Master of the U-turn

Sometimes exploring roads leads you to dead ends. Other times it leads you right where you need to be. Today i got a bit of both, and I dont mind either to be honest. After getting the new tire and rear brakes installed yesterday (46300 miles)I decided to get out today and find some more good roads. I woke up late after a long week at work, and going out to relax and meet some people last night but I got on the road about noon and headed towards Franklin to explore one of the roads I pass everyday on my way to work. I have been eyeing Coon creek road for quite some time as I can see two beautiful switchbacks raising into the mountains and falling in the other side of the ridge. As I climed the mountain and warmed my tires up I found how much I missed having a rear tire with good traction. Passing rocky face gem mine I steared off to the right to enjoy a new road. It starts out great scraping right and then to the left I ride up the swell and look down from the top of Cowee Mountain. The road crosses a gravel path and dives to the oter side of the valley and dead ends. Oh well now I know this one is not worth taking again. Making the first of many u-turns for the day I head back the mountain and towards Franklin.

Heading off of Cowee I take another road off to the right and hit 28 north. I have been on route 28 before but never in this direction. I usually end up taking it on my way back from the dragon. I cross over onto tellico road and try to explore some more. The road is great for every reason. Twists and turns and a steady climb in elevation. The slow climb tells me I am in for a fun descent for them mountain. I reach the apex of the mountain and get dissappinted when I see gravel leading me down the other side. Pulling a nice u-turn i manage to head back up the mountain. Impressed with my control over the bike I made the tough up hill u-turn on a narrow gravel road I smile and continue past a church that is really nice setting on top of a hill with tombstone in front of it leading down to me.

Heading back toward Bryson City Road (rt 28) I take a random right and head down Lower Firhouse road 9I think that is the name). Passing a few farms with cows, horses, mules, and alpacas I begin to relax and unwind from work. Passing small rolling hills betwen the hovering mountains I smile and lean back and relax and I break a footpeg. I have run through many footpegs on this bike but this time the end completely snapped off allowing it to spin freely for the resat of the day. Semi laughing and worrying it may flying off I continue on my pace.

Wondering where I will come out and when I can get gas so that evil little light stops staring up at me. Weaving through the fields and farms I finally end up back at brsyon city road. Filling up for gas and passing through Franklin I deide to head to Georgia and explore further out of my realm. Traveling south on Georgia road I take a side trip to Tessentee road. Another good road but yet another dead end after about 12 miles twists. Maybe I should starting looking at a map before hand. Finally I find Sky valley road. By far one of the best roads I have ever ridden. it is two lanes heading up to mountain with some switchback and great banked curves. In the distance aI see a huge waterfall and I try to find my way to it. Climbing the mountain and losing my sence of direction I stop at the overlook at the top to reorient myself and find the waterfall. I was not able to see it but I could hear it. Twisting towards highlands I pass mountain mansions that amaze me with their size, the amount of windows, and mostly with the view they must have from within.

Passing through highlands I swing past bridal veil falls and take ellijay road home. Ellijay is a fun road I take home from work all of the time. it is about 18 miles of great twists and turns. Today was no exception. I exited the mountain and headed home. 128 miles, one ruined footpeg, and many curves, beautiful views I pulled into my carport and smile.

-Pictures coming-

Thanksgiving day

I left my place at about 9:30 planning on starting my 48 peaks in 48 weeks trip. Today my goal was Clingmans Dome, the highest point in Tennessee. I left my place to an absolutely beautiful thanksgiving morning. It was probably 50 degrees and the sky was a bright blue and I was excited.

After getting gas I took my normal 15 mile back road to the blue ridge parkway where I would ride south to the Cherokee area. The bad news is that they close the blue ridge when it snows. No one ever told me that. Not to be defeated I made a u-turn and headed to Cherokee the boring way. Cruising about 60-65 miles an hour the air felt great, more like a spring day than late fall. Exiting for Cherokee I weave my way through the tourist trap of a town and head for the smokey mountain park. In general I like this road but have some very mixed emotions about it. It is a beautiful drive as you follow the twists and turns of the creek that runs next to the road for several miles before starting our gradual climb towards the Tennessee border. But it is usually flooded with lookyloos meandering and pointing at trees as their brake lights flicker around ever small bend in the road. This annoys me because of my propensity for taking the turns kind of fast. I was rationalizing today would be different because of the Holiday. While it was still not tourist free, it was much better than normal.

The stream that wanders next to me that usually leads me into the cave of leaves and lush growth now lazily points me toward an empty shell of the normally green forest. Tiny waterfalls and mountain spill offs that are not present in the middle of summer, split the hillside in random spots. Stopping to take a picture I realize that a lot of the folks in cars think I am crazy to be riding. The look on their face as they pass me is all of the assurance I need of this fact. Oh well it is not the first, and probably wont be the last time i am though of like that. Walking on a narrow semi-muddy path down to the creek I cant help but notice how thick the moss is on the stones. I begin wondering if it has always been this thick but the normal green leaves distract me from tiny growth on the rocks.

I hop back on the bike and catch up with the slower traffic within a matter of seconds. Winding up the mountain i suddenly become thankful for the cars in front of me. Without them I would probably have been going to fast when I hit the first patch of salt placed on the road to make the snow melt. As the elevation raises the temperatures drop quickly and the wind picks up. Knowing that I have to deal with only 5 or 6 miles of the semi wet, gravel covered roads I press on wishing that I would have put on my heavier gloves at the last stop.


With the leaves missing from the trees you can see for probably a hundred miles on a day as clear as this. Mountain ranges stretch out before me creating green valleys with white side. The colors are a gradient of green to white as you look at them from top to bottom. Looking hard enough you can see a small patch of red or yellow that has refused to give way to mother nature and let go of their nutritional source for the year.

I stop at an overlook where kids and adults playfully join together and build tiny anorexic snowmen, and toss loosely packed balls of snow at each other. Pulling into the parking lot I get hit in the helmet by an errant snowball from a kid that finds it funny, and a parent that laughs equally hard. Without the tiniest bit of an apology i continue to a parking spot and dismount. I talk to a few people about the roads ahead and find out I should be fine. Settling in on a dry bench I take in a breath of the fresh cool air and relax and stare off at the scenery. With the leaves gone I can see the winding ribbon of a road that led me to this lookout.


Saddling up and putting on the heavier gloves this time I slide on the gravel as I approach the first of the peaks I hope to see in a year. About a mile before the turn that will lead me up to the infamous UFO shaped lookout an orange sign tells me that the road and the pathway to the lookout are closed for construction. None the less I stop at the pull off and snap a few pictures of the snow capped mountains, and icicles. More people of all ages play with the snow acting like tiny children in their first ever witnessed snow covering . It was a sight to see though. A lot of laughter and light hearts.

I slowly pull my bike off of the snow covering and slide the back tire onto the road to head back down the same side of the mountain. Knowing I was in for some slick spots I slowed my own pace and tried to focus on the roads. Once the temperature pickup again I relaxed and picked up my pace again and my normal riding smile took hold. At the bottom of the mountain I saw a sign for an old mill and decided to stop in since I am so found of Mabry Mill in southern Va off of the blue ridge. I take the small leaf covered path back to the mill and snap a few pictures. I find a nice bench that is being covered in sunlight and read the first picture of my book. I look up occasionally to see the water way that carries the water into the mill that is still fully functional and serving cornmeal, and flour. Kind of neat to see. Water flows over the sides in spots creating a man made waterfalls that have smoothed the pebbles below to a nice smooth shine. I walk inside and talk to the ranger about the history of the mill patiently for about 15 minutes before I manage to escape. Walking back o the bike I think how great of a day this has been and decide my way home.




Being the way I am I cant take the same way back as I came so I decide to take route 19 over into Maggie valley and then waynesville. The stretch of road between Cherokee and Maggie is nice and curvy. I pass the casino, in Cherokee and remark to myself on how much this town grows every time i get here. Newer hotels, always more additions to the casino, and just more signs and tourist shops. Twisting over the mountain i enjoy the last few curves I will be riding for the day. My gas light comes on and I know I can make it home and relax.

Before hitting the couch at my apartment I fill up and grab a drink. Not the best day of riding i have ever had. But the roads were good, and the scenery was great, especially when the green faded into white. 125 miles to add on tho my contest with ed - which started today. Roads twisting, and diving, even though they were covered with salt, and ene some snow and ice at times.

Happy turkeyday ya'll