My First Trip

[dUh!_imp]

Saturday August 23rd route Cherohala Skyway heading West. I woke up feeling off. I honestly have never done so many miles in such a short time, and nor have I spent days just riding. My rides normally consisted of commuting and short 10Hour trips up to this point. I was feeling off, and I could tell my riding was below average, for my below average ability LoL. So , the agenda for the day – was to let everyone go their own pace knowing the group would split up. We decided to meet back in Robbinsville after doing the Cherohala both directions. Like I said; I was off this day. I have few pictures of this day, and even with the GoPro mounted and ready to go, something went wrong between me thinking I pressed the button and the recording of the ride. I did not capture anything on GoPro for this ride.

Harley Davidson at Tellico Plains


I photo bombed all the Harleys I could over the weekend
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Bald River Falls
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I have no idea why they call it that either
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All of us at the Bald River Fall
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farther up top of the falls, I clambered up to see what it looked lilke from the top
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Heading to the fall
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On the way back to Robbinsville I was greeted by a cop car sideways in a blind steep downhill corner blocking the road. After a brief conversation, the road was closed due to a downed rider. I headed back around the corner and put the CB in the middle of the road and stood there slowing traffic headed to the accident. After about an hour, one lane opened up and thru traffic was allowed in both directions, so I removed the CB from the road, and our group of 9 headed back to Robbinsville. We only made it about 2 miles when we were stopped again. The same accident – the man was moved from the crash site to a clearing where LifeLine Helicopter could land on a bridge to extract him. Paramedics worked on him for another 2Hours before moving him to the Helicopter. This is very tragic, but a reality of motorcycle riding. This is my only rant – I understand that this area is a motorcycle paradise, not to be confused with a motorcycle playground.

My prayers were with him and his wife. May they both be OK
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CB and I doing our part to slow traffic coming into the turns. Not everyone appreciated us.
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Saturday night, I was feeling a little better, or maybe not thinking at all; I decided to head to Deals Gap.I rode the Gap at night, which for me was actually a lot of fun
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No one believed I did it, until they watched the GoPro. I captured it, and it really did happen. On the way back, I didn't record, which was good and bad. I missed the part where a bat dive bombed me. It freaked me out and I almost ran off the road trying to avoid it as it came back for a second swoop at my helmet. haha stupid bat
Saturday night at the cabin, the boys being boys, stayed up rather late drinking and having a good time. I missed the excitement but heard about it the next morning.
Billy shaving creamed our boss John - after John passed out on the porch outside
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Sunday August 24th – my plan was to ride the Moonshiners 28 [url=http://moonshiner28.com/moonshiner28_roadinfo.html]http://moonshiner28.com/moonshiner28_roadinfo.html then head to the Two Wheels thru Time Museum. Being our last day, everyone headed in different directions to see what they wanted. After getting back to the Deals Gap Resort at 28 and 129 Mark Yellow BMW asked if I could help him get back to Chimney Top on 441. There was a place he wanted to go back to and look around a little more. Leaving Mark at Chimney Top after getting him sorted out with maps and a sense of how to get back to the cabin on his own, I set off with Wayne, Billy, Kevin towards the museum. Unfortunately, we did not make it in time before they closed. We did have another great day of riding.



part of 28 here
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Trying to figure out what Mark is going to do. He was the least experienced rider and I didn't feel comfortable letting him go off on his own.
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Not a lot of photos this day as I was just trying to get to the museum, so here is an assortment of photos from the weekend.

Gap overlook
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Everyone was so happy I stopped traffic for this photo inside the Smokey Mountain Park. I think they called me a name or 2 as well
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Scenic Overlook again
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North Carolina; botton of the hills before heading up into Deals Gap was a Hydroelectric Dam. Something I had to see at night
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waking up early, I couldnt wait to ride more each day
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Well, this is the last day. Monday August 25th the 4 of us set off back North for Indiana. We made a detour to ride the Devils Triangle [url=http://www.devilstriangletn.com/]http://www.devilstriangletn.com/ along the way.

I liked the road, yes - the area ... Not so much. For being called the Devils Triangle, I think there was a Church every mile along the way. I just felt out of place .... see if you can see anything in the first 2 pictures
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Both the cruisers scraped at this turn. Kicked them both to the outside of the turn .... I bet it was cooler from my point of view.
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Headed back to Interstate 75 - we saw this
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I am not too sure what this sign means, but OK
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After that, another uneventful trip along the interstate to get back home. Everyone arrived back home safely