BROKEN PANES: WEATHERED RIDES

In late February, I left my home for another ride into North Carolina. Once more I decided to point the wheel and my nose toward Maggie Valley and the object of my affection: Wheels Through Time. I wanted to ride a route there I've never been on. That's getting tougher daily. But I did manage to find ONE road that I'd never been on before. OK. So it wasn't the most direct route there, who cares? In order to care about that, I'd have to care more about the destination than the ride. You know, that just ain't never gonna happen. THE RIDE IS WHAT I'M ALL ABOUT!


View Wheels Through Time less Direct Route in a larger map

I formally decide to start the ride on Flag Pond Road where it meets with TN-352. There is an old store front (now empty) where I like to stop. I love it's lines, the weathered boards, and now it appears someone has kicked in the door. I didn't take the time to investigate. But I will.



I begin to ascend the mountain. Up we go: the Lil Girl and I. We lean and twist through the bends in the road until we reach the top of the little mountain. This is where the state line is and the road now has a new designation: NC-212. I've taken several photos along this route, and it seems to be, the very same time of year. I need to be a little less predictable I think. Before too long, I come across NC-208, where you will find this Historic Marker denoting the massacre of 13 men and boys suspected of "UNIONISM". Sad marker indeed.



I must admit I love NC-208. This road is not very long, but it's edged by a powerful gushing river on one side, and stone outcroppings on the other. The river has been cutting it's way down the mountain side for a very long time and the boulders it crashes through make a fine playground for the river otters who make their home in this region. I stopped to watch the water pound it's way through a path of boulders when I sighted this little feller. I wish I had a better lens to capture him with!


The otter is on the rocks

I love this rest stop. While not very far into the ride, it is still a place that refreshes the lost and weary soul.



In a few short miles, I must leave NC-208 and join with US-70. This takes me into the very cool town of Hot Springs NC. This town enjoys visitors whose interests vary widely. There are hikers from the AP Trail, bikers who are traveling US-70 Scenic Route over the mountain, rafters and kayak paddlers plying the French Broad River. It's a nice rustic town. Good food, bars, and other business can be found here. But I am getting off topic. I stop only for fuel here before I continue onto NC-209. The twistiest part of the ride. It's one of those roads whose sharp hair pins, raising rocky outcrops, and sharp drop offs into steep and seemingly bottomless chasms offer excitement, wonder and beauty.


Sheer rock faces along the route of NC-209.


Deep drop offs into chasms offer excitement


The Twists of NC-209

This little cabin has sat here for a long time without any sign of life to it. This time coming through, I have noticed someone is trying to "improve" the road to the cabin. Could that possibly mean the cabin will soon be occupied?



A few more miles down the road, I see NC-63. I've been wanting to come this way for some time now. It's a road I've never taken and leads ya back to Asheville. I don't take the road all the way back to Asheville. I ride quite a few miles until I see Newfound Road. I decide to see where that goes. It was also a good choice. YIKES...I'm ahead of myself! Look at some of the great shots I found here on NC-63!


Broken Panes


Weathered Boards

Now, tell me. Do you really ever try to identify how a barn was slapped together? I love barns. Some of them were literally slapped together with poles and rough hewn lumber. While others, like this barn, had to really take some thought in order to show this kind of tapestry design on it's sides. Texture. Sometimes a photo is about texture.



Look at the route of NC-63! It's a squiggly line, up and down mountains heading south east. As I was coming down from a mountain, I saw this view. I thought my "Lil Girl" would look great here. She does!


The View off NC-63.

From here it's a matter of catching Newfound Road south to US-19 and into Maggie Valley. I made my way into the wonderful Museum "Wheels Thought Time". Took about 10 shots before my battery quit on me. STUPID...I forgot to charge it before I left. But here is more of Wheels Through Time for ya!


Buy your tickets for this Knucklehead at the Wheels Through Time website.


I love the natural patina of the bikes


1942 Military XA model. Harley Davidson.

If life gets any better than this....


A simple reward of life

A GOOD DAY'S RIDE, ERWIN TN, TILMAN MOUNTIAN TN, MARSHAL (NC)

I've gone over the map, and reconstructed it to actually reflect the small roads I traveled over...yesterday's map was hurriedly routed...and contains many substantial errors.  This ride actually ran me 126 miles, start to finish... It took me five hours to do...and lunch stop was a small gas station and chocolate covered mini doughnuts. YUCK!  But, here we go folks...I had a great ride!


View Larger Map

Leaving my home in near Milligan Collage, I head into Johnson City, to Smith Brothers HD. I really didn't want to ride alone today, and thought to stop in there to see if anyone wanted to ride.  I get there, and see a radio truck from WQUT.  Also, there was one guy in the lot on his bike, he looked to be trying to settle himself in for the day there...what's up with that? Why own a bike only to sit in the HD parking lot all day? 





I walk into the building, and the gal from motor-clothes spots me.  She kinda sidles over and acts like she is checking out a rack of shirts as I am getting ready to pass her, keeping her back to cameras in store, she whispers to me, "I just heard them announce over the speakers, first female to show her MC endorsement will win some kind of a prize!"  

Now I'm not one to reject a gift...so out I go to my bike to get my purse.  I left it in the saddle bags. Back in I go to the parts desk, ask them if any gal has shown her DL to them yet...whammo....nope...I get a free gift pack of HD cleaning products.  OK I'm glad I went...even if it turns out the people who gather for rides had left already this morning!  

I talk to a friend of mine...a mechanic, he asks me how the bike is running, I tell him it FEELS like it did when it was a spring chicken....over a 150 K miles ago...and it really does now you know...seems like a lot less vibration going on for some reason....


I skeedaddle out of there.  I hate going there...I always leave my money where I can't get at it...I'm not impressed with their proud pricey impulse items...and I really don't advertise for anyone on my tee shirts...unless I REALLY like em!  And while I have friends who are employed by Smith Brothers HD, and their service department has some TOP NOTCH service techs in it... I still don't wear their merchandise.  I've also bought HD boots from the dealer...and HD boots SUCK!


Out to my bike in the parking lot, as I'm putting my purse back in the saddle bag, another guy shows up on his bike.  Backs it into a spot along the fence and pulls out a tall boy can of fricken BEER!  Guess he's planning of sitting in the parking lot of HD and getting drunk...wow, what an exciting proposition.


Starting my Sporty up...she sounds so good...yummy in fact... I drop her into 1st, release the clutch and find my way to the street....when the way is clear...I open her up...speed clutching my way to 60MPH....quickly!  It feels good to open her up like that in just six seconds! She makes my heart sing!

I head south to Erwin. I'm still not sure if I am going to take SR 19E or not...oh oh...well it looks like NOT!  Been there done that, and I see a few other bikes taking the route.  I really don't want to be where others are right now.  I did less than a hour ago...but once on the road, once I've opened her up...she and I want to be alone.  

Gassing up in Erwin, then heading out toward 19...I do actually get on that road and start up the mountain.  




Funny thing happened on the way to the summit...I saw another road that veered south.  I turned around and headed on Tilson Mountain Road.  What a great mountain road!  If any of you are from around here, you really do have to ride this road.  It will ride for about 15 miles before dumping you out near Flag Pond Road.  What a fricken great ride this was!

Check out this old country store...of course, it's no longer in business anymore, but I just love the shutters on the windows...







Behind the store is this old derelict barn, just waiting for my camera to discover it!

Just before coming to Tilman Mountain Road, I snapped this photo of my bike and some distant background:





I have one more shot I want to share of the bike...here she's sporting Bandit's Bedroll... Now Bandit designed the bedroll to sit on the handlebars, but my bike has gauges there, so I've relocated my bag...and I really LIKE it!



Here is a shot of Tilman Mountain Road. The left side of the road ends in a steep ravine, and Oh, it has switch backs and hair pin turns too.




Coming down the other side of Tilman Mountain, you will encounter a varied amount of topography...and great buildings to photograph...





This abandoned home is across the street from the barn...



And these hay bales...growing grass....were on the side of the road in front of the house....





You'll run out of road on Tilman...run into something else, and then fall into Flag Pond Road.  This is a real nice little road, it seems to run to I-26, then run away...reminds me of my puppy, when he's playing...never really wanting you to catch him...very much like Flag Pond Road...never really wanting to be caught by I-26...it runs up and down rocky mountain sides...into great little valleys...around granite rock faces...you can look down into the valley and see your trek behind you...and it feels good.





Here is a house that appears to be in the midst of an upgrade. No one is living in it, but it sure looks as if some loving hands have been taking care of it.  Look beyond the house a bit...you see the granite rock face? What an inspiring view!  And of course...what "ginger bread" house would be complete without a cemetery on a hill above it?





This Amish Quilt pattern on the side of the drying shed...is very pretty...I saw several, but mostly on the way home...and I was running late...this one, was on one of the very small roads as I was trying to head west toward Marshall NC. 








This is US 70 North heading toward Greenville from Marshall.  It's the last picture I got...I was late and my puppy needed to get out to pee!