Guy
Boutin's Motorcycle Touring and Travel Pages
Adventures in Sport
Touring with the Honda ST 1100, 1300 and the BMW 1200RT
Exploring North America...One Road
at a Time
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Guy
Boutin's Motorcycle Touring and Travel Pages
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Day 10 By 630am I was packed and almost ready to go. I went outside, closed the door behind me, and locked my butt out. Not wanting to wake the whole house up on a Sunday morning, I picked up the paper, and walked to the rear deck, and read. I knew David was a early riser, and my hunched proved correct 15 minutes later. "How long ya been out here?" "About 15 minutes, I was just about to start ringing the bell" I was backing out of the driveway at 7am, routes noted on my left sleeve. I was ready to ride. I've only covered 150 miles the last 3 days, and I was getting nervous, but its been fun. It was gray and cloudy, but not rainy looking. What else is new. I eased along the quiet streets till I found SR 7100. A quick connector to I-66. Much better than having to ride back into the city. Most folks in the northeast have a different mindset when it comes to distance. My cousins in Pa, think of NYC as a "long way", despite the fact some of them have lived in the Philly area all their lives, they can count on 1 hand their trips to NYC, and Washington DC was a real long way. Much of that thought is due to the fact it is so hard to get anywhere. Folks back home, and out west, think nothing of jumping in the car and driving 100 miles, but in the northeast it can take all day to cover 100 miles on anything but a interstate. I've been in NYC area 5 times the last 5 years, more then my cousins in Pa have been all their lives. It was still cloudy when I emptied out onto I-66. I will follow it west till I get to I-81. I thought about riding back roads down to Gatlinburg, but the city is almost 500 miles south, I know the terrain, I can't do it in a single day. Perhaps next year. Instead, I will follow I-81 to the Johnson City area, than escape into the hills. I-81 is not a bad highway as interstates go, any road in the Shenandoah is good. I saw a unmarked state car giving a 18 wheeler a ticket, near exit 245. Traffic is sparse on this Sunday morning, and I get comfortable in the saddle. I'm at last free of the urban sprawl of the northeast. Things thin out considerably south of DC on I-81. I rode 250 non stop, uneventful miles, to my first gas stop south of Roanoke. After I filled up I went inside for a Wendy's lunch. Church was letting out, and folks were coming in wearing suits. I called my son and wife and checked on things, and updated them on my whereabouts and my plans. I was glad I took a early lunch, now I can ride the hills without worrying about getting hungry. A few miles after lunch, and just north of Bristol, I left the interstate for SR 91 and the riding improved greatly. This was a gem of a road. I followed it south among the hills and farmland. Passing through quiet villages, with packed churches. The road gently banked me around and over the hills. None of the hills were very tall, but they were still fun.
I lost my way in Damascus. There were no signs pointing to my route. It was if the road evaporated. I rode around till I found SR 133. My choice was a good one, it treated to a great, twisty ride through the Cherokee National Forest. The ride was exciting as I paralleled a small river through the dense woods. The pavement was smooth (this is Tenn.) and it was fun. The trees and underbrush were thick and alive. I had little traffic to contend with, and I found myself in a really good mood. I crossed US 421 and went to SR 91 which proved to be more great riding. I was climbing in elevation as I worked my into the hills. I was 3 for 3 with my choices so far. Not a bad average. The route got a little more complicated when I arrived at Elizabethton. Suddenly, I found myself in a maze of signs and directions. I pulled to a church and broke out the atlas. The map confused me, and failed to offer as much detail as I needed. The atlas I use has done that to me often. It is a good map, but when several routes all converge in a single spot it gets fuzzy. The map showed me the end result out of Elizabethton would be US 11E. After much consternation I found it, and proceeded south. The temp was hot and very muggy, and the sky where I was going looked threatening. Rain again? This is really starting to get old. As I was motoring south I began to wonder if Uncle Phil has ever visited this portion of the mountains. I'm almost sure he has, the road is too twisty and fun to have escaped him. I thought about giving that joker a ring to see if he wanted to meet in Gatlingburg for steaks. The Davey Crockett birthplace sign appeared and I almost took the road, but at the last minute I decided not to. I was ready to get to Gatlinburg. I've always liked the city and was looking forward to seeing it again. I honeymooned here in 1976, and made several trips back, but none since 1985. That was the year my brother and I rode crotch rockets up here to dabble in the curves. It stood as my last trip till the ST arrived.
I was moving downhill toward a light controlled intersection, at the bottom of long hill. The lowest spot in town. I could see a large pool of water at the bottom and saw cars up to the floor in water, as they tried to get across. Large wakes could been seen behind them. I instantly began looking for alternatives. The water is peg deep, but the ST should handle it, but then I thought it was too dumb to try. I don't need to wade the ST across the little pond. What if I misjudge the speed and depth of the water, and the flow knocks me down? What if the water swallows the ST, and damages vital electronics? I began looking for options, I was in traffic so stopping was the last resort. My eyes went to a shopping center on my right. Halfway to the water, I saw an entrance to the parking lot, I turned into it and made my way to the back, to avoid the pond on the road. I surveyed the area again ,and followed a path to a fast food drive in next door. I went there, and exited out through the entrance, and found myself right back on US 11 going south, totally avoiding the water trap. Never let it be said I can't think quick when on the saddle. The ST does not make a good Jet Ski. Who knows maybe some day some joker will invent a combi watercraft motorcycle. US 321 took me south out of Greenville and on to Gatlinburg. The rain cleared out but the road was wet, ending any thought of leaning. Steam rose from the road, as the sun finally came out. It has been so long since I've seen it, I didn't really know what to do. Along the highway, white fences were keeping cows in their designated areas, and the surrounding hills were clouded in white mist. The Smoky Mountains were at my right and the road followed their foothills. It was good riding. I stopped in Newport for gas, and saw a Harley couple gearing back up. It appeared they came through the same storm I did. We acknowledge each, other but didn't speak. Traffic increased as I neared the out of control tourist trap otherwise known as Gatlingburg. I need cash for motel negotiations later, so stopped at the first bank I saw and used the ATM. Gatlinburg use to be a quaint city in the foothills, now it is a crowded tourist hangout. Still, if you've never visited here, you should. I counted 3-4 Goofy golf courses for your kids. Main Street is a parking lot this time of year but that, was ok. I wanted to go slow to see how the city has changed since my last visit here. In some ways it has changed a lot, in others very little, just depends on how you look at it. I cruised Main Street looking for lodging. This is summer, and motels could be expensive. If they were too high I could always take the short ride over to Pigeon Forge. I turned into a local motel's parking lot, and asked the clerk- "I'll give ya 35 cash for a room" " can't do it, I ain't the boss" "well ok, but tell him this. You just lost a sale because he gave you no authority". The motel was less than half full. I went across the street and made the same offer. The clerk responds- "CASH?" "cash", as I got out my wallet. The man says, "how about 38 tax and all?" "done" I had a nice room, right in downtown Gatlingburg, height of tourist season, for less then 40 bucks. Not bad I say. I rode 501 miles for the day. After I showered I went for a walk downtown. I was looking for something to eat, and the city had many places to choose from, but nothing really sounded good.
The sidewalks were shoulder to shoulder. Seems like everyone was here. In the end I settled on Shoneys. A poor choice for a last night on the road meal. My waiter was Russian, who was still learning English. I wonder how many orders that joker messes up in a day. My phone rang while I was eating and my wife kept me company for 20 minutes. I tried not to smack. After a short ride tomorrow, I will be home. I hope it doesn't' rain. Next: great riding, more leaning, and a fun ride home.
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