12 Hours, Riding in the Mountains of N.C.

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I can't think of a better way to spend the day!
I left around 9:45 on Saturday, June 6th...and my new adventure began. First I stopped at Sycamore Shoals Park for the Native American Weekend celebration going on there. It opened at 10 AM. I arrived as they started receiving people for admission. Just before arriving at the reconstructed colonial fort, a table is set with two people to collect the $4.00 admission fee. I could have just circled the fort and come in the back way for free...but why? It was not expensive...I could manage...I have (had) $40.00 for my travel budget this week...and while that's not a landfall of money...it's enough.



I've paid my dues and the first tent I come upon a group of stone knappers. Using tools from the Ancients, these guys were in the process of shaping knives, spear heads and scraping tools. Check out these guys!

From stone Knapping Ride

A completed Spear Head



There were many exhibition tables, but I'm only going to show you the things that didn't remind me of "TOURIST TRADE ITEMS" Per say... The rest is art in my opinion.

Native American Woodcarving:















There were people in authentic dress





And a cool display of "waupum".... this guy covered the American Indian Currency from the earliest known times...pretty intresting to me.





I stayed for the Native Flute playing...then climbed on my gal and headed for the Covered Bridge Days in downtown Elizabethton TN.







There was plenty to see with the celebration of our Covered Bride Days... they closed down old Downtown



And had a party...



But leaveing there was easy...I had a nice long ride ahead of me. Heading out on SR 19E past Roan Mountain...into North Carolina...I make several road changes until I find myself on SR 181 South... It's here at Jonahs Ridge I get on the Blue Ridge Highway...heading north. First stop... Linville Falls Campground... I take the "easy trail" to the falls. This is the trail the Moms and Dads with small kids take. I have found, I'm much too friendly with my couch lately. This was a tough trail...I rested often.
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Linville Falls:









Leaving the Falls...still heading North on the Blue Ridge...Horses...



Did someone say STEER?



And a Grandview:



Historic MT. Jefferson:



Tom Dooley was buried somewhere here off of Mountain View Road...damn if I know where I was though....



My girl posing with Tom Dooley.



Fueling up...




I came across so many of these old pumps...most of the pictures didn't come out well...I'm going back to do a "Gas pump" Pictorial....so cool!



I just liked this old building...

I'm outta here kids...
Let me know if you enjoyed the ride...

Oh and before I forget... Do not take NC 90. It's a really cool road, I loved it...right until the paved road ended...and went to graded... I checked the map, saw I could go to Blowing Rock on the graded road...and thought "What the heck?" Well I'll tell you what the heck... you get a half mile up that grade...and it turns into almost straight up...with gullies... and four wheeled traffic zooming at ya from everywhere... my wheels were sliding about...and I could only go 6 MPH... My butt was tired of playing sucker fish to the saddle... I turned around and found another way... Adako Road to NC 181... man oh man... my ass hurt when it realized it could let go of the saddle....

THE NEXT LOOP RIDE

A MAP OF MY NEXT RIDE. I THINK THIS WILL HAPPEN ON SATURDAY JUNE 6TH...AFTER I STOP AND GET PICS AT THE NATIVE AMERICAN ENCAMPMENT, AND THE COVERED BRIDGE DAYS IN TOWN. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE DAY.

TIME FOR BED...

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From the Editor....

I always wanted to have a headliner that read that... "FROM THE EDITOR"....
Today is Friday June 5Th, 2009. This year is slipping by quickly. But I've already lamented on that...so it's up to me to find something else to wax and wane about. Oh don't worry...when I'm in the mood, I can wax and wane with the best of em!



This weekend is a busy one around the local area. Right here at home in Elzibethton, we have Covered Bridge Days.



My town is very proud of their covered bridge...as they should be, I have to get some pictures of it today in the new season...the trees surrounding the banks and shading the entries and exits of the bridge are in full regalia...



the waters beneath the bridge are sporting brighter colors...I believe the bridge will photograph as a warm and lovely spot to bring your sweetie for a romantic packed picnic lunch... Perhaps I wouldn't call it romantic during these celebration days this weekend...but the rest of the summer days? I wouldn't hesitate to bring my sweetie here for solitude and beauty...and it's right in the center of the historic district...who'da thunk we could have solitude there?

Another thing going on here this weekend is the Cherokee Pow Wow meeting at Sycamore Sychools. That will be starting on Sat. at 10 AM... I will ride my bike over with my camera...attending that will be a MUST. I'm eager for that one as well.

Also, in Johnson City is the celebration of the Plum...Why the plum? Hell if I know, I haven't read up on this celebration...guess I should before I go around talking about it...Mom always said "If ya don't have anything good to say, then shut up." I'm shutting up now.

The Wall That Heals

is going to be in town this weekend. I will go to that as well. I have pictures of the mini wall from Charleston SC as well as from Melbourne, Florida... I try hard not to miss it...





I'm also going to try and get what books I have at the new store in a kind of genre and author order...this is the hard part. Because it means you have to handle each book...and once I do that, I find it impossible not to really check it out to see if it is something I would like to read.... Oh lord...how do you keep from doing time wasting stuff like that? I'll have to work on my impulse control switch...it seems to be working intermittently....

A Few Thoughts...

It's June already. I've so much left to do. So many dreams for this summer...and I haven't gotten to them yet. It's a bit of a disappointment to me. Every month, a plan gets knocked down...put off to the side...because something comes up from the depths of some black hole to swallow up the spare money we have set aside for me to ride. Or, something comes up that needs to be done. Something that wasn't planned for. Or my computer dies...or... yeah, you get the idea.


I had planned to have my ride of the Natchez Trace in the bag by the end of May. Didn't happen...and I don't think it will happen this year after all. Why? Because it is a week long ride...and that requires more money...and other things are popping up all over...I am starting to see...I shouldn't plan on any ride...I should just take it when the time opens up or the money is there....



I have some really good news. Because of a reader, I have been invited to attend a tour by the Tourism Board of West Virginia. It will be a five day tour, and we will be treated to many cool roads, sights, and events...all geared toward the motorcycle traveler. West Virginia is beginning to realize the potential of the motorcyclist's tourist dollar. Now let's not forget the amount of history West Virginia has...or how about the twisty roads of the Appalachian Mountains. The Red River Gorge...I am very excited about riding in West Virginia...with 11 other of my fellow journalists. It will be quite the honor actually.



I want to get on my bike and ride miles...many, many miles. I don't know how people stay in one place for years at a time. I have never had a job that held me in one place for more than 18 months.



I've always had to keep on moving...beyond the boredom of the known...into the excitement of a new place, new people to learn, new job skills...or...using the skills I already had...to impress and make a reputation for myself...allowing me to go anywhere in the state...and getting good money for the skill set I offered. But I never stayed long...12 months was about the average. It's now been since 1999, that I've had a full time job where I put in time for someone other than myself. I love what I'm doing now...I don't make much money...but I am able to have the things I need...and that's a happy thing.



I don't know where this is gonna take me ten years from now...but I'm hoping I will be riding, writing, and loving the same people in my life...