Feelin' Zen

The last time I was on the internet, I had noticed on my Facebook page, that a friend of mine was planning to go camp at Kickstand Lodge in Stecoah, NC (about 2 hours away). I hadn’t seen them for a long time and we have been trying to get together for a while.

The fact that I noticed it is odd. Being that I no longer have the ‘net at home I only see the top few posts. I don’t have the time to scroll through to try and get caught up. It just so happened that he had recently posted and was one of those that were visible.

I got home and asked Melissa what she had going for this Friday night and for Saturday. I figured if she was available, I would go down there, spend the night Friday, ride with them some on Saturday, and then head home that evening. It turns out that she was free and I got the green light.

I have been rather irritable lately -- to the point of nit-picking and starting arguments – over nothing! I needed some saddle time! It’s been well over a month since my last real ride. I don’t count taking the bike on my recent hiking excursion.

It had come a downpour earlier in the day. We had hail here at the house. I was out in the garage playing and the pounding of the rain on the roof drowned out all other sounds.

By the time I left 4 hours later, it had moved on enough that I wouldn’t encounter it on the bike. However, the roads were still wet and clouds were sifting in between the mountains. Maybe the Cherokee were sending up smoke signals for me (just for you Mom).     ;  )

I had been by Kickstand Lodge before, but couldn’t remember exactly where it was. As I was going up the road, I nearly passed by it. As I slowed down to make the turn into the driveway, I accidentally bumped the horn button. It was only 9 PM, but way to make an entrance, Ed!

There was much activity in the center pavilion as they were still cooking up food for their guests. Mo, the lady that runs the place, came over and asked if I had eaten yet. I told her that I had and just needed a campsite and wanted to settle up with her. She told me that to catch up with her tomorrow, or I could just put the money in the jar if I left before they opened up the office.

By this time, Kim had noticed I was there and she showed me where they had pitched their tent and told me they didn’t bring the Harley, but they had the “new bike”. New bike? Apparently, Scott had just picked up an 80’s vintage Aspencade.  Anyway, I got setup and we drank a few beers and hung out until near midnight.

The campground has a bubbling brook that encircles the property. They have the camping sites setup right next to this creek. Between the crickets singin’ and the water flowin’, it was rather easy to drift off to sleep. I woke up well-rested.

Scott and Kim were not stirring yet. Oddly, my tent had no morning dew on it, so I decided to pack up my gear. I figured that way I would be ready to go whenever they were. Scott’s morning ritual seems to be to suck down two pots of coffee and then take a shower.

We had kickstands up at about 10:30. Kim needed another memory card for her DSLR and I needed to top off with fuel. We headed over to Robbinsville to get that done and then were off for Fontana Dam.

Scott is fascinated with Fontana. It is the largest dam in the TVA system. I let Scott lead because I wasn’t sure which dam was Fontana.

Scott on his new-to-him Goldwing led a sniffin’-the-flowers pace as he got acquainted with the bike. Kim likes to play with her Canon. She was constantly taking pictures while on the bike.

The dam was a short run of about 30 miles up NC-28. 28 is a beautiful little twisty that meanders through the wooded, mountainous terrain.

By the time we got there, Kim told me that she already had taken about 150 pictures of me riding behind them – many of which were “pretty shots of asphalt”. She would point the camera, click, look at the screen, adjust, rinse, and repeat. Heh! she made need to purchase another card before the day is done.

I can see why Scott is taken with Fontana. It *is* impressive. We spent about 45 minutes milling around and taking pictures.

A couple jetskiers out enjoying the day

Looking down the dam to the powerhouse (that's a 480' drop)

The spillway

I had suggested a loop of some good twisties that would take up most of the day. They seemed to like the route, so that was the plan once we left the dam. The road leaving the dam started climbing and is full of 15-20 mph switchbacks and I quickly dove around Scott to take a little more aggressive pace. I DO love that stretch of road!

Once you cross the mountain, the road winds and wends along the banks of a river. A beautiful and fun run it is.

28 takes you to US129 and Scott had no interest in fighting that Goldwing on the Dragon while dealing with all the squids and law that were likely to be there. When we got to the store, it sure was crowded, so quite likely a good decision.

We turned south and pointed the bikes towards the Cherahola Skyway. I realized it was nearly 1 by now, so asked if they wanted to get lunch before we hit the Skyway (since it would be about 2 before we saw another place to eat).

They did and Scott insisted on buying my lunch. What a guy! We found a nice little sit-down diner and enjoyed each other’s company and some good food.

Then it was off to the Skyway. GOD! I LOVE THAT ROAD!!  LOVE, LOVE, LOVE IT! It is by FAR my favorite that I have ever ridden!

Again, I took the helm and enjoyed a spirited pace. I was feelin’ it! I was hitting the marks and was just smooth as glass. I love it when you are one with the bike.

By the time we hit the highest point of the road (near Hooper Bald), the clouds were not only present, but ominous. I thought for sure we would be rained on. However, it never happened, and once we descended a couple thousand feet, there no longer were any clouds that showed any signs of rain.

When we pulled into Tellico, we decided to stop at Hunt’s Lodge to see if Jack and Lori were around. It turns out they were at a concert, but Jessica (Jack’s daughter) and Jason (her husband) were there.

Heh! poor Jason was in bad shape from the night before. He looked rough! I have been there, he had my sympathy. We hung out for about 45 minutes and then decided to abort the rest of the route as it was already 4:30-ish.

This meant going back across the Skyway again. What torture! We stopped at an overlook and Kim and I spent more time with our cameras.

The happy couple

Back on the road and more zoom! zoom! Did I mention I love this road?

I caught up to a couple of Harleys and instead of just blowing by them as I normally would have done, I stopped at an overlook and waited for a short bit for Scott and Kim to arrive. By the time they showed up we were near the bottom of the hill before catching up to those poorly powered, unbaffled noisemakers again.

I had decided that at the first good passing zone that we both could get by, it was “go” time. I found it and nailed the throttle. I am guessing Scott did the same as he was right on my tail.

However, there was a curve coming up. I was at 90 mph and I *may* have been able to cut the bike into the turn coming up, but decided to knock off some speed. I got down to a comfortable 60 mph before entry.

Scott later informed me that he had bottomed out in that corner. He told me that prior to entry all he could smell was brake dust as he was rather hard on the brakes. He didn’t know what hit, but a quick inspection showed that his exhaust hit (before ANYthing else did – not good!).

Scott had never come into Kickstand from the north, so we decided to retrace our steps, so to speak. We headed back down 28 to the campground (where I left my gear so I wouldn’t have the extra weight on the bike while “playing”) – besides I still needed to settle up with Mo.

This is something I have never done before. I *never*, *ever* run the same route both ways. However, the route was good enough to justify rerunning it. 

Besides, there were menacing black clouds to the east and if we took a more direct path we would be heading right into that. Maybe if we went northeast, then cut back southeast, (the reverse of our earlier route) we could get out in front of it and avoid that mess.

We got to the campground around 7 PM. I packed my gear on the bike, settled with Mrs. Mo (who again asked if I had eaten), said my good-byes, and was on the road by 7:30. Those dark clouds we had avoided earlier were now menacingly approaching. I was staring at the sky trying to figure what would be the best way to go to avoid that mess.

I finally decided to say the hell with it. If I get caught up in it, I get wet, and pointed my wheel right to them clouds. Besides, there have been NO clouds all day long, so once I get past this cell, it should be fine.

I headed back up 28 (for the third time today) and in attack mode again. Ten minutes after departure, I was back in blue skies carving the road and never saw a drop of rain.

Twenty minutes after that, I was at the Tail of the Dragon. Since, I was in good rhythm, had seen little traffic all day long, and the fact it was a bit “late”, I decided to check the clock – 7:58. I figured I would time myself (in case I had a free run) just to see how long it took me to run that 11 miles. I have never done this before.

Just as I pulled onto 129, a corvette jumped out of the parking lot in front of me. [sigh] I am now going to have to find some point to get by this idiot.

Notsomuch! He took off, chirped tires in the first three gears, whipped it around the first corner, then the second, and was …. GONE!!

I never saw him again until I got to the overlook. So much for my ego, it was almost embarrassing – especially since I was “on”. That boy sure could work that ‘vette!

I had no traffic to contend with until I got to the north end (close to the overlook) when I came upon a pickup truck. I followed a few turns, but it was obvious he was trying to get me to go by. When I found a sight line, I obliged and whipped around him. Despite a ½ mile? delay, I hit the overlook at 8:02. EVERYTIME I glanced at the speedometer, I was doing 35-42 mph. 

The rest of the run was just “chomping miles” to get to the house. I logged nearly 500 miles and came home *smilin’*! I sooo needed that. 

... and Then There Were Three ... or Two and a Half??

So a long, long time ago my sister asked me to turn her four salad bowls. I would say “once upon a time…” but that would imply a happy ending. The main reason I haven’t gotten to it is because I haven’t had the material.

I harvested some cut limbs the city cut back prior to winter over a year ago but it hasn’t been “ready”. I have turned a few pieces, but they always crack. I turned a lamp base a few weeks ago and so far it hasn’t cracked, so I figured I would try to turn the bowls she requested.

The main thing I was wanting is to have bowls that were close in shape and size and from the same piece of wood – that way they would all look the same. She has two kids and I figured some uniformity would help mitigate arguing. Maybe not, but I’m at least making an effort.  ; )

So I started in on a piece that I cut large enough to accommodate four bowls. I never have a plan in mind when I start turning. I usually let the wood dictate how it will end up. I try to accent features of the wood and you never know where they are until you start turning it.

By the time I had the first pair turned, they were an odd shape for salad bowls. They looked more like saki cups or ice cream bowls, but that’s just how it worked out.

Despite the odd shape, I had the first two, so I had my approximate expected diameter to match the others to. I arranged them so that the bowl mouth was lined up with the next bowl mouth. That way, you could actually set them opening to opening and see how they were originally oriented if you aligned the grain pattern(s) – besides it helps in achieving equal diameter between the two that are joined that way.

The second two wound up being just a little bit smaller (maybe ¼”), but I wasn’t going to change the first two and then chase the other pair once I had turned the first couple too small, etc., etc. So, I accepted them being a little off.

I left it alone for a few days to see if any cracking occurred. I have learned not to invest too much time into a piece only to watch it crack.

.

I have lost a few pieces that I was so happy with, but then it started cracking and that was a bit of a downer. So, my method now is turn it, let it “rest”, and see if it has a chance to make it before proceeding any further.

A few days later and it is still intact. I took it to the bandsaw and cut it into four separate pieces so I could hollow them out.

On the very first one, I screwed up. I was hollowing it out and my tool just knicked the edge of the bowl. At that speed  … CRACK! THUD!

The first sound was the piece cracking. The second was the sound the broken piece made as it hit the wall behind the lathe. (sigh!)

Well, I grabbed the piece and it was still all one piece – it didn’t shatter upon smacking the wall – and figured I had nothing to lose now and glued it back on. Gorilla Wood Glue is the shit!

I figured for sure it would blow out again as soon as I put the chisel to it. Nope! once cured it held! The crack is noticeable but it won’t leak. Anyway, I finished hollowing it out and sanded it, the best I could.

The second piece went much smoother and I had no issues with it. There are wormholes in the wood and there is a “gap” in the outside edge where one was. If I tried to take it any thinner, it would likely crack as the wall was pretty thin, so that piece already has “character” to it.   ; )

The third bowl also blew out as I had cut the wall too thin. This one was irreparable, though. (double sigh!)

On the fourth I was doing fine, until I found a knot in the wood and while hollowing it got weakened and now the bowl has a hole in it. That won’t do! I trimmed it out but now it’s much too short to be used like the other two, so I guess I need to find another piece of wood and start all over again.

So I started with four very similar pieces. Then I lost one of each "paired" up diameter. So now it's two that look somewhat similar but different in size and one that doesn't resemble either. "One of these things is not like the other, one of these things just don't belong ......"   HAHA

So here is what is "left" ....

Who knows? It may be a long, long time until she gets her four bowls. Meh! she’s waited this long I guess, what’s a little longer? 

I left this (Saturday) morning with the intent of getting a ride in. I had stared at the map and really had no intended plan. I figured I would find out as I went along.

Before I even got to the gas station (less than two miles from the house), I had decided that I wasn’t “feeling it”. It’s not that I was “off in the curves” or missing my marks or anything, but just that, for whatever reason, I just wasn’t into it. I figured it best to forego riding for the day.

However, I didn’t want to go back to the house just yet. I decided that maybe a hike and some camera time would be just the ticket.

Megan, my mom, and I were supposed to go hike last weekend, but we had Mom’s dog and pets are not allowed on hiking trails. So, since we didn’t go last week, I decided I would today.

Ramsay Cascades is one I have wanted to hike it for years but just never have gotten to it. It is in (well, outside of) Gatlinburg, which is only a half hour away, so that seemed perfect. The pictures I have seen of the cascade are rather impressive.

I pointed the bike south and head down to Gatlinburg and try to find Roaring Fork Motor Trail. I had been on this before, but it’s been years. It took me a little bit, but I found it.

Roaring Fork Motor Trail is a one-way loop. There are a few places to hike along its path. I had it stuck in my head that Ramsay Cascades was one of these. As I was going along there was a roadside cascade and I figured this would be time to bump some rust off my photography “skills”.

I took some pics and then took some more, and more. Many were overexposed, but that is the beauty of digital cameras. I took over 125 pictures for the day – about 40 of them had to be deleted, but that was because I kept playing with the exposures to try and get a good picture with the effect I was wanting. You *expect* to lose some when doing that.

 Here are some of the “keepers” of the roadside cascade ….

 

I reached the end of Roaring Fork and never saw a trailhead for Ramsay Cascades, so I stopped at a store and asked where it was. I got the information I needed and pointed the bike to it. Luckily, it was only six miles up the road.

By the time I got to the trailhead, it was about 1 PM – plenty of daylight remaining to get this hike in. It was 4 miles to the cascades (and, of course, 4 miles back). It’s been months since I have been hiking, and, even though, I have lost weight, I am far from “in shape”. This will be interesting.

The trail was rather navigable and fairly easy with no drastic changes in elevation. So, a nice easy walk it was. I have heard this is a difficult trail. So far there was no indication why.

I am strolling along pretty well and come across this pretty little girl.

She was quite interested in the vegetation there, and I let her have her fill without interrupting her. I watched her for about 10 minutes, I think, before she wandered off into the woods.

Then about a mile and a half into the trek, the rock and gravel trail gave way to roots and mud, and there became more of a noticeable incline. I knew it couldn’t stay “easy” forever. ; ) Still, it wasn’t too bad.

I spotted this hollow tree that looks Holloween-ish and had to take a pic …

see? it;s hOllOw!

Then, all of a sudden the trail started going down. The river is getting louder now and soon I came to this bridge.

It was interesting crossing it. The wisdom of crossing a span is not to look down. Well I wanted to make sure I placed my feet on the bridge so I was looking down. As I got out to the middle, I got a vertigo-type sensation, because the water below is moving and the bridge, of course, is not.

Now back to gaining altitude again. Rock steps, Root structures, and mud. The terrain is quite a bit more difficult to navigate now, as well as the elevation gain. Then it dropped again and *another* crossing of the river. WTH?!?

Who designed this trail? You started out with some elevation, drop down to cross the river, rise again, drop back down to RECROSS the same damned river only to have to CLIMB back up to again. Yeesh!

Along the trail, I came across this old guy

That tree has been there for *many* years. There were two more within 30’ of it that were nearly as big.

My legs are feeling like I am lifting lead by now. It’s hot, and I am drenched in sweat. My legs are tired. I am spent!

I half entertained turning around and going back. I certainly was questioning the decision to do an eight mile hike. However, at this point I was too far into it to just turn around, so I kept pushing lead. It seemed that every time you get to a “clearing” all you see is more steps to climb. Does this ever end?
Diversions were welcomed
and I sat down a few times as well. Sometimes, I would just stand still and listen to the sound of the woods. You could hear the rush of the river and over there the sound of a bird singing.

There were no signs of human life. It’s not often you get to experience that these days.

During one of those breaks, a family was coming down the trail. The father asked how I was, and without reservation I told him I was tired. As they wandered off, he told me that the top was just another 40 minutes away.

FORTY?!? UGH! I am not so sure I needed to hear that!

Shortly after that I came across another hollowed out tree. This one was a carcass though and another welcomed diversion with the camera ensued.

 More climbing and grumbling followed. Then finally, I spied the Cascades through the trees. I was soo happy to see that.

I was wore out! This meant I could finally sit down for a bit.
What a beautiful place. The hike was definitely worth it as the cascades were indeed impressive. I took some pictures and hung for a bit,

 

but then it was time to get going again. It had taken about three hours to hike four miles. The way back will be much easier, as it is mostly downhill, but it’s already 4 PM. I took a couple more pics on the way back,

but I kept moving most of the time.

My feet became progressively heavier with each step. It was almost a chore to walk.

I arrived back at the bike a little after 6. The hike back took an hour less as I wasn’t stopping as frequently.

It was a lengthy and strenuous hike, but it was well worth it!