What a great trip! Eight days, six bikes, ten people, 2100 miles. Stayed in Maggie Valley and toured the area. Started Sunday at the Wheels Through Time motorcycle museum, which I highly recommend. A great collection of old motorcycles, many of which are one of a kind. That afternoon Jim wanted us to follow him into the Smoky Mountains National Park. We started up a country road which promptly turned to gravel switchbacks. Jim assured me that it became pavement in the park and we should be able to go out that way. After going over the gap into the park and down into the Catahoochee Valley we found out that there was another way out, but it was thirty miles of gravel instead of the ten or so we just rode to get in there. All ended well and it was a good start. On Monday we rode the Cherohala Skyway with a stop at Bald River Falls. Tuesday we rode up Hwy 209 to Hot Springs, NC a great twisty rode with hardly any traffic. Had lunch and then headed over to Greenville, TN and down to I-40 and back to Maggie Valley. Wednesday we rode down to Chesnee, SC to visit Cowpens National Battlefield from the Revolutionary War. The ride down Hwy 276 was another great twisty road especially down to Hwy 11 from Caesars Head State Park. Thursday we took a break and just stayed around town. Friday we rode out Hwy 215 south to the Blue Ridge Parkway and then west to Cherokee. Saturday we started back and when the couples stopped for the night to give the wives a break Jim and I dodged thunderstorms (unsuccessfully) the rest of the way home. The only way it could have been better is if my wife had been able to get off work last week.
