Wild Bunch Ride...Backroads and Indian Cave

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Outstanding ride today with Big Al , Gordon ( Lucky 13 ) and Greg ( Smooth Rider ). We started out going to Hot Springs , NC to ride the twisties of Hwy.209 and score me a " Rattler " t-shirt. I was up front and any and all backroads that caught my eye we headed down it needless to say we never made North Carolina in fact we never left The Great State Of Tennessee.We got close to the Holston River and I was taking the roads that would keep us running with the river as best we could. We got on this little skinny road that was meandering pretty close to the river when we saw a sign for Indian Cave. None of us had ever saw or heard of this place. We lucked out when we arrived the dude that " watches " over the cave and the kudzu that's takin' the place over was there and he let us check it out.The cave and his house was having serious electrical problems from the kudzu ridin' the lines to the ground and he got his drinking water pumped from the cave to his house.






















He told us a Indian body was found in the cave and the University of Tennessee came up and got the body and had it carbon dated to around 3,000 years ago.He also said the body was turned over to The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians for proper burial .



Not sure what river or creek this is maybe Big Al will see this and know    I do know it has a fish hatchery just up stream.



" The Money Shot " taken on the way home somewhere near Jefferson City or Blaine , Tennessee. Awesome ride today one I really enjoyed with some great riders.

[BigAl]

I don't have a clue about the creek name, but it was a good ride for sure.

I would like to take a look back in that cave.

Just hope the Bear that is wondering around the area does not catch us back in his hibernation cave.

ALso the guy said at night the bats are terrible leaving the cave to go eat insects and suck blood or something.

Indian Cave was a hoot.

[..]

WTF

Youse guys go riding around wherever you think you can. Ripping up back roads that may never have seen a 6 (2) cylinder motorbike in the past 50 years like you have a right.

Why aren't you at real sites of entertainment like Six Flags or Disney or playing miniature golf etc etc etc.

[hal47]

Looks like you all had a good ride,thats not a cannon in the background is it?

[BigAl]

WTF

Youse guys go riding around wherever you think you can. Ripping up back roads that may never have seen a 6 (2) cylinder motorbike in the past 50 years like you have a right.

Why aren't you at real sites of entertainment like Six Flags or Disney or playing miniature golf etc etc etc.

They did look a little surprised.

[..]

http://www.scout.me/indian-cave-village--near--blaine-tn/e-3148324

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

http://www.scout.me/indian-cave-village--near--blaine-tn/e-3148324

Thanks for the link Paul  

The link claims its open...It's not    We just lucked out rollin' in when we did with the caretaker there.


Description
Indian Cave is one of dozens of Indian Caves in the USA. Many caves were used by the American natives, and so many got this name. This cave was used by the Indians for more than 5000 years, numerous remains were excavated proofing this. In 1983 the remains of a human skeleton were discovered and examined by the University of Tennessee. They were dated to be 3000 years old.

At the beginning of the 18th century the cave entrance room was used by a French trader. He traded with Indians, especially the inhabitants of a Cherokee village just west of the entrance. This part of the cave history is local lure and not supported by archaeological evidence, but it is typical for the time and thus very likely.

Another part of the cave history, which is documented, is the time of the bat guano mining. The family of North Carolina's Governor Hoke Smith purchased the cave in 1869 for the mining. Bat guano was mined for its high amount of saltpeter, which was needed to produce gun powder.

Since 1916, when the Indian Cave Park Association was founded, the area was developed, which climaxed in the development of the cave and its opening to the public in 1924. During the 1930s it was operated by Hunter Chapman, the owner of  Shenandoah Caverns in Virginia. At this time it was the largest electrically illuminated show cave in the world.

Later the cave was closed and it remained closed for many decades. It is listed in the  Gurnee Guide as a closed cave. Lately it was reopened, but it seems the former trails and light system were destroyed during the long closing time. The cave is now only in small parts electrically lit, most of the tours are done with torches. There are guided and self guided tours now, and even Halloween specials called Haunted Caves Tours.

[Charlie McCready]

Hey Joe, we rode down to Knoxville through Blaine  (11-W)  and back to Kingsport today. I had thoughts of goting to Hot Springs but got started late and spent too much time in Knoxville. But a good ride ...just over 200 miles for the day.

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Hey Joe, we rode down to Knoxville through Blaine  (11-W)  and back to Kingsport today. I had thoughts of goting to Hot Springs but got started late and spent too much time in Knoxville. But a good ride ...just over 200 miles for the day.

We stayed off the main highway's all day ....Yes sir a beautiful day in the neighborhood 

[hubcapsc]

Owl Hole Gap Road... 



http://goo.gl/maps/rBTRN

-Mike

[GiG]

Looks like one of them experimental mutant Uglial fish done escaped the hatchery...   

[BigAl]

Looks like one of them experimental mutant Uglial fish done escaped the hatchery...   

Very easily pissed.

Very Heavily armed.

Not a good combination I would say.

DOn't feed the Mutant Fisherman.

[rainman]

looks like you guys had a great ride in the country.  Sure wish indiana had some cool places like that to ride

[flamingobabe #44]

Nice write up...thanks Joe for always posting about your rides...we really enjoy riding with you

[henry 008]

thanks for the pics and great story.  always the best rides are jus pic a direction and go 

[GiG]

Al- Don't be pissed - I'll bring ya a Bacardi to Fall Color Ride, Buddy  

 

Very easily pissed.

Very Heavily armed.

Not a good combination I would say.

DOn't feed the Mutant Fisherman.[

[BIG--T]

Thanks for the pics, the story and the ride! Now these are the kind of posts I like, rides, beautiful pictures and a narration- no politics and religion!! 

[fon1961]

Nice post Joe, you really should give more care to who you ride with tho!   Them TN boys ain't nothing but trouble.

[BigAl]

Al- Don't be pissed - I'll bring ya a Bacardi to Fall Color Ride, Buddy  

 

Very easily pissed.

Very Heavily armed.

Not a good combination I would say.

DOn't feed the Mutant Fisherman.[

Yah "DUDE" I got your back, do you have anymore of those pictures you showed me last year.

I'll have to shout out, Hey watch it man, a Beverage here.

Not mad at all.

And please never on the carpet.

[Black Dog]

Nice post Joe...  A ride with good friends (or alone) can make everything seem alright in this world 

Glad ya got some wind 

Black Dog

[JimmyG]

Sounds like a great ride, and great pictures.  Man, there are so many places to see that will just blow you away with the neat history. Good post. Hard to beat Tennessee for good rides and interesting places to see. 

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Thanks everyone for the comments      Lookin' forward to " The Fall Color Ride " .

[BigAl]

Come Hell or High Water, I should definitely be there,

Too bad about that Hen Pecked Wimpster.

You know what I mean.

[hubcapsc]

Come Hell or High Water, I should definitely be there,

Too bad about that Hen Pecked Wimpster.

You know what I mean.

Say it ain't so - the wimpulator is not coming to the FCR?

-Mike

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Come Hell or High Water, I should definitely be there,

Too bad about that Hen Pecked Wimpster.

You know what I mean.

Say it ain't so - the wimpulator is not coming to the FCR?

-Mike

Wimp's wife has him going to the beach that week....He's cool with it 

[HayHauler]

Thanks for taking us along Joe.  You guys always find some off the wall place out in the boonies.  Nice pics and a good story to go along with them.

Hay 
Jimmyt

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Thanks for taking us along Joe.  You guys always find some off the wall place out in the boonies.  Nice pics and a good story to go along with them.

Hay 
Jimmyt

If you ever get up this way to God's country I'll take you on a cool tour