.  It is not very wide and if you slip, a lot of hurt is going to occur on your way to the bottom.  This scene is looking South.

This is looking North.











This shot is looking down into the valley below from the top of the ridge.











Another view from another location on top of the mountain.  The valley below is very large with numerous farmsteads.

Up up and away but we're not superman just two crazy old men on motorcycles having a ball.

The road below is where we have come from.

And this is the way we're going.

And along the way is this slight blurred picture that looks like copper leaves.  The whole side of the mountain looked as if the leaves had been made from sheets of copper.  With the gray tree trunks they really stand out.

Some more miles but this time heading toward the house.  Afternoon is on it's way out.










It was a pleasant day with the sun coming out around noon or slightly before.  Blue sky was a joy since we've seen so much gray and rain lately.  The mountains are beckoning.  Time to get to the house before darktime.  Total mileage today door to door was 185.  Amount of enjoyment, 100%.  New bike gets phenomenal gas mileage.  Got 65.6 mpg and took 3 gals. to fill it up.


This was the end of 2015 riding season.  Total miles ridden this year, 16,363 between the bikes.  Almost 2,000 more than last year.  What does 2016 bring?  I hope health, happiness and peace.  Continued family and friends and maybe some new friends along the way.  I don't control all of the circumstances but those that I do control I hope to make sound decisions and enjoy life.  I pray the same for you.  Until the new year adventures start, stay safe.