Sometimes I need to look up.

[T-Bird]

I found a friend of mine a cherry 99 valk standard last week, and took him on his first ride in the twisties. Now when I decide to ride I have three great directions to pick from to ride....
 North to the CUMBERLAND PLATEAU, (Fall Creek Falls & Cumberland Mtn State Parks)
 East to the SMOKEY MOUNTAINS, (Deals Gap, Cherohala & North Carolina)
 South to NORTH GEORGIA, (Hiwassee, Helen, Suches, & Dahlonega)
I am very blessed to live just 50-70 miles from each of these areas and it's a toss up on which direction to go. Yesterday the flip of the coin took us to North GA. down to Suches and through Dahlonega, to Blairsville and down the Ocoee Gorge back home. My friend has rode motorcycles all his life and is a good rider, he took to riding the fat gal like a pig to mud. Everytime we would stop for a break, he just wouldn't shut up about how great the bike was handling and would not stop smiling....(sound familiar?)  I will cut to the chase of the topic of this post. We stopped at a rest stop on Blood Mountain, one I have stopped at many times because it has restrooms. While I was standing outside in the parking lot I happen to look up in the trees, and saw what appeared to be about 100 pair of hiking boots of all sizes and brands hanging in the limbs of a huge oak tree. The rest area is a stopping spot for Appalachian Trail Hikers, and the trail goes through the middle of a breezeway on the building. There is a hiking supply store called Walasi-Yi...they provide any gear you might need for your hike. The manager of the store told me about the shoes in the trees and said they belonged to hikers mostly coming from the north heading south on the trail, and would retire their old hiking shoes to hang in the tree. I'm sure there are some hanging in the tree that have over 2000 miles of Appalachian trail worn on them.  I need to start paying better attention to my surroundings 

[KY,Dave (AKA Misunderstood)]

Cool post and pics. Glad you 2 had a good ride and wish I could have joined you. Love the color combo you got him. Dave

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Did he leave the beach bars on it ? Did he get the windshield and stock bars ? When Mike got that bike he was 15 years old ....Told you it was sweet     I've seen his ol'man lay under a car and wash the bottom of it  ???  That bike has been taken care of.

[T-Bird]

Did he leave the beach bars on it ? Did he get the windshield and stock bars ? When Mike got that bike he was 15 years old ....Told you it was sweet    I've seen his ol'man lay under a car and wash the bottom of it  ???  That bike has been taken care of.

You wasn't lying Joe...that bike is as sweet as they come, loks like a crate bike for sure.  He still has the beach bars which are almost drag bars. He did get everything with it the windshield, handlebars, and backrest. He did have to put a new front Avon on it.  Don is a car salesman and works all the time with only Thursdays & Sundays off. Hopefully I can take him on a wildbunch ride soon.  

[rainman]

I found a friend of mine a cherry 99 valk standard last week, and took him on his first ride in the twisties. Now when I decide to ride I have three great directions to pick from to ride....
 North to the CUMBERLAND PLATEAU, (Fall Creek Falls & Cumberland Mtn State Parks)
 East to the SMOKEY MOUNTAINS, (Deals Gap, Cherohala & North Carolina)
 South to NORTH GEORGIA, (Hiwassee, Helen, Suches, & Dahlonega)
I am very blessed to live just 50-70 miles from each of these areas and it's a toss up on which direction to go.

That's OK just go ahead and rub it in   it take me three day to do anyone of those.

[thumper]

I found a friend of mine a cherry 99 valk standard last week, and took him on his first ride in the twisties. Now when I decide to ride I have three great directions to pick from to ride....
 North to the CUMBERLAND PLATEAU, (Fall Creek Falls & Cumberland Mtn State Parks)
 East to the SMOKEY MOUNTAINS, (Deals Gap, Cherohala & North Carolina)
 South to NORTH GEORGIA, (Hiwassee, Helen, Suches, & Dahlonega)
I am very blessed to live just 50-70 miles from each of these areas and it's a toss up on which direction to go. Yesterday the flip of the coin took us to North GA. down to Suches and through Dahlonega, to Blairsville and down the Ocoee Gorge back home. My friend has rode motorcycles all his life and is a good rider, he took to riding the fat gal like a pig to mud. Everytime we would stop for a break, he just wouldn't shut up about how great the bike was handling and would not stop smiling....(sound familiar?)  I will cut to the chase of the topic of this post. We stopped at a rest stop on Blood Mountain, one I have stopped at many times because it has restrooms. While I was standing outside in the parking lot I happen to look up in the trees, and saw what appeared to be about 100 pair of hiking boots of all sizes and brands hanging in the limbs of a huge oak tree. The rest area is a stopping spot for Appalachian Trail Hikers, and the trail goes through the middle of a breezeway on the building. There is a hiking supply store called Walasi-Yi...they provide any gear you might need for your hike. The manager of the store told me about the shoes in the trees and said they belonged to hikers mostly coming from the north heading south on the trail, and would retire their old hiking shoes to hang in the tree. I'm sure there are some hanging in the tree that have over 2000 miles of Appalachian trail worn on them.  I need to start paying better attention to my surroundings 

My favorite stretch of road.  My riding partners call it "Paul Mountain"