Last Day - It is Over

Day 8

September 7, 2018

Last day of the rally; a free day to rest, do a ride we might have missed or just visit.  Don and I rode in to Big Stone Gap and visited the Southwestern Virginia Museum and the Coal Museum; sat in rockers in front of the Visitor Center and talked to a local and took some pictures.  Back at the hotel lunch was at the Huddle House and then worked on the word challenge.  I’m only missing one word but who knows if I have the others right or not.  Gary said the hotel asked him for information on all our rides and what we did so they have something to share with other groups.  That is a real honor I think.  Well as usual the Banquet was wonderful. Great food, wonderful presentation and the program Ruth, Mina and Gary planned was beyond fun and funny.  I won the translation challenge of Appalachia terms with 42 out of 47 correct.  In fact, I was singled out for several gag gifts for different things I did during the week; leading a group, losing my keys, having a jacuzzi in my room.  The mayor of Big Stone Gap presented Gary with a replica rife of the frontier era; a wonderful gift and I really think Gary was touched by their kindness.  Well the trailer is almost packed, we are ready for bed and will leave tomorrow morning around 7 and we have decided to cancel our reservation at Lexington and just drive as long as we can and then find a hotel.  I would love to make it all the way home.   

A few pics from today

Me with the Woodbooger

Looking at Norton from the top of High Knob

Does Roger know the answer?

Yes Don had the answer!

High Knob a real challenge

Day 7

September 6, 2018

Rode to Harlan, Kentucky for lunch at the DQ and then back over more twists and turns.  We have ridden in Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee and due to heading in the wrong direct yesterday we all most made it to West Virginia.  Been working on my Appalachia story Gary gave us and I’m still about 9 words or phrases short out of 50.  Tonight, we wear our coonskin hats and it is game night and I have no idea what Gary and Ruth have planned I just know they have put a lot of work into it.  Our ride today was short, left at 10 and got back by 1:30 and I wanted to ride to High Knob and Flag Rock.  This had been a ride scheduled but after riding it in the truck and then asking another experienced rider to ride it Sunday Gary decided it was just too much of a challenge for our members.  He was concerned that some might try to ride it even if they didn’t feel comfortable.  Of course, I wanted to ride it and heard that Bob and Cathy Fulmer rode it the other day so they agreed to ride up again with me.  Roger also went with us.  The road was hardtop all the way with a few patches on part of it.  The road was wide enough for a car to pass but barely since riding in the middle was safer.  About 10 hairpin turns where you would be heading up or down and the bike right behind you was still on the down grade.  Hairpins are a real challenge and I love it.  Seldom got out of 2^nd gear.  Got to High Knob and parked and walked the remaining few yards (all up hill) to the tower and what a view!  The air is thin at 4,233 feet and there were more flowers blooming than I’ve seen all week.  Then back on the bike and another stop at Flag Rock where we first saw the statue of the Woodbooger and then walked several yards over hard rocks to the edge of the mountain to observe a flag flying on a large rock outcropping.  The story is an Irish Immigrant was so happy to be in America that he climbed to the top of the rock and planted a flag.  The town of Norton maintains that flag to this day.  Eight people have left to head home.  We still have a large group.  The meeting tonight was game night and oh so much fun.  We each took turns popping a balloon with a question inside and each question had 3 possible answers.  Gary had told us something about each question and it was great fun to see what we remembered or better didn’t remember.  If you got the answer right, you selected a prize, but the big fun was you could trade for any prized taken before you.  Two or three of the prizes made the rounds with lots of laughter and some good-natured name calling.  It was a great hour and a half of good fun.

A long day of fun

Day 6

September 5, 2018

Two separate rides today – one group went to ride the back of the dragon a road about 30 miles long of hairpin turns while the rest of us went to the Breaks and the Ralph Stanley Museum.  Our ride started out on 23 (only way out of town) but then turned on a lot of back country roads with hairpin turns, mountains to climb and descend and views to take your breath away.  The country is beautiful, but the area is so impoverished now that most of the coal mines have closed.  I cannot even imagine what live would be like if suddenly we lost our only means of income.   Riding along one road the river was running close to the road so all the homes built on the “other side” had to build bridges to their homes; some looked pretty sturdy some not so much.  A few of our members are planning to leave tomorrow; they will be missed.  But we all will be packing in just a day or two.  I am tired; it’s hard work having so much fun.

A few pics of Monday and Tuesday

Gary White

An Early Station 

Gun Smith

Chair lift at the Natural Tunnel State Park

The Natural Tunnel

Beauty beyond words

Dale and Don

Tyler Hughes

More roads, mountains and valleys

Day 5

September 4, 2018

Pulled out of the parking lot at 9AM in 3 groups; this is working pretty well.  Riding up and down route 23 and 58 a few times to see the Clinch River Trail, Coal Heritage Trail; The Crooked Road (country music road); roads with twists and turns; up hill and down; grass growing right to the edge of the road and mailboxes but no visible home (one must be there some place).  Past a couple active coal operations and hundreds of train cars loaded with coal waiting to be shipped to far away destinations.  Back at the hotel for a quick shower and then off we went again to Norton to the Wood Booger Restaurant.  The folks around the Appalachia area swear the Wood Booger lives in the mountains.  A creature others call Big Foot or Yeti.  Back to the hotel for an hour or so of Mountain music by Tyler Hughes a very talented young man born and raised here in Big Stone Gap.  He is also the youngest elected city counsel man.  This area has great things in its future with all the young’uns they are putting their faith in.  About 110 miles today.  

Such a beautiful location

Day 4

Monday, September 3, 2018

We have 38 members on 24 bikes and 2 cars.  Largest number in years.  Gary suggested we break the group into 3 riding groups; all going to the same locations just leaving 4 or 5 minutes apart in order to make it easier to hear on the radio and get through intersections.  It worked great.  Gary led group 1 with 8 bikes, Jimmy led group 2 with 8 bikes and I led group 3 with 8 bikes.  I almost always had group 2’s tailgunner in view but even if I couldn’t hear Gary I could hear Jimmy and he could hear me and information could be relayed.  Went to so many places today, Cumberland Gap State Park, Wilderness State Park and toured a “station” which is much like a fort, talked to a gun smith and learned about how a young boy would become an apprentice to a master tradesman and after about 7 years become a journeyman in that trade.  Learned a lot about Daniel Boone and the other frontiersman who traveled the gap heading West.  We rode miles of great roads past some small log cabins, houses of white clapboard and beautiful brick homes.  Hay fields mowed and baled; rolling hills and mountains dotted with cattle; mountains with stark stone faces etched with time and areas over taken with the Kudzu vine making the mountainside look lush and green like a thick carpet and covering the trees making them look like large monsters.  Our last stop was the Natural Tunnel and we took a chair lift to the bottom where we found a large natural tunnel carved through a mountain by the running river over many years.  A train track runs through the tunnel that’s how large it is.  The river – just a small stream of water now that a child could wade in.  Arrived back at the hotel around 6 just time enough for a quick dinner at the Huddle House next door and then to our meeting for the evening at 7 PM.  Up to the room by 8:30 for a hot soaking bath to ease the aches.  About 157 miles.

And the rally begins

Day 3

Sunday, September 2, 2018

Pulled out of the parking lot at 7 just as planned and the fog was so thick you could cut it with a knife.  Had heavy fog for an hour and then patchy fog for the next hour.  Gas and rest stop at 9 and then back on the road.  Traveling I 81 allows for making great time.  We reached Big Stone Gap by 11:35 AM.  The mountains are beautiful.  Once we got off I81 and on to 58 we traveled through a couple of small towns and then mostly open country with lush green growth, corn fields and one or two fields of tobacco just now turning yellow.  A total of 239 miles today. Room wasn’t even ready yet so we walked next door to the Huddle House for lunch.  Our room is beautiful!  Fireplace, jacuzzi tub; large screen TV, balcony and a king size bed.  At 6PM we all gathered in the lobby to follow Gary to the Visitor’s Center downtown.  The town is old, very old, and much like other small towns across our nation with one exception – they have a young tourism director and a young city manager and they have some very upbeat ideas.  As the city manager said they do not have the land to attract businesses but they have the one thing most people now days are searching for – nature, God’s creation and a slower way of life.  They have created a 3 mile greenway for walking and biking and plans are in the works to expand that to about 18 miles connecting to a near by town.  The region has developed hundreds of miles of ATV trails and already it is bringing in about 20 million dollars to the whole region.  We met the mayor, city manager, tourism director and a historian who was full of information.  He has lived here all his life, worked the coal mines and is now involved heavily with the development of the town and the region.  Very informative.  Gary then gave us some history of the places we will visit, Ruth shared a song we are to learn and then of course Gary handed out a paper with a story but a lot of the language is in the Appalachia English.  We are to translate the various terms.  I worked on it last night for about an hour using the Internet.  I was also very surprised to find I use or my family used a lot of the “Hillbilly” English.  Who would have guessed I was a Hillbilly?

Short ride

Day 2

Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018

Arrived in Lexington by 11:30 way too early to check-in so we decided to ride south on US11 to the Pink Cadillac Restaurant; a 50’s restaurant we found the year we brought the kids down.  After lunch we planned to ride out to Rockbridge Bath but the sky was getting dark and we could hear thunder rolling so back to the hotel and we could check in at 2.  In just a few minutes the rain came down and the thunder rolled.  We put on our rain gear at 5:30 and walked down the hill to a very good Mexican restaurant.  Off to bed for an early morning.  Want to eat breakfast by 6:30 and head out at 7.  Road 153 miles today.

Had to leave a day early

Day 1,

Friday August 31, 2018

Decided to leave a day early!  Just cannot wait to get on the road.  Started to rain just a little 30 minutes after leaving and then stopped by the time we reached the Bay Bridge.  Arrived at Fredericksburg VA by noon which was our first stop.  Nice room and plenty of time to rest before dinner at Cowboy Jacks right across the parking lot.  Great food cheap drinks during happy hour.  Only rode 153 miles. Breakfast early and then we head out on the open road for Lexington VA.

Last Day

Day 7, June 15, 2018

Last day and we wanted to limit the bike riding, so we decided to take the Smokey Mountain Train from Bryson City.  The train went through the Nantahala Gorge past Tuckasegee and Oconaluftee Rivers.  We passed Rafter Companies and lots of rafts up and down the river rapids; a large lake with a dozen or more house boats anchored a few yards from the shores; a couple of small waterfalls and lots of trees, mountains, flowering trees and shrubs.  Todd found his way to the café car and made several trips.  We returned around 4 PM and started packing immediately.  Tomorrow will be a long day covering more than 300 miles to Lynchburg VA.

Oconaluftee Indian Village

Day 6, June 14, 2018

Up and out by 8:30AM heading to the Blue Ridge Parkway.  Rode about 50 miles on the parkway traveling through the tunnels; hoping to see some wild animals but all we saw was one turkey.  Oh well. Getting off at the Maggie Valley exit we headed up and over the mountain.  Then back to Cherokee to visit the Oconaluftee Indian Village which was very interesting and informative.  Todd seemed to really enjoy it as well.  Looked at the baskets in the gift shop but $1000 for a basket seemed a bit extreme so I settled for a rag doll for Zoey.  Back at the bikes it was 88 degrees, so we decided to head back to the hotel and get in the pool.  Even Bernie got in the pool for a few minutes.  Dinner at Pizza Hut and then to relax in the room and watch some TV before bed.  We are all getting tired but just don’t want to stop.  

Fields of the Woods - Finally

Day 5, June 13, 2018

The sky looked a bit grey as we pulled out of the parking lot at 8:30 AM.  Plan was to head to Fields of the Woods; a Biblical based park which was established in the 40’s.  I’ve wanted to visit the park every time I came to Cherokee but never made it.  The park was 75 miles away and maybe 30 miles into the ride the rain started, lightly at first and then heavy.  A short stop to put on the rain gear and we were back on the road.  Only had 2 roads to travel; 74 and 294.  RT 74 started out as a nice dual highway and it is the recommended route for trucks but it becomes the normal Carolina mountain road with twists and tight turns.  The route runs along a river with a lot of rapids so of course there were several River Rafting companies along the road as well. 

Arriving at the park the rain stopped while we walked around; visiting the tomb of Christ, the Crosses, the Ten Commandments written on the side of the mountain.  We stopped at the alter on the mountain top and offered a prayer of Thanks to God.  Extending from the alter down the mountain were steps (maybe 100 or more) and at every couple of steps were large white tables with a Bible verse and each table was placed by a state.  Todd wanted to walk down the steps and find the table placed by Delaware.  We had ridden the bikes up by way of a small service road.  Well it started raining and Todd reached the bottom before we could get back down and bless his heart he got soaked.  Soaked so badly that we went to the gift store and purchased him a couple of shirts and he put one on right then.  Lunch in the café and then back on the bikes heading for the hotel.  Rain was pouring but as we got closer to Cherokee the rain stopped and the roads were dry.  They had not had any rain back at the hotel. 

Since we got back by 3 PM I figured I’d do some laundry but the guest washing machine was out of order so I asked one of the girls if there was another one and she told me I could use the one they use for the hotel.  Not sure if she was supposed to do that but she put all my laundry in one big commercial washing machine and then put it all in a large commercial dryer. 

Dinner at the Mexican Restaurant across the street and then we played cards for a couple of hours.  Todd even joined the game of Rummy.   

Lots of Twists and Turns Today

Day 4, June 12, 2018

One word for today – wonderful!  Bernie joined Don, Todd and me at 8:30 AM heading southwest to Cherohala Skyway.  Had the directions written down and gave them to Todd so he could help me make the right turns.  After maybe 25 miles on 4 lane highways we made a right onto country roads with 2 lanes, no shoulders, and gentle curves that soon turned into tight twisties.   Climbing to 5000 ft elevations and descending at 8% to 12% grades with a few switchbacks here and there to keep it interesting.  Lunch in Tellico Plains, TN at the Tellicafe at the end of the skyway and then off we go heading back to the hotel by way of the Tail of the Dragon.  A few miles on open highway and then again we turn onto the sweet back roads with no shoulders and tight curves.  We passed rivers, lakes, dams and more eye-catching scenery than you can imagine.  God has certainly given us a beautiful world.  I don’t know how but Todd can fall asleep in the hot sun and rocking of the bike.  At one point he grabbed my arm and yelled “I lost the directions”.  He had fallen asleep and they flew out of his hands.  Ha Ha  I told him not to worry I  had the GPS.  

We entered the Tail of the Dragon from the TN side; 11 miles of tight turns, switchbacks and hairpin turns.   It was tense, and Todd said he would rather not do that road again it was a little scary if he looked over the edge of the road.  There are signs posted at both ends of the Dragon that no trucks were to enter but at mile marker 2.5 we met a tractor trailer.  My first reaction was to yell No you can’t come up here.  But what was he to do at this point?  There is no turn arounds and no side roads off the Dragon.  He had made the first few curves, but he had no idea what was still ahead of him.  I radioed back to Don that a tractor trailer was come right at him.  He said when the driver reached the section of the Dragon where he was Don stopped and pulled his bike as far over into the grass as possible and the truck was inching his way and the trailer was on Don’s side of the road and missed hitting his bike by an inch.  He still had not reached the hairpins or switchbacks.   A dozen or more bikes passed us heading in the same direction as the truck with no idea he was blocking the way.  205 miles today; we left the hotel at 8:30 and returned at 3 PM.  I asked at both ends of the Dragon if anyone wanted to stop at the gift shops and Bernie and Don both said no so we kept moving; 2 hours before we could find a location for a rest stop.  BUT when we got back Bernie said he wished we had stopped and maybe we can ride back!  Probably not but I’m willing.

Todd and I got into the pool for about an hour and a half and then we all walked to the Chinese Restaurant across the parking lot for dinner. 

Busy Day Rain Twice

Day 3, Monday June 11, 2018

Faye’s sister and brother-in-law arrived yesterday afternoon to spend the day with us.  Breakfast around 8AM and then headed out for Wheels Through Time.  Don, Todd and I rode the bikes while everyone else went in Dick’s SUV.  RT 19 up and over the mountain between Cherokee and Maggie Valley was easier today without the trailer plus I was not tired and ready for the curves and 8% or 9% grades.  Bernie said he told Dick “see Sheila up there, take a look cause you won’t see her again until we reach the bottom of the mountain” and he was right.  Todd loves the mountain roads and the twists and turns as much as I do.  I tried to explain to him about running in a lower gear when going down a steep grade so you don’t have to ride your brakes so they don’t burn up.  I explained to him about looking through a curve to where you want to be.  I need to work with him about shifting so when the time is right he will be ready for his own bike.  Got to the museum by 9:15 and left there at noon.  It was just as interesting this time as the first time I saw it.  Todd seemed to enjoy it and he purchased a nice hooded sweatshirt.  Lunch was back in Cherokee to Little Princess which was very good then Don, Todd and I went over to the Tepee Village to see the Bear Park which was closed.  Did some shopping and Todd purchased a nice leather western hat.  Just as we were about to leave the rain started and the bottom fell out.  We sat in rocking chairs on the walk way and watched the rain pour down.  After about a half an hour it stopped, and the sun came out so we climbed on our wet bikes and headed to the hotel where they didn’t have a drop of rain.  Todd got in the pool for awhile.

Plan for tonight was dinner at 5 PM and then go to the show Unto These Hills.  Went to two restaurants and found them closed but the third was a charm; had Elk Burgers, Buffalo Burgers, Buffalo steaks, and so much more.  The show is in an outdoor theater and we had to walk a mile from the parking lot (up hill) and then down what seemed like a couple hundred steps to our seats on the mountainside.  And it started raining just before we went in so we purchased cheap ponchos, not much more than trash bags with holes cut in them but they served the purpose.  Couldn’t help but laugh we all looks so funny, then we are sitting on metal seats and the thunder starts to roll and rain is coming down harder.  Got to stay there is no refund!  The rain stopped just before the play begun and then it cleared up and was just chilly cause we are all more than damp by now.  The play is awesome about the Cherokee People trying to make a living in the Smokie Mountains and trying to get along with the white man only to be cheated and round up like animals and marched thousands of miles to the west.  17000 were forced to march and 5000 died on the trails.  A small group hide in the mountains and after many years and pleading with the government they were finally granted citizenship and a reservation established here.  These people have survived against all obstacles and they truly are a great nation.   

Arrived at Microtel - our home for the next 6 days

Day 2, Sunday June 10, 2018

Up by 6 and on the bikes by 6:30 AM.  Stopped for breakfast about an hour later and then after a few gas and rest stops we make it to Granny’s Restaurant in Cherokee for lunch at 1:28 PM.  Hot - temps in the 90’s but great riding.  Checked in at Microtel at 2:30; got settled in our room and then Todd and I went to the pool for an hour or so to cool off.  Then a short walk to Pizza Hut for dinner before getting ready for bed.  Tomorrow will not be much riding but more getting to and from locations like Wheels Through Time and the Bear Park.  Up and over the mountain again.  Come over today I told Todd we would be making several trips over the mountain.  

Cherokee NC June 2018

Day 1, Saturday June 9

It was an answer to prayer that the bikes were ready for the trip!  Bessie needed new forks which of course were not standard, so extenders had to be ordered, so the repairs took a week.  Got her back Tuesday.  The Silver Fox suddenly (or we just noticed) began losing air from the air bags and after a day of riding the fenders would be rubbing the back tires.  Had to order the air bags from Motor Trike and they arrived on Thursday.  The shop started working on her as soon as they arrived and got it fixed by Thursday afternoon.  I was doing a lot of praying and believing God was going to take care of us.  Then Friday after packing the trailer we hooked it up to test the lights and I had no brake lights!  Back to the shop I go.  Robbie (the mechanic) said it was a switch he had apparently set wrong so 2 minutes tops and he had it right. 

With happy smiles on our faces we (Don, me and Todd) pulled out of the driveway at 5:30 AM Saturday morning and met Bernie and Faye at the corner of their road at 6 AM.  With stops at Hardees for breakfast and then Gordonsville for lunch we made it to Danville around 5:30 PM.  Economy Inn is nothing to brag about but it was clean; on the way and cheap.  All we needed for a one-night stop.   We had covered 355 miles and were exhausted so after a shower we went to bed.  The train tracks ran right across the street and I only heard the train once.