The Optimist's Ride- July 13, 2013

Sometimes it pays to be optimistic. This past Saturday was one of those days.

At a quarter to seven, just after dawn, the riders poured over the weather reports and radar images for the intended route for the days ride. It didn't look good. Around Franklin N.C. the radar showed a mean looking orange and red blob that the forecast confirmed meant a 50% chance of thunderstorms before noon. The way up through Tennessee was clear but that would mean truncating the trip and probably foregoing the ride on Wayah Road and up Wayah Bald. 

Optimism prevailed and the five riders (Dan, Larry, Mike, Steve and Bob S,) took off, albeit a little late, for Young Harris and Hayesville, on the way to Wayah Road. The sky looked iffy and a number of times thought was given to putting on rain gear, but they didn't. In fact a few of the optimists put on sun glasses at the first rest stop, to mitigate the occasional over-bright rays that poked through the otherwise stormy-looking clouds.

While the roads were wet here and there, they made it to Wayah Road without a drop of rain showing itself. Then it was up, and up, twisty Wayah Road to its high point at the Forest Road turn off to Wayah Bald. Here Larry, Steve and Bob S. headed up the gravel road to the CCC era fire tower with its  alleged multi-state views. No views this day though. When they passed through the 5,000 ft level they entered the clouds and visibility went down to 25 yards or so. Meanwhile, Mike and Dan continued on Wayah Road hoping to get a look at the Kayakers on the swollen Nantahala River.

The five planned to regroup in Topton where US 129 turns north toward Robbinsville N.C. That didn't work out too well. The three Wayah Bald riders made it to the Topton meeting place at noon, the target time, but it soon became apparent Mike and Dan were not going to show. What to do?

Almost miraculously the Topton waiting riders found they had cell phone coverage at this nowhere place and put in calls to the missing folks to learn they had missed the Topton wait point and continued to a BP station "just up the road on the left side". Figuring they found a BP station on the way up to Robbinsville the three headed north, with Steve barreling out of sight ahead. Larry and Bob followed, searching for a BP station along the way, but got to  Robbinsville with no sight of a BP station, or Mike and Dan, or now, Steve. Again they were lucky to have cell coverage, but wondered if Mike, Dan and Steve be where they could receive a call?

As it turned out Mike and Dan where in Andrews N.C. having continued west on US 129 when they missed Topton, and Steve, not finding a BP station was waiting at the head of the Cherohala, figuring we'd all get there eventually. They all finally got together in Robbinsville and had a great lunch at Lynn's Place.

After lunch it was up and over the Cherohala to Tellico Plains, TN They made only one stop on the Skyway, that being the 5,390 foot highpoint at Santeetla, for the required snap shots. Near the North Carolina/Tennessee  border the repair of the major Spring wash out of the Skyway's roadbed  was quite evident though it presented no problem to passing riders. After loading up with reading material at the Cherohala visitor's center the guys headed down TN 68 to Georgia. This is a great motorcycle road and the five were pleased there was very little traffic.

After a fuel stop in Blue Ridge they headed down the slab to their respective exits and home. Not a drop of rain for the entire trip; a summertime record of sorts. Total mileage door to door, for those not taking the survey trip to Andrews, was about 350 miles.
 

A great trip with a least one lesson learned: if the group is going to split up and then regroup, have a back up plan. You'll not always be lucky to find coverage in the boondocks.