Annual RTE to Tellico Plains/Cherohala Skyway - September 23

[ron203]

I and my counterparts do actually WORK on Fridays. SOME work, actually.....   

I never doubted your counterparts. 

[SteveJ.]

Just had lunch at Telico Grainery. Yum

[Steve in Sunny Fla]

Just had lunch at Telico Grainery. Yum

Quit rubbing it in    Steve

[Volcantour]

Just had lunch at Telico Grainery. Yum

Quit rubbing it in    Steve

Could be pushing his luck in getting homebrew tonight if he keeps this up....

[Dave Scott]

so?  how did things go today?  Denise and I missed being there, but I had to work.  ugh!

 

[ron203]

Very nice lunch group of 12. The restaurant was out of a few things, but we made do. Tom Sills will be along with the picture.  I  left about 7:15, met Mike Anthony and Earl in Dahlonega, then met up with Jerry Holland, Tom Sills, and SteveJ at Two Wheels. THEN we picked up Strum in Morganton. Big group on 68.

Ranger Jim & Cindy, Kurt and Kay Brown showed up on their 'Wings. Then Glenn rolled in on the VFR after a 4 hour ride from Murphreesboro TN.

I got home about 4:35 with a only a few sprinkles when I skirted a thunderstorm in Dawson county..

Schedule another one in western NC when you and Denise can make it and I'll bet most us of will come again.

Thanks Tom for setting this up.

[glenn 12]

I made it home about 4pm after missing about 3 different showers on the way back. But it did cool it off most of the ride back home. Thanks Tom for setting the RTE up, it was nice seeing everyone and the food was good. I just needed to stretch the VFR's legs for this ride.

[Volcantour]

Y'all made the event. I just put it online. Thanks for the support.

Had an epic RTE/long weekend. Am honored with the nice turnout from friends near and far. You truly make the events like this special.

Had reason to believe that one or more good COG folk were going to be overnighting in the area surrounding this event. Took advantage of the excellent weather and proximity to make this a two-night layover at TWO. Was blessed with a last minute offer to share a cabin with Jerry Holland (COGNOSTICATOR). I arrived late Friday to find Jerry and Steve Johnson (STEVE J) sitting on the porch. Got the bike moved and the gear stowed away then ate a nice meal. Shot the breeze for awhile before deciding to turn in. This was before Jerry and I saw the fire pit in active use in front of the cabin by four couples staying the weekend and riding the area. Made for a great evening of fireside chatter.

Did the Tellico ride the next morning after Ron Simmons (RON 203) (our fearless AD) and two others met up with us at TWO after breakfast. The group met up with Stan Tyler (STRUM) on the way up. Eventually found our way to Tellico Plains and met at KramBonz for barbecue fixings. Others who were already there when we arrived included Kurt and Kay Brown (MOTOCOMMUTER) and Jim and Cindy Culp (RANGER JIM). After a bit we were joined by Glenn Gourneau (GLENN 12) from Murfreesboro, TN. Total attendance amounted to twelve. The fellowship was great and some came away with goodies sponsored by COG.

Not everyone rode the Cherohala Skyway that day. Several of us headed south with the intent of trying out a few new routes and making a loop for the day before arriving at beer-thirty back at TWO. Others had plans to retire back at Iron Horse Lodge after visits to a certain arts and crafts location - and getting pie. 

My party arrived back at TWO just in time for beer thirty after spending a part of our efforts looking for the lost soul that departed midway in the trip. Turns out we had been told at breakfast that would happen but, apparently, did not listen...go figure. The lost soul beat us back to the campground, to boot...

After being joined for the evening by Mike Lane and his family and eating a great meal, we set about putting together the fire for that night's festivities with the nearby cabin mates. Had another great evening that lasted several hours into the wee morning. For the record, it was a COG member that put the Harley kids to bed...

Arose the next morning to find my cabin mate packing for the ride south. No sooner had he left than another COG forum member arrived. Spent the morning charting new roads using Steve J's GPS, which, by the way, has a mysterious way of finding dirt roads en route...

Parted ways with Steve and Larry outside of Ellijay before heading to the house via a few local detours. Had a blast, folks. Highly recommend an Extended RTE for what ails you.

[Ranger Jim]

T'was indeed a great day!  Cindy and I departed from the shores of beautiful Lake Secession, SC and rode the 4 hours over to Tellico Plains via US HWY 129 up over Blood Mountain to Murphy then took the scenic and twisty ride over NC 294 to TN 68 to Krambonz.  Kurt/Kay were arriving just as we were pulling into the gas station across the road. We replenished the fuel and rode over to await the arrival of the rest of the crew.  We had a most enjoyable visit with the above named folks then Cindy and I headed back up HWY 68 about 10 miles to a Visitor's Center alongside the Unicoi Turnpike. We'd thought about taking that route back to Murphy, NC where we planned to overnight. Turns out that a section of the Unicoi Turnpike is not only not paved but is VERY ROUGH, only suitable for dual-sports which my Goldwing definitely is NOT!. Oh, well, Guess I'll just have to take the Cherohala Skyway then HWY 129 back down to Murphy.

We overnighted in Murphy at a little B & B and walked about the town Sunday morning then started our meander back home over some roads around Murphy I'd never been on. Anyone ever ride the Joe Brown Highway over the Hiawassee Dam?  It's most excellent!   We rolled into Clayton, GA, ate a late lunch then headed for the barn but decided to take another small (twisty) detour and ran over Warwoman Road  (one of my favorites) arriving back at the homestead at about 6:00pm.

Great weekend, great friends, great roads.  COG at it's finest!

[ron203]

Y'all made the event. I just put it online. Thanks for the support.

Had an epic RTE/long weekend. Am honored with the nice turnout from friends near and far. You truly make the events like this special.

Had reason to believe that one or more good COG folk were going to be overnighting in the area surrounding this event. Took advantage of the excellent weather and proximity to make this a two-night layover at TWO. Was blessed with a last minute offer to share a cabin with Jerry Holland (COGNOSTICATOR). I arrived late Friday to find Jerry and Steve Johnson (STEVE J) sitting on the porch. Got the bike moved and the gear stowed away then ate a nice meal. Shot the breeze for awhile before deciding to turn in. This was before Jerry and I saw the fire pit in active use in front of the cabin by four couples staying the weekend and riding the area. Made for a great evening of fireside chatter.

Did the Tellico ride the next morning after Ron Simmons (RON 203) (our fearless AD) and two others met up with us at TWO after breakfast. The group met up with Stan Tyler (STRUM) on the way up. Eventually found our way to Tellico Plains and met at KramBonz for barbecue fixings. Others who were already there when we arrived included Kurt and Kay Brown (MOTOCOMMUTER) and Jim and Cindy Culp (RANGER JIM). After a bit we were joined by Glenn Gourneau (GLENN 12) from Murfreesboro, TN. Total attendance amounted to twelve. The fellowship was great and some came away with goodies sponsored by COG.

Not everyone rode the Cherohala Skyway that day. Several of us headed south with the intent of trying out a few new routes and making a loop for the day before arriving at beer-thirty back at TWO. Others had plans to retire back at Iron Horse Lodge after visits to a certain arts and crafts location - and getting pie. 

My party arrived back at TWO just in time for beer thirty after spending a part of our efforts looking for the lost soul that departed midway in the trip. Turns out we had been told at breakfast that would happen but, apparently, did not listen...go figure. The lost soul beat us back to the campground, to boot...

After being joined for the evening by Mike Lane and his family and eating a great meal, we set about putting together the fire for that night's festivities with the nearby cabin mates. Had another great evening that lasted several hours into the wee morning. For the record, it was a COG member that put the Harley kids to bed...

Arose the next morning to find my cabin mate packing for the ride south. No sooner had he left than another COG forum member arrived. Spent the morning charting new roads using Steve J's GPS, which, by the way, has a mysterious way of finding dirt roads en route...

Parted ways with Steve and Larry outside of Ellijay before heading to the house via a few local detours. Had a blast, folks. Highly recommend an Extended RTE for what ails you.

Great post Tom. I'll bet Swampcat would LOVE to get this for the Concourier.
Thanks.

[MotoCommuter]

Kay's Fall Break plans were canceled due to Irma, so we decided to take an extended weekend and camp up at Ironhorse MC Campground and meet up with everyone for the RTE at Krambonz on Saturday. Others had said they would be up at TWO, but as Kay has never been to Ironhorse, we decided to camp at Ironhorse. We left the house at about 730am on Friday and went around Atlanta via Covington, Athens Cornelia to Franklin NC were we had lunch at Cafe Rel. After lunch, we headed up Hwy 28 to Ironhorse were we checked in and set up the camper. As we had most of the afternoon available and Kay had never ridden the Dragon, we headed up Hwy 28 to Hwy 129 and rode the Dragon to the overlook. Caught up to a bunch cruisers and basically meandered through the curves until the overlook.

We rested a bit, I spoke with a couple guys from Missouri that were on a V-Strom and Tiger, who were on their way to Ironhorse. We headed back down the Dragon and had a good ride, only caught up to a couple bikes, which I was able to get by fairly easily. We almost got hit by a green Kia Soul that was pulling out from a turn out on a curve right by one of Killboy's photo setups, but she check up and we escaped with out any issues: https://www.photoreflect.com/store/Orderpage.aspx?pi=04RK0345080698&po=816&pc=949 . We made it back to Ironhorse in time to enjoy a few cold ones, cooked up some dinner and relaxed the rest of the evening.

Saturday we headed out about 915am ish and got fuel in Robbinsville and took the Cherohala Skyway to Tellico Plains. Traffic was very light, practically non existent, only caught up to two cars and a pair of cruisers that I was able to get around. We did pass a C-10 going the other way, thought it was Tom, so we pulled off into a pull out to see if it was but they never came back so we headed on. Got to Krambonz about 11am, got a drink and sat outside to wait on everyone, Jim and Cindy pull up and we have a nice chat with them until everyone else gets there. Good group of folks, enjoyed the company.

After lunch, everyone takes off in all directions, we headed back across the Cherohala Skyway to Robbinsville and again, traffic is very light. We stopped at Lynn's Restaurant in Robbinsville for pie which was very delicious. We head back to Ironhorse with stops for fuel and mustard at Ingles, which we forgot. Get back to camp fairly early and enjoy the afternoon with a few cold ones. Again, we cook some dinner and enjoy the evening.

Next morning, we have breakfast and pack up the camper and head out about 1015am, We get back home about 230pm and unload our gear. Nice short weekend, with some good riding and good fellowship.

[Dave Scott]

excellent stories guys!  I wish Denise and I could have made it.  alas....work interfered with our fun.   

[COGnosticator]

What Tom Sills wrote   

[ron203]

excellent stories guys!  I wish Denise and I could have made it.  alas....work interfered with our fun.   

Someday, you and Denise will be "Seenagers".....

[Dave Scott]

excellent stories guys!  I wish Denise and I could have made it.  alas....work interfered with our fun.   

Someday, you and Denise will be "Seenagers".....

I'm ready for "someday" now!!!