A coupla days riding and then Kiss My Ice 2012 - photos

[..]

Waiting for Jim In Ellijay, GA





Jim arrives



VTX 1800 at the Exxon gas station in Tellico Plains. The rider and passenger crossed the Cherohala Skyway. WELL DONE!!!



The Cherohala beat me back. We crossed this section and met a sports bike rider who had turned back some miles further on.






I am the walrus, goo goo g'joob.

[..]

View from the Cherohala looking towards Knoxville, TN





What ride on the ST doesn't involve forest roads. This time about 20 miles from Indian Boundary to near Vonore, TN.





Headwater of the Little Tenneessee River















http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanasi

[..]

Stayed here in Bryson City. Cheap and clean opposite a gas station and food.
What more does a rider need?



The motel laid old towels on our bike seats. What service!!!



Friday morning exploring back roads



View from Hwy 28 north of Franklin, NC





Lunch at Caffe Rel in Franklin, NC

[..]

Did a lot of this



One dead end road had this ranch along it

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paso_Fino





At the end of a days ride





Tasty Mexican food at Guayabitos



Saturday mornig headed towards Hot Springs, NC. Took a few side roads to see where they went.











View from Hwy 209 south of Hot Springs, NC





Then the gremlins struck on Hwy 352 north of Asheville, NC

[..]

MR Cycles in Asheville had a tire but not the ability to change a BMW tire.

http://www.mrcycles.com/

BUT they arranged for Jim to go to an independent garage just up the road

http://www.teammotorrad.com/

Excellent service and a very fair price. $35

Owner races a Beemer



Customer RD





Nice old Beemer



Blue Ridge Parkway access at Maggie Valley. Closed north and south





Riding down Hwy 19 into Maggie Valley









Warren Miller eat your heart out 





New Years Eve at the Sports Bar in Maggie Valley. Jim and a guy from ZZ Top 

[..]

Sunday morning met others at the Pilot truck stop near Lake Junuluska, NC

Mount Mitchell closed so we headed down Hwy 215 south. Access to the BRP closed here as well.





Outside the Cashiers Smokehouse BBQ 

http://www.thecarolinasmokehouse.com/

I was relieved to find it open on New Years Day.





After lunch everyone headed home. I rolled into the garage at about 5.15 p.m.

[hubcapsc]

I think this is about the place where that Harley rider played chicken with me...
he ended up passing me on my right  ... wish I had the goPro turned on then!



-Mike

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

I am the walrus, goo goo g'joob.

         

Outstanding ride report Paul    Thanks for taking the time to share and also thanks to you and Coot for leading the ride and ridin' sweep . I really enjoyed the ride one of the better one's and what a way to kick-off 2012....Lucky13 ,DDT and I stopped last night for supper in my hometown and all of us agreed " Nice Ride Today " .

[Demo]

Good pics Britman.  Wish I had been with you guys.

Sam

[..]

At the Pilot truck stop meet up a young guy with a backpack wearing a hitch hikers sign - OHIO - walked by with his trusty hound.

As ya'll know, I like dogs. Until I get another I'm living vicariously through others dogs. So I went over to talk to him. His dog looked like a mutt. Fawn with lots of black spltches over the body. Turns out it was a http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catahoula_Cur

I'd never heard of the breed. His was a very playful 3 year old.

The guy looked like he was on hard times so I slipped him a twenty to buy the dog some food. Hey - I LIKE DOGS - OK.

[Michael K (Az.)]

Thanks for the pics. I've never seen them hills and valleys in a winter setting up close and personal! I'll be sticking a vid of the Az. NYD ride up shortly if it turns out ok.

[scoot]

Thanks for sharing. Really enjoyed the pictures.

[BIG--T]

Thanks Britman for the great pictures and the narration.  Excellent!! 

[Jess from VA]

What a great post and pics.  I'd love to tag along on some of your rides.  Thanks.


Yeah, right Paul, if you think we're going up this creek, you're going first buddy.

[~ Timbrwolf]

. . ...Great Ride Report...really dug the piczzzz...thanks for posting.. 

[Spirited-6]

The guy looked like he was on hard times so I slipped him a twenty to buy the dog some food. Hey - I LIKE DOGS - OK.
 
I like that !

Great post, thanks.

[bscrive]

Great pictures.  I wish I was there with you all, instead here in the frozen north.

[HayHauler]

Thanks for the report Britman!!  I will say it again, I always enjoy your ride reports and especially the pictures...

Hay 
Jimmyt

[Gryphon Rider]

Until I saw the picture after this one, I couldn't for the life of me figure out what that pink thing was sticking out the front of the left soft saddle bag! 

[Karen]

I agree, thought it might have been a really cool helmet with a great paint job of the contents. Thanks for the great pictures, did some trout fishing east of Ellijay back in the late 60's, beautiful country. Looks like a Happy New Year all around. +++ on the money for dog food.

[Black Dog]

Great ride report Paul 

You paid it forward...  The Hotel took care of your bike seats, you helped out the guy and his dog    That's what makes adventures like this so special...

Keep the reports coming...  Getting cold and snowy here in the great white north 

Black Dog

[..]

Great ride report Paul 

You paid it forward...  The Hotel took care of your bike seats, you helped out the guy and his dog    That's what makes adventures like this so special...

Keep the reports coming...  Getting cold and snowy here in the great white north 

Black Dog

Without knowing of my encounter with the dog owner one of the Kiss My Ice riders picked up my lunch tab.

It's a funny old world.

[DDT (12)]

Really good ride report as always, Paul... The ride New Years Day that you lead was spot on, my friend, and I thank you for a good job! It's always a pleasure riding with you and hanging around... Looking forward to the next time...

DDT

[ChromeDome]

Great report & pics. Thanks Paul.

[..]

Photos taken by Jim.

Hey, the sun is shining wadda ya expect



.