Smoky Mt. Ride & Campout
My brother Jim and I had planned to motorcycle camp in the Smoky Mountains this August but we just couldn’t find the time; so we went in September. Jim was in Hartsville, SC (where I live) so after conducting business we loaded Bronco Billie (my 1980 R65, she’s brown) in the back of Jimbo’s little Nissan and went back to Jim’s house in Six Mile, SC. There we unloaded Billie and Jim packed up Kay White (his 1988 K75) and we took off.
We left after 4:00 PM but we rode almost to Ashville where we got on the Blue Ridge Parkway and headed back south. We checked in the Pisgah Inn after dark and ate a delicious dinner in the restaurant. That first day was the only time we rode in the dark because I am superstitious that some deer may have a grudge against me because of something I may have done to one of its relatives.
The next morning was Thursday and the sun was shining. We had lunch in Maggie Valley and went to the Wheels Through Time Museum (
http://www.wheelsthroughtime.com). When we pulled into the parking lot we noticed some hooligans with really loud bikes racing in the gravel lot. After we got out of the way they went back to the line and ran 4 or 5 more heats with about a dozen spectators watching. It turned out that the hooligans were the owner and his son on 2 of 3 immaculately restored 1936 Harleys. We were further taken aback as we toured the museum and were told the history of some of the rarer bikes in the exhibits and then they would be started up and ridden. Some were over 90 years old and cranked easier than my own R65. Unfortunately we learned that the museum will close November 30 to be reopened at another location. Before we left we got a recommendation for Mile High Camp Ground and a map (
http://www.dealsgap.com) that proved invaluable on the rest of the trip.
Mile High Camp Ground is located off the Park Way at Balsam Mt. south of Maggie. It is a little rustic but the views are amazing and the Showers are hot. Friday morning we traveled 7 miles to inspect the Balsam Mt. camp ground and picnic area. When we got to the end of the paved road there was a one-way dirt road that went 14 miles toward Cherokee which was 28 miles away. We ate lunch in the middle of nowhere and arrived in Cherokee a little dusty but none the worst for the wear. From Cherokee we entered the Smoky Mountain National Park proper and proceeded to check out Clingman’s dome, second highest point on the east coast. The last time I had visited there I was a boy scout.
We spent Friday night at Elkmont camp ground and were disappointed that there were no showers.
Saturday we went to Cades Cove and it was packed! I can’t drive five! I think the wildlife comes out to see all the funny people. I did see turkey, deer and a coyote, but not to worry, ¾ of the way around the cove we got on Parson’s Branch Road, another one-way gravel road about 7 miles long that ends half way up the Tail of the Dragon on Hwy 129. We were at Deals Gap in time for lunch and a tee shirt. There we learned of several motorcycle camp grounds at Stecoah, NC so we headed down Hwy 28 until we arrived at Iron Horse Motorcycle Camp ground. (
http://www.ironhorseNC.com) I must admit a bias as the Iron Horse was my first experience at a motorcycle resort but it was a no-brainer when Jimbo and I planned to stay another night.
Sunday was another sunny day and not having to break camp, we enjoyed a country breakfast before setting out. We rode the Cherohala Skyway to Tellico Plains where we wandered into Tellico Motorcycle Outfitters (
http://www.tellicomoto.com). We enjoyed stimulating the Tellico economy before we left and Jim got a really nice ¾ Olympia Jacket and I got a Wolfman bag. From Tellico we proceeded to ride the entire Dragon properly from the bottom to the top.
Returning to camp we stopped to see Fontana Dam and we were duly impressed. Back at Iron Horse the fire was lit and music, stories and opinions joined the smoke.
Once again we awoke Monday and what was it??? “The Perfect Temperature”. We broke camp and followed Hwy 28 back down to our old stomping ground around the Chattooga River and Sunny Scenic South Carolina. There Jim returned to his familiar duties and I to the coastal plain, but only after a good time was had by all.
