Meanwhile, in the Robbinsville area we were treated with cool nights and mild days, in short nearly perfect riding weather.
We has a couple of mornings when light rain delayed us leaving our not-so-well appointed cabin, but we were usually able to leave by 10:30, if not earlier. We rode until nearly sundown.
On our ride from Cherokee
(maybe the cheesiest "tourist" destination I've ever seen) on US 411 across the Smokies was marred on the eastern slope by rain, mist, fog and RVs. This was the only truly bad weather we encountered and that was only for about 30-45 minutes.
Seven days+ 2200 miles + good roads + comaraderie = a great time.
We left Sunday morning from Mandeville, La and took a route across S Ms that was as scenic as S Ms gets, but we did find ourselves here:
So, that's the way we went. Not bombed either in an active or passive sense and made it into Alabama where we encountered the first of many sweet roads.
Alabama 69N was a treat. It goes from the SW to the NE corners of Alabama with a good surface, little traffic, sweepers, a few twisties, farmland and changes in elevation. The towns it traverses are mostly small and sometimes picturesque. An interesting ride. However, we did run into some unpleasantness in the form of perhaps some racism??? at
We were refused service for breakfast at 825 am. There was more.
Leaving Greensboro--location of the Flava Flav Cafe, aka Lyles Diner--we headed hungrily up 69 and stopped in Moundsville where we found Miss Melissa's Cafe, all that we could hope for in a small town diner. The owner's wife was from south La so she was very happy to have us to talk to.
and for DJ
Following 69 to Cullman where these suspect individuals were spotted
We then wound our way farther to the NE, eventually skirting the eastern shores of Guntersville Lake. Crossing the lake into Scotsboro, Al. we followed Skyline Drive (SR 79) into Tennessee where it became Tn 16 and into Winchester.
These roads were scenic, little traffic,VERY fast, and had broad sweepers
Awakening the next morning we were a little concerned about the weather and did run into a little mist along the way. No biggie.
Taking US 1 out of Winchester
we passed through Sewanee. Many students from New Orleans schools go to Sewanee for college. the region is so beautiful and peaceful it is easy to see how they can fall for the area.
Following TN 56 to TN 30--as advised in MotorcycleRoads.com--they did not disappoint.
Two "problems" occurred: got a little misting rain for about 15 miles south of Madisonville, TN and before that...you know how you're at an intersection and there is a vehicle, also at the intersection that your REALLY do NOT want to follow? We got caught behind an 18 wheeler stacked with chickens in their coops. Feathers, grit, ripe smells assaulted us. Couldn't pass, so we stopped for a little while to build some space. That wait, though, probably put us in the mist. But, the sun came out as we neared Tellico Plains where we stopped for lunch on the Cherohala Skyway!
Getting out of my Frogg Toggs--they keep you "mostly" dry.
The restaurant is right on the Tellico River and serves good fare. Definitely a nice place to stop for a while.
There is talk out there that the colors are less than optimal this year because of the drought or global warming or whatever, but they were spectacular.
With a nearly full belly the Cherohala beckoned. We did it twice during the trip and in the two days that separated the rides the colors reached peak. we did Deals 3 times because there was very little traffic--the last time I rode it with no one in front of me the whole time.
We also did the Foothills Parkway a couple of times. Here are some pictures from those areas:
the group minus Bruce who was following his own muse at the time
One day we headed over to 294 and up 68 to Tellico Plains and that proved to be one of the prettiest rides of the trip
[img]hthttp://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i252/snapshot1219/NC%202007/along294-4.jpg[/img]
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There is another story that bears mentioning. On our first morning there I was outside, minding my own business, eating an apple when I was swarmed by a bunch of very nervy flies, I thought. After swatting them away I went into the house and asked Mike and Darryl if there was anything on me. They laughed at me and said no. Not more than a minute later Mike was stung on his head by what was swarming me--yellow jackets. There was a nest in the wall of the house that we attacked--almost successfully--for the rest of the trip.
end of Part 1
.................Just kidding.. 
..thanks for the pics.. 
...and I'm looking forward to part two.
