Southern Comfort: Just Me, My Sportster and the Road.

I'm tellin' ya: If riding were dyin'....well, I'd welcome being dead.  As it is though, riding is living. I'm glad of that. Life is kinda suckin' this year. The money tree seems to be dryin' up, the rides aren't as far, and the planned travel for this year isn't happen'.  Saddens me, but I do ride. I do discover new roads right here in my own back yard, and I've got some rockin' photos to show you.

This photo is on the Tennessee side of Roan Mountain. Looking out over the valley and into the National Forest. Today, was a special day for the coloring. Most times you have a kind of "purple haze" that tends to obscure the distant view. Not so today!

This next view is looking back up the mountain toward the North Carolina state line.

There are several shots from this day that are purely fun and keep ya wonderin' WTF?

I took this shot as I was cruising down the mountain. I set the camera so the shutter would take a bit longer to close. These kind of shots tend to exemplify what the riders sees with a frame mounted engine. God I love this!

I leave Roan Mountain and I now find myself riding through Tiger Valley! A quaint little 6.5 mile road with cool things like this to feast upon:

You guys know I will turn around to photograph a mural. Next up for the coolness factor is the cemetery with unknown civil war soldiers buried and honored in it.

The Daughters of the American Revolution are quite active around here.

James Teague, PVT. 18th Infantry (Tennessee)1st Divison

I've moved on down the road from here, I've visited a few grave yards, shot some great shots, and found a few more previously unexplored (by me) roads. This particular road afforded a few great novelty shots. What ya think?

I found myself after 108 miles on a set of rails. You all know how I feel about trains, right?

About 5 miles from home is Buffalo Mountain. Another wonderful photogenic place for the "LIL GIRL". Tennessee is a rockin' place for riding. I don't mind being broke when I'm lucky enough to have a million back roads like these to explore!

Let's go home sweetie:

Little Switzerland and motorcycles

I've put in another ride. I rode up over the mountain, Roan Mountain.


Image caption: View from Roan Mountain.

Once down into North Carolina, I get on NC-226 south and ride into Little Switzerland.  I've never been here before and didn't know what to expect. I actually THOUGHT I would find something that could be called a town. I was wrong. It's a post office, a few resort lodges, a restaurant with a book store thrown in for good measure. All on a mountain top.


Image caption: Little Switzerland shopping and restaurant 

I stopped, thinking I would see what the buzz was all about here. There were about 40 motorcycles parked on the side of the road, in the post office parking lot across the street and filled their own parking lot.  Well damn it, this place is OK, the food smelled good, but I don't care to sit outside watching traffic as I wait for my name to be called for a table.  Oh, by the way...there is an exit for the Blue Ridge just before you find the restaurant. All these people came off the Blue Ridge. The fall colors are here, and so are the riders and drivers. OI.

I also noticed my first woolly worm of the year here...I'll bet people in the restaurant thought I was nuts to get on my stomach to catch this little guys photo. I don't care...never did, never will.  


Image caption: Wooly Worm

I also realized I was on NC-226-A, not on NC-226 proper.  I turned around and headed for NC-226. A great ride down the mountain side!  I took a few photos as I was riding down, but they didn't come out. It was a frantic kind of ride...there was a lot of construction. I was actually glad when the trip down the mountain was done. But then...I came upon this....


Image Caption: SMOKING GUN

This is a slow cooker/smoker/BBQ'er.....see the smoke coming out of the barrel of the gun? I had to make a big U-TURN when I saw this.

I was on my way home, speeding like crazy on NC-108 when this guy pulled out in front of me. Slowed me down to 45 from 65 in a 50.  So I took his photo once I got my bike to settle into the slow pace. I was late getting home.


Image caption: Slow Poke on 108

So...I guess I'll share this last photo with y'all ...


Image Caption: Chessie on Roan Mountain.

Fall Colors On Roan Mountain

Hey y'all, yeah...I took a ride yesterday up to see some fall colors on Roan Mountain.  I took a small off shoot road and found some of the most beautiful scenes to photograph.  

So, here they are, espcially for my friends in the South, and the South West.... you may be able to ride all year, but sometimes you miss the best the rest have to offer.

 


























I wish they would put electric wires underground, messes up the great photo ops....







I'm going to get a larger memory card today...need a new one anyway...Fall....here in the High Country...it's a favorite time of year for me!