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15/04

Falling for Toccoa--April 13, 2019

Saturday morning the 13th, Dave, Larry, and SteveD met in Hickory Flat for a trip to Toccoa, GA and all the beauty and history it offers. Thanks, Richard, for seeing us off (and allowing us to fan his jealousy since he couldn’t make the trip). Despite a somewhat iffy forecast, no rain gear was donned the entire day and we enjoyed beautiful riding in NE Georgia – an area we don’t often see.

The trip there followed standards like Matt Hwy, Bannister, 400 and 115. Nothing special but efficient and enjoyable on a lightly-traveled Saturday morning. After a chicken biscuit in Cleveland, the scenery intensified as we continued NE. Toccoa is best known for Camp Toccoa which trained Easy Company of the 506th Paratrooper Regiment of WW2's “Band of Brothers” fame (an HBO miniseries, and worth revisiting). Our first stop was the Currahee Military Museum. We enjoyed tales from a docent, who wasn’t much younger than those paratroopers still living, himself. His insight added much to the museum’s offerings.

Then, hunger took over and we headed to a local grill, the X-Factor, and enjoyed a great lunch. After lunch, we traveled a few miles to the Toccoa Falls College to see… the Falls. After a short hike, we rounded a curve on the well-groomed trail and our jaws dropped simultaneously – this is no ordinary waterfall!, having an 186 foot straight drop, and you can almost walk to the base as the large volume crashes into the pool. A real 5-star waterfall and easy for all ages to see - we highly recommend it.

About then we realized we hadn’t left enough time for our 3rd attraction – the Traveler’s Rest State Historic Site, a large inn and plantation from the early 1800’s which welcomed many early visitors to Georgia. Oh well, a good reason to return. Our trip home mostly backtracked our route there and had us home by dinner (though not by much!). About 200 miles total. Now when can we get back out to Traveler’s Rest?

Dave's Ride Video (no sound)

14/02

Finally No Rain, Ride--February 9, 2019

After rain canceled three consecutive planned rides we finally had a dry Saturday for six of us (Dennis, Larry, Dave, Mel, Richard and me) to get on the backroads of Cherokee, Pickens, and Dawson counties. It was cold, no sun until after noon, but no rain either.

We planned a stop at the model airplane flying field on Old Federal Road but upon arrival were disappointed to see the place emptied of people and benches and. the gate locked. Perhaps they don't do any flying in the winter but sadly, it had a more abandoned look. We'll take another look in the Spring. From Old Federal we took Mt. Tabor etc. to Kelly Bridge and stopped at the Foothill Chevron for a warm up break.

After the break we took SR 53 down to Sweetwater- Juno then headed west, over the mountain, on SR 136 taking a jog up Whitestone Road to Carns Mill and Biguns BBQ. The place was packed but we were able to find a table for six and enjoyed a meal, and fellowship, while gradually doffing our cold weather gear. The afternoon temperatures were pleasant (low 50's) so, after lunch we rode down to Talking Rock, then west again to Blaine and Hinton before turning south on Jerusalem to Salacoa Road. Little Refuge Road brought us past Lake Arrowhead and on to Fincher Road (aka 108). After a quick stop at the Gulf station on SR 20 we headed home

It was one our shortest rides, but it was fun. Everyone seemed to enjoy getting out on the road together again, after a too long hiatus.

Home-to home mileage was 191 km (119 miles) for me, but others, especially Mel, did more.

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11/11

Really Back Backroad Ride-November 10, 2018

Some say it was 29 degrees, others 30 or 32. but all agreed it was cold when five of us started out at 9:30 am to explore some back roads in Cherokee, Bartow, Gordon, Pickens and Dawson counties. To accommodate the cold nearly all of us had brought along some heat in the form of heated vests and gloves. All except our hearty Englishman who relied on his thick leather jacket.

We started out from Ball Ground but soon turned on to Mineral Springs road and headed West with the sun on our backs. We explored many different roads, some paved, some gravel and some wash-boarded dirt, really enjoying some new mountain vistas and passing through some farms and "ranches' that kindled thoughts of earlier days in north Georgia. I won't name all of the roads but there is a map at

Route Map November 10, 2018

We got to Jasper around noon and headed for 61 Main for lunch, and warmth. After a longer wait than usual (there was some sort of celebration in the back) we were seated an had a great lunch.

Route Map

17/09

Return To Bell Mountain--September 15, 2018

In March 2017, several hardy souls rode to Bell Mountain (just outside Hiawassee) and experienced rain, wind and snow – yet still talked about what a great ride it was?! With that praise bouncing in our brains, we decided to try it again, this time without the snow, but maybe still the rain and wind as Hurricane Florence was just over the line in SC. As Larry, Steve and Dave fueled up to start, another V-Strom pulled in, gassed up and decided our plan beat his and joined us! Welcome, Robert (from Holly Springs)! It was a pleasure to ride with you and hope to see you again.

The riders took favorite backroads like Matt Hwy, Bannister and 115 to Cleveland to their morning chicken biscuit with the folks that invented chicken biscuits. Although those roads were efficient, they weren’t nearly as pleasing as 75 N to Helen, then Sautee Nacoochee and 197 along the west shores of Lake Burton and Moccasin Creek State Park – very enjoyable and very deserted on a Saturday morning. From there, 76 (Georgia’s Mtn Hwy) led to Hiawassee and Bell Mtn.

The road up Bell Mtn is a steep, former Jeep trail now nicely paved, albeit narrow and with the same tight switchbacks. About a quarter is one-car-wide and the rest is a car-and-a-half. But your reward is a 5 star view (on a 4 star scale)! The 360 view overlooking the Hiawassee mountains and Lake Chatuge is spectacular – the best overlook we’ve seen. And as the commercial says… “We’ve seen a thing or two!” Don’t worry about the trip up… there were 10:1 bikes to the cars at the top!

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