A Few thoughts...yesterday's ride

A short walk from my home...

I wasn't sure about riding yesterday...the weather started out gray and dismal with showers...I don't mind riding in the rain. I actually like it...but I like being fairly alone on the roads when I do it...and I don't like it when my aim is to get some pictures and write some thoughts for you guys here....so I really was hoping something would break and I would get on my bike....

early morning shot of the Watuga River

The weather did break...kinda...I whacked some weeds in spotty drizzle...then sun came out and I mowed the entire yard...things are looking up.

When I was done, I didn't even change clothes...I mounted up my little girl...with grass clippings clinging to my pants and boots...I opened the petcock...twisted the throttle....turned the key...pushed the button...and cranked her to life...she was kinda sluggish...cold blooded gal...she grew up in Florida...still likes to think she's still there I guess...but she came alive...and so did I....

An old Asbestos factory...a block away from MR's work....

Off to see my MR. at work...I always stop in, let him know I'm off on another adventure...He is my rock. Doggie was sleeping, Mom was comfortable...I was going riding. Be home in about 2 hours.

a view of the past...and the future...side by side...sad it won't be there much longer.

I choose a route I have been on more than a dozen times times I moved here in '06, though I didn't discover the road until '08....It's my favorite "short-timer" road. The one I take when I don't really have much time...but I need to blow out some of the nastiness that tends to accumulate if I don't ride....

Leaving the MR's place of employment...I head off toward Roan Mountain. I don't go all the way...


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Come on y'all....check out some more of Tennessee's Dixie Roads...and really see what Tennessee is all about....
These pictures come from County Road 173....Like said above...it's my favorite local road....now you'll see why!



I believed for the longest time, this barn was derelict....I always thought I would stop and find a way into the barn to photo it...well, I stopped for the first time yesterday...started photographing from the fence line...when I heard mules braying...WHAT? Someone is keeping two mules in this old barn!





If you look at the cut out window on the side...you will notice a small white dot...that is the white blaze of one of the mules...watching me...





Still moving along CR 176...you will notice, the farmers have been busy cutting hay...





And always...along these country roads...you will find housing long deserted....





By taking time to travel on one of the side roads...you will find cool old buildings like this one....it's an old barn or equipment shed converted into a tool shed...





Sometimes if your lucky...a little guy like this one will be friendly enough to ham it up for your camera...This guy has character!





I don't know what breed of goats these guys are, but their coats are shiny and beautiful...not rough like most breeds I've seen up close.





This is not a barn, but rather built and used to shelter livestock in the fields...look closely...see the two horses in the shed?











That about does it for where I stopped on CR 176 on this day...but there are a few more stops I did make on a service road that runs along I-26...after leaving Erwin TN.


On the other side of the tunnel lies a rock quarry...I can see the mountain wall that they have been blowing away to get at the rock they want...beautiful rock not slate, but breaks off like sheets of slate...I want to call them and ask if they would allow me access....it's beautiful...even if they have to destroy the mountain in order to get at it....





I turned to leave the quarry...and came to face this...it's funny how these things just kind of "pop up" around here...or perhaps, I was just so enjoying my ride...I didn't notice the advent of bad weather coming upon me...I dunno...don't care...I still like to ride in the rain...and on this service road...it aint bad with traffic.





On both sides of this road...are steep rock faces...like this one....lovely for pictures....





Climbing up into the rock...and looking up....





For some reason...this reminds me of the song by Frank Zappa...called "Billy the Mountain". I lived within view of that mountain when I lived in Rosamond CA.




I had to put my camera away after this shot...it's raining....time to head the wheels home...by the time I was to get home, I would have spent 2 hours going about 48 miles....

Nothing beats this kind of ride really....nothing.

Johnson City, Rogersville, Gate City. All Points in between

Up again with the birds yesterday in anticipation of the up coming ride. Finished a few chores, waiting for Mom and my SR. Doggie to wake up. Both will be looking for breakfast...one will be expecting me to pick him up and steady him until he gets his legs and bearings under him, and the other will be needing food and wound care...yes, folks...it's a good life I guess...even when you do weaken...cuz both Mom and SR. Doggie are quite happy to be alive!



During the process of wound care for Mom, I notice a large amount of swelling in her ankle. Mom has fallen twice in this past week, both quite serious, though no broken bones...scrapes and bruising...and now swelling...damn.



I weighed the need to ride, with my concern for my Mom, and decided to curtail my ride, and be home by about 2PM.

Leaving out of Johnson City by 8:30 AM, I head to see Jeff...I now make it a habit to stop in and see him before I leave...it makes me feel good to see him, and I like the concern he shows for my welfare before I leave...there was a time when that would really piss me off...I guess I've become a bit settled now...and no longer take offense when someone cares enough to show concern for my well being. (I no longer have to be tougher than everyone else...)

I leave out of Johnson City taking I-26 West into Kingsport, TN. I'm looking for Route 347 West to Rogersville. I will have to cut out the lower section of Route 70 North, the one that goes from Greeneville to Rogersville...I just don't have the time for that route right now...I'll do that another time.

I find RT 347 with no problems, but with my speedo and trip meter on the blink...I do stop to fuel up...except...there are those damn bags over all the pump handles...well screw it...It looks like I should still have about 50 miles left in this tank by my visual inspection...back on RT. 347...it's a narrow built road by today's standards...and it's a crooked trail...yummy...it's roadside is dotted by abandoned buildings...and nice old barns...





RT. 347 meandered west for about 40 miles I guess...don't know for sure...like I said, my speedo, therefore my trip meter isn't working....but me and the little girl meandered past old worn out businesses...and country shacks I would have loved to photograph if the residents of said shacks weren't sitting on their porches...I don't think they had electricity...damn sure didn't have AC...I wish I could have gotten pictures...



I meandered past dams for the local town's water supplies...beautiful places...lush and full of color...and bugs...

Rogersville Water District Dam

The area below the dam

Full view of Rogersville water supply dam

I got to the "city" of Rogersville, found a Food City Grocery that also had a gas station and filled up. I pulled in to find a van load of hillbillies and a Fat Boy HD at the pumps. The Fat Boy was owned by one of the hillbillies...guess he thought he was pretty cool. cuz he says to me... "I think a gal on a motorcycle is so sexy, it shows me if she can ride that bike, she can ride anything...if ya know what I mean?"

WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY TO ME ASS-WIPE?

When I left, he was instructing one of the poor hillbilly women on how to climb aboard his motorcycle...both were wearing sandals and shorts....UGH....

It's just outside of Rogersville, RT 347 intersects with RT.70 North...I turn left...head north. I hadn't gone long before I came across three bikes...one was being knelled down to...I figured we had a problem and wondered if Houston had the tools to deal with it...turns out...they didn't...three guys from GA. on their way to Boone KY...and the 1989 Sportster was losing it's tail light...just like mine did back in March...I handed them the tools they needed...I was blessed by all of them, for the rescue...no need fellas...I'm just paying back and paying forward...

This a small idea of what I carry in my tool kit...there is much more you don't see

I left the three amigos, and continued on my way north...stopping here...what a neat eclectic little store...and hey look! A modern day "outhouse"! It's just too much to pass up...I stop and take pictures...I guess the locals shake their heads and think to themselves..."What is so worth stopping in the road about that junkie place?"



Down the road a piece...I pass an interesting little post office...and a very...very...cool old log cabin.

Look through the window, you can just make out the curve of an old iron head board...I would have loved to explore this further

Leaving this wonderful old cabin and post office, still heading north on RT. 70...I travel about 10 miles until I realize I'm hungry...I'm also traveling behind a large horse trailer...going very slow up these hills and around these curves...so am I, but I would like to go just a tad bit faster...then...they turn into this place...did I mention I'm hungry?


Actually this isn't the place...it's just the sign... THIS IS THE PLACE



Not very appitizing on the outside...but well worth the trip inside....



Small buffet with country ham, thick tasty bacon, homemade biscuits, scrambled eggs, sausage and sausage gravy...Have you ever had good southern breakfast? This place would feed ya like a king for $7.00!

I wonder if the rolling pins are there so we gals can pick and choose our "persuaders" to keep our men in line"

I do love country....



Did you know, in Tennessee, they name all bridges and culverts after somebody?
Here is the TN. VA. state line. I had to stop...check out this place...notice as I expand out...something distinct about signage?

From Drop Box

Right here at this little state line we have a cemetary

More signage....


Finally, in VA. I come to what I wanted this road for...curves...wonderful mountain curves and views...ahhhhh

This is the end of the scenic pictures...Once you leave Lee County...that's about it...

Route 70 is history on this ride...we've come to US 58....not a particularly intresting part of US 58 either...bland and nothing of great intrest...but once you intersect with US421...things start to get liviely again!

OK, what happened to the rest of the engine?

Heading South on US 421 and US 23.... one of VA.'s state parks...Natural Tunnel....
The light wasn't right for me to get decent pictures of the tunnel...but I have pictures of the surrounding walls and the stream that runs through the giant tunnel.
Click on the word "Natural Tunnel" above to link to the state run website...









In order to get to the viewing area of the Natural Tunnel you cross over an active rail line...YIPPEE photo op for Chessie!

This is NOT the Natural Tunnel...it's just something I could get good pics of close by to the huge fricken Natural Tunnel with the bad fricken light...

This is how couch potatoes like me get down to the Tunnel...others can hike if they want...but I'd have to work up to that kind of exercise....



Well kids, this is the end of the ride for you...I was now so close to home and the hour was getting late... I fired up the little girl...and headed home....
Till next time...