Ride Report Out to the Smokys - Lots of Photos

[DK Custom Products]

Day 1-

Left out in the mid-afternoon. It was a light rain, off and on, as we loaded up. So we're wearing our rain jackets.

The weather was forecast to be intermittent thunderstorms...but as we were leaving the house, you would not know it.

We are not headed far...just a couple hundred miles this afternoon, but what a great day to be riding!

A look back at some of the scattered light rain we rode thru.

Getting close to Alabama, looks like rain ahead...

...still nasty looking but no rain.

Soon after we crossed into Alabama it started raining...

I pulled over and Mary put her rain pants on, and tucked the camera away.

We rode for about an hour in the rain and then stopped at a motel in Killen, AL.

It's raining pretty good....got the TG unloaded and parked out in the rain for a wash.

Day 2 coming soon.

Kevin

 

[peteg59]

Sorry for this Kevin, but its all I could think of: Whatever happened to:"Sweet home Alabama, where the skies are so blue"???

Hopefully y'all wake-up to better riding weather for the rest of your road~trip...

 

[Lu..]

Subscribed!! I’ll be renting a Triglide for a few days next week and will be riding the BRP & the Smokeys. Looking forward to your posts to get some ideas.

 

[DK Custom Products]

Day 2-

It dawned clear and sunny...

...Sweet Home Alabama, where the skies are so blue.

Back on the road, what a great day to be riding!

Lots of rivers and lakes!

We were going to jump on the interstate here, get to Townsend, TN in the Smokys quickly...

...until we saw this. They were at a dead stop, a bunch of them had shut their engines off...

...so we jumped off of there and used the GPS to take some rural roads to get ahead of whatever was causing that traffic jam.

Whatever it was, we jumped back on the interstate about 20 miles up and it was all cleared up.

continued in next post.

 

[DK Custom Products]

Day 2 continued-

Those of you that have seen any of our previous ride reports know that Mary likes her cloud pics...

...and this was a great day for them!

What a fantastic day for riding, perfect weather, great sights, and little traffic!

We left out of Mississippi yesterday, crossed briefly into Tennessee, spent most of the time yesterday in Alabama. This morning was mostly Alabama, now we're crossing back into Tennessee.

The TG is running great. We're rolling up a hill at just under 80 mph, Throttle is only at 24% and we're averaging 35.2 mpg.

We're crossing into Georgia for just a bit...

...before crossing back into Tennessee. This is our last little bit of interstate before...

...getting on the 411 as we get closer to the Smokys. Here we are passing up the turn off to the 129 (and "The Dragon").

Day 2 concluded in next post.

 

[DK Custom Products]

Day 2-

As we get closer to Townsend, to meet up with friends that we have been riding with every year for more than a decade, our hearts get a bit heavy.

This is a Memorial get together for our Brother Larry Weaver. We lost him just under a year ago.

It was a year ago this weekend that we last rode with him. Here are a couple of photos of Larry, from that last ride together.

We miss you Larry!

Tee's that Scout printed up for all of us this weekend.

We're in the Smokys now...

...a look behind us.

Highland Manor Inn is going to be our home for the next 3 days.

Not everyone is here yet...

...but those of us that are went across the street to a steak and trout joint.

No pics of us hanging out in the motel parking lot til all hours.

Day 3 coming soon.

Kevin

 

[peteg59]

Good lookin pics Kevin/Mary:clapping:

Not trying to Hijack, but not much fire damage showing from the raging forest fires that hit the Smokies last year...?

Hopefully they are now on the rebound from that mess.

Anyhoo, keep the pics coming, & keep the "shiny side" up!...

 

[55il]

Excellent, nice to see you two relaxing and us getting another "Ride Report". As always I really enjoy your trips and photos.

Have fun. DJ

 

[DK Custom Products]

Good lookin pics Kevin/Mary:clapping:

Not trying to Hijack, but not much fire damage showing from the raging forest fires that hit the Smokies last year...?

Hopefully they are now on the rebound from that mess.

Anyhoo, keep the pics coming, & keep the "shiny side" up!...

We've seem a few signs of it ...just along some edges. Most of the damage, I think, was done near Gatlinburg, and we've stayed away from that traffic jam.

Excellent, nice to see you two relaxing and us getting another "Ride Report". As always I really enjoy your trips and photos.

Have fun. DJ

Thank you! Lot more photos to come.

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

The following pic are courtesy of Flashprez!

Thanks man!

Sitting around the imaginary campfire in the parking lot....telling stories.

Mary, messing with the bear...lol...while we wait for a table.

A bunch of old farts trying to get the infotainment to work right.

Some of the crew at dinner.

Some of the crew at Deals Gap with Regina, Larry's wife (in blue) and Patricia, Larry's sister (to her right).

At a stop (on the Skyway?)

Joe, thank you for these photos!

More coming soon.

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

Part I of Day 3-

Not going to get all of Day 3 done right now, but here's a start.

Getting ready to pull out. That is Nevada72 (Bob) and Cheryl on the blue RG in the right of this photo. It was great to meet them in person, and was good that they came out to honor Larry's memory.

We started out about in the middle of the pack...

...pulled up next to MysticWolf (Craig) & Babygirl (Donna) to say hi.

We're on our way...

...on a perfect day to be riding.

Lots of bikes out on the road this morning.

It's just a short ride to...

...yep, we're all here...

...Foothills Parkway.

Mary took just shy of 400 pics today...

...I'm paring it down. Will get more of Day 3 posted up soon.

Kevin

 

[Cainam]

I love riding in the mountains... not a bad road out there... I am very fortunate to have this almost in my back yard!!!

 

[DblTrbl]

Another year, another ride report...love it...

Hope to see you in MV this year if you can make it.

 

[DK Custom Products]

I love riding in the mountains... not a bad road out there... I am very fortunate to have this almost in my back yard!!!

If I lived out your way I would have a hard time ever working. :laugh: So many great roads!!!

Another year, another ride report...love it...

Hope to see you in MV this year if you can make it.

This is just a short ride report. We are hoping to get out to MV this year. Our plans for this year are in a state of flux. As of right now we have no big trip planned, but will hopefully get one in before winter!

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

Day 3 continued-

On Foothills Parkway...

...a great day to be riding, and a beautiful road to be riding on.

On 129 now, headed for...

The Dragon.

I really enjoy riding on roads where the tree canopy covers the road.

Not sure why John stopped at the beginning of the Dragon, but pretty much as soon as we stopped, we started moving again.

Mary is pretty good about getting some creative shots with the camera...

...it is difficult to fully appreciate 311 curves in 11 miles, in this photo we're coming out of one and you can see two more up ahead.

Pulled over to let some space get between us and some slower traffic we could not pass.

Roger was to the left of us...having a blast.

And Paul to the right, enjoying the ride!

More of Day 3 coming soon.

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

Day 3 Continued-

Back rolling, taking a look back at Roger.

Many say The Dragon is over-hyped...I have even said that. And, yes, there are a ton of great roads out there to ride if you like the twistys.

BUT, there is something about how nicely the road was made here. Not only a ton of curves, the the camber in many of them, just begs (if you're so inclined) for you to power thru them.

This red truck was in our lane, saw us, and swerved back into his own. Gotta pay attention for those not staying in their own lane.

Not only is it a challenging road, one to enjoy the twistys, but it is a beautiful ride also!

Coming out of a sharp right and headed into a sharp downhill left. I never get tired of riding this road.

We started The Dragon in Tennessee, we are finishing it up in North Carolina.

There is no law (that I know of) against poking your own eye out....but it is pretty stupid to do.

There is no possible way this truck can make the curves in The Dragon and stay in his own lane. Most 18 wheelers can't even make it thru using BOTH lanes.

Do a youtube search on semi trucks on the dragon, you will see what I'm talking about. I hope he did not kill anybody that day.

Looking down on part of Deals Gap, after the end of The Dragon.

Part of the Crew gathered for a photo at Deals Gap.

Leaving a little memory of Larry at one of his favorite places.

More of Day 3 coming soon.

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

Day 3 Continued-

Leaving out of Deals Gap...

...Headed down 129...

...toward Cherohala Skyway.

Mary leaning down and inside for a different perspective.

Everyone know to make a left here?

Crossing a stream.

On the Skyway now...

...for sweeper...

...after sweeper....

...after sweeper!

More in next post.

 

[DK Custom Products]

Day 3 continued-

Another Sweeper...never counted them, but love this road.

Pulling over...

...for a stretch...

...and a view at Big Junction. We've been up here when it's been cold and foggy...today is perfect!

Back rolling!

Today we're riding at a leisurely pace.

Last September I was up here on the Sportster with Devin (the "D" in DK) on his SGS and Blake on the Project 48 Sporty. They're both whippersnappers, and we were rolling thru the Skyway running 65-85 mph.

See a lot more this way!

We're coming down off the Skyway now...

...riding alongside the river...

...great shot Mary got at 40 mph.

Getting close to a lunch stop.

More of Day 3 coming soon.

Kevin

 

[peteg59]

When you're back from this adventure Kevin, you'll have to let us in on your secret which is:...How you're able to be on the road, & in the shop working on a Sportster project at the "apparent" same time:Shrug:!:Joker3:

 

[DK Custom Products]

When you're back from this adventure Kevin, you'll have to let us in on your secret which is:...How you're able to be on the road, & in the shop working on a Sportster project at the "apparent" same time:Shrug:!:Joker3:

hahaha, I wish I had that secret!!!

I am back from this trip...and as I have time I go thru the photos that Mary took, along with contemporaneous notes I made during the trip, and then post the Ride Report.



Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

Day 3 Concluded.

Beautiful area to ride in. This entire ride has been occupied with appreciating the privilege of riding these roads with friends, and remembering riding them with Larry.

Pulling in for some late lunch.

Back rolling...

...a look back.

Mary taking a pic of Rhoda taking a pic of Mary.

Just a word about Ray & Rhoda and their fancy 160 hp 6 cylinder BMW.

A few years ago they were on a road trip and were passing near our home. We kept waiting for them to show up. For as long as we had know them, up to that point, they had toured on their Dyna with loud pipes.

All of a sudden we heard someone knocking on our door. It was them! But we had not heard them...they showed up on their BMW! They've been happily riding it ever since.

We're back on Foothills Parkway now...

...enjoying the road, winding thru some beautiful woods.

Stopped at a scenic lookout...

...I'm sitting in the shade, as Roger makes his way to the shade himself.

Not long after, we're pulling into Townsend, back to home-base.

It was a great day of riding, catching up with friends and remembering Larry.

Day 4 coming soon.

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

Day 4-

Another great day of riding is planned. The group is going on two different routes.

Some of us are taking a longer route, and others a shorter one. The shorter ride is going straight to The Dragon with Larry's wife and sister.

Taking our time getting ready to head out.

Headed toward Cherokee Valley...

...enjoying the....

...Beautiful area.

There are so many great riding roads...

...and the views are great around most every corner.

I like this photo Mary got as we hugged this curve and powered thru it.

Just. WOW!

Learning a bit about a Yamaha FJR at a scenic pull-out. John rode an Ultra when we first met him many years ago....but this is his second Non-HD bike, and it does not appear he will be going back to an HD anytime soon.

Relaxing and catching up with friends we generally see only once a year.

More in next post.

 

[DK Custom Products]

Day 4 continued-

A view of the Smokeys at 40 mph.

Coasting down the hill into Cherokee...

Just puttin along...

...you can see we're riding pretty easy this morning...I'm at 40.3 mpg for the last 60 miles or so.

Mary in the Mirror.

We do hit a few curves fast...this one was at 75 mph, but the FJR was still pulling away from me without even trying.

Stopped at another scenic pull-out, got a photo of me and Mary.

Back hitting a few curves at 70 mph+...

...you can see in this one Ray is getting close to dragging a peg.

This is a really fun section of road before getting to Deals Gap.

A section of the river had a pretty good layer of fog hanging right above the water.

More coming soon.

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

Day 4 Continued-

Absolutely breathtaking views everywhere we look-

We got stuck behind this slow moving Tri-Glide. You could tell he was pushing it as fast as he was comfortable...he just does not know what his trike is capable of doing.

I was a bit surprised that he did not pull over in one of the many turn-outs to let the traffic behind him pass.

We stopped here for lunch...ate in a really nice (LARGE) picnic area they have. Totally forgot to take any photos. Nice place with motorcycle stalls that are equipped with motorcycle cleaning supplies.

Back riding...toward the Dragon.

My "Perfect Road" & the Tri-Glide just eats it up.... Curved, Banked and Uphill-

Translated- This sign means- Be Careful, but there is FUN AHEAD!

The beginning of The Dragon....from the opposite direction of yesterday.

Curve after curve....

followed by More Curves.

318 curves later, we are on the other side of the Dragons Tail.

There was a friendly Canadian hanging out in the pull-out. We traded him a beer for taking our pic.

More coming soon.

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

Day 4 Concluded-

Headed back to Townsend via the Foothills Parkway.

Almost to the Parkway...

...enjoying the curves.

Soon after this it began raining, so Mary tucked the camera away. No more pics for Day 4.

Day 5-

There was a steady, but light rain most of the morning. Last night we had some heavy rains and wind. Tore the roof off the Subway across the road!

Mid morning in the parking lot-

Paul holding forth...don't remember about what, but babygirl thought it was funny.

After it had stopped raining we decided to go for a ride into the Smokeys...deciding at some point to have a memorial service for Larry.

There are two routes into the hills from Townsend, they were both closed due to the wind last night blowing down trees into the road.

So we stopped at the river, near the turn off to Cades...

It was the perfect spot. We spent some time remembering Larry, each of us dispersing some of his ashes into the river.

All the roads are closed, so we took a bit more time and headed back to Townsend.

The rest of the afternoon and evening was spent remembering Larry and telling stories. No pics.

The ride home for Mary and I will be posted up next.

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

Day 6- The Ride Home.

Leaving our Inn on the Hill...

Enjoying the ride thru the hills out of Townsend.

A different kind of Horsepower!

We're getting a few sprinkles as we ride a ways with some fellow travelers.

Mary in the mirror as we do our short bit on the interstate. Still getting 38.2 mpg for this tank.

As we enter Tennessee, the sprinkles turn into a steady rain....

...so we pulled into Big Daddy's Fireworks and filled up the tank and put on our rain suits.

Mary in the mirror as we cruise down the last part of the interstate at 70 mph in the rain.

In Alabama now, no rain, and very little traffic.

It is a bit warm, so I've opened up my rain suit and turned into the Michelin Man. lol

Conclusion in next post.

 

[DK Custom Products]

Last post of the Larry Weaver Memorial Weekend in the Smokys.

Ride on Larry!

Here's why we left our rain suits on...

Mary with the camera tucked in behind the fairing...

...we rode in and out of the rain all thru Alabama.

A look off to the side.

Back home in Mississippi....

...getting only a few sprinkles now and then. Cruising the 72 at 70 mph.

We stopped in Corinth at the Veterans Cemetery...

...to pay respects to Mary's dad. He served in the Army, Navy & Marine Corps. Was still carrying shrapnel in his leg when we lost him almost a year ago.

Last year, while we were on our "40 Days Following the Front Wheel" ride, Mary had to fly home a few days early to be with him the few days before he passed.

You can see our "40 Days" Ride Report at this link-

http://www.triketalk.com/forum/thre...Ride-Report-40-Days-Following-the-Front-Wheel

From Corinth it is a hop, skip and a jump home, well, about 70 miles.

First thing we did when we got home was to check on this mama chicken and her chick that had hatched the day before we left out.

Hope you enjoyed following along.

Kevin

 

[bikerbillone]

Sure enjoyed the pics and the narrative. What camera did Mary use?

 

[Zammy]

Great pics and story as always Kevin, thank you for the ride along.

 

[kybigmac]

I really enjoy your stories and pictures! Thx for sharing.