Kelly's Run - A Ride Report in Four Parts

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Part II

Friday morning was partly to mostly sunny and the early warmth warned of a hot afternoon. I removed my bike from its covered resting spot, thanked the desk manager for the consideration and the good night's sleep, packed up the bike and rode down the street to meet Ferret at the Bob Evans. I usually like to find mom & pop places to eat when I travel, especially for breakfast, but I have to tell you that Bob Evans can rustle up some corned beef hash and eggs quickly and cheaply..and they taste pretty darned good, too.

If you have the opportunity to ride with Ferret, first do so. Second, be on time which is to say, be early. The man is punctual.

He was already there, camera ready, when I arrived. He came from something like 10 miles away. I came from like 10 steps away. The man is punctual.

(author's note: some pictures are courtesy of The Ferret Studios, Somewheresville, OH)


Selfie sent to my wife to let her know that I was safely traveling with Eddie Haskell.


He had mapped out a route for the day and wanted to show me the plan. Lucky he had reading glasses to lend me. He let me keep the map and his Post-It Note with rough directions of our trip. This may sound a little odd, but I keep it in my tank bag all the time and consider it one of my most treasured keepsakes from my motorcycle travels.


He was charged with leading me on a backroads route that would take me generally south and generally parallel to US75. That way I could make up the time spent on morning jocularity and still get to Alcoa around dinner time. His answer? A route he called "Too Many Twos" (or "Twos Are Wild"..something like that). I have the map and have even tried to recreate it on Google Maps, but he did a little loop in the middle and, as the follower, I didn't pay close attention to the road names. All I know is that it was fun, at one point we were on KY22 and KY227, and that we were in Georgetown at least once, but I think twice. I was dizzy from the turns by the time we stopped at a Wendy's right next to I-75 for a refreshing tea (hot for him, iced for me). It was hot by then and the air conditioning felt good.

On the way to our fun route, he let me ride his Deluxe. Great bike. Very well balanced, what with the dual exhaust and the RLETS and all. (Not sure what to make of the giant cross in the background)


Once we hit the back roads, I was on my own bike. Notice how the weight of the single exhaust causes the bike to list to one side.


Our bikes soaking up the shade at Wendy's. I'm sure Ferret was saying "Jeezalou, I love my bike"


Mickey and I exchanged wishes of safe travels and I headed south on I-75. He probably went west then north then east and then north some more.

My trip down I-75 was quick, but it started to rain somewhere around London, KY and I don't like riding in truck wash (air or water), so I switched over to US25. I think I did this at London, but it may have been a bit further south. I was winging it at this point, relying on my recollections of my last trip through the area. Rain got harder and I stopped and donned my rain gear. In typical fashion, the rain stopped about 10 minutes later and I was hauling ass down 25 in what amounted to a high-viz sweatsuit.

Hot, Humid, and Hungry is no way to go through life, son. I decided to stop in Corbin, KY for some grub. Last time through Corbin, our group was stuck in a coffee shop to wait out a rain storm. I could see clouds moving in, but it was dry at this point. I chose Dixie Cafe as my "mom & pop" place and it did not disappoint. I had the meatloaf on the recommendation of the owner's 12 year old son.

Selfie sent to my wife to let her know were I was at. I didn't notice the resemblance until later.




Back on US25 for a spell and then onto I-75 to get me to my Quality Inn-Alcoa with all due haste. If timing and weather would cooperate, I might be able to take an evening run up US129 into and around Deal's Gap. Both cooperated, at least until I arrived at the hotel. The manager again allowed me to park under a canopy. It was too small to be of much good, but I felt comfortable leaving it right next to the office window and they had a bucket of towels for drying off bikes right in the lobby. Sweet.

Stripped the bike down a bit for the trip to Deal's Gap.


The weather was holding, but it did look cloudy in the mountains. I dumped all bags and headed south on US129. US411 and 129 run together at this point with 129 breaking off with a left turn taking you to the famous/infamous section of the road. There was a policeman at this corner and he had flagged down a group of 5 Harley riders just ahead of me to warn that it was raining hard on The Dragon. The Harley group stopped in the gas station at the corner. I figured that there was still a good 10 miles of really pretty road before you even make the last turn that takes you to The Tail of The Dragon, so I made the left and continued on US129.

US129/Calderwood Hwy. a few miles north of TN72.


The intersection of Foothills Parkway and US129 is your last chance to bail out before trying your hand at The Dragon. TN72 is the second to last intersection. I arrived at this T intersection in the midst of a fairly steady, but light rain. There were no other vehicles to be seen except for a row of parked bikes at The Dragon Pit Inn at the top of the T. I brought my CB to a stop on the white striped island that directs you left to Deal's Gap or right onto 72 West and back to US411. I could see that the rain was mostly to the left, but it was clearing to the right. I wanted to go left, but not in the rain, so I looked left then right as I played "Eenie Meenie" in my head (the "tiger" version, for all you who may be wondering). I am sure that my fellow riders, looking on from the confines of The Dragon Pit, knew exactly what was going through my mind.

I decided to go right. I would follow 72 back to 411 and turn right and head for my hotel. That was my plan. 72 was in its post-rain glory, though, so I rode it to 411 and turned around to head home via 72 and 129--the way I came.

Early evening, TN72 at Culvert's Cove.


Looking back toward The Dragon. Rain, rain, going away.


TN72 is a lovely stretch of road. Just a few curves, but a beautiful ride through the lowlands. I rode it back to The Dragon Pit and by the time I arrived back there, the sun had peeked out and there was no need for "eenie meenie"--I was heading up The Dragon. This road is fantastic. After each section of switchback and keyhole turns I wonder to myself "How in God's name did this serpent become a United States Highway?". It is not the prettiest of the roads in the area, but it's pretty. It is not my favorite of the roads in the area, but it's damn interesting. I had it almost to myself. I did have to slow down for a two-up cruiser and we were both summarily passed by a red Ducati Multistrada. I hadn't seen him in my mirror as he approached and I was close to the center line in a not-so-subtle attempt to encourage the couple in front of me to avail themselves of the pull-off to the right. They did not and The Ducati startled me as he passed. I felt bad that I had not given him more room.

Selfie sent to my wife to let her know I was alive...and to make her a little jealous. (Eyewear: KD's with blue tint. I use these for low light conditions. I have a pair of clear ones for night. They work perfectly and are cheap)


Scenic overlook of my bike...oh and I guess there's some cool stuff in the background, too.


When I arrived at Deal's Gap Resort, I saw the red Ducati and I pulled next to him to apologize for not giving him more room. I could tell from how he pulled away from us after the pass that he was a very good rider in very good control of his bike and I felt that, had I been more attentive, I could have given him more room. He replied that he would not have passed me at all had I not got tied up behind the cruiser. He said that he was riding at his own speed and was not really closing on me until I slowed down. It is not my goal to be the fastest on the road, but he gave me a nice little boost to know that I was riding at a good pace.

It was getting late, so I turned the CB right out of Deal's Gap Resort and up the hill on 129 and headed back to the hotel. The Quality Inn is walking distance to a Texas Roadhouse. A chain, again, but they do have good food. Dined at the bar and had a nice conversation with two different groups of riders on either side of me. We sure do like talking about riding...almost as much as actually riding. After dinner, it was back to the hotel for some shuteye. I was going to try to get out pretty early so that I could take the scenic route to the church in Hixson. I needed to be there by noon.