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« on: March 21, 2011, 06:27:09 AM » |
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Trailered the KLR up. Unloaded at motel and was on the road by noon. Headed straight up Hwy 129 to the Deals Gap store. Got caught behind a parade of road hogs on 2 wheels. Why do these nit wits feel they can ride like this? Hate to see how they control any kind of motorized vehicle.  The "Fugitive " dam had one spill way flowing. Not often you see this.   Waterfall on the side of 129 before Deals Gap  |
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« Reply #1 on: March 21, 2011, 06:35:22 AM » |
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By chance met Smokin Joe and Wimp at the store.  Zipped up Deals Gap trying to wear the last vestiges of tread off my balding Shinko 705's. Couldn't zip all the way down thanks to the single bike parade who wouldn't let me slide by. Ooh a bend. Wobble, wobble, wobble.  The dam had two flumes fluming.   Off to the forest roads. This bridege cross the Cheoah River  A popular white water kayaking destination  WELL BUGGER  |
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« Reply #2 on: March 21, 2011, 06:39:39 AM » |
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Mystery dam seen through naked trees. This is on a bumpy blacktop road that runs along the westtern side of Lake Santeelah  On to Forest Service Rd 81 BUGGER, BUGGER  View from the Cherohala Skyway.  Open road Hooray! This runs south to Bald River Falls Rd  |
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« Last Edit: March 21, 2011, 09:08:02 AM by Britman »
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« Reply #3 on: March 21, 2011, 06:43:45 AM » |
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I rode up this dirt road a few years ago on my Valkyrie. It was in much worse shape then  Damp!  Thick moss  Really thick moss  Water fall on Forest Rd 217  |
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« Reply #4 on: March 21, 2011, 06:45:44 AM » |
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« Reply #5 on: March 21, 2011, 06:47:03 AM » |
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« Reply #6 on: March 21, 2011, 06:49:47 AM » |
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Bald River Falls was running well  Southern end of Hwy 216 loops around to join 217. I rode this back up to the Cherohala Skyway   The Tenneessee end of Forest Rd 81 was open  |
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« Reply #7 on: March 21, 2011, 06:52:42 AM » |
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Half a days riding  Half a day fuel consumption  Saturday morning off to Tatham Gap Forest Road part of "The Trail of Tears" http://main.nc.us/graham/mcclung/Trail%20of%20Tears.html BUGGER, BUGGER, BUGGER.  |
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« Last Edit: March 21, 2011, 09:11:42 AM by Britman »
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« Reply #8 on: March 21, 2011, 06:57:36 AM » |
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OK feeling a tad dispirited I headed back towards Deals Gap at least I KNOW that section of road is open. By Tapoco Lodge there's a blacktop side road that heads east that I've never ridden down - Meadow Branch Rd. It ends on the south side of Lake Fontana by a small hydro electric power station. Then the road heads steeply uphill, a busted up single lane blacktop road covered in 2 to 3 inches of slick, slimy rotting vegetation. A good test for my balding Shinko tires   After about a mile the surface has deteriorated enough that I have to listen to my inner voice saying turn around, turn around.   The trail continued up and out of sight. I have no idea if it's gated and need to return with others in case of a mishap - I fall on me ass  |
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« Last Edit: March 21, 2011, 09:12:49 AM by Britman »
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« Reply #9 on: March 21, 2011, 07:03:54 AM » |
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The dacaying sludge is as slick as ice and as I soon as I start downhill I have to feather the rear brake trying to keep the rear tire connected firmly to the morass below it. A couple of times the rear wheel tries to overtake the front. Can't use the front brake because that will simply dump the bike on its side. Lake Fontana   This is the Deals Gap of Forest Service Roads. Old Field Rd Zoom, bloody zoom, zoom.  |
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« Last Edit: March 21, 2011, 07:06:10 AM by Britman »
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« Reply #10 on: March 21, 2011, 07:12:33 AM » |
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Back at the Deals Gap store I talk to a trio from NW Alabama. All experienced riders. One is riding this monster. 230 bhp at the rear wheel and 190 ft lb of torque. Caramba!!! After about 20 minutes they headed off down Hwy 28 The Hellbender (the drama, the drame). I followed about 10 minutes later. On one of the posted 10 mph bends there is a wide grassy run off area. The Rocket rider was very pleased because he had left the road and slid the bike. If the grassy area hadn't been there he and bike would have been 30 feet down a bank in frigid Lake Fontana. Bike was still rideable. One of his riding buddies was following with a Go-Pro HD camera strapped to a fork leg filming. I wonder if that encouraged the Rocket rider to maybe be a tad too enthusiastic? Deals Gap was very quiet. No police presence  Back to the motel and load up to head back to Atlanta. |
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« Last Edit: March 21, 2011, 07:21:33 AM by Britman »
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eric in md
Member
Posts: 2495
ride hard now we all can rest when were gone !!!
in the mountains .......cumberland md
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« Reply #11 on: March 21, 2011, 07:59:16 AM » |
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awesome post .. thanks
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HayHauler
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« Reply #12 on: March 21, 2011, 08:45:31 AM » |
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U da Man Brit!! Love your reports. Always 'money shots' and the stories to match. Keep up the good work, Hay  Jimmyt |
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Serk
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« Reply #13 on: March 21, 2011, 08:52:59 AM » |
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Awesome post, thanks for taking the time to make it!
Wish I had the spine (Literally) for some off road riding, that'd be a blast!
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Never ask a geek 'Why?',just nod your head and slowly back away...  IBA# 22107 VRCC# 7976 VRCCDS# 226 1998 Valkyrie Standard 2008 Gold Wing Taxation is theft. μολὼν λαβέ |
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Sludge
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Posts: 793
Toilet Attendant
Roaring River, NC
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« Reply #14 on: March 21, 2011, 09:24:47 AM » |
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Great pics. Wish I were there to share the miles with ya. Oh, btw, that map link you gave me in the other thread was what I was looking for. Thanks!  Accessories are on order for my KLR now. So shortly she will be ready for some miles. Gonna have to do something about that seat though. Whew I dont know how many miles I could get if I had to stay in that saddle. Short hops are fine, but a real ride would be a literal pain in the arse. I see you got the seat cushion on yours. Walmart ATV cushion? Oh, and I welded my clutch handle back on this morning  I sold the 03' Wing and purchased the KLR the next day. I think that ultimately I will still be happy with that switch since I still have my Valk so its not like I dont have a cruiser to play on. |
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"We have two companies of Marines running rampant all over the northern half of this island, and three Army regiments pinned down in the southwestern corner, doing nothing. What the hell is going on?"
Gen. John W. Vessey, USA, Chairman of the the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the assault on Granada
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f-Stop
Member
Posts: 1810
'98 Standard named Hildr
Driftwood, Texas
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« Reply #15 on: March 21, 2011, 10:23:23 AM » |
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Fun ride report! Thanks!  |
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  Had my blinker on across three states! |
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thumper
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« Reply #16 on: March 21, 2011, 11:49:08 AM » |
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Not going around barricades anymore?  Sorry I missed you guys on Sunday. I'll get the next one. |
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An oak tree is nothing but an acorn that stood it's ground!
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Slick
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« Reply #17 on: March 21, 2011, 11:56:08 AM » |
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Great ride review- loved it !!!!! thanks-
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1999 Valkyrie Interstate,
2003 1800 VTX
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Jess from VA
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« Reply #18 on: March 21, 2011, 02:42:46 PM » |
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Paul, I love your backwoods riding reports. Without a dualsport/dirt bike, we'll never see these places...... my days of hiking miles and miles on foot are over.
One question.... you take these runs alone I suppose? And I suppose you have a cell phone... if it can get service out there. If you take a bad enough spill to break a leg or arm or otherwise incapacitated, you're on your own out there aren't you? I mean, we all take risks riding bikes, but I am thinking you might not be found for weeks (or months) in some of those places.
I'm not throwing stones........ just wondering.
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« Reply #19 on: March 21, 2011, 03:29:02 PM » |
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Great pics. Wish I were there to share the miles with ya. Oh, btw, that map link you gave me in the other thread was what I was looking for. Thanks! Accessories are on order for my KLR now. So shortly she will be ready for some miles. Gonna have to do something about that seat though. Whew I dont know how many miles I could get if I had to stay in that saddle. Short hops are fine, but a real ride would be a literal pain in the arse. I see you got the seat cushion on yours. Walmart ATV cushion? Oh, and I welded my clutch handle back on this morning I sold the 03' Wing and purchased the KLR the next day. I think that ultimately I will still be happy with that switch since I still have my Valk so its not like I dont have a cruiser to play on. I'm so pleased you mentioned seat. The Kawasaki dealer in Tullahoma, TN sells a Russell Day Long copy for a lot less $$$ http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/1636/Motorcycle-Dealer-Contact/Kawasaki-of-Tullahoma.aspxYes that's a Wal Mart ATV pad. |
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