This will be my running thread to share photos from places I get to while here.
Got fortunate that the fires didn't take the trailer or the campground. Getting a slow start to riding here but did get out. Sunday to get the open part of the Foothills Parkway. Felt great to be on the AT again.
Last night it was a ride around the Smokie Mountain NP. About 70kms worth before dark after work.
I can see why this place is so popular...its gorgeous.
Going to rain check Hwy 129 Dragon due to rain and later snow. Only good thing is it should help extinguish the fire that has that end of the Parkway closed.
Nice! That is some pretty country.
well rain, snow, gropple, and finally breeze and sun to end the day. But riding wasn't happening today as I got my tires swapped over to the Missions. I tried to get them done before leaving but kept not getting it done. So Dana and I got a day up in Knoxville at Honda and other shopping places...no new 5th wheel yet...I'm good with that.
Ill update with the photo in a few minutes. Hope the rest of the Foothills Parkway opens soon. I have a shed to build soon and it will hit the riding time a bit.
Campground and new tires photo
Why did I wait so long to put these on?
What a joy to corner with these. Maybe it's all in my head, but I'm feeling confident enough to get back out in the dirt with this machine.
I like them too.. seem to work alright off road as well.
I bought a set of Dunlop Trailmax Missions for the Tenere and with the Coper Canyon MX trip planned I've finally had a reason to mount them. They work awesome. After a day across Arizona roads and two days mixture of Mexican dirt trials, gravel roads, and typical Mexican shitty black top the Trailmax Missions seem to be living up to the reviews hype.
Work and rain are getting in the way of some nice riding. Best ride on the new tires was to a chiropractor office. I guess I think I'm a forklift. I am...just a kids toy forklift.
Still found a way to make it an adventure with curves and hills, the likes of which are not seen in ND. One more ride like that and I bet I can consider these 'scrubbed in'.
I bought a set of Dunlop Trailmax Missions for the Tenere and with the Coper Canyon MX trip planned I've finally had a reason to mount them. They work awesome. After a day across Arizona roads and two days mixture of Mexican dirt trials, gravel roads, and typical Mexican shitty black top the Trailmax Missions seem to be living up to the reviews hype.
Took a slight detour off riding today and went to an Honor Flight return to Knoxville.
Not bike related in the slightest,..but I will say if you have the chance to go and welcome the vets back home from the flight....DO IT. You can tell by the look in their eyes that it means much to them. Quite moving IMHO. There was about 125 Vets from the area including a WW2 vet, and my GFs dad Vietnam vet. Well worth the effort you spend.
stormy tonight so maybe a ride tomorrow night.
The Dragon's Tail. Its far too busy and there are some whackos over there. I guess its one of those places that been so over hyped one has to go at least once. I suggest heading over a bit into North West NC. North of I40 and East of I26 are some of the best twisties you are ever going to find, and no one is there. NC Hwy 80, 226, 226a, 209(known as the Rattler) 208, just to name a few. And there is sublime gravel in that area area as well. I reality the whole of Western part of NC is amazing. Any road will be a fun road. And the breweries... Oh my!
If you get over that way, be sure to check out Wheels Thru Time Motorcycle museum. The Finest collection of American bikes. Some very rare American iron there.
I rode all over that area a few years back. I did the Tail of the Dragon at something like 9am on a Tuesday and it wasn't bad. Very cool road, but GB is right, there are plenty of other ones in the area that are just as good. The back of the dragon is one that comes to mind, but I couldn't tell you exactly where that was.
I traded my Motus to a guy that lived just a few miles from the ToD. He grew up right next to it, before it was famous, and said as kids on dirt bikes they burned the knobbies off the dirt bikes on it regularly. They just called it "the curves". How cool would it be to have that in your backyard.
Did it in Dana's car couple years ago in Oct/Nov. Wasn't bad as it was almost end of day.
Hoping to ride it on the part of another ride...plus the obligatory photo at the deals gap end 'dragon'.
ADV Eastern rally is the end of the month in Tellico Plains? so I may go for the day? Same weekend as the Bronco show in Townsend. With the rain around here of late I'm curious to how Witt road would be?
Attended RDV in Tellico Plains...just on Sat.
Had planned on just running some hard paved roads but getting there later Sat morning and pretty much last day was a bit to coordinate some local riding partner..got a willing guide and promptly? Got following the front of the bike....right to the first stop for a beverage. Sounds a lot like this group..visiting around the table with riding in between.
Met a fellow rider by chance and changed the route of travel today.
Got to ride Witt Rd with 4 good water crossings...with no drops and even on the big Twin. More on this later while I rest the phone to charge
Witt Rd crossings.
Made across all 4 with no soggy feet. No drops.
Wet boots.
Renewed confidence post-wreck to get back out and do stuff on this machine off highway.
Looks like a great time..
Got a couple pictures from riding partners...
Makes a guy just want to stay and say screw work..
Poor fella in the last photo was looking at that first crossing as if it was an ocean when the 3 of us just rode past him. Assumed he turned around rather than following any of our lines safely across.
It was 85 or so this day..had to stop and cool off where ya can. There was a scheduled burn off Starr Mtn Road...so not really good to stop there. We forgot the marshmallows.
Burn run...
And what happens when ya come into a corner a bit too hot...
Why too hot?
Found riding partners spare helmet fell off and was trying to catch up when we discovered he lost his whole right side pannier....and had a yard sale.
Was all good, didn't drop it, but got slowed down enough to just drop into the ditch...which was muddy- giving me a test of the Trailmax mission in getting extricated from muddy conditions.
Monday is my last TN meanderings day.
Was going to be a couple more but work has me headed to UT Tues morning.
So I might adjust this to U.S. Meanderings
Directly from TN.
So I'll have the twin with me...and 5th wheel. And Dana.
Might be looking for an overnight campground in a couple weeks in the Hills for the journey home.
More later
Left TN and had a rough day with the camper but all good for now
14hrs...Branson MO...delaminated camperside...repair roadside to get to repair place... Dollar General $5 fix-(75+mph duct tape).
Late check-in...Jack Daniels.
7hr schedule for weds.
Dragon send-off.
Well Utah was a literal bust aside from getting lots of work done. Only rode the bike twice...both for less than 3 miles each. Once to a chiropractor and once to AutoZone for steering pump parts on the truck.
Hopefully, this last leg of the trip will be more vacation-like.
Tonight...Fort Welikit for a couple nights.
Unhook the truck and 'vacation' a bit with the beauty that has put up with me for 4 years this Sunday.
Not talking about the bike..
I'm talking about Dana.
Fort Welikit.
We Like It!
Its a nice campground and a fun spot for kids. Glad you are enjoying it!
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Added a couple more nights.
Drove the Wildlife loop to show Dana some bison/buffalo, antelope/pronghorn, and a very rare prairie dog.
Ok not that rare.
Made it home and rather be somewhere else. Sump pump failed while gone.
Joy.
Not!
Well going to close this report up with a small bit of news.
I was able to show Dana around the Hills for 4 wonderful days...after the 2 weeks of unplanned work in Utah it was a nice vacation to end this leg of the journey.
We went to Rushmore for her first ever visit and it was there that I asked her if she would consider becoming my wife.
Of course she said she'd get back to me.
with a 'yes' and 'are you serious?'
Sometimes you get lucky in the perfect location in the perfect moment...
Like to say I'd planned it out this way for a long time...but I didn't.
I'm officially engaged and she has what I think is the perfect Black Hills gold ring.
Hey, CONGRATS!
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Congratulations!
Congrats....you the man!
Thanks y'all.