I'm afraid I'll have to bail out on my trip with you. The weather looks pretty good for the ride but I'd have to ride in rain for three days to get there. Been there, done that, got the T shirt . I'll be coming down as soon as the weather clears so if you see a red Swing with a Jersey plate on it stop over and say hello. I spoke to the owner of the motel and rest stop at Deal's Gap when I was up at the Americade and he told me that he was going to have a big tent sale this coming weekend. Have a good ride, stay safe, maybe I'll make it next year.

Will miss you. the ride is open to one and all. If you have been thinking about a nice get together - this may just be the ticket.

We started the day a little bit earlier than yesterday. Breakfast and rolling toward our first destination by 9:00am or so. Today was fun in the sun day. The roads we took today are some great little and big roads of east TN and west NC. Started the day on TN-30 north from the junction at US-64. This is a little two lane road that is tree lined with lots of canopy cover. Every now and then we break out in the sunshine, but the real joy of this road is the almost constant gentle hills and curves.



The route changes in Reliance TN we turn onto TN-315 for our jaunt into Tellico Plains. Just before turning onto TN-315 we stopped to take photos at this old church.



We got to Tellico Plains and I thought we had a bit more time than we actually did, so I made a bit of an error although it was not a big deal. But, we headed down the Cherohala Skyway to Bald River Falls. This is a small falls - about 100 feet high.



We headed back to Tellico Plains and met the folks coming from Atlanta. there are quite a few of us now (I do not know how many) and they were about done with lunch. We finished lunch and the Atlanta bunch had headed for Bald River Falls. Kim and I have a route planned and the rest of the group who have travelled with us are going a bit of a different route so we split up. We head out to the Cherohala Skyway.

The Cherohala is nice - wide and fast. It rises up over 5,000 feet above sea level and it is nice and cool which is very welcome today as it is hot. We meet lots of other bikes on the road and had a few sportbikes pass us. It was all good though and we got to Robbinsville, NC in good shape.



We headed out of Robbinsville to catch NC-28 south to Franklin, NC. This is a very twisty road and has a few 180 hairpin curves. Before we got the NC-28 we ended up in a bit of a mountain road traffic jam behind a truck and camper. Slow going for a while, at least we could watch the rafters float down the river along the road. after Franklin we headed toward Silva, NC on a very small county road 1001. I think it was a county road it was named Elijay Highway. Such a great road with a max speed of about 40 MPH due to the twists and curves.

We are in the Best Western in Cherokee, NC. Thanks for all of the birthday greetings. Most especially to Trent who called and left me a little rendition of the birthday song - that was great. Then to the Wulff pack - Katrielle Whitney, Jared, and Claire who called and sang the birthday song to me. I heard Andy and Melissa too. We are so blessed.

Hi Dale and Kim. It was great meeting you both. I had a blast on the ride. I hope you both made it home safe. It took me 7 hours to get home today. I went thru north Ga. mtns , nice scenery but so hot!

Take care,

-Matt

Matt,

Glad you made it home. We started out in the rain and rode through the Great Smokie Mountains National Park. Not a bad ride in the rain. Cleared up once we came down from the peaks. Only had about an hour of rain. But then the heat.

It was nice to meet you and we're happy you had a good time.

Dale,
I forgot to send you a note but I am truly sorry I could not go this year. My wife even said I could go but we had in-laws arrive and I just couldn't get away. Let us know the dates for the 4th annual and I'll tell them not to come.
>> Dennis

Dale and all who made the ride.
Great pictures and it looks like you had a great time. What a great country our God has blessed us with. You can't find a bd road in the Smokey's. Like they say, some are just better than others....