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.