Me & my wife did a 2-day trip up to the mountains Sunday/Monday. We avoided the Memorial rush/traffic and rode the backroads. My three favorite hobbies are motorcycling, hiking & nature photography and anytime I can do all three at the same time...it makes me very happy!
Ride Facts:
- Visited 6 new waterfalls in one day on Monday.
- Visited a 220 acre gardens
- Rode over 600 miles.
- New PR3 rear tire felt very good.
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Mountain Route (Click on the Placemarks for POI & more info)
GPS log of the mountain portion of the route. It reads left to right and correlates to the posted route riding clockwise. Starting in Ball Ground, GA and ending in Wallhala, SC.
Our first stop on the way up was to
Gibbs Gardens in Ball Ground, GA. This was our first time being here and it was simply amazing! This guy has 220 acres of manicured grounds and they claim to have the largest "privately owned" Japanese gardens in the entire USA. We spent over 2hrs walking all the gardens and it's a place I'd like to return and spend more time at. I took many pictures but here is just a couple. You really have to see it for yourself.
Gibbs Gardens
After the gardens we rode north and hit the twisties of hwy60 through Suches, GA and made our way up to Andrews, NC.
It was sunny, hot, humid and 90 degrees down in the valley and we had full armored mesh riding gear on but we were getting pretty warm so we rode down to the Nantahala river and stripped all that **** off and cooled down in the 45 degree mountain water!!! :yahoo:
After cooling off we rode up to Bryson City, NC and checked in at the
Folkestone Inn B&B
Then we showered and cleaned up and went out to dinner at
Pasqualino's Italian restaurant right downtown Bryson City.
I started out with a bowl of New England Clam Chowder.
My wife ordered the Tortellini Ala Fini
And I got the Manicotti
And since we were on a little mini-vacation we had to get dessert so we went with the Connelli!
The food was very good and it went well with the Riesling Wine.
After a good nights rest we got up at 6am the next morning and hiked just down the road to the entrance of
Deep Creek in the Smokey Mountain National Park and started the hike to the (3) waterfalls in the area. After a nice hike in the cool mountain morning air we got to the first falls.
Juneywank Falls
As you loop back from this trail you pick up the trail that goes right along side Deep Creek.
Then you come to...
Tom Branch Falls
You continue up Deep Creek and cross a bridge and eventually run into the very beautiful...
Indian Creek Falls
(3) Waterfalls in one hike.
After hiking for 2-1/2 hrs we got back right at 8:30am to the B&B and Eva the innkeeper was serving breakfast. We had worked up an appetite and were ready for what she had cooking!
Fresh squeezed OJ, Coffee and a homemade Banana Hazelnut Crepe creation.
Then the main course came out. Hash-brown Quiche, Smoked Sauage Links & homemade Sourdough Toast with Jam.
After an awesome breakfast we packed up and were on the bike headed for our next destination by 9:30am. We rode north of Cherokee, NC and stopped to see Mingo Falls. Right from the parking area stairs take you straight up. This picture shows about a 1/4 of the staircase.
But after you reach the top it's only a short 100yds before you get to...
Mingo Falls
After this we jumped on the BRP and rode north. There were a handfull of high RPM 2nd & 3rd gear power-passes that needed to be engineered at this point as the FJR was not really in the mood to follow 45mph traveling mini-vans, motorhomes & Harleys! But being Memorial Day it really wasn't too bad. There were some good streches of the Parkway that we rode for many miles without having to blow folks off the road.
We rode to one of my favorite stops...
Waterrock Knob
Temps were in the low 70's here at nearly 6,000' elevation. We both sat for a good 30 minutes here just soaking up the views & the mountain air. Wifey enjoying the amazing views.
Just another typical random overlook at this section of the BRP. This section from Mount Pisgah south to Maggie Valley is arguably the prettiest on the entire 400+ mile BRP.
The Catawba Rhododendrons were in full bloom all along this section of the Parkway.
We hit Hwy 215 south from the Parkway and headed down to Balsam Grove. Here are two waterfalls that are on private property...but you can park on the side of the road and your allowed to walk a short distance and view them.
French Broad Falls
Cathedral Falls
So there you have it. (6) waterfalls (all new ones to us) in one day with easy access to get to on the motorcycle.
Waterfalls visited:
- Juneywank Falls
- Tom Branch Falls
- Indian Creek Falls
- Mingo Falls
- French Broad Falls
- Cathedral Falls.
I never get tired of riding in the mountains. There are literally hundreds of waterfalls to visit so it never gets old and they are all different and have their own personality.
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