So what do you get when you combine an easy-paced pre-Christmas ride with deserted backroads you never knew existed? – a Gawker’s Special!  Why?  Because at low speeds and with no tree cover, these remote areas offer lots to see.   My head was on a swivel moving from one sight to the next.  With temps only in the forties, we planned a late start and early finish.  Larry, Dave and Mel met in Ball Ground, then meandered west along Long, Friendship and Salacoa roads.  The light pace provides plenty of gawking opportunities… at properties, Christmas decorations, farm animals, the $1M mansion on the hill with the septic truck parked in front.  The leisurely pace gave us time to stop and watch a slow-moving flock of turkeys cross the road.  After a brief warmup in Fairmont, we enjoyed more of the same in the Henderson Mountain area before stopping for lunch at Davis BBQ a few miles south of Jasper on Refuge Road.  Very enjoyable and I’d go again, but…

In the midst of our never-ending Georgia summer, we wondered if it would be possible to sneak in an overnight ride before winter flurries came.  The Lord provided in abundance as we enjoyed gloriously cool riding and camping in God’s wonderland we call North Ga.  Three (Larry, Dave and BobK) were able to sneak off work Friday and make a full 2 days of it, while Dennis, Richard and his friend Chuck left Friday afternoon to meet up at our evening’s destination – Two Wheels of Suches.  (Welcome, Chuck! We thoroughly enjoyed riding with you and hope to see you again.) 

With about five record highs in the previous week, we weren’t sure what to expect on our trek to the Cherohala Skyway.  Saturday morning 5 riders (BobK, Dave, Larry, Mel, and Mike) met in Ball Ground for an early start north. 

For the uninitiated, the Cherohala Skyway is a federal road project to create a ridge-top road connecting Tellico Plains (in SE TN) and Robbinsville (SW NC) and crosses up and over the Cherokee and Nantahala National Forests – hence the name.  While similar to Blue Ridge Parkway in beauty, its layout is less “tight and twisty” and more “fast sweepers” with wide open views and large, frequent scenic turnouts.  In other words… Who knew our federal government would create such a glorious motorcycle route?!  And since it starts and ends in such remote areas, it’s always lightly traveled.

Morning temps were almost cool as we made our way toward Blue Ridge the fast way (4 lane). After a quick bite, we headed N to Tellico Plains on TN 68 – a wonderful motorcycle road in its own right.  Another pit stop in the excellent visitor center and we headed East, enjoying the graceful curves and views.  And much cooler temps as we rose over 5000’.  Yes, sweatshirts came out!  As we neared Lake Santeetlah, Mike headed to Robbinsville and a fast return home for his date night, but the rest reversed course and rode it again for twice the fun.  Why not, we’re already here.

Lunch was at the excellent Tellico Grains Bakery and Deli in downtown - you can’t go wrong with anything here.  Our return home was the same beautiful route, just warmer.  Between Ellijay and Jasper we caught a popup shower, but then pushed through it and were able to ride dry skies home to Woodstock.  Mileage was about 325 for the day and home by 5.  Or, as Trump would say… a big, beautiful ride.  With fall colors just around the corner, keep this route in mind for your loved ones - they let autos use it as well!

Saturday morning, August 10th, Dave, Dennis, Larry, Mel and Richard met in Ball Ground for a leisurely ramble to Blue Ridge.  Their early meetup provided beautiful morning temps for their ramble N along Grandview, Sunrise and Double-head Gap (perennial favorites).  Their rest on the porch at Van Zandt’s in Dial was extra peaceful since the owners were on vacation and the joint closed.  Oh, well, lunch is just around the corner at the renowned Toccoa Riverside Restaurant on Aska Rd.  But first, why not check out a waterfall just a couple miles away from the restaurant off a supposedly-paved road?  So they headed up Aska to Stanley Gap Rd.   They were pleasantly surprised to find Stanley Gap road nicely paved until just a ¼ mile from the Benton MacKaye trailhead (the road bikes had no issues with the gravel, thankfully).  The trailhead was quite busy with area vacationers.  The hike was about ½ mile (uphill!) and they were feeling the day’s extra heat and humidity.  The Fall Branch Falls were rather light (which is odd with all the rain we’ve had this summer).  Our recommendation is to save this one for after a large spring deluge.