My first view of autumn in north Georgia is as I cross the first river on my route north.
The old wooden bridge has been upgraded.
This is one of many I will see this weekend.
Paradise Valley is as its name implies. Riders rejoice.
I stopped here to pick up a little something for the weekend for Stanley but didn't know whether he would prefer it shorn or shaggy.
No more photographs until I reach the Cherohala Skyway but one more incident.
Rounding a sweeping bend at barely legal speed limits the vista ahead of me reveals the north Georgia mountains in their full fall splendor. A joyous rush of well being fills me and I feel my right hand about to rip the throttle open. Then the “little inner voice” reminds me that I have a Commercial Driving License and to restrain myself. At that moment a Georgia State patrol car come into view. Saved again.
No more photographs because once a rider gets into the rhythm of the road it's so hard to stop and interrupt the syncopation of tires humming, the rise and fall of the engine note as gears are smoothly engaged and the rush of cool air burning across your cheeks.
This sensory overload is addictive and the craving has to be fed. Fed until the bodies senses are satiated.
This is another pleasure of the rider. We very rarely choose the straightest line between points on a map because it truly is the journey and not the destination that counts. That is, until the destination is reached.
My route is one of last minute decisions. Do I want to be challenged by other traffic on direct routes? Enjoy the smooth angles of long sweepers or the adrenaline of more technical less traveled country back roads?
North Georgia, eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina offer a multitude of each type of road and it's easy to change course as ones mood dictates.
Arriving in Murphy via a road very few riders know of I choose to take another less traveled road. 25 miles long it has its start point in Murphy but then wanders north and west to a forested area of little population. No traffic is the norm but what little traffic there is will tend to use more than their half of the road as they too expect very little oncoming traffic.
This road encourages me to paraphrase a famous line from”Blazing Saddles”.
“Deals Gap. We downe need no steenkin Deals Gap”.
Too slick in the shade to take this short cut.
A brief pause for a photo op at a local reservoir and I use the momentary pause to check voice mail. The riders I arrived to meet at the western end of the Cherohala Skyway should be there when I arrive at 1.30. I calculate the distance and time needed to cover the ground. If I keep at an average speed of about 60 mph I'll arrive exactly at 1.30. Most of the distance has a posted speed limit of 45 mph so 60 is achievable.
Bloody leaf peepers. Since leaving the northern end of the North Atlanta Raceway I have encountered very little traffic. Now I'm on a fairly well used 2 lane road and my 60 mph average is being cut, cut, cut. So where safe I have to increase my speed to try to achieve a 1.30 arrival time in Tellico Plains.
I arrive at 1.32.
