Everything Zen?

Come 9:00 AM Saturday morning, I was supposed to meet Dan and the Country Roads Riding Group at Sugarlands Visitor Center just south of Gatlinburg, TN. That's a mere hour from me -- much better than the 8 AM meetup time in Walland, TN -- only to backtrack. .

So I set my alarm and am off-and-running with time to get me to where I needed to be by the set time. Being "Ed" I factored in a fudge-factor of 10 minutes late-time to get there. I managed to arrive at 8:57. SWEET! I am not "on time", but "early" even!

Well not so much! I waited, and waited .... and waited!

At the risk of ruining the suspense factor, I was supposed to be there at 8:45 AM, NOT 9! (didn't realize this until AFTER i got home and re-checked an email -- somehow I got 9 AM in my head, not quarter 'TIL nine! sucks, because I thought I was on time (FOR ONCE). In retrospect I find that rolled past just 7 minutes prior.

Dan always tend to leave a little bit late. The route he was taking is NOT conducive to making time, so with me arriving "early", the odds are in my favor that they haven't gone by yet -- that was my mindset anyway. Additionally, Little River Road is a great run in that it is curvy and scenic, but is ALWAYS crowded with slow moving vehicles. I have NEVER made time on that road ... EVER!

SOOO .... they should be around in a "bit". I wait ... and wait ... AND wait. Once I finally gave up, I decided to lube the chain on Cloud9 since she was about due  a bit of love. Then, I figure I will take the route Dan took and hope maybe? I can catch up.

This is highly unlikely since I have lost a LOT of time by now. I need to make up nearly 45 minutes I waited for them to show -- even though they passed -- yeah, not gonna happen!). However, they do stop and socialize a bit and they are planning eating lunch somewhere, so there's a chance. If I don't catch them, I can run MY pace .... win-win!

I like riding with Dan and his group. I am *NOT* into group riding anymore, but will make an exception here. Dan keeps a very rational (read as slow-for-me) pace, but the characters in the group ALWAYS make the experience worthwhile. I have NEVER had a bad time with ANY of them.

Nonetheless, I have maps, plenty of daylight, and gas -- let's go! The route he planned I would not have were I on my own. US 441 from Gatlinburg to Cherokee is a great run --- IF you can enjoy it without traffic. It's AGONIZING if you don't.

I already have a record (a warning for speeding) in that section of the national park, so am NOT in the mood to push. I fall in line with the tourists and am patient (heheh, those that know Ed know that "patience" and "Ed" should never be used in the same sentence without the qualifier "lack of", but I was trying). I followed a line of cars for a long time. Some were courteous enough to pull off and allow traffic to pass, others not.

We reached a  trailhead (for hiking) and there were a sh*tload of cars and all the parking areas were overflowing The lead vehicle wants (from brake lights and lethargic speed) to find a parking spot, resulting in a slow crawl. Well, we got past MANY  parking opportunities, and the driver is STILL moping at 15 mph.

It's a double yellow. My patience is ... EXHAUSTED. A quick twist of the happy handle and the situation is quickly resolved.

I am now enjoying the climb to Newfound Gap at my pace. Just prior to the peak I approached another line of cars. However, they weren't crawling (they were holding a comfortable 50 mph as opposed to the 15 mph when I did the DY earlier). Dare I say, I filed in line patiently (TWICE in the same ride? ... heresy!!) and followed them ALL the way (another 20 miles? down the hill) to Cherokee. Honestly, I did!

When the turnoff to the BRP, came only one of those vehicles turned where I was going. I guess my patience had worn thin again, and I quickly dispatched of the driver of the vehicle.

Heh! Shortly, thereafter I came across a park ranger. CRAP! I am cruising at a good clip! I am NOW diligently watching my rear view mirror. Luckily, he had no interest in me and we both kept happily rolling along in separate directions.

For the rest of the day I was "ON"! It was Zen-ish! Absolute MAGIC!

I hit EVERY curve for the next 150+ miles without reservation nor hesitation. While on the BRP, I found myself holding an average of 60-65 mph EVERYtime I looked ... sometimes even 75 mph (that was later in the ride as confidence built) .... I was ONE with the bike AND the road.

That's a special moment when it happens. I must confess it's the FIRST time I have been this comfortable on a bike since having to park Pearl (some may remember her as the blue 600 bandit I had many "miles of smiles" (quote from Tom Blum) on. I *really* was on.

So after the BRP I stopped in Asheville to pick up some high gravity brews that I cannot find here in NASCAR country ("we have BOTH kinds Bud AND Bud Light .... ugh!). After stocking up some, I know of a fun route from A-ville to home.

One of the roads along the way is NC-63. I have NEVER done 63 going this way -- AND it's been a LONG time since I have been on it at all.

There has been a LOT of rain lately, so am more concerned about rain and how it washed gravel into the roads from driveways than how the road itself has deteriorated over time. NC-DOT, in their infinite wisdom in ONE county along a delightful stretch of NC-63 decided to do the tar snake thing.

[rant -- WTF do these municipalities use tar snakes to limit casualties when they ONLY contribute to them? I am sure I am missing something!]

Later along the same road, but in another county, it was smooth without tar snakes (or traffic ... WOO HOO!). I am playing (almost) fearlessly and with a GREAT deal of confidence. I am still vigilant of gravels, but am nailing the corners ... consistently!

After 63 came an old friend in NC-209 and if I had any rhythm in the corners before, it was only solidified in these. 209 lends itself to smoothness and rhythm and I was all too happy to comply! I was sooo ON!

I stopped at a horseshoe bend I stopped at years ago which has a roadside creek and some cascades. It's serene. Some years back, I stopped here to play with the camera. When I went to Google the location I noticed something.

Curiosity really has bugged me since, as when I first tried to find where it was, I noticed that the creek went back into the mountains (on the terrain feature) and then .... disappeared. From the topo lines ... it looked to be a cave. Hmmm ... this demands further exploration!

Today, I had time as there was PLENTY of daylight left and I told Melissa to expect me about dark-thirty. So I hiked up the trail ... and up ... and up ... Yeesh! the WHOLE way along the trail was an incline! I finally got up to where the trail crossed the creek and gave up. I had already hiked at least a half mile by now.

I got back to the bike and resumed my carving. Oddly, the break didn't cause any lapse in the attack, and this made me smile .... MORE!

The 1250 is a great bike! It's not as fun as the 600 is because the fun is subdued by how smooth it is. You never *feel* fast. I never FEEL how fun it is (with the 600 you KNOW it, because, by God YOU are shaking as much as the bike is). There were a FEW times this day that I *felt* that. I still haven't touched a peg down, but, still,  it's one of those it's-built-for-me bikes.