My wife was out of town, the moon was going to be shinin' Super Perigree bright, and there was a new rear tire on the 1200GS Adventure that needed to have the "whiskers" shaved off.
I loaded up and headed for the mountains.
Here's the bike, loaded with my WBBB 1.1 dbl, my WB Superfly, my Winter Incubator and my big ol' bulky 15-year-old Moonstone sleeping bag.
The sleeping bag and my Big Agnes Sleeping Giant pillow pretty much fill the 20-liter Kriega bag on the back seat. The tarp and hammock are in one 10-liter Kriega and the WInc is in the other on the tops of the panniers. The metal panniers have some tools, my JetBoil and some tea, a change of clothes and some camp shoes, a fleece top to sleep in, my rain gloves and some empty space to stash layers as the days got warmer.
I crossed the AT several times over the weekend -- on US76, on GA60 at Woody Gap, on NC28, to name a few -- and I wondered if there were any HF members out enjoying the beautiful weather on the trails.
On the way up, I rode through Clemson and passed through Westminter, SC, and Clayton, GA. I wound my way past Brasstown Bald and over Wolf Pen Gap Road to Suches, GA.
While I was eating lunch at a new cafe on GA180 in Suches, I saw a buddy ride by. How did I know that it was him?
Well ...
Tom has a pretty distinctive motorcycle, to say the least.
Here are my bike and his side by side. Which one do you think is newer?
Some of you who have overnighted in Suches while hiking may recognize the place where I linked up with Tom. It is Two Wheels Only, a motorcycle campground and lodge that isn't but a couple of miles from Woody Gap.
T.W.O., which has been in operation since 1982, welcomed hikers from the AT. Due to the land being for sale, T.W.O. is closing -- closed, actually, since the operators have until tomorrow, March 22, to clear their stuff out.It will be sorely missed by the motorcycle community and more than a few hikers. I've met quite a few through hikers and section hikers there over the years.
After riding the area some with Tom and a couple of other guys, I headed north on GA60 and TN68 to Tellico Plains, TN. After a great ride over the Cherohala Skyway, I rode through the Joyce Kilmer Forest looking for a place to camp. I didn't find an open site.
The river was bursting at the seams.
Those of you familiar with the area may remember the one-lane bridge near the Santeetlah Dam. It looks like they're going to replace it or supplement it as there is another bridge under construction a few yards upriver.
I headed up to Deals Gap, where there is another "motorcycle resort" -- a gas station, restaurant, motel and campground. I have camped there lots of times. The store was closed for the day, but that is often he case when I arrive there. Standard practice is to camp and settle up in the morning.
I hung my hammock and rode over a road known as "The Tail of the Dragon" -- 318 curves in 11 miles. I rode about 9 miles to get to an overlook above the Calderwood Dam so that I could watch the Super Perigree Moon rise above the mountains.
Whe I got there, the moon was already a finger's width above the ridgeline and behind a light cloud cover. I stayed and watched it for a while.
I didn't have anything but a point-n-shoot camera with me, so the pics aren't great.
I went back, hung around the big fire pit with some of the motel guests, then turned in for the night.
I awoke the next morning with the little campground all to myself.
More later ...
Chris
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Originally Posted by Hosscat
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