Cherohala Skyway - Ride 7/24/10

We road the Cherohala Skyway yesterday to escape the heat of riding during the day.

I departed Chattanooga at 8:00 AM under beautiful skys and reasonable temps. Met up with 2 riding buddies in Decater.. So our little cavalcade consisted of 1 Valkyrie, 1 VTX and 1 Harley.

Arrived at Tellico Plains just as it was getting hot, so a quick gas stop and onto the Cherohala.

The temps from 3000 foot and up were pleasant, from 4000 ft and up the temp was great.

We carried a lunch and stopped on a Bald to eat it. For a quick desert we picked a few blackberries after lunch. Looks like the blackberry season will continue for a couple more weeks at high altitude, still plenty of red berries to ripen.

We continued the ride until the Cherohala started dropping below 3000 foot approaching the NC end. There we turned around and retraced our route to get altitude and cool riding. We varied our speed trying to cruise smoothly and easily without using very much braking or acceleration. The Valkyrie averaged about 40 MPG.

Lots of other bikers apparently had the same idea, and were riding the Cherohala. If we passed one motorcycle we passed 300. Everyone was just out having a good time, no incidents, no accidents, no sirens, and no problems. While it sounds like traffic was heavy, it really was well spaced out so no one was crowded and there was not any congestion.

We also had many Mazda Miata's, apparent they were having a get together at Deal's Gap. Seemed like a well behaved middle aged crowd having fun.

Views as always were awsome. We did not take any pictures as the smoky haze was well established by midday (and interferes with long distance detail in pictures) and with so many green leaves of summer many vista's are concealed. Fall and spring offer better photo opportunities.

We came back into Tellico Plains at 1:30 PM, oops who turned on the oven. Stopped at the Exxon for the required ice cream cool down. Then returned to Decater thru miserable heat, gratefully it was only a 50 mile ride thru nice winding country roads.

At this point we decide to retire to the air conditioning for showers, drinks and burgers(friends lake cabin), and wait out the heat of the afternoon. Then at 8:00 PM a much cooler casual ride home.

Ah nothing better than a good time, with good friends on a motorcylce, even with the 50 mile sauna ride payback segment we had a great time.

So if you are looking for a cool ride in SE Tennessee ride the Cherohala during the day, it is cool there. Great views, plenty of curves and vistas to keep you entertained.

Arrive early, take a lunch, plenty of drinks, ride safe, and stay late or pay the sauna king on your way home..