| Author | Message | ||
     Sifo |
Left Chicago this AM between thunderstorms and made it all the way to Maryville, TN. I wasn't sure my wife would be up for doing it all in one day. Give us an extra day to knock around before meeting up with friends Saturday PM. We don't have to be back for 10 days! Wahoo!  | ||
| Etennuly |
Well isn't that special! Are you on your bike? Lots of cool places to tour around here, like nice roads and such. Get a local map and look for anything twisted, you will like it. | ||
| Sifo |
We are on our bikes. 2 more on the way. It will be a 3 to 1 Triumph to Buell ratio! Things could be worse. This is our third bike trip out here so we have a decent idea of what's around. Once we hook up with our friends they want to head down the BRP for the most part. Weather looks good this AM. Time to ride! | ||
| Rocketsprink |
Have fun and ride safe. And yes, I really mean it. | ||
| Etennuly |
As much as I would be happy doing the riding thing, I am working this morning, then I have to mow about a bazillion 95F+ acres today. If you are happy with blazing sunshine and twelve days straight above 90F it is a beautiful day!  | ||
| Sifo |
Did an out and back on the Cherohala yesterday. Great views and slighly cool in my mesh jacket. Had a lightning strike a few hundred yards in front of us on the way back. WOW! The Dragon sucked with traffic. Now I really understand why folks say to avoid it on the weekends. Hooked up with our other riders (Dave & Anna) for dinner. Great night playing cards and catching up. Off to the BRP today. I think. No one seems to have a plan. Sounds like fun to me. | ||
| Gunut75 |
Yeah, have a good time! | ||
| 86129squids |
Sweet! I've been out of town, just got back in yesterday evening, just now checked the thread... Holler if/when youn's get back in the area, maybe I can hook up with ya. Also- my sis is staying in Maggie Valley NC- sometime this week I may head over there and hang with her- if you guys pass thru Maggie Valley DON'T MISS the Wheels Thru Time M/C Museum!! Plan on 2-3ish hours to look at it all, and take a camera with a good flash. You might get Dale to fire one or several antiques up, mebbe even see him do a burnout on one! Be safe, keep the rubber side down! | ||
| Sifo |
Sweet! I've been out of town, just got back in yesterday evening, just now checked the thread... Holler if/when youn's get back in the area, maybe I can hook up with ya. Also- my sis is staying in Maggie Valley NC- sometime this week I may head over there and hang with her- if you guys pass thru Maggie Valley DON'T MISS the Wheels Thru Time M/C Museum!! Plan on 2-3ish hours to look at it all, and take a camera with a good flash. You might get Dale to fire one or several antiques up, mebbe even see him do a burnout on one! Be safe, keep the rubber side down! We stopped in Maggie Valley for a pee break early afternoon yesterday. Didn't get out untill after lunch today! Dale is a cool guy! Turns out he's from just a couple of miles from where we live back in IL. He told me to hop on the side car of one of his bikes and took me for a ride up the hill and through the woods lifting the side car off the ground! Great fun! | ||
| Sifo |
Not a good picture, and I'm lacking any good editing software on the road, but you can get the idea. Old Indian with a side car that you have to kneel in.  We are trying to get a new front tire for Dave's bike today in Hendersonville. There happens to be a Honda dealer right next to our hotel that opens up at 9 AM. Hopefully they can get him fixed up quickly. 2-3 hours in Wheels Through Time just scratches the surface. It really is an amazing place. I won't get into the reasons, but Dale said he is looking at relocating, possibly to Colorado. Anyone getting the chance should see it ASAP. | ||
| 86129squids |
"2-3 hours in Wheels Through Time just scratches the surface. It really is an amazing place. I won't get into the reasons, but Dale said he is looking at relocating, possibly to Colorado. Anyone getting the chance should see it ASAP." What Sifo said- all of us locals have been worried that Dale might pack up everything (!!!) and relocate out west- last I heard might be the 4 Corners area- but I thought he'd worked things out... I DO hope the "powers that be" have FINALLY come to realize the value of keeping him there in MV... So- what's next on the itinerary Sifo? My sis called this morning and said she's heading to Black Mountain today, just east of Asheville... don't know just yet if/when I'll make it, looking to make a break soon. Weather says a good chance for rain tomorrow- we'll see about some time later in the week. | ||
| Sifo |
Went through Black Mountain today. Wound up in Little Switzerland for the night. Planning to continue on the BRP tomorrow. Dave got his new tire this morning. He was down to zero tread in places and cupping really bad. Did a short hike up to Craggy Gardens this afternoon too. Dale sounded like he had lost the battle when we were there. It would be great if that changed some how though. We are planning on heading back down this way by ourselves next month again. It would be simpler to for us to hook up when not with another couple if you can make it then. I'll let you know when that will be when dates are set. | ||
| Sifo |
The night at the Little Switzerland in was pretty cool. Hot tubbing outside looking over the valley with a full moon. They have a great place there, but really failed with our dinner service. Part of that could be that their chef went down the road to the Mountain View cafe. We had a great lunch there the next day. Dave dropped his Triumph Tiger on the way out and cracked a saddle bag. He was pissed off all day. Headed south to 64 through Toxaway, etc. Had a stay in Franklin, then up 28 toward Maryville again. Dave's wife, Anna had a real bad experience on the Dragon a couple years ago when she was a real new rider. Some squids really freaked her out. She really didn't want to go through there again. We convinced her traffic wouldn't be bad on a Friday and took her in for an easy run, stopping half way by a nice sitting rock with a great view of multiple corners. We watched the world go by for about an hour and a half, studying the various lines people were taking. After that Anna felt much better about her riding. At dinner she said she was really glad to have "conquered" the dragon. It was a big boost to her confidence and ego. Great to see. We went our separate ways this morning, trying to put some miles on toward Chicago again. Hit some real nasty storms. Heard there were 65 mph wind gusts too. Tough to make progress, but made blue sky in KY. The wife is tired out so we are crashing out just a couple miles from IL. We MIGHT make it home tomorrow it the weather will cooperate. | ||
| Sifo |
Back home and going through some pictures.  The wife and the Smokies.   The Smokies always have great views.   The Wheels Through Time museum in Maggie Valley is not to be missed. Dale was a great character to meet. I hope to stop in again on my next trip that way.  Our faithful steeds. A twin and three triples.  Bridal Veil Falls was a cool stop.  She turn 41 on this trip! | ||
| Etennuly |
Nice to see that you had a great trip! I just drove through Maggie Valley again.....in a pickup truck!   Seems like touring for me on the Uly this year is going to continue to suck! Touring NE Georga in a pickup towing a trailer is just not the same. Ackkkkkaaahhhhhh! back to work!  | ||
| Sifo |
I tried some fried okra at Phil's BBQ in Black Mountain too. It's really not bad! |
