Below is an old email I sent out from a ride about a year ago, it brings back such good memories... I am also so excited because our hosts at Angels Landing ( a B&B in North Carolina) had printed out Several of my old TWO WHEEL TALES emails and had saved them.. she is going to mail me copies so that I can post them to the blog too..
So lets step back to last October... away we go.. Oh by the way.... here is a link to a website about Angels Landing ........
http://www.bbonline.com/nc/angelslanding/
OCTOBER 2005
Grab your favorite beverage, kick back for a bit.. and Yes.. WE ARE BACK IN THE SADDLE...
It has been way too long since we took road trip.
Friday after work.. we saddled up and headed to the beckoning mountains of Tennessee, North Ga, and N.C.
How do I describe a Friday where everything wraps up with ease, and leads into 2 days of smooth riding and a nice break from the rigors of the week... ???..
The weather surpassed perfect. It was not too cold, not too hot... just perfect. Even riding into Murphy N.C. at 11:30 pm it was a comfortable cool. Prior to that however as we made our way past Gadsen Alabama and past Fort Payne, You could see it... the slow rise of the mountains in front and to the side of you. the sun was setting and the sky had a very soft pink hue... and in the distance you could see the very beginning of the Blue ridges surrounding you ... like a welcoming hug. Even in the darkness of night you could feel the road begin to pitch and turn .. ever so gently... We rode by the Occoee snaking in and out of the canyons, the wall of the canyon to our left and the river to our right. Even though the roads were suprisingly heavily traveled this late at nite we were so happy to be there... We pulled into Murphy around 11 15 .. we stayed at Angels Landing got there around 11 30.... a wonderful B and B... Happy but we were pooped.
Awaking fairly early on Saturday morning .. we decided to rest a bit longer and finally got on the road around 9:30 or so... There was no way to create a better day. We had a great breakfast at Pappys (now called Suzannes on the River.. ( NEVER AND I DO MEAN NEVER EAT DINNER THERE >>WILL EXPLAIN IN A BIT) after breakfast chatted with a woman selling fresh kettle corn outside the restaurant .. She had been in the corporate world with her husband..and they both decided to .. well change their lifestyle... Her husband retired.. and she got into the Kettle Corn business. She fits right into the unique atmosphere at Pappy's Plaza
It is hard to describe Pappy's Plaza, a eclectic mix of unusual stores and a place to eat. U can find anything from smoked trout to .. ohhh fudge... to.. moccasins.. to candles, to beanie babies.. to life size iron statues of horses and civil war generals.. to a life size Elvis to old cars, and I doooooo mean old... to hand made wood furniture .. even amish butter and cheese.. something for every taste i would say.
After breakfast we headed on out .. taking some of our favorite roads and discovering new ones as well.
As I have said before.. once you are in this part of the country ... North Ga, N.C. and Tenn are maybe no more than 20 miles apart from each other.. so u can wind in and out of each state where they tie into the mountains...
We had lunch at T.W. O .. two wheels only motorycle resort in Suches Ga. Steve and I shared a great chicken salad sandwhich. we shared a diet coke.. visited with the other riders.. and eventually went out to persue our own adventure. Near TWO we discovered this wonderful road, with rolling hills and gentle sweepers... and a beautiful clear creek snaking along side of us. the weather was perfect, even in areas were we hit a little fog that would only last for a few minutes and then we would be back into the sun shine. The ride was great... we explored an old flea market we found some great apples there.. I think they are called Black Arkansas apples.. kinda like granny smiths only harder and with a red and green skin. We rode a little longer and decided to go back to the B and B before dinner..
Normally we eat at a really wonderful little place called ShoeBooties for dinner. however this time we decided to go back to Pappys because we had seen a sign that they were going to have live music.... so we thought that would be fun.... well.. we rested up for a bit.. cleaned up and went on over to Pappy's Plaza and went into Suzzanne's on the River... we thought since breakfast was so good.. Dinner would be even better.... well.. when we sat down at our booth.. I said to Steve.. that they guy setting up the music appeared to be setting up a Karaoke set... Steve said.. no.. they are having live music... much to our chagrin I was right... this guy looked like Burl Ives.. ( no offense to Burl Ives fans out there) but well.. he sureeeee did not sing like old Burl... frankly we still are not sure what he sounded like...
We thought live music meant some good old blue grass or country mountain music .. like we saw this morning when we went back to the flea market to get some more of those apples to bring home. Well we ordered dinner.. which on the menu looked .. well rather deceptive when it arrived at our table... I had burnt trout.. and steve had something called BBQ chicken... and something supposely called FRESH green beans.. only they had the green cooked out of them... IT WAS AWFUL.. between the guy on the Karaoke machine and the bad food... we had to laugh... I guess we figured even if the food was not great the music would be fun.. Oh well... we learned our lesson.. from now on when we r in Murphy N.C. it is Shoebooties for dinner. . we headed back to the B and B... sat outside for a while... it was another terrific night... perfect tempature... no cell phones.. nothing to distract from the simple quiet of a mountain town...
We arose this morning.. a little down because we knew our adventure was writing its own last page this go round. We had a very good breakfast provided by Sandy at Angels Landing .. loaded up the bike... and began our journey home.. As we approached the Occoee .. this time on our left and the canyon walls on our right... we knew the mountains were gently saying goodbye for now... we watched the rafters and kayakers ... stopped for a bit.. and enjoyed the soft sound of the water.. We both looked at each other and knew we had to leave and head home.. Cookie and Baz were waiting at the vet.... things needed to be done at home.. and so forth and so on.... the ride home was terrific as well... Even with the heavy traffic .. going there and coming home.. nothing can take the smiles off of our faces... One thing about a great time as we all know.. Great times go by so fast... they simply must be deeply appreciated... I can not stress to each of you.. that some where along the way .. by car, by plane by bike... you need to visit this part of our country... for there really is nothing like the beautiful byways right in our own back yard.. only 281 miles from Leeds, Alabama... 750 miles of smiles for us.. back home... safe.. happy sound..
Until we meet again.
Happy trails.
Honi
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