Left home much later than I wanted to but running some errands ate away the time.
On board thermometer read 55F and the temperature dropped to about 45ish up on the BRP.
Mesh jacket ,electric liner and gloves kept me from freeeeeeezing.
At the entry to the BRP by Maggie valley a blue Jeep ahead of me was pointing directly at the grassy triangle that split traffic to north and south. I double tooted my horn as I approached them just in case they pulled into my line of travel.
Going past them I stop and notice a helmet on the verge opposite me. Well that's something you don't see very day. I circle back around the grassy triangle and park where the blue Jeep had been a moment ago. The Jeep has pulled around and parks up on the grass.
An older male gets out and walks over to the helmet and I join him and discuss how and why its there. There's no sign of a previous accident and the helmet liner is soaking wet and must have been there since sometime the previous day when rain passed through the area. I try to attach it to the luggage rack on my bike but ti flops around and will hit the top of my saddlebag. I place it in the center of the grassy triangle and rid on.
The higher elevation colors are quickly fading but elsewhere they were vivid on this clear blue sky day.
At the southern end of the BRP by 441 all traffic was stopped for a handful of elk grazing on the grassy verges. A DNR elk herder is in attendance gently moving them off the road and in to the trees. traffic moves on and as I rid across the river bridge I look to the left and see a beautiful sight.
The sun is to my right and 8 or 10 elk are crossing the river in full sunlight. The fall colors and cascading water looks beautiful.
I go right looking for elk near the visitors center. None. None because they are back behind me.
A herd of about 50 cows of varying ages and a handful of juvenile bulls have gummed up the traffic flow again. The same elk herder is there encouraging them to move off into the forest.
People are jumping in and out of cars taking photographs and it's very chaotic with drivers attempting to pass stopped vehicles placing themselves very close to the herd.
Eventually the elk wander off and the traffic move on successfully blocking the impatient drivers in the lane that ends just ahead of them.
Lunch is at the Newfound Lodge restaurant. This used to be good. No longer.
The return ride back to Maggie Valley is uneventful with a few slow leaf peepers pulling over to let me ride by.
Mystery helmet has gone.
https://www.relive.cc/view/vrqDdV5Bdwq
