Through the Looking Glass

by Alison Clare Grills

One morning rising from your bed

A funny thought pops in your head

What fun you’d have if you could pass

Like Alice, through the looking glass

But your mirror is no magic door

Of that you feel you can be sure

The reflection shows no one but you

Then a hand snaps out and pulls you through

At first it seems like nothing’s changed

Then things begin to rearrange

It isn’t your house, or even your town

It seems the world’s turned upside down

The moon’s bright red, the sun is blue

Grass is purple, leaves are too

Birds all crawl on claw and wing

While cats and dogs both fly and sing

North is south and left is right

Hot is cold and day is night

Yes means no and go means stop

In is out and bottom’s top

Dark is light and good is bad

Wet is dry, happy is sad

Big is small and high is low

Loud is soft and fast is slow

Your head begins to spin and ache

This is much more than you can take

Feeling confused and so alone

You close your eyes and think of home

The air around you starts to shift

You feel you’re being cast adrift

While falling up you look around

Below is sky, above is ground

Your face about to hit the dirt

This crazy world seems to revert

Soft pillows now support your head

As you bounce awake in your own bed

You think at first "Twas just a dream"

Then notice things aren’t as they seem

You’re wearing shoes beneath the sheet

And they’re on your hands ‘stead of your feet

Spring at Wheels Through Time

I seriously don't like the new format for writing the blogs. I guess I'm a dinosaur. But what's to do?  Get over it and move along.

Yes, sir...

On Saturday, April 14th, I loaded the bike and headed down to my favorite museum, Wheels Through Time in Maggie Valley, North Carolina.  The ride down was an eye opener. It appears that at least 2 of the old buildings I admire have been brought down and devoured by the demons that scour the countryside paying well for "old barn wood".  Two of the buildings I would stop to grab a few snap shots of my bike in front of are GONE.  The first one is nothing but a rubble of concreate from the foundation being ripped up. Everything else that even suggested there was a great old wood building there was gone.  Amazing.

This is now nothing but concrete rubble

The next building was a very strange one. I have featured it here before, with the question of "What would this have been used for?"  It too is totally gone. Not a stick of wood is left. Not a shred of evidence that it stood in the place I last saw it at remains.  Not even old plumbing, windows, NOTHING. It's just gone. An empty field there now. How sad.

As I drive along on my way to Maggie Valley, I'm comforted to find that SOME of the great scenery is still intact, but I have noticed that there are 3 of the old trucks that were "abandoned" on the roadside are GONE!  But there are a few still here:

Thank goodness, some things are still here...

Luckily, some things don't change....LUCK N.C.

I arrive at Maggie Valley at about 12 PM.  As I sit in the filling parking lot, I see this very cool little "car" on a trailer.

This is the engine in that "car" Cool eh?

I walk around this vehicle and realize how lucky I am to see it. We will never see another one, I'm sure of this.  But lingering around this car won't get me more photos. I'm inside and paying the entry fee. I pass through the entryway and turn to my left. I've learned to go the oppisite direction of the suggested traffic pattern.  You see the last of the museum with fresh eyes.  This is beautiful museum that holds more things one can view is just a few visits.  I come as often as I can. I love this place. So much to see, so much to do, so many cool people to meet.  Life is good!

This one cylinder Apache greets you

Now this: Do ya know what it is?  

The Mighty Thor...

I've seen this a couple of times over near the "Chopper Graveyard" display. I never thought to photograph it.  I did this time.  It's so reflective of the late 60's and early 70's. My time line...I "GET" this paint job on this...do you?

After grabbing the mushroom photo, I walk down the path a ways...I walk between and behind the beauties on display and take this photo.

This is another shot I've been wanting to grab, yet never seemed to be able to get it JUST RIGHT.  Even now...it's not "JUST RIGHT"  but it's better then the rest of the previous shots.

I turn around and walk into the next display. I believe this is "Swim's Harley Davidson".

What do ya think of the POLITICALLY INCORRECT gas tank? Me? I'm a product  of this time period, and I think it's GREAT!

I will never tire of this view. It's from the Mezzanine, looking down.

And this shot...is now one of my most favorite shots.  It's a new work room for our hosts: Matt and Dale Walksler.  Of course, it's not meant to replace the REAL work area with the modern lifts and such, but...don't ya think this is cool?

Loads of cool displays for us all to check out. Thousands...too many to show you in just one or two postings.

But all good days end...as does this one. I rode in the dark to my next destination from here.  Good night my friends.

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

1936 HD EL KNUCKLEHEAD 61CI YES, IT YOURS!

You want this beautiful Knucklehead? YOU can be the new owner and all you have to do is buy a single ticket (or more)for a raffle which supports WHEELS THROUGH TIME MUSEUM in Maggie Valley N.C.

I'm gonna post the link to the page that will take your money and send you your ticket! Good Luck...and PLEASE VISIT THE MUSEUM! It's worth the time and the efforts to see these wonderful American motorcycles Antique and Classic....

http://www.wheelsthroughtime.com/?option=com_content&task=view&id=36&Itemid=40

It's just photos today...

This is at JoAnn's shooting booth... in Waxhaw NC. (Crazy Horse Painting)

This is at Jim Bortel's shop. Love the beefy-ness of this unit....


This is JoAnn and an example of her flame work. This is her chopper....


I don't know why...but I like this shot of JoAnn on her Chopper...



This is a "busy" photo of Wheels Through Time, but it gives you an accurate look at what just how BUSY YOU will be as you visit from one exhibit to another. I love this place.



This is an antique headlamp for an early motorcycle.  I can't remember which bike I was photographing when I took this...but I love it.



Well that previous statement was dumb of me. Here it is... DOH!



This display is one of my favorites as well. Nicely put together...the Quarter Masters School and the HD's for the couriers

.

This is another photo I heavily favor...the patina, everything about it ... well. I Like it



This is enough for now I guess. Thanks for coming.