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Well we loaded up the truck and rented an enclosed UHaul and left Ilion on Wednesday morning. We drove through some nasty rain for most of the trip and we were glad we rented the trailer to haul his newer Harley Fatboy and my friend's Ducati Monster that I borrowed for the trip. (traded my gsxr for a couple days)
We stayed at the Kickstand Lodge, where Scotty and I camped during the first stop of our x country trip. Mo, the owner/operator remembered me and was happy to see us. The cottage we rented sleeps 5 and costs 50 bucks a night, perfect for a group on a budget.
Thursday we rode the dragon and headed north towards Cherokee and on to Pigeon Forge to ride the Smokey Mountain Parkway to Gatlinburg. We hit some rain which turned to a downpour and a nasty T-storm in Cherokee but waited it out at a gas station until the worst was over, the skies cleared and that was the last drop we felt for the rest of the trip. We racked out early with plans of an early ride.
Friday we were up at 5am and hit the road for a sunrise ride over the Cherohala Skyway, breakfast in Tellico Plains (best blueberry flapjacks), and south through Ducktown and Turtletown. (no joke). these were some of the best roads ive ever seen! A couple more laps on the dragon followed by a dip in Fontana Lake and we headed out for another ride which lasted until midnight.
Saturday I took a solo ride through the Hellbender, the fog was lifting over the river and hovering about 12 feet above the road for a surreal ride, then off to the gap, which was completely empty! I waited at the lookout for a good 10 minutes for someone else to come and chat for a bit.
The Kickstand Lodge www.kickstandlodge.com
Nasty Storms ripped down some signs
Little Bro and his wife, first trip
Start gap photos
The Duc on the Smokey Mtn Parkway
Brett's Harley
Sunrise ride
OH! THATS how they were made...stupid Geologists
Breakfast at the Prospector's Diner in Tellico Plains
Dragon Fuel! no i didnt buy it, $7.99/gal
Solo ride through the Hellbender
Lonely Overlook
He had a sticker that read "Nuke Unborn Gay Whales" just about offends everyone! love it.
Pride
Can't wait to go back.