Newfound Gap and the Blueridge Parkway
30 May 2015
Master Map
This was the day of the 'official' photo op. It was a glorious morning and 12 CB1100s were lined up. The owner of IHML got out a drone, attached a camera and sent it skyward, a ladder was erected and the shutters went berserk. Many photos have been posted, even some from the drone, although I recall they may only have been photos of photos. Anyway, here's a couple of mine, some of which were taken by Mrs redbirds. Thanks Sparky; I'm in your debt.
A few of our number cleared out early, so there were only 12 CBs for the shoot, but, hey, that's all right, isn't it?
Just for the record, here's Sparky's ride.
There was to be one small delay before taking to the road. Mrs Pterodactyl was demanding evidence of her man with his bike. In his rally T-shirt aboard the FJR 1300, he cut a fine figure on the bridge at IHML.
Another good man suffering CB separation anxiety, and riding a bike I don't think he enjoyed as much as Pterodactyl enjoyed the FJR1300 and I enjoyed the ST1300, was Chapomis on a Ducati.
Then it was 'follow the Ferret' again as he led some of us to Newfound Gap on the NC-Tenessee border overlooking Cherokee.
Boys on bikes. CB1100s specifically. The last one is, I believe, a rare image of the Ferret taken by another rider using a technique learned from the Ferret. I'm not sure whether that's what's called being hoist on your own petard.
Of course there was the obligatory photo opportunity on the way.
It was a great ride up the hill and well worth it for the magnificent views back over Cherokee.
And then we turned around and went almost all the way back down.
I think this is the road I enjoyed the most — the Blue Ridge Parkway. It was, I admit, a glorious day, but more importantly, the road surface was good, the road well made, the corners a delight and seemingly never ending, and the scenery something really special, even by the local standards. Perhaps this is the wrong thing to say to a forum predominantly made up of Americans, but I'll say it anyway: if you haven't ridden it and you like twisties, go do it. If you're not an American member and, like me, you get a chance to visit the USA and ride a bike in North Carolina, yeah, do the Dragon, but don't miss the Blue Ridge Parkway between Cherokee and the lookout at Richland Balsam, the highest point on the Parkway.
Just beware the tunnels.
They look fantastic, but I found the contrast between daylight and the low level of light in the tunnel, combined with what I suspect may have been a poor headlight on the ST1300 more than a little disorienting. Pterodactyl reported a similar experience.
In a tunnel.
More photos at the Richland Balsam look out.
Now the Ferret has put it about that he repeatedly lost one or more of the sheep he was allegedly shepherding. On the way from the Richland Balsam stop to Cherokee I rode at the back of the line with a forum member who wanted to take it very easy. The Ferret, Pterodactyl (who was intent on murdering his rear tyre, see here for that story, redbirds and others simply took off like rockets. Or would 'like arrows from a bow string' be a better simile in this case? Anyway clear out at high speed they did and us more sedate chaps rode along behind. It is true that they went so fast that, having reached their destination and waited for us for a bit, the Ferret came back to search for us. It is also true they'd changed the luncheon destination. We were never lost.
I can report that I broke a cardinal rule of group riding. I didn't stop at an exit where there was possible confusion about which way to go. I think my companion may have hesitated because I stopped and waited for a bit and eventually went back to find him. After I passed him, it took me a while to turn around and I had to get a bit of a move on to catch up. The BRP is a great road to on which to get a move on.
Lunch in Cherokee comprised a chicken burger of sorts. Frankly, and with great respect, it rates as by far the worst meal I ate in the USA. Mercifully the quality of the food, however, was offset by the quality of the company.
After lunch we headed to IHML. Pterodactyl and I parted company with the follow-the-Ferret team at the junction of 19 and 1190. They took to 74 and we went on along 19 to Bryson City to re-fortify ourselves with beer and red wine for the evening ahead. There were no mishaps this time.
The rain threatened as we rode the final miles home
This barn comes into a view after a particularly tight corner on the road into the IHML. The verge had been mowed and, after rain, the grass on the corner made it even more treacherous
There have been other reports of the Rally dinner. It was a great opportunity to catch up with a couple of members I hadn't talked to over the weekend and with the others I had. I was touched, as I think was Pterodactyl, to receive a custom t-shirt. Thanks Chapomis, Ferret, EmptySea and any others who contributed to the plan. Chapomis, it is fair to say, displayed a significant capacity for intrigue having, at exactly the time he was concocting the plan for the Australian t-shirts, consulted me about a custom shirt for the Ferret.
After the dinner, which was much better than my lunch, a smaller group gathered on the deck in front of Pterodactyl's and my room and drank a cleansing ale or two before pronouncing the rally a most excellent event and heading off to bed.
