No Particular Place
Here are some shots from a recent moto trip - It appears my Canon S100 lens is scratched. Can you tell from these photos?
I left Ellijay, GA, rode through Copperhill, TN, and got on TN 68 and rode it until I reached Joe Brown Highway - just north of Coker Creek Elementary School on the right. This road is turns to gravel for about eight miles and then back to pavement, which eventually takes you into downtown Murphy, NC. I fueled up, ate a late lunch, and headed east on Hwy 74. After a brief detour to locate a gravel road (FS 423), that was closed, I made it through the Nantahala Gorge, Cherokeee, NC, and arrived at the Blue Ridge Parkway at around five. Here are a few pics to get started:
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On TN 68 - headed north
Joe Brown Highway
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At the intersection of Joe Brown Hwy and Burrell Mountain Road:
I picked up the pavement here
[IMGhttp://1492.smugmug.com/Travel/Moto-Trip-July-20-21-2013/i-vXfBChW/0/M/022-M.jpg[/IMG]
The closed FS road I was searching for:
I turned in at the Pisgah Mountain Campground, but it was still early, and the riding was great. I pressed on, thinking I could make the campground at CrabTree Falls - on the Parkway - before nightfall. Now, some Parkway Pics:
Figured I get this one while I was going by:
I pressed north on the Parkway, but soon realized I may not make the campground at CrabTree Falls before nightfall and I opted for the Super 8 in Black Mountain - I stayed here in March 2013. This decision proved to be a good one, as I later discovered the campground I was headed for was closed!
That evening, I headed to the Ale House, another place I visited in March, enjoyed a Shiva IPA - by Asheville Brewing Company, and a large salad - with steak! The next day, I headed up Hwy 70, where it intersected with Hwy 80 - this road goes under the Parkway and keeps heading West - I think. Hwy 80 is fun - I passed a beautiful lake, rode tons of curves, and got stopped by a preacher - yeah no kidding. Just prior to the preacher encounter, I pulled over to take a few pics, and a guy in a black Honda van drove by and waved - I thought nothing of it, and he probably didn't either, at least at that momment. A few miles up the road, this van eased over to shoulder of the road, as if he was waving me on by. As I got closer, he motioned for me to stop. I did and he stated that he was having trouble with his vehicle, and asked if I could hear it. I replied, no since I had my earplugs in. He gave me his name, and explained he was supposed to preach at Mt. Celo Church that morning. He asked if I was continuing on Hwy 80 beyond the Parkway and I replied no. He stated he really needed to get a message to the church, and I said sure, I'll go tell them. He told me some landmarks to look for, and I headed that way. Along Hwy 80 - before the preacher:
After arriving at the church, I entered the sanctuary, where about 10 or 15 people were having Bible study. I asked the man seated in the back pew if he attended the church regularly, and he replied it was his first time. The next guy I spoke with, an older gentlemen, stated he attended regularly. I explained to him the preacher, gave his name, was stranded on Hwy 80 - east of the Parkway. The church member stated, "we'll I wonder why he hadn't shown up let." This guy walked out of the with me, and head toward his car, a '39 Ford, which would not crank. He borrowed another person's vehicle, and left rescue the stranded preacher.
I headed toward the Parkway too, and eventually arrived atop Mt. Mitchell
A gravel road off the Parkway:
Mt. Mitchell - on the way up, a black bear darted out in front of me. It happened really quick and it was moving fast. Thankfully it was about 15 yards in front of me, so no worries.
The Parkway was closed just south of Mt. Mitchell:
I headed back north on the Parkway - to Hwy 80, to Hwy 70, and back into Swannanoa. I was gonn eat at a BBQ place; however, it was closed. I choose Pizza Hut instead and decided to dry out some:
After lunch, I jumped on I-40 until it reached Hwys 19/23/74 West. I got drenched heading out of Asheville in the worst thunderstorm I have ridden in. I was headed home, so I didn't care. Back on 74, close to Bryson City, NC, I passed what looked like a great friend - he was headed east on his motorcycle. I quickly turned around, and as I caught up with him, he was beginning to pull over, as he recongnized me too. We chatted for a few minutes, as the rain began to pour...again - that was the highlight of my trip - running into a great friend close to the end of a long ride.
Here are the ending specs:
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I left Ellijay, GA, rode through Copperhill, TN, and got on TN 68 and rode it until I reached Joe Brown Highway - just north of Coker Creek Elementary School on the right. This road is turns to gravel for about eight miles and then back to pavement, which eventually takes you into downtown Murphy, NC. I fueled up, ate a late lunch, and headed east on Hwy 74. After a brief detour to locate a gravel road (FS 423), that was closed, I made it through the Nantahala Gorge, Cherokeee, NC, and arrived at the Blue Ridge Parkway at around five. Here are a few pics to get started:
[/URLOn TN 68 - headed north
Joe Brown Highway
[/URLAt the intersection of Joe Brown Hwy and Burrell Mountain Road:
I picked up the pavement here
[IMGhttp://1492.smugmug.com/Travel/Moto-Trip-July-20-21-2013/i-vXfBChW/0/M/022-M.jpg[/IMG]
The closed FS road I was searching for:
I turned in at the Pisgah Mountain Campground, but it was still early, and the riding was great. I pressed on, thinking I could make the campground at CrabTree Falls - on the Parkway - before nightfall. Now, some Parkway Pics:
Figured I get this one while I was going by:
I pressed north on the Parkway, but soon realized I may not make the campground at CrabTree Falls before nightfall and I opted for the Super 8 in Black Mountain - I stayed here in March 2013. This decision proved to be a good one, as I later discovered the campground I was headed for was closed!
That evening, I headed to the Ale House, another place I visited in March, enjoyed a Shiva IPA - by Asheville Brewing Company, and a large salad - with steak! The next day, I headed up Hwy 70, where it intersected with Hwy 80 - this road goes under the Parkway and keeps heading West - I think. Hwy 80 is fun - I passed a beautiful lake, rode tons of curves, and got stopped by a preacher - yeah no kidding. Just prior to the preacher encounter, I pulled over to take a few pics, and a guy in a black Honda van drove by and waved - I thought nothing of it, and he probably didn't either, at least at that momment. A few miles up the road, this van eased over to shoulder of the road, as if he was waving me on by. As I got closer, he motioned for me to stop. I did and he stated that he was having trouble with his vehicle, and asked if I could hear it. I replied, no since I had my earplugs in. He gave me his name, and explained he was supposed to preach at Mt. Celo Church that morning. He asked if I was continuing on Hwy 80 beyond the Parkway and I replied no. He stated he really needed to get a message to the church, and I said sure, I'll go tell them. He told me some landmarks to look for, and I headed that way. Along Hwy 80 - before the preacher:
After arriving at the church, I entered the sanctuary, where about 10 or 15 people were having Bible study. I asked the man seated in the back pew if he attended the church regularly, and he replied it was his first time. The next guy I spoke with, an older gentlemen, stated he attended regularly. I explained to him the preacher, gave his name, was stranded on Hwy 80 - east of the Parkway. The church member stated, "we'll I wonder why he hadn't shown up let." This guy walked out of the with me, and head toward his car, a '39 Ford, which would not crank. He borrowed another person's vehicle, and left rescue the stranded preacher.
I headed toward the Parkway too, and eventually arrived atop Mt. Mitchell
A gravel road off the Parkway:
Mt. Mitchell - on the way up, a black bear darted out in front of me. It happened really quick and it was moving fast. Thankfully it was about 15 yards in front of me, so no worries.
The Parkway was closed just south of Mt. Mitchell:
I headed back north on the Parkway - to Hwy 80, to Hwy 70, and back into Swannanoa. I was gonn eat at a BBQ place; however, it was closed. I choose Pizza Hut instead and decided to dry out some:
After lunch, I jumped on I-40 until it reached Hwys 19/23/74 West. I got drenched heading out of Asheville in the worst thunderstorm I have ridden in. I was headed home, so I didn't care. Back on 74, close to Bryson City, NC, I passed what looked like a great friend - he was headed east on his motorcycle. I quickly turned around, and as I caught up with him, he was beginning to pull over, as he recongnized me too. We chatted for a few minutes, as the rain began to pour...again - that was the highlight of my trip - running into a great friend close to the end of a long ride.
Here are the ending specs:
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