Tellico Spring '13 -- part I

WEDNESDAY NIGHT

Skip rolled in about 2 AM due to some issues he was having with his trailer. It turned out that it was just slop between the hitch and the receiver, which was fixed by a shim, but noises had him stopping a few times and checking stuff out, which delayed his arrival. Nonetheless, I was up and pouring him a beer as he pulled into the driveway.

After quenching a thirst, we unpacked a couple things including this bounty (coincidently, I had nearly the same amount of interesting brews in the kegerator) ....

Skip must be here   ;j

We enjoyed a few more beers and caught up some before shutting down around 4 AM. Heh! at least we didn't watch the sun come up this time.

THURSDAY

Today would be spent trying to get the tractor unstuck, then we would load up and head to Hunt's Lodge. I had got it in some mud and wound up slipping down a hill a bit and it had been stuck there for a few weeks. I had no luck doing it myself, so Skip generously offered to help me get it out of there.

The process was to jack up the tractor, pile wood up under the wheels, lower the tractor, raise the jack up higher off the ground, jack up the tractor, add more wood, and so on. This needed to be done for the two left side wheels to get some weight onto the right side wheels.

Once we had got the tractor to an almost "level" (with the horizon) plane, we hooked a tow strap to a winch, which was attached to a tree and between winching it and letting the tractor drive out, we finally got it unstuck. VICTORY! I was sooo happy, thanks again Skip!

After we got done with that, we loaded my KLR up on his trailer, packed the cooler full of beer, and were Tellico-bound. We arrived two hours later to an empty campground. Apparently, everyone had gone out to eat dinner. They returned about half a beer later and many laughs were had.

Skip and I decided to drink one final beer before heading into the cabin. I think I took my hat off or something (my memory of details by this point are pretty clouded). Anyway, we had a beer and then headed off to see if we could snore poor Curtis out of the cabin.

FRIDAY

Upon getting up, I had a hard time locating stuff. I had apparently emptied out my pockets prior to lying down. However, I didn't put all the items in one place. That was a bit of a pain trying to locate stuff. As I just mentioned I had taken my hat off and left it outside at some point.

Overnight, it poured! I mean cats-and-dogs downpour. I believe Chris Pope asked if I had lost my hat. When I told him I had he mentioned that there was one very wet "black" (it's actually blue, but it looked black due to it being *saturated*) hat on the ground in front of his cabin. Okay, thanks.

Folks paired up and headed off to breakfast, and I typically don't do breakfast, so I passed on it. I figured I would just hang out until Skip and Curtis returned and we would all go play when they got back. Well, most everyone had returned from breakfast, but Skip and Curtis still had not.

The morning rain was getting a bit chilly and it really showed no signs of letting up. When I heard Jack Smith say Chris, Alf, and he were going to go to the Lost Sea, I asked if I could join them. They permitted this and we left within a couple minutes.

The Lost Sea is a HUGE cave with an underground lake. It was well worth the $20 cost of admission. Quite impressive, indeed! plus there were some neat formations as is typical with a wet cave.

Once we got back into Jack's posh diesel Dodge, his info panel told him he had a low tire. We stopped at a gas station with a compressor and as he was filling, he noticed a nail in the tire. There was a tire store right next door, so we went over there and they patched it up for him at a price he was happy with.

Then they started talking about getting lunch. We hit a Krystal and watched the manhunt for the Boston bomber on their TV. By the time we got back to the campground, Skip and Curtis had already left.

I talked to Jack Hunt a couple minutes inquiring about Witt Road and how I could get there. I figured that would be tame enough I could handle it alone and not have any major problems. I have seen video of the road and other than one water crossing it didn't look too bad.

He informed me that if I went right I would go to Conasauga Falls. To stay on Witt, go left. Well, I wanted to go to the falls. I figured I could play with the camera some, and besides with all the rain we got this morning, there should be a good flow there.

I found the parking area/trailhead without issue and began walking down the mountain. I stupidly forgot and left my water bottle in the bike. By the time I realized this, I was most of the way down. I wasn't going after it now.

The fall was indeed roaring and I did play with the camera a little bit ...

Then I started walking back up the hill. I had to stop for a breather a couple times.

It didn't look that bad on the way down -- no real quick change in altitude, just a long steady walk. I was *hating* the fact I had left my water at the bike.

I proceeded along Witt Road and made it through the first water crossing without issue. I could see the bottom and easily chose a line that caused me no problems. However, the second one gave me some pause.

I stopped and surveyed it. It seemed to be about 30' across and I could not tell how deep. It was muddy (due to all the rain we had the last few hours) and had a pretty good flow to it. I couldn't tell what the bottom was, if there were any big rocks to contend with, ledges, dropoffs, who knows?

muddy!

I sat there for a while, wrestling with what I would do. I'm alone. If I drop it, this could be bad.

I was really hoping someone might come along and I could see how bad it was when they went through. I encountered a pickup truck earlier. Alas, no one came and discretion got the better part of valor as I whimped out.


The section of Witt I had just done wasn't bad, and now I knew what to expect so I hit that with a little more vigor -- especially that water crossing!



I had a good head of steam coming into it. I hit that water and a flume of water went OVER my head. It ... was ... AWESOME!

Right after the water crossing, the road has a bunch of rock outcrop sticking up through the sand/gravel road. I just stood on the pegs, goosed the throttle, and let the bike bounce. Good stuff!

I headed back to the campground and by then Skip and Curtis had returned and were quick to rub in all the fun that I had missed out on. Ah well, I will be with you boys tomorrow!

Curtis and Alf were generous enough to setup an order and retrieve pizza for dinner for those of us too lazy to go out. That meant I could stay and have another beer. Sign me up!

They got back and a gaggle of maggots made short work of four large pizzas. Beers were consumed, lies told, good times had.

Russell pulled in around 2:30 ... chilled to the bone. It *was* cold! There were four or five of us still up and stayed up another couple hours then headed off to bed.

It *had* to be cold! I have never had problems being cold overnight when camping. I have a 30* sleeping bag and line it with a nice blanket.

However, I was cold under the covers in the cabin. Skip and Curtis echoed that the next morning when we all decided to get up.

Tellico Spring '13 -- part II

SATURDAY 

Saturday morning, Curtis was good enough to make a run up to Hardee's and grab us some breakfast sandwiches to get us going. After a chilly night a warm sandwich sounded perfect. Thanks, Curtis.

He sure tolerates a lot. Skip and I snore up a storm all night long and he still goes and gets breakfast for us -- what a guy!

After a LOT of deliberation and looking at a map, we finally got underway. It was pretty much decided we would do the Gravelhola (gravel route that parallels the Cherahola) and avoid trail riding since it would likely be too muddy. I was bummed, but it made sense.

We got on our first road, but upon coming to a fork, Curtis led us up Belcher Loop, because he saw that on the map and Mike and Tina had recommended it. Okay. On our way up here come Mike and Tina from the other direction. A quarter mile or so later we saw why they turned around.

There were two large trees lying across the road. The first one was passable, but the second one was nearly 3' in diameter. Upon seeing it, Curtis was ready to as well, but Skip and I convinced him we could manage this. The idea was to pick up the front wheel over the tree, then the rear. There were three of us, this shouldn't be too bad.

Success!

After huffing all three bikes over the trees we took a couple minutes breather. We got back to rolling and very soon afterwards the "game plan", once again, got scrapped.

There was this trail off to the left that looked dry and intrigued me. I stopped and looked at it. Skip was behind me and had the same idea.

Then VROOOOMMM -- there he went. Curtis was ahead of us but saw me stop and did the same. As soon as Skip took off, I could imagine him screaming obscenities in his helmet.  ; )

I don't recall how but at some point, I was now leading on this trail. It is a great mix of mudholes, rock outcrop, etc. I had found a rhythm by now and am scooting along at a good pace just letting the bike bounce all over.

There was a mudhole up ahead and I picked my line, kept my throttle and momentum up because I wasn't sure how deep it was. It was about 5' long or so. There was a log laying just in front of the puddle.

Again, I had my speed set and my line chose. I hit that log and when the wheel came back down it must've been slightly crooked and I got pitched off the left side of the bike. Somehow earlier on that trail, my right side mirror had come loose, so I took the opportunity while stopped to try to fix that.

I was having a problem removing the rubber boot on the stalk and just decided to remove the mirror altogether. So we took another break.

Mirror now removed, time to get the wheels rolling! There wasn't much more to it and the trail exited onto some road. The rest of the day we would have no idea where we were. We even somehow or another managed to find ourselves right back on this trail a half hour later.

More fumbling around on roads ensued. We would come to an intersection, all look at one another, and shrug. Eventually, one of us would just pick a direction and hit the throttle.

Skip and I so enjoy the single track stuff that our heads are always on a swivel looking for something to explore. We don't go around gates or on POSTED private property, but if there is a trail that doesn't look forbidden we have no problems taking it.

Skip was leading and he hops off the road we were on, up this trail. Curtis promptly follows, as do I. This one was a bit more technical. There were some steep grades to climb and some of it is slick.

One such hill (which was the worst we were on) was about 45* or more. It was real steep and sort of slickery in spots. I damn near made it up it. However, about 5' from the crest my front wheel washed on me. I panicked and grabbed the brake.

I'm screwed now! I have NO momentum and the bike starts sliding backwards. I made it about 3' before drop #2.

Ms.Chif takin' a nap

The picture does NOT do the angle justice. It looks like a level pathway -- FAR FROM IT! it was nuts!

Skip is taking this from the top.
I am pointing to where I made it to.

There was no way I could pick up the bike by myself on this grade, so I just waited for them to come back. Skip's suggestion was to take it back down and get another run at it, because there was NO way I was going to be able to get enough traction to get to the top.

I am NOT on board with this idea and suggest to see if the three of us can muscle it the last 10' or so while working the throttle. We have nothing to lose, so we try it.

This worked. I was damn glad because I didn't want to try that hill again!   LOL    However, we were all a bit winded after that and took another break.

That was the worst of it and really the toughest section of the day. We found ourselves back on gravel again -- just long enough for Curtis, this time, to spy a trail. We came to a stop sign and the plan was to turn around and take that one.

This one is no longer a trail. It USED to be at one point, but it has become rather overgrown. Many low lying tree branches and trees within the trail itself. This was great stuff! I enjoyed this one immensely.

We were rolling along ducking and dodging trees and tree branches. THWACK! THWACK! THWACK! THWACK! was all you could hear and feel as branches are bouncing off the helmet. It was great.

There was one part where a tree had fallen over and you had to kind of lean over to get the bike under it. Skip was in the lead with me second and Curtis bringing up the rear. Skip got through fine. For me, it was a little more labored, but I got through.

Curtis had something go amiss and the bike fell on him pinning his ankle. I got the bike off him and he was okay.

Then the trail branched off and Skip chose the left fork that went, of course, uphill. He has a penchant for going up hills.  ; )

The trail quickly degraded and when we got to the top, we stopped and discussed a plan of action. While we were sitting there figuring it out, I lost footing on my right foot and drop #3. Curtis decides he is going to help me and just before parking his bike, he drops his. (sigh)

We go back down the hill and find some logging roads. The order was the same and Curtis had fallen back so Skip pulls over and we both wait and wait ... and wait. I ask Skip to cut his engine and you can hear Curtis winding out his throttle. He had got stuck. Then you hear him moving, so he was able to free himself up.

A little further up this logging road, it came to an end. I took the wrong approach to doing a U-turn and it got interesting for a moment but I was able to avoid drop #4.

Curtis was less fortunate. While turning he lost footing and drop #2 for him. He got it righted, and I'll be damned if he didn't drop it again -- drop #3.

He was exhausted and, I imagine, a bit frustrated as well. When I saw him lying there, I *had* to take a picture. It was too funny. Curtis was kind enough to allow it.

However, there was no way I could get my kickstand down because of the grade we were on. I laid up next to the bank, and Skip did the same with his so at one point all three bikes were "taking a nap"

Once we got out of there, we wound our way over to TN-360 and decided to find a gas station to lay out the map and determine a plan. The hunger bug was starting to nip at me and Skip was also ready to eat. We just went to Tellico Beach for some sustenance.

From there we took the road directly across from it that dumps you out on TN-68, then back to camp for some drinks and lies.

Curtis wanted a picture of the three KLX250s lined up and Tom Blum was willing to cooperate so here for your viewing pleasure ...

Lori had dinner catered in and it was great! What was better is how much easier this SME must've been for her and her crew. She didn't have to try and feed a gaggle of 30+ maggots, much less, clean up afterwards. Beer, food, and lies were the order for the rest of the night.

Oh, and an explosion.

Curtis wasn't content with just 3 falls for the day and had to top it off by adding another at the bonfire.

photo courtesy of Chris Pope

I am not sure what I found more amusing. The fact he had fell or how hysterically he was laughing after he had. Give him credit though, observe the position of his beer bottle.   ; )

Apparently, four falls wasn't enough, either as he managed to low side that same chair again a few minutes later. It was again followed by him laughing hysterically.









Sunday 

Skip didn't have to be back to work until Tuesday, so we planned on riding a little Sunday before loading up and heading back. We went ahead and grabbed breakfast at the square.

When we got back, we conned Jack Smith into joining us. Skip wanted to take Trail 82. It is right off of TN-68 about 15 or so miles south of the campground.

Trail 82 is a single track through the woods. There were some spots that were still a bit slick from Friday's rain, but nothing unnavigable. There were some rain breaks that beat me up. I am *SORE* from yesterday's 90 some mile thrashing through the trails and repeated lifting of bikes.

The track was even a little tight in spots. There was little room for much more than your wheel between the cliff and the mountain. There is one place along the trail where there is a big chunk of rock that furhter minimizes the space you have.

I decided to ride over the rock rather than chance getting too close to that edge. The rock had enough drop that the KLR got stuck momentarily. It kind of bottomed out. I was able to push it forward enough to get the wheels to get me moving, but it was interesting for a moment.

The rest of it was pretty easy, but I was poking along. I was really hurting and those bumps were kicking my ass.

When we got to the end Skip said he was going back and doing it again. Jack was headed back to camp. I bailed on Skip because I was hurting. Whatta wuss, eh?

Skip recorded his run and you can watch it here if interested ... http://youtu.be/73REN0gqy4E

Jack and I swapped bikes for a bit. I *like* that DR350. I had it as what I want in my stable next for riding trails as that would be much more capable than my overweight, underpowered KLR is. After riding Jack's, that want was validated.

We pulled into the campground driveway and he told me of a housing development that has only been sectioned off but no real construction had started yet. He said he was going to check it out and asked me if I wanted to. I did and off we go.

It wasn't anything that held our interest so we go back. Instead of going in the driveway, Jack goes up the hill next to the campground. I followed. I had never taken that "entrance" before. I've seen Skip and others take it, so it was my turn.

The hill wasn't difficult. At the top there were two wheel tracks that were nothing but mudholes. Jack went for the center but had street tires and he was a bit heavy on the throttle. A big crash ensued sending him over into the mudhole slinging mud EVERYwhere! He was okay though.

When it came to my turn, I was going a bit slower and figured I would take the center too. Bad idea! it was slick as snot.

My rear wheel got a little squirrely and it got into the rut on the left side. I am not exactly sure how it progressed from there. I didn't dump the bike, but it was now 90* to the route of travel.

Additionally, I couldn't put the kickstand down because the rear wheel was buried in the deeper rut and the front was in the more shallow one.

It wasn't coming out on its own power. I tried to push it but that berm I am standing on, was too slippery for me to do any good.I tried pulling from the forks and wound up with the same result

I basically just stood there until Jack came back. Jack Hunt was with him and immediately pulls out his phone so that he can Facebook me.

The three of us were able to push it backward and then I was able to maneuver it out. *THIS* time I took the rut the front wheel is in.

On again -- off again -- nearly all day!

A friend of mine, whom I haven't seen since High School Daze (technically my sister's best friend, but I always got along with her too), was coming up to Asheville for some vacation time. Asheville is a short hour and a half  from the house. After a little corresponding, we setup a  time and place to meet. I was supposed to meet her and her fiancee at a bar at 6 PM.

Since I am getting the opportunity to get out, I decided I would take the Bandit out to play. I was going to ride it last weekend, but thought better of it due to the expired tag. Well, I didn't think better of it this time, because it was WAY past Cloud9's turn to get out and play.

I have been on the Bandit only twice since October. It had a bad rear tire and was parked until February. Since February, it has been parked again. The KLR hasn't gotten much more time, but it has gotten more than the Bandit.

Anyhooowww .... I figured I would chance not getting caught with an expired tag because she needed to be run. As soon as I got on it and made the first turn, it felt weird; almost as if it were resisting a turn-in. Odd! not sure if it is more that I haven't been on the bike a while or if something new was going on. Maybe she was just mad at me for having to sit dormant for so long. I dunno!

I would be plagued by an unsettled feeling on and off for the rest of the day. I left around 10 AM and set a route that would be around 6 hours of curvy roads repeatedly crossing back and forth across the TN-NC border. That would give me a 2 hour cushion -- even *I* should be able to make that! I figured I would play with the camera some to burn up some of that excess time.

The weather was tailor-made for riding. Forecast was for clear, blue skies and temperatures in the mid-70s. 

The first 50 miles I know like the back of my hand and am hit-and-miss in the turns. Still trying to figure out why the bike is "fighting" turn-in. 

I started getting into a rhythm along NC-208 which mirrors a river and just twists and bends with great sight lines. From 208, I hit NC-212, which I have also been on before (it has been a while, but i know it pretty well too). I am still in a pretty decent rhythm and come up on a pickup truck hauling a horse trailer. 

It is rolling along at 25 mph and as soon as I got close to it, the driver decides to ensure there was no way for me to get past as he is now straddling the center line. I keep looking and waiting for an opportunity to get past, but the way he is driving, I don't trust him even if I did get that chance. FUGGIN' IDIOT!

A couple miles later he pulls into some driveway and I made a point to crank the RPMs up to let him know the disdain I had for his antics. Well, attempted to, anyway. With that big ol' silencer on the exhaust, it probably raised a whole 2 dB. If I had the 600 Bandit, the noise would have been deafening.

Once again, I am struggling in the curves. I *had* a rhythm going prior to that redneck making sure I couldn't slip past him. I am braking prior to entry. I am thinking about, instead of reacting to, what I faced. Just off!

I crossed the state line again, and TN-352 is wonderful and got me back to reacting and riding with some confidence again. From there, US 19-W gets really tight and technical. Good stuff!

This crosses a mountain and the asphalt borders another river that cascades down the mountainside. I stopped and played with the camera some. 

fun awaits!

I got back on the bike and resumed my "carving" up of 19W. Before long I came up on a couple Hardleys rolling along, but they were not going that slow. Granted, I could have easily scooted on past them, but just filed in behind instead. 

I wound my way over to US19-E and then NC-80, with the intent to take 226-A between Little Switzerland and Spruce Pine. 80 was riddled with small gravels and kept my already dwindling confidence in check. Then when I hit 226-A, NC-DOT has drizzled the whole damn road with tar snakes. Again, not doing much for my confidence level. 

What a bummer! this road is soo much fun -- well it USED to be!

At the top of 226-A, I picked up the Blue Ridge Parkway. Nothing like the BRP, to help regain some confidence. I noticed the gas light flashing at me and jumped off at NC-80 and headed for some gas. On the way down the mountain, I noticed that there are now photographers over there too. Here is a link to pics of me as I went through (and go to #92) ...  http://blindkenny.photoreflect.com/store/Orderpage.aspx?pi=1VLV00780A0084&po=84&pc=135

I topped off the gas tank and refilled my own fuel tank with a quick stop at Subway and now have managed to successfully "burn off" the excess of that two-hour cushion. I wound my way back up to the BRP and had intended to take that all the way into Asheville.

That is, of course, until I got to Mount Mitchell to find that the road was closed beyond that point -- sending me 25 miles back to NC-80. (SIGH) back down the mountain ... AGAIN! and that backtracking has cost me significant time and is going to make me .... you guessed it ... LATE! even with a two-hour cushion, I can manage to be late. 

I found the place I was supposed to meet them at and drove around a couple minutes looking for a place to park. I finally decided to feed a parking meter and go in to see if they hadn't left yet. I am about 45 minutes late by now and wouldn't be surprised had they left.

Luckily, they had not and we got to spend an hour or so catching up and enjoying one another's company.  Good times!

Sandy and I

Me, Sandy, and Bob

I got home twelve hours after leaving and just in time to allow Melissa to head off to work. I logged a little over 300 on again-off again miles. They weren't all quality miles, but I didn't wreck and anytime in the saddle, right?