Camp-n- Ride-n- Fly October 21-22, 2016

Early Friday afternoon (off from work!), six riders met in Ball Ground to begin the Fall Camp-n-Ride-n-Fly (Larry, Dennis, Scott, Dave, Richard, and Mel who came over from his now-home, Athens).  Though the week produced three record-warm days, an unusually brisk north wind told us that wasn't in our cards.  Our goal was to ride to Suches and tent camp at Two Wheels Only and enjoy a Carbon Cub Fly-in held at nearby High Valley (GA's highest airstrip).

The Campers

Dave, Larry, Richard, Mel, Scott, Dennis

We began our leisurely ride toward Suches by way of Grandview road east of Jasper and the always-enjoyable Sunrise Ridge north toward Amicalola, adding layers as the temps slid downward.  At Nimbelwill Church (off 52), Mel, Larry and Dave split off and took forest service roads to top of the mountain (3200') and then enjoyed fast, well-groomed gravel all the way to Suches.  Scott, Dennis and Richard proceeded on 52 to Dahlonega, then enjoyed the "twisty 60" up to Suches. 

 We arrived with plenty of daylight left to set up tents by the brook, but our "brisk breeze" had grown to "one red flag - gale force" wind - extra tent stakes required! - and no sign of any Carbon Cubs in the air.  The lodge at TWO was warm and we enjoyed meeting other riders like a couple of upstate New Yorkers in the middle of a 12 day ride around the southeast.  Dinner was good and very busy as the Suches locals have claimed TWO as their new Friday night meet spot. After dinner, the high winds made campfires difficult as we continually shifted to avoid the smoke and embers.  It was an early night for all.

At breakfast we marveled at surviving the night's 40 MPH wind gusts - and it was looking doubtful we'd see any flying Cubs today.  Tad rode up from Duluth and Bob S, Steve D, and Garrett rode up from Woodstock and met us at High Valley. We enjoyed looking over the 10 or so planes at the fly-in and learning about their capabilities from their affable pilots.  Then, one salty old pilot dared to hit the skies.  He asked a few of our riders to hold down his plane while he un-tethered the wings (Carbon Cubs only need 31 mph to lift!).  It was a thrill to watch him battle the winds as he flew out of High Valley.

Tad, Bob S., Scott, Larry, Brave Pilot

The group then remounted their bikes and headed for Wolf Pen Gap, one of the more challenging roads in the area. Negotiating the twists and turns while remaining cognizant of on-coming vehicles of all types, and possible debris or gravel on the roadway, requires a rider's full attention. Still unseen hazards can take a rider down. This happened to one of our most skilled riders, Tad, as he rounded one of the last downhill curves. When the bike went down it slid across the road and apparently dented an oncoming car. Fortunately Tad appeared to not have any broken bones, but his Aprilia took a hit on the right side and headlight nacelle.

After dealing with the Union County Sheriff, the group, including Tad, got going again heading for lunch, not in Helen as originally planned (too crowded with "Oktoberfest"  celebrants), but further south in Cleveland at the Creekside Deli.

At lunch we did the math and figured we had enough time to continue the ride as planned so the group soon retraced  their path back north and got on one of their favorite rides, the Richard Russell Scenic Parkway. From the top of the RR they rode over to US 129 and up past Blood Mountain and down to Turners Corner, then bypassed Dahlonega heading home.

In spite of the cold, wind, disappointments, mishaps and unusually crowded roads a good time was had by all.