Friday 08/07/20 Ride

Fellow Riders,

• It looks like Mother Nature is still cooperating with our Friday rides.  I plan to ride this week to put a few more miles on Hwy's 276 and 178.  If another non-breakfast/lunch ride works for you, we'll plan on leaving the Key Mart parking area at 9 am.  Hope to see you there.  Steve 

Planned Ride Route

• The weather did cooperate and there were six riders that came out for the ride today.  Joining me were Dan, Len, Gary, Brian, and John.  We made our way toward Pickens and then angled up toward Marietta where I planned to stop for a quick break before scooting up into the mountains.  It is good to take a brief pause near the half-way point.  We avoided the roughest part of Hwy 11 by taking Moody Bridge Road before catching up with Hwy 8/276.  As we made our way up the mountain, it is clear Geer Highway is seriously due for a resurfacing.  As we neared Brevard, we cut over to take Rosman Hwy back down the mountain.  Brian alerted me when we stopped for the break, that he thought he needed to "unwind" his Kawasaki when we got to 178.  After a few miles on 178, Brian saw the open straight stretch he was looking for and gave the throttle quite a twist as he headed for the first turn.  He quickly disappeared and as we got close to Holly Springs, he passed us going back north to enjoy some more of the twisties.  He caught up with us as we cut back through Pickens County and stopped for gas at our regular spot, Durhams.  Overall, it was another great day on two wheels.   Steve

 

Friday 07/31/20 Ride

Fellow Riders,

• I'm optimistic that Friday will be a good day to take a ride through the mountains.  I plan on heading toward Rosman, NC, and ride a mountain road, or two, before making our way home.  We'll make a pit stop after an hour, or so, and should be home a little after noon.  If a non-breakfast/lunch ride sounds good to you, we'll plan on leaving the Key Mart parking area at 9 am.  Hope to see you there.    Steve

Let's Ride!!

• It was a good day for a ride and the cooler temps in the mountains felt great.  Joining me today were, Len, Gary, Rob, John (first time rider - welcome), and Steve G., who brought along his wife Carla.  We rode familiar roads to connect with Hwy 178 for the ride to Rosman. We did have to watch for gravel/mud in some of the downhill curves due to the recent heavy rains, but no one had any real issues.  We stopped at Jarrett Brothers gas station in Rosman for a short break.  The restrooms were located in the parking lot and are commonly known as a "porta-potty." Maybe that helps reduce the spread of Corona Virus in the store, but surely there is a higher risk of who knows what from inside that little enclosure.  After the stop, we continued north on Hwy 215 to Tanasee Gap Road to cut back west to Hwy 281.  The weather was great, but there were a couple of large dark clouds as we rode back toward home.  It always seems the last 10 miles down the mountain heat up very rapidly and today was no exception.  Overall, it was another great day on two  wheels.  Steve 

Steve and Carla really seem
to be enjoying the ride!

Friday 07/24/20 Ride

Fellow Riders,

• I'm planning to ride Friday, but I'm keeping an eye on the weather before deciding on a final route.  The mountains seem a little risky, but I think we all enjoy the cooler temps at the higher elevations.  If the weather deteriorates, I'll send an email out at 8 am, Friday morning. I'm thinking we can get a ride in, just not sure were it's going to be.  If that's acceptable to you, we'll leave the Key Mart parking area at 9 am.  Hope to see you there.   Steve

Okay, so where we goin'?

• The weather cooperated and there were six of us that came out for a ride.  The other riders joining me were Dan, Len, Russ, Gary, and Terry.  I had a route that would head for Clarkesville, GA, and loop back through Toccoa, GA.  The weather was looking pretty good, so when we made our pit stop at Hwy 17 and Hwy 441, I took Len's suggestion and decided that once we got to Clarkesville, we would head north on the curvy and fun to ride Hwy 197 toward Lake Burton.  This is always a favorite road with lots of curves that aren't too tight, and many vistas of the valleys and mountains.  It is always good too see the very scenic Lake Burton.  We made the turn toward home on Hwy 76, and drove through Clayton.  The temperatures were definitely starting to rise by the time we stopped for gas in Walhalla.  We were home by 12:30 pm, and it was another great day on two wheels.   Steve

Lake Burton - Georgia

Friday 07/17/20 Ride

Fellow Riders,

• I thought this week I would head toward Lake Glenville and the bear east on Hwy 281.  We'll pass through Rosman, NC, on the way back.  I'll make a pit stop for those that need a break.  If a non-breakfast/lunch ride sounds good to you, we will leave the Key Mart parking area at 9 am.  Hope to see you there.    Steve

Patriot Guard Riders

• Another great day to ride.  Our large group of riders included Len, Dan, Russ, Gary, Charley A., Jeff and Sue, Dave Mc and wife Linda (welcome first time riders, Linda may ride her own Harley next time!), David D,. and Steve G.  As we made our way toward Cashiers, the mountains were looking relatively clear for this time of year. The turn from Wigington to Hwy 107 seems to be getting more treacherous every time we take this route.  The pot holes are getting wider and deeper and the surface of the road until you get to the North Carolina line is also rough.  However, the ride was nice and cooling as we proceeded north.  We made a stop in Tuckasegee for a short break.  We then turned on to Hwy 281 to follow the Tuckasegee River on a very scenic and curvy ride.  I changed my ambitious plan to make it to Hwy 215 to go toward Rosman and instead stayed on Hwy 281 to Toxaway.  It was a nice three hour ride.  The temps were rising rapidly as we came down the mountain and it was nice to be home by noon time to avoid more heat.  It was another great day on two wheels.    Steve

    

Friday 07/10/20 Ride

Fellow Riders,

• I think we're in for another warm Friday, so a morning ride through the mountains should feel pretty good.  I plan to ride through Highlands, NC, and return through Clayton to ride on Warwoman.  We can make a stop in Highlands for a quick stretch for those that need a break.  If a non-breakfast/lunch ride sounds good to you, we'll leave the Key Mart parking area at 9:00 am.  We should be home between 12:00 and 12:30 pm.  Hope to see you there.    Steve

Big Scaly Mountain

• The skies were cloud-free, but the air was already full of humidity when we gathered for a ride into the mountains today.  Joining me were Dan, Len, David D., Gary, and Russ. We took a longer way to get to Highlands by going all the way up Hwy 107, taking the split from Hwy 28.  It was a cool, mostly shaded ride up the mountain with very little traffic.  When we got into Cashiers, traffic was light and we headed west on Hwy 64.  The pit stop in Highlands worked out well and after the short break we continued on Hwy 106, passing Big Scaly Mountain, toward US 441.  We made our way to Warwoman when we arrived in Clayton and enjoyed the curvy route.  Our ride ended when we gassed up in Walhalla.  Overall, it was another great day on two wheels.    Steve

Warwoman Road, Clayton GA