Riding The Back Roads Of The Back Roads

Thursday morning, Jan. 26, 2017.  Temps, 43 with a high of 53 for the day.  Second ride of the year.  Leg and knee feel good so it's time to take a ride.  Met up with my riding buddy, Paul, at McD's.  I was early and was talking with the Elderlies when he arrived.  He grabbed a cup of coffee and shortly afterward we garbed up (put on all the winter wear) and hit the road.  No plans of where to ride, just turned here and there and went so far back in the mountains that they didn't even pipe sunshine.  Thought I heard the banjos playing several times.

The sky was nice and blue with some big puffy white clouds.  The air was fresh and cool making for a great day in the saddle.

This was one of the better back roads we rode on.  Most were so curvy that I didn't have time to take a picture.

Then we hit some of the old goody roads that we've ridden many times.  This one ran along the side of the mountain with farms to the left in the valley.

You can notice the do not give up much land as the barn is very close to the side of the road.  These roads have 8' wide lanes.  Many have far less.

Small house but room for a garden and a small pasture.

Another one of my "Keep America Beautiful" pictures.

Smooth sailing, little to no shifting and just easing down the highway.  Nice to feel the breeze on the knees.

In this direction the clouds seemed to be getting darker and why are we still riding toward the dark clouds?  Just taking a small chance so that we can get another road in on today's ride.

Lots of muddy fields and pastures with the rains and snow we've been getting.  Good thing the hay is in a rack or it would be trampled into the ground.

This is a pretty large farm as it is used on both sides of the road.  The road is a ridge between two valleys.  And that house is quite large.

Road has a few wet spots as it did a little raining last night.  And you have to watch water run-off from previous rains.  Trying to ride the dry parts.

Another turn and we're running along the Little Pigeon River heading toward Walland, TN.

Lots of little houses along this stretch and some very vividly painted.

A nice shot of the sun reflecting off the water in the river.  A little muddy due to the rains.  When the silt settles it is very clear.

Some of the houses along this area.

Some are rented out for tourists and some are lived in year around by owner.

Coming up to the bridge.  Turn right you hit US 321 in Walland community. But turn left and you're still running along the river to the next turn off.

Getting closer to the mountains of the Smoky Mtn. National Park.  But they are still far off in the distance.

Rambling along the byways with views that are fit for a post card.

Rolling hills pasture land.  You can certainly tell where the vehicles have been traveling.

A church in the Walland Community.

Then we made a short stop for a cup and rest before hitting the Foothills Parkway between US 321 at Walland and US 129 at the East end of The Dragon.

Two scenes from the Foothills Parkway looking Westward.

Nearing the end of the Foothills Parkway.  Hanging a right turn here, no Dragon today.

US 129 in this area runs along the side of Chilhowee Lake.  Which is still a long way from being filled with water after the lowering this summer.

Just to give you something to look at besides trees.  Land side of US 129 heading West.

Then we start getting closer to US 411 the road gets narrower and more houses pop up.

My step falls picture.

Mistimed this picture but this machine is used to clear the right-of-way.  At the end of that telescoping boom is a buzz saw.  Machine has 6 wheels to help it get about off road.

But to heck with work, we're out here to have fun and keep those two wheels turning.

And turn they did.  Big roads, little roads, wide roads, narrow roads and sometimes we've even ridden on almost no roads.

Sun is having a difficult time trying to get its rays between the clouds.  Drives my camera crazy but looking at the road, it just seems to disappear into the woods.

Just a compilation of sky, clouds, mountains and earth.  He sure knew what He was doing putting all of this together.

Paul wanted to stop at this small cafe/store at an intersection of the highway so in we went.  Very friendly Lady running the place and it has all sorts of stuff hanging on the walls.  Paul was taken by the deer, hog heads mounted and hanging on the back wall.  I was more into the hot coffee and Coconut Creme Pie.

Heading back to the house we passed the Univ. of TN Ag Farm site.  Couldn't tell what it was but it was very green and healthy looking.

Old house that stands at the junction of two highways.  Reasonably Majestic.

One lonesome tree in the middle of the pasture.  Not much shade for a bunch but it's there anyway.

A big farm on one of the last roads of the day.  Lots of work by some folks to give us food daily.  A lot of people do not realize how much work goes into making that pot roast from the farm to the table.  Been there, done that.

Door to door, only 118 miles but a bunch of fun it was generating them.  This was the second ride for me this year and I sure enjoyed it.  Still getting back to being one with the machine and then it will be even more fun.

So until the next Valkyrie Adventure I hope you and yours takes some time to be together and enjoy this great country we have.  Believe me, it is not all riots, killing, and hating as is demonstrated on TV.  There are some great folks and great places here in the USA.  I differ on political issues with some people but that does not make me want to take to the streets in protesting.  Instead, why don't we just make ourselves happy so we can help make others the same.

First Ride of 2017

It is Tuesday morning, Jan. 24, 2017, 9:30 a.m.  Temps are in the mid 40s and no rain scheduled for the day.  And it's time to ride.  Let me repeat myself, it's time to ride.  I have not ridden my bike in 3 1/2 months due to a broken leg.  But now, it's test time.  Doc, and a pretty one she is, said that it is okay, just take it easy.  So I called my old riding buddy and let him know but to pick out some good roads with the least amount of shifting necessary.  And that he did.  Meet up at Exxon (which is now closed) on Boyds Creek at 9:45 a.m.  Redbug and I were ready.

At the appointed time Paul rode up and off we went heading northeast to peak out around Greenville, TN by way of a some good back roads.  I can't begin to tell you how refreshing it was to get back on the bike.  And, I had some new winter under garments and neck warmer to wear on this rather chilly day.  And they really felt good and kept me snug all day long.

We were going to meet another rider at Burger King in Kodak but there was a miscommunication as to the day so we pulled out at 10:30 for our day's ride.  Outside of my subdivision the sky looked a bit dreary.  The day before it was so foggy you couldn't see and with a heavy frost.  The ever changing weather.

 One of my old barns is slowly falling to the ground.  I love these old barns but like everything else, without some TLC they start falling apart.

And as usual, I could not resist my old Island View School House.  It too, is slowly crumbling.

Just past the school is another old collapsing farm house and barn.  Seems to be the story for this area.

Up near Dandridge, TN we run along the side of Douglas Lake.  As you can see, it is very low.  They lowered it a lot during the Spring and Summer to work on the dam and then the drought hit.  Even though it has rained a lot here, it will be a long time before all of the lakes get back full again.

Moderately damp roadway in some areas but very little traffic which made it nice to ride and look.

This barn is in good shape and filled with rolls of hay.  A lot of farmers have been feeding out their hay a lot earlier than usual and since they only got two cuttings, hay is becoming a good commodity to have.  Rolls or bales.

As I looked toward the sky I just pleaded for it to not rain on my day, my first ride of the year and my first ride in several months.

This patriotic homeplace had Old Glory hoisted to the top and the wind had it standing straight out.  Nice breeze most of the day.

Coming into downtown Newport, TN on our way NE.

I can see my mountains, well our mountains, off in the distance.  Even with the gray sky and the low clouds they still look great.

They, the mountains, come in many shapes and sizes but it seems there are enough for everyone.  Or at least to look at and enjoy.

The French Broad River, like several others due to the rain, is running deep and wide with more rain coming, maybe even some snow.

Nice sweeper curve, but just easing along and taking it easy.

I title this along with some other pictures, "Keeping America Beautiful".

What is normally a waterfall here, the river is racing along with such a volume of water that it looks more like a small rapid.

After a bit we pulled into a small roadside deli for a cup of coffee.  Friendly folks own the place.  Seems to be one of our usual stopping places.

Redbug and the Ghost parked in front of the coffee stop.

Across the street is the Del Rio, TN USPS.  By the way, we were downtown Del Rio.

Turned around and took a pic of Paul readying to mount his trusty steed to continue the ride.

Some road scenes along the way to Bulls Gap, TN.

The roads were a little damp as we were not long behind a rain.

Another old structure that is now just a pile of kindling.

Hamburgers on the hoof.

Did I mention that TN has a lot of churches?  Well, they do, and cemeteries too.

If that mountain was located in South Louisiana it would be a levee or a Red Ant Hill.

An elegant place along our way.

This is a building in downtown Bulls Gap, TN.

Another old building there.  I didn't see anyone about to ask what the building was used for.  Maybe a school house or a factory of some kind.

Buildings on our way out of Bulls Gap.

This large old farm house was just outside of Bulls Gap, TN.

Easing along some eroded roadway.  This is is where you keep your eyes on the road.

Up a hill, down a hill, around a curve to the left then around one to the right.  Ever changing terrain and letting it hang out every once in a while.

A church of a different structure style and denomination.  But still a pretty church.

A large old house falling away amongst the grasses and bushes.  Tales it could tell if it could talk.

Looking out over a valley as we head back to the house.

This while rail fence seemed to run for miles, lighting up our way in the on again off again sunshine.

I guess you could title this as "The House On The Hill".  Big place, big piece of property.

I wonder how much paint it would take to keep this fence pretty and white?

The clouds got heavier as we headed back to the house but still no rain.  That would probably come tonight.  In the meantime, we had a great day to ride.  I felt great and it felt great to get back on two wheels.  Today's ride for me totaled 158 miles and I averaged 78.2 miles to the gallon.  I just love this little bike for riding like we did today.

So until the next Valkyrie Adventure, thank the Lord for what you have for there are those that fair far worse.