I live near highway 59, just south of Seneca South Carolina. Until recently, I
didn't realize that 59 continued on into Georgia. I-85 and Lake Hartwell cause
the two parts to be disconnected now. I rode down 59 in Georgia a few years
ago, and remembered it as a good country road that parallels I-85, and figured
I'd use it again sometime. Today was the day. I figured I'd cross over to Georgia
and head down 59 until I got past Carnesville, and find some road that would cross
me back over I-85 and I'd "get lost" in between 441 and 17, particularly get lost
on some small roads in that green area:
It was a nice ride through the country, 59 curves its way towards Commerce
and goes through Lavonia and Carnesville, both cool old Southern towns
with nice old houses.
I crossed back over I-85 on some pig trail called Cedar Ridge Road and
proceeded to get lost. I didn't take the Go-Pro with me, and I was
rolling most of the time, so I don't have many pictures, but it was
good riding, kinda snakey a lot of places.
I went through "the green area", but did it on 105, so every time I tried
to turn off on some little road it went dirt, I wasn't looking for that kind
of adventure.
I finally had to ride into Cornelia on 441, Cornelia is kind of like a rat trap,
I turned here and there, went through Mount Airy, and eventually found
myself right back in Cornelia. I stopped there to get gas, I think the pump
worked, but not the display on the pump, so I didn't know how to respond
to the prompts. I mashed "cancel" on the pump and left out of there
straight into a giant chicken processing plant at shift change time, cars
were pouring out like fire ants. Boycott Cornelia
...
I finally ended up in Toccoa, here's a cool old cotton mill there...
I found my way to Prather's Bridge road out of Toccoa and back down the
Cleveland Pike towards home, I guess I went about 200 miles, didn't really
measure. I hear thunder now, so I'm glad I'm home. I recommend this loop,
and the general idea of picking roads, like 441 and 17, as boundaries to
explore inside of... no looking at maps, no gps, just turn here or turn there
as the opportunity arises. And if you try riding in this particular area, don't
go down 105, you'll end up stuck in a trafficky rat trap at Cornelia.
-Mike
