Sunday's ride...with Paul Cox....

My long time readers know...I don't ride well with others anymore...but a week or so ago...a guy I talked to up in Mountain City TN contacted me on my email...asked if I wanted to ride...he was headed to Cherokee Lake, I've never really spent any time in that area, so...yeah, I'll ride...I'll ride anywhere...



This is Paul...we were on a 2 lane country road, and I love getting shots of friends and riding buddies as we make our way down the road...here Paul and I were moving a clipping pace of about 55 to 60 MPH....Paul was a good rider to hang the day with...

This is a map of our ride...a good day of riding...and while I didn't stop to get all the pictures I would have if traveling alone, I did manage to get a few shots of interest.


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I've seen postcards with this barn, and my brother's train club has a scene with it as well....



Here is a great photo of Cherokee Lake...many people will recognize where this view is at...RT. 25 South, coming out of the mountains to the north...I really like this view...



We crossed over a bridge, as I was looking off to my left, I noticed a dam...



I turned off to get shots of the dam...and was kinda side tracked by this...an old time Baptist baptism....





When the dunkin was over....out came the accordion.... Now we gather at the riiiiiver.....



I was wondering...would the water rise suddenly? Of course nothing of the sort happened....

There was so much more to the ride...but I just couldn't stop everywhere I would have if I were riding alone...I'm going back on this route again...you will love some of the stuff I didn't get...I want to show you what I saw...
But for now...this is what we have...I hope you enjoy the photos...

A weekend Chalk Full of Riding, Family, and Friends...

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My sister and her squeeze were going riding on Saturday. Somehow they were aware of what is known locally as "Trade Days"....a festival put on by the town of Trade, with Profits from the festival going to improve and expand the Trade Community Center and Park.

Trade is a community with the distinction of being the Easternmost community in the state of Tennessee. I'm a might bit confused because their web site also claims Trade to be the oldest community in Tennessee...I always thought Jonesboro held that distinction...oh wait, maybe Jonesboro is the oldest TOWN in Tennessee? Trade is unincorporated.

Oh hey, you remember the photos I took of Tom Dula's historical marker in Wilkes County NC?....



It seems that Tom Dooley (remember, that's how the folk song memorializes him...guess it rhymed better than Dula...) Oh off track here...but Tom ran to Trade to hide out...he was suspected of killing his fiancee...the posse caught up with him in Trade, dragged him back to face trial in North Carolina, convicted and hung...poor Tom Dooley...hang your head....

Well anyway...Sis, Carter (Sis's Mr.)and I climbed on our bikes...His>>>>a really nice Moto Guzzi...I was charged with getting pictures...but somehow...the bike managed to escape the lens of my camera...me bad....

Sis and her MR. live up Stony Creek off of RT.91...so we pulled out of their driveway heading North on 91 to Shady Valley and RT 421...or the Snake...



riding the Snake into Mountain City...and beyond...we made our way to Trade...and the Trade Days location.

We rode around the parking lot, settling on a place near the entrance of the lot...not realizing...the entrance to the event was a bit more up the little lane...we could of parked right close to the entrance...with the bikes...ah well, this couch potato needs the walk anyway...but lord...it was hot...in the low 90* and that is hot for this part of the mountains...



Once inside, we found a grist mill....





An actual working mill...you can go inside and watch the mill as it works....
Or you can walk up a slight incline to the place where the Native American Pow Wow is going on...choose a meal from the half dozen or so vendors



...and watch or participate in the show put on by the troupe of Native Americans gathered for the Pow Wow festivities...





Of course there were you regular vendor types selling "native American" souvenirs...flutes...weaves...wood carvings...but I'd seen and done all that stuff before...and so have you...I just left them for others...

After eating, we walked about the venue...saw what there was to see...and climbed back on the bikes...I was hot, I wanted to ride home...it was time to start dinner for Mom and my MR.... I took RT. 67 home...making a loop ride of it, while my sister and her MR. returned the way we came...

Another good day in the dust...and memories are golden... Thanks for inviting me Di...

Pic of the week with a tattoo side note

When I woke up this morning, it was beautiful outside. Instead of just putting my dog out on the leash, I went outside with him. The grass was still wet with dew, and the sun was shining. The sunshine cascading on this dew laden cobweb caught my eye like a shiny coin would on black tar. The spider was in the middle. It was a classic picture of nature and it's beauty. It was one of those simpler things in life that make you realize how beautiful nature can be. I quickly got my camera to captured the moment.

Then I got to thinking.

I love cobwebs. They are really pretty, as long as you aren't walking through one. They also look pretty cool, and signify a sort of toughness. I've even got an old cobweb or spider web tattoo on my right shoulder. It's got a Black Widow in the center.

I remember thinking that I always thought that those cobwebs on the elbows looked pretty cool. When I got that tattoo I seriously pondered getting one one my elbow instead of my shoulder.

But I chose not to because I wanted all my tattoos to be able to be covered up by short sleeves for business purposes if I ever got a job where it really mattered.

Here is a picture of a dude with the classic elbow cobweb.

Pretty cool.

I had always heard that it had a meaning, but never knew what it was.

The power of the internet revealed to me that typically, the cobweb on someone's elbow signifies that they have been, or still are in prison. An extension or thread is added for each year they spend in the joint.

Funny, I never knew that until now.

I guess we all learn things as we go.

I'm glad that I know now. I'm also glad that I didn't choose an elbow cobweb design for a tattoo back then, not knowing what I know now. Boy would I have looked like a dumb ass at 19 with a tattoo signifying I spent five years in the Pen. That would have meant I was 14 Yrs. old when I started my hardened prison life. LOL!

I always feel like somebody's watching me...

Sometimes when I sit at my desk, clickity clackity clacking away at the keyboard typing this drivel that you sometimes come to read, I get the distinct feeling like I'm being watched.

Kinda like somebody or something is lurking over my shoulder, ready to pounce at any given minute.

Must just be paranoia.

I'm back in the saddle again.

Kenny sitting on the ground ready to roll (Like it should be).

By 10:30 last night Kenny was released from his time out on the trailer and was breathing thunder again.

After disassembly, checking everything I could possibly check, it turned out that all that was wrong was the connections were getting loose and corroded. Not like battery acid green corroded, but like black shit between the connectors at the battery post corroded. Really only the positive side, but I sanded both clean, and got good tight contact. This is all it took.

Thanks for well wishes, and advise. I know I can count on many of you who gave me advise if I ever need it in the future. Maybe I'll save myself some more money by doing some other maintenance myself from here on out.

I've always done my own body work and paint, and do just about any home building project, but have never ventured deeply into mechanics. I've learned something here. I can do some things like this myself, I can save some serious ching doing so, and I've got friends out there willing to lend good advise.

Thanks!

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...