Follow The Leader Ride - February 8, 2014

After two rained out rides in past months, and a week's worth of conflicting weather outlooks for Saturday, two TLCMC riders, Larry and Bob S. took a chance and headed out under overcast skies to explore the six counties that made up the Follow The Leader Ride. Their bet paid off as the skies brightened and temperatures rose throughout the day.

To start they headed west from Ball Ground on Mineral Springs Road, crossing Sharp Top Creek on the one-lane bridge onto Lyon Dairy Road aka Damascus Road. Here they were surprised by three turkeys that flew across their path at helmet height, close enough for the leader to almost feel the whoosh of their flight. This was only the first "animal encounter" of the day as riding the quiet backroads offered views of hawks, vultures, horses, cattle, pigs and dairy cows, not to mention the occasional dog that thought it owned the road.

The guys continued west to the top of Johnson Mountain where, heading down the curvy narrow little-traveled roadway, they found the abundant gravel Bartow county spread on this, and all their backroads the prior week. Steep curvy roads are normally a motorcyclist's delight, but add gravel on top of pavement and you have a call for slow careful negotiation.

After entering Gordon County they turned east on Irwin Mill Road and tested their pot-hole avoidance skills while riding up Salacoa Creek. Soon they were back in Bartow County, then Cherokee, and up Henderson Mountain in Pickens to Waleska Highway (108).

After a rest stop at the Chevron at the foot of Steve Tate Highway, they worked their way across Dawson County and up to Lumpkin County and the outskirts of Dahlonega. Rather than pass through Dahlonega, the guys took Clay Creek Road and Black Mountain Road, turning on Yahoola Road to catch GA 60 heading south to Rider's Hill.

At Rider's Hill they had lunch and looked over the collection of new and used bikes up for sale. What a variety, from exotic but heavy looking Moto Guzis, to Suzuki DR 650 dual-sports. Quite a place and a good alternative to a stop at TWO (which was closed for the winter).

After lunch they headed over to Hall County and followed Bark Camp and Price roads across to GA 400 in hopes of taking River Road, on the west side, down to the Silver City area. Didn't happen. After a roller coaster ride on River "Bend" Road they found River Road had a No Outlet sign up. The dirt/gravel section closest to the river probably washed out again.

Having few options they rode through Dawsonville to Silver City and headed east on Kelly Bridge Road to Yellow Creek Road, then down GA 372 to home.

Y'all missed a great ride on roads I know some of you would like, but have never been on. Maybe next time.

In all it was about 235 miles. The V-Stroms gas gauge was blinking on empty on entering Hickory Flat, and its rider was about out of gas too, with that "good tired" feeling one has after a full day of adventure, fun and fellowship.