The ride up to Hartford ... oh, what an adventure!

The weekend began after work on Friday.  I rode all the way out to Knoxville from Seymour so Mufasa could get a front tire and an oil change.  We then headed right back out from where I'd come from because there was a new back road to ride ... and a mountain to climb.  As we dipped and leaned through the tight Sevier County back roads, David pointed out a mountain and said he wanted to go to the top.  So we did!  The path got more and more narrow and soon the yellow line disappeared.  I always feel fortunate to tackle these roads on a bike vs. a vehicle so that we can stay a safe distance from oncoming traffic.  The road had a few corkscrews but was pretty level and the camber wasn't too bad.  It was a typical tourist/vacation cabin type road; I couldn't imagine actually living on it, as I can imagine it would get quite iced in during the winter!

See that view?  Breathtaking!  And tall!

We actually received a last minute invitation Friday night to ride down south with a friend from up north, but David had already planned and mapped out a ride up north.  We were PLANNING to head up to KY and maybe hit the Aces and Eights ride.  Upon further investigation, the ride was just going to be too far to tackle in a day, so we picked our 2nd favorite, the Rattler.

Tired of our "helmet hair, don't care" yet?

As Saturday morning dawned, plans morphed yet again as David wanted to head up towards Hartford and some of the roads we'd driven for the Foothills Wine Trail.  We headed around towards Douglas Lake and enjoyed the views at the dam.  The GPS directed us along the general route we'd used in the truck, and we ended up stopping for gas IN Hartford, which is a little rafting town close to the NC state line; State Route 32 is close to there which is the road we hit on our way home from our epic Diamondback/Sidewinder/Devil's Whip ride and I almost cried, lol.  We opted NOT to partake of that particular adventure, and I spotted a sign for the Martha Sundquist State Forest and thought it would be a GREAT idea to go check that out.  Hah!  Friends, if you EVER ride with us, be prepared for ANYTHING, haha.

Yeah, do yourself a favor and visit this place in a TRUCK.

The gravel ON the road quickly turned TO a gravel road, and as the weather was nice with no mud, we opted to see where it would take us.  I hit a few ruts and rocks that literally took my breath away, they were so hard.  About 4 miles in, we came upon a V in the road; up or down.  I was beginning to just think we needed to turn around b/c the road was getting more and more narrow, and the weeds were growing up thicker in the center of the road.  The rocks were looser, the ruts were bigger, and the uphill climb was looking somewhat washed out.  And then David exclaimed in my ear, "OH SHI&!"  I thought it was maybe a log across the road or something, but turns out it was a bear.  Yep, a very large bear.  I only saw the butt, David saw the whole thing.  It loped off about 30 feet, then stopped just to the edge of the woods.  Um, yeah, we turned around.  THAT was fun.  I started to park the bike and get off and let David finish turning her around.  He DID get off and stand in front of me b/c I was terrified I was going to drive right off the edge b/c did I mention this road was uphill?  And rutted out loose gravel?  And my motorcycle is a STREET BIKE??  

I'd rather be on pavement

Irritability was beginning to set in, which happens when I act like a puss, lol.  I was also having trouble with my sunglasses b/c I was wearing just my short sleeved shirt b/c it was sooooo hot I didn't even want my jacket.  So, nowhere to put my glasses, and I was having trouble reading the road b/c it was so shadow riddled.  I finally got them situated, and we made it back out the way we came ... and promptly turned down a paved road riddled with loose gravel and MASSIVE potholes.  I'm pretty sure I was complaining, lol.  Fortunately, the bad conditions improved, and we ended up on a short jaunt up Foothills Parkway ... NOT the one I've ridden a hundred times, the other one.  It was super short, but it had the same breathtaking views.

The "other" Foothills Parkway

That dumped us out onto I-40, and we rode a few miles up and down the windy, breathtaking hills and curves.  There's nothing quite like taking a wide, sweeping curve at 75 mph in 5th gear on a smooth riding bike.  This was one of the first times I can remember actually enjoying the ride, as the road was completely dry, AND there wasn't a wall of semi trucks.  There were a few, but they were easily passed.  By sheer accident, we ended up in Hot Springs, NC.  Lol, we honestly did not head towards the Rattler on purpose, but we ended up there anyway.

NEVER ENDING gravel road

We again ate at our favorite Irish bar on the river, then flew across Hwy 209, AKA the Rattler.  I again led the ride, as I do really enjoy that road.  By the time we completed it, we were both pretty dang tired, so we hit the Interstate to go home.  It was a BEAUTIFUL day, full of lots of adventure and amazing views, tight, corkscrew 15 mph turns and high speed, 75 mph curves.  We had bears, birds, and gravel.  I have SUCH an amazing time with my other half, I can't say enough how much I love and appreciate him.  He always watches out for me and takes care of me, but he also doesn't put up with any crap, lol.  He pushes me safely out of my comfort zone just enough that I grow as a rider every time I throw a leg over.  I'm so thankful for my life, and can't wait to reveal what's coming up in a mere 6 days!!!

Douglas Dam

So much more than just curves before coffee!

Oh my gosh, I have so many pictures from this weekend, I'll provide you the Flickr link!  But still, there's going to be SO MANY PICS!

FLICKR ALBUM

So, our weekend started yesterday after work.  David met me at the office, and we left from there!  Yesterday's ride seemed to fly by; I knew it would be today that would be the bulk riding (and our source of exhaustion!).  We had a nice and uneventful ride into Waynesville, NC.  We had to visit the Indian dealer out there, of course.  We took a fun back road into Pigeon Forge/bypassed Gatlinburg, then took the National Park out to Maggie Valley and hit the Blue Ridge Parkway for a bit.  It was smooth and beautiful; not closed this time.  No elk.  In fact, the only live creatures we laid our eyes on was a few birds and squirrels.  I don't mind at all!  Makes my ride way less risky :D

Hendersonville is beautiful.  We found our adorable accommodations, unpacked, then found the amazing steak house David had already picked out.  It was SO GOOD!  Binions steak house in Hendersonville, NC.  GO EAT THERE.  We took a pass through downtown Main St, then fell into bed.

We woke up before the alarm this morning, and hit our first named road; the Sidewinder.  Loved it!  A nice mix of sweeping curves and tight curves; it took us up into Black Mountain for breakfast.  We both got this unbelievable biscuit/gravy/fried chicken/bacon/cheese concoction.  DANG!  Couldn't finish that, or the giant cinnamon roll we shared.

Left from breakfast and hit the 2nd named road; the Diamondback.  We had our sticker for this road; just hadn't put it on because we hadn't ridden it yet.  This road was a mix of the Devil's Triangle, the Copperhead, and the Dragon.  I tried SO hard to keep up with David; he just rides faster than my comfort level through the curves.  Hopefully this year is my year to work on that.  I constantly checked my tenseness, loosening my hands on the grips and rolling my head.  The first 3/4 of the road was perfect; coming down I was getting a little tired from pushing so hard, and I slid the rear tire a little on a particularly tight turn.  Just enough to shoot the adrenaline through me.   This little road has WICKED off camber curves at the end of it; in fact, I think this one should have been named the Sidewinder, as it was a weird kind of curvy.

Finished up there and mad our way to the third and final new road; the Devil's Whip.  I made a boo boo on this road, a pretty big mistake.  It was towards the end, and it was on a right hand switchback.  I thank God up above that it was just David and I, no other cars around.  There were some at the beginnings, so this little mishap was timed well.  Oh, AND David was behind me, not in front.  So as I started up the switchback, I just didn't set up well.  I looked up and to the right to make that curve, and I really needed to drop all the way into 1st but I was going too fast, so when I downshifted, it didn't go.  The engine revved as I gave it throttle, and with the curve climbing, I lost momentum FAST.  I grabbed my brakes and just STOPPED in the middle of the curve.  I am so, so, so grateful I wasn't further over to the right, or had my bars turned when I stopped.  David pulled up beside me, said don't panic, you're ok.  Just start out like you're stopped on a hill.  I got the gear down in first, then re-started.  I'm so thankful that it was just a hiccup; I know I'm not ready for a Chieftan quite yet because that mistake most certainly would have caused me to drop it.  Khaleesi and I stayed shiny side UP, and we completed the Devil's curve.  It couldn't whip me today!

All three new roads completed by noon.  The entire AREA we were riding was new to us, it is quite awesome and beautiful.  Areas reminded me of Tahoe, some other areas it was like Oregon; loved it so much.  Lunch time took us to Hot Springs, NC, a familiar face.  We ate again at the Irish Pub from St. Patty's day, then took the Rattler backwards in it's entirety for the first time.  I led again, and I just took the curves at my own pace without worrying about David being behind me. I did alert him when I was downshifting because he said the challenging thing about riding a road like the Rattler behind me is the inconsistency in my speed; the degree of slowing and setting up for a curve sometimes took him off guard, as he just rolls into the curves with whatever speed he's carrying.

We hit I-40 for a few miles.  I had a wall to my left, and a wall of semis to my right ... 30 mph wind gusts, 75 miles an hour down a tight, twisty, windy 2 lane road = a few tense and jaw clenching moments!  I was happy to get off by the river, where we stopped on the bridge and took a few pics.  Um ... as we made a few turns per the GPS, we both began to wonder.  And yes, the pavement DID end and we ended up yet again on a dirt road.  With uphill right hand switchbacks!  Its saving grace is that most of the gravel was washed away, leaving mostly just DIRT, but it was pretty rutted out.  I began to pray for the dirt to end, and shortly thereafter, it did.  It ended into a Tail of the Dragon, no joke.  Just a LONGER one.  Tight, twisty kiss your butt curves with zero guardrails and lots of debris on the shoulder.  I was exhausted mentally.  Unfortunately, I was burned out and actually ASKED for a straighter road!  This is completely unheard of for me, I'm a total sucker for those twisties!  But State Route 32 at the tail end of a 500 mile trip was just a little too much for me.  I'll do it again in a heartbeat, just at the BEGINNING of a ride.

Why, yes, that is an uphill right hand switchback looming ahead!

We stopped one more time for gas and a stretch then hit 411 home, avoiding downtown Gatlinburg.  So, so, so much fun!  So grateful for the chance to spend some one on one time with my awesome hubby, and had a wonderful experience riding some new, uncharted territory.  Plans to ride with some ladies this coming weekend, and looking forward to warmer weather for MORE epic rides with my hunny!  I give God all the glory for keeping both of us shiny side up this weekend, and lots of prayers for this upcoming week :D