Johns-Pigeon Mountain Ride--March 12, 2016

The weather forecast for this Saturday was all over the place during the week before we were to take off to the west. By Saturday it called for rain starting around 3 pm. As a result we moved the start time up an hour to 8:30 and were able to keep dry out and back.

Nine of us (both Steves, Dan, Dennis and his neighbor Mark, Tad, Garret, Larry and yours truly) gathered at Hardees in Canton. Once everyone arrived we got on SR 140 headed west toward Armuchee. Just short of Armuchee we turned on to what starts out as Floyd Springs Road, heading north, on the east side of Johns Mountain. This is an interesting road with many tight sections bordered by Johns Creek. The creek was flowing briskly and there were signs of recent flooding. This was very evident when we turned into the "Pocket". We often stop here to stretch our legs on the short trails and bridges in the vicinity. Not this time; the "Pocket" was zipped shut--closed. A peek through the woods showed a lot of debris scattered around and sandy mud deposits throughout. It will be a while before it can return to its pre-flood self.

From the Pocket area he again headed north and picked up SR 136 heading into Villanow, a Civil War era cross-road town, that boasts the longest continually operating General Store in the state. It was closed; go figure.

We arrived soon in LaFayette for an early lunch at Queen City Bistro, a newish restaurant that occupies what was once a Ford dealership, circa Model A days. After lunch and a visit with the Bistro's owners we headed out of town on SR 193 and picked up SR 136 to take us over to the west side of Pigeon Mountain. Once up and down the pass we turned south on SR 157 headed for the Menlo-Summerville area. For the most part this road was empty except for a few bicyclists, a barking dog and a game- playing SUV. Whomever surveyed the roadbed preferred straight lines paving over whatever ups and downs that fell in the path. The only inhibitor to reckless speeding was the wind that seemed to always be from one side or the other blowing bikes and riders around a bit.

The ride from Menlo to Summerville to Adairsville saw a pick up in traffic but nothing like the abundance of cars nearer home.

Here's a Video of the ride 

All in all  a great ride of about 200 miles and good fellowship.