TLCMC

With Hurricane Barry sending loads of tropical moisture our way, the forecasts for our July ride were bleak at best.  But if we could start early enough and get back before the skies boiled, we could still ride.  Larry, Dave and Dennis met early in Ball Ground for a pleasant ride to some familiar haunts.  In the cool morning temps, we meandered north thru Grandview, and Burnt Mountain to [a scenic respite which shall remain nameless].  Yes, this place is so special, some would prefer to keep it secret.  It’s a place so high you can envision eagles resting in it beautiful shelters and was once the start of the Appalachian Trail – oops, I hope I didn’t give it away.  Ask a club member and give them the secret handshake and they’ll let you in on it. 

Since the morning skies were so beautiful, Dave decided to head toward our original ride destination, Suches, and meet Barry for at a Triumph gathering at TWO.  It looked like it just might be doable.  From the [scenic respite which shall remain nameless], Larry and Dennis headed down Steve Tate and Yellow Creek to an early lunch in the still-cool shade trees of Sylvia’s Sugar Pike Junction for a couple of her fabulous burgers, another favorite and one we can publicly recommend!   About 120 miles of smiles and home just after noon, and before the popups began right on schedule at 2.  And Dave and Barry… they enjoyed lunch at TWO and skeedaddled home before the deluge as well. 

Truth in advertising prevailed… Dave, Larry, and Mel had a big adventure enjoying the best roads and trails Western North Carolina has to offer!  Although the forecast for this 4 day, 3 night moto-camping extravaganza ranged from iffy to awful, they persisted and were rewarded, and are ready to do it again soon.

Larry and Dave left on a Wednesday morning and rode peaceful backroads to the N Ga mountains and met Mel at Neels Gap.  From there, they enjoyed a beautiful trip to WNC on mostly empty roads – weekday travel has its perks.  After a hearty lunch at Creekside Deli in Franklin, they headed to Wayah Rd (curviest in the land!) and the Nantahala gorge, but not without rain gear.  Was the ominous forecast true?  They encountered just enough light rain to tamp down speeds on the Dragon-like Wayah Rd.  But with the clouds trying to lift, they headed up the Forest Service to Wayah Bald and its fabulous lookout built by Roosevelt’s CCC – a must-see on any sunny day, but mostly socked in then.  On thru the gorge and a well-earned rest at the Nantahala Outdoor Center to watch the (chilly) rafters.  From there they took the needs-no-introduction Blue Ridge Parkway to their camp for the night – Mile High Campground about 20 miles outside of Cherokee.   Yes, that’s a couple of elk monitoring traffic on the road to camp.  Glad they didn’t charge at us - they were HUGE.  What Mile High lacks in services, they make up for in beauty.  After a full day of riding, the men used backpack stoves to make surprisingly good hot meals before enjoying a great evening campfire.        

 Although cloudy and crazy-cool (58), they were glad to break down camp in the dry.  First ride leg was a 25 mile, one-way FS down thru the Smokies to Cherokee… Heintooga Roundbottom Rd (can’t make that up).  Spectacular!   Then more BRP to Maggie Valley to tour the Wheels Thru Time motorcycle museum (a must see for all fans of vintage American motorcycles and of “What’s in the Barn” TV fame – check ‘em out).  The afternoon leg had them passing thru Waynesville so they lunched at Clyde’s – a diner with a well-earned reputation – and still packed at 2 pm!  Forecasts seemed to indicate they could get to their nightly destination, Blue Ridge Motorcycle Campground, by late afternoon and mostly in the dry.  There they set up camp, starting with Mel’s large dining fly which goes up in a snap and really earned its “Blue Ribbon” equipment award of the trip.  With plenty of daylight left, they headed to Mills River S of Asheville to dine at Sierra Nevada’s eastern flagship brewery and taproom.  I’d like to say they classed the joint up a bit, but after a couple days on the road, they were just glad they let them in!  After dinner and iced teas (yep, they’re riding), they headed back to camp via the BRP and its numerous tunnels, rain gear optional.  BRMC is much like TWO, just more rustic, and no one complained about lack of a hot shower.  Each was thankful for good tents and even better rain flys as we awoke to a soaker – the forecast was coming true!  We took our time enjoying BRMC’s excellent breakfast while hanging out under their large outdoor shelter and listening to the stories of other campers avoiding a rainy start.   

  With the Friday forecast worsening and Saturday’s looking downright awful, we decided to position our 3rd night closer to home at TWO in Suches rather than far to the N at Iron Horse near Fontana.  It was a good call because we were still able to enjoy more BRP (although at 6000’ was thick as pea soup!), more Nantahala gorge, and more fast, sweeping NC 64 toward Blairsville, all without rain.  We arrived at TWO to quite a surprise as they readied for the annual GARTRA dual sport rally with its many dozens of colorful, hopped-up woods bikes and equally colorful characters to go with them.  Many were from all over the eastern US and we enjoyed their company as much as TWO’s great dinner.  Sleep was good that night as it rained heavily (flood warnings in N Ga!).  We packed up during a brief interlude, but hung out on the porch and watched the start of what had to have been the wettest Chattahoochee Dual Sport event ever!  Yep, it was good call not to head toward Fontana or we might still be there now.  The guys waited for a break (or at least something that kinda sorta resembled a break) and headed their separate ways – Mel to Athens, Larry to Roswell and Dave to an event in Dillard (yikes!).

Although we encountered some rain in our 4 days and 650 miles, the Lord blessed us with plenty of great riding, camping, fellowship and safety.  A BIG adventure it was!