The Great Smoky Mountain Ride...

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

I took off yesterday on a solo run across The Great Smoky Mountains. I just got my " Half- Breed " back together after a left rear bearing went out. I bought two new 5204 double row bearings and replaced both side's with the spacer mod. The ride was more or less just checking out the bike for 375 miles of mostly beautiful east Tennessee mountains.We still have plenty of barn advertisement in the south however with each passing year you see less and less.

A barn advertisement is an outdoor advertisement painted onto the exterior of a roadside barn. Barn advertisers take advantage of the barns' prominence in rural landscapes, paying their owners for the right to paint and maintain logos and slogans on them. Once a common form of billboard advertising in the Midwestern and Southeastern United States during the early– to mid–20th century, barn advertisements have faded into obscurity, as many of these rural ghost signs fall into disrepair, along with the structures that bear them.




I went in on the Pigeon Forge / Gatlinburg end mainly to get a t-shirt I've been wanting for the new Ole Smoky Moonshine Distillery.
A visit to Ole Smoky Distillery is the true moonshine experience. As you approach the
entrance, you can detect the distinct smell of our grains cooking and fermenting. You'll see
authentic working moonshine stills and experience the process from beginning to end. Our distillers will take the time to visit with you and answer any questions about the history and lore of moonshining in
East Tennessee.

After you see, smell and hear about the process, we offer you a taste of our shine for free. Samples of our Original Unaged Corn Whiskey, White Lightnin and Moonshine Cherrie – plus we offer seasonal and special flavors that aren't available in package stores. And of course, you'll be able to buy plenty of moonshine and Ole Smoky merchandise to take home with you.




A shot of Gatlinburg from the By=Pass the real only way to go through this traffic from hell place.



Little River Road outside of Gatlinburg, Tennessee. If you can catch this road without traffic its one of the best around to enjoy some awesome twisties.Picture below is " The Sinks " more people drown here than anywhere else in The Great Smoky Mountains. There are numerous signs posted at the Sinks advising visitors of strong currents and hidden hazards and advising caution in and around the water.






I had lunch at Smokinjoes in Townsend, Tennessee I mainly stopped to get a picture but the smoke made me hungry. This is a good stop when in the area the BBQ was pretty good and the place was very cool with the AC blastin'.




I watched the sun go down from the saddle it was one of those rides when the bike is feeling sweet and you just don't want the ride to end.





" The Money Shot " taken just before dark on the Clinch River just below beautiful Norris Lake.

[trout dude]

Nice ride report Joe and as always nice pics.
  Trout Dude

[miscott]

Great Pics!
So what did you think of the double bearing mod?

[jimmytee]

  great write up!

[The emperor has no clothes]

Nice ride report Joe and as always nice pics.
  Trout Dude

+1,The more reports of yours that I see the more I realize I gotta get to that part of the country. Another excellent report

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Great Pics!
So what did you think of the double bearing mod?

I've got the double row on all my bikes now and so far so good    You can get the spacer needed from Bill ( Grumpy ) on this board... Fit perfect 

[Bigwolf]

Thank's Joe for another great ride report.

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Thanks for the comments 

[HayHauler]

Thanks for the awesome report Joe.   You have a real knack for those "money shot" pics.

Hay
Jimmyt

[RDAbull]

There is a time in the not so distant future where my Wife and I are going looking for our retirement home.  The more of your ride reports I read, the more I think your neck of the woods has to be under consideration.
Thanks for the pictures.

[hubcapsc]

We don't have SmokinJoe's in South Carolina...



-Mike

[donaldcc]

 

  Nice report! Thanks.  especially like Smokinjoe at Smokinjoes in Townsend.

  I seem to like the solo rides the best.  I can leave when I want, stop when I want and go as far as I want.  when I go with group I seem to like 1-2 best because of everything just said.  I have been on several rides with SOCAL Valkyrie riders with a large group that was fun.  hope to go with them again soon, great people, but it seems I am always working on their scheduled rides.. 

[Ghost]

Great read Joe. I really like your part of the country. I took off today by my self after I put the car tire on. Rode 160 miles around the State of Indiana. Bike did great. Hope to see you on the fall ride.

[RandyZ]

Nice! We did 200 miles today on the Parkway and thru Gatlinburg. Gatlinburg was packed! Got out of town and found some nice backroads

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Hookin' up with a couple friends today ( Sunday ) to go check out a swap meet at Bikers Rags then headin' for the mountains again.

[~ Timbrwolf]

nice Ride Report Joe thanks for posting...that Smokin Joes looks interesting...but wheres the food shot ? ..  

[robin]

Nice report Joe you are great at it

[Goo-Goo Magoo]

Nice ride report Joe. Been long time for me to be in Townsend Tenn. Really miss that part of the country. Be safe... Hope to ride with yall again soon, atleast in that part of the country. Keep them reports comming............