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Sunday March 10th was just such a day. I waited for the fog to burn off. I puttered about the house until almost noon, then started the bike and headed for my spring destination: The Snake (US-421). I took a round about way to get there. I live less than 30 miles from this semi-famous motorcycle destination in Shady Valley, TN.
The way I take is SR-37 to US-321 in Hampton TN. US-321 heads up into the mountains and around Lake Watauga. This is a nice little twisty road that eventually leads out of Tennessee and into Western North Carolina.
image caption: Into the mountains
Our winter has been quite wet. It's a rock strewn ride around mud and rock slides as I travel this road.
It's here the road becomes of interest to me! All of a sudden, even though I've traveled this road for almost 5 years, I realize there are some very cool back roads that need exploration. I decide to take one of them as I enter the valley floor near US-421. The road is called "OLD US-421". I decide to take it. How can ya go wrong? It was worth the ride.
image caption: A blast from our past ESSO
Not far into the detour I ride into a small town known as Sugar Grove, NC.
As I'm weaving down the road, I spy an old ESSO gasoline sign! "This is gonna be good!" I think to myself. I was right! Here in little Sugar Grove, across the street from the Library is a little museum. It's known as "D.T. Garage Museum".
image caption: Antique gas pump
image caption: Antique gas pump
image caption: D.T. Brown Garage
Leaving the Garage Museum behind, I travel a few miles down the road to discover these photogenic buildings standing next to a creek whose soft, misty undertones helped produce a hypnotic beauty in my mind. I hoped to capture that same beauty through the lens.
image caption: early 20th century architecture
I barely kicked the bike into 2nd gear after leaving the old buildings, then I came across this old steam engine. I've not a clue what it was once used for. Do you?
image caption: Vestige of a steam engine
I'm a fan of the old style country church. I saw one that caught my eye as I was riding down the road. I decided to snap my camera as I rode. I like the way the tarmac of the road gives way to the speed of the bike while the old church sits center frame in the distance.
All too soon, Old US-421 rejoins the new and "improved" edition of US-421 and I turn my wheel toward the town of Trade TN. Trade sits on the shared state lines of Tennessee and North Carolina. It has a fun festival every year which celebrates the old grist mill that still sits in town. Some time, I'll have to look for the photos I took when I attended with my sister a few years ago.
Just after passing the grist mill is SR-67. I turn right at this road and follow it up into North Carolina again. The road now becomes NC-88. A fine road for photo ops, but I don't stay on it long. I want to get back onto US-421 and head for Shady Valley via Mountain City. I was ready for a few technical twists and turns on US-421 known locally to us bikers as "The Snake".
image caption: the Mountain City side of The Snake.
In one shot I took (on the west side of Shady Valley heading toward Bristol TN.) I stopped to get a few shots. I never noticed my lens took a hit from a juicy bug, but it tends to lend character to the photo.
image caption: Shady Valley
I turned the bike around at South Holston Lake, retracing my ride back to Shady Valley. I didn't stop at the Shady Valley General Store, which is the prime destination for many riders. I came to ride, not socialize. No time for the hundreds of bikers standing around telling war stories. I like to make my stories as I ride, and I'll them to ya here. Much better this way. Don't ya think?
Great sunny day rouring out in the countryside even with all the 'bugs'...lol ...the church was an excellent shot down the road, one of my favorite pictures.
ReplyDeleteHugz Valkyrie
Hey Chessie, you know, you should make these rides into a motorcycle travel guide book. Your very good with it and it makes the rides look like pure adventure. Actually, I'd have to say better than most travel guides I've seen.
ReplyDeleteI'll be getting out and about more now and looking for areas like these and do some motorcycle camping. I don't like riding in a large group most times as it dampers things incase [I] want to stop for something that's caught my interest.
I wanted to remind you, Don't forget about the AAF Tank Museum in Danville and April 30th is the big show.
What a beaitiful sunny images! Spring has come!
ReplyDeleteThank you for this photo! I like your style! Antique gas pump, steam engine, early 20th architecture - super!
Hey Chessie
ReplyDeleteYOU KEEP FILLING OUR SCRAPBOOK WITH PLACES TO VISIT. kEEP YOUR KNEES IN THE BREEZE AND SHINNY SIDE UP TILL WE MEET AGAIN
Great pics, love traveling back roads and discovering new places...the old gas station pumps are rad.
ReplyDeleteWow! I'm so jealous - I wish I lived so closer to such beautiful scenery.
ReplyDeleteWe do have some lovely twisty country roads around here, but the landscape is as flat as a pancake :(
I think it's one of the reasons why I head over to the Italian Alps every year, because there's nothing quite like riding through the mountains.
How nice! I hope we get weather that good on our cruise in Ohio next week. Long-range forecast is for rain, rain and more rain. After planning for this long I'll be pissed if it's nice the after we go home!
ReplyDeleteGreat trip/pics Chess. Nice steam engine/tractor. Apparently used for threshing grain, (oats, wheat, whatever) in the 19th and early 20th centuries, (eventually phased out in the mid 1920’s by more efficient machinery) according to Wiki. Several farms might afford to buy and share a tractor, then at least one person from the Co-op might attend steam school and learn the operations in conjunction with a threshing device. They might then pull it from farm to farm by horse for their own use as well as renting out its service to other farmers.
ReplyDeleteLove the old pumps, reminds me when I was a kid and used to go around with my grandfather, for some reason I only remember these with him, he's long passed way :-(
ReplyDeleteNice pictures. Is this road near 129? Tail of the Dragon?
George, the fuel pumps are located off Old US-421 in N.C. About 125 miles north east of the Dragon.
ReplyDeleteDRex, I'm so glad you did the research for me! Luv ya man...
Nicco and Lizzie, Spring will come for you soon! When it does...look out! ;)
Back Seat Rider...I'm so glad you found me here!
Wooley, Sid, and Anonymous: What praise, I am basking in. Thank you all. I'm hoping y'all will soon be enjoying a wonderful spring ... very soon ;)
DRex is right. The grandparents rented here.
ReplyDeleteSuch a wonderful looking day. Great images of the gas pumps. I love the old metal signs. We failed to run the Snake while on the BRP. But maybe sometime this year. :) Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDelete