Transylvania

[GeorgiaRoller]

Last Thursday I had an epiphany. Well this is the same said "epiphany" I always have...just this time I actually acted on it. Fall is by far my most favorite time of year, the cooler air, the leaves changing colors, thoughts of warm fires in the fireplace, hot chocolate spiked with Kahlua, comfort foods heavy with sauces & gravies, clear cold nights good for stargazing...etc...oh and I like to ride my motorcycle & hike & take pictures of nature as well especially this time of year. So with October coming to an end and being couped up indoors at the office for work all week in front of a damn computer while these flawless sunny 70 degree days taunt me out my lone window day after day...I said "SCREW THIS SHIT!!!".

So I took Friday of work. I'm not even sure if I had a paid vacation day yet to use or not. But the outdoors & the mountains could really care less about my paid vacation days and quite frankly so could I. I got up at 5:45am on Friday morning and was on the steelhorse by 6:15am. In true Halloween spirit I rode up to Transylvania County in the mountains of North Carolina in search of Dracula, Frankenstein and whatever else I could find. Turns out they got some pretty darn nice motorcycle roads & hiking trails up there. I rode for 600 miles that day and got back home at 9:30pm. I did two hikes to some nice lookouts, smelled the nice mountain air, rode my bike like I stole it at times while other times I cruised & soaked in the views. I even did at least 2 U-turns to go back and take pictures of things that caught my eye as I rode past.

I hiked up to Sunset Rock overlooking the town of Highlands, NC. I then rode across to Balsam Grove, NC on the awesome & little known "Charles Creek Rd" & entered Transylvania County and rode up to the BRP. Once on the BRP I hiked the "Art Loeb" trail to the top of "Black Balsam Bald" to take in the views above treeline in all 360 unobstructed degrees. I then headed back west and rode Wayah Rd to check out "Lake Nantahala" before heading south on Hwy 60 back through Suches, GA on my way home. I topped it all off with Shrimp Nachos and was kept company by some Mexican gentleman named "Corona"...me & him got along just fine!

Just like Anthony Bourdain "I write, I eat, I travel...and I'm hungry for more!" ...unlike him I just don't get paid a damn penny to do it!...Dammitt!!!

Here's a little bit of what I did & what I saw.

Ride Video: Music (Artist/Track): Tremonti / Brains

https://vimeo.com/52322663

 

[El Toro Joe]

Nice!!! Sounds like ya had a great day

 

[Mount Rainier]

:drinks: :drinks: For the report especially the photos.

Keep Going!

 

[Redfish Hunter]

I could probably just copy and paste my response to everything you post, but dammit, you do good work. I am impressed, as usual. Thanks for sharing this.

 

[fjrgary]

NICE, VERY NICE GeorgiaRoller! You have very good editing skills. I enjoyed watching your ride and the music. Thamks for taking the time and posting.

 

[vabrzn]

looks like it was a nice day!

 

[leedavis]

Nice pics and 600 miles is a very ambitious day in the mountains! It looks like those warm days are over for a while with snow coming in tonight through Wednesday. Time to break out the heated gear try to get the bike up in the highlands for some snow pics when the weather settles down.

 

[Fontanaman]

This is just simply outstanding. Thanks to you and others on the forum we are able to enjoy wonderful ride reports, much better than those in Rider or Road Runner Magazine. This forum and the people on it are awesome.

 

[not2shabby]

Awesome! Wish I could have rode with ya.

 

[user 28803]

Most excellent!

 

[GeorgiaRoller]

Thanks Guys! It sure as heck beat working I can assure you of that!!!

 

[wheatonFJR]

Just outstanding! :yahoo:

Thanks for sharing. :clapping:

 

[hppants]

Well done!! You sir have mad photogrphy skills. 600 miles of those twisties in one day is un-real!!

Next time I get up that way, we should share some miles.

 

[GeorgiaRoller]

600 miles of those twisties in one day is un-real!!

Well it was 600 miles for the days total. Approx 400 were mtn roads I guess and the other 200 were me getting up there & back home on the interstate. It was a full day that's for sure, plus I was stopping & did a couple short hikes.

 

[Redfish Hunter]

600 miles of those twisties in one day is un-real!!

Well it was 600 miles for the days total. Approx 400 were mtn roads I guess and the other 200 were me getting up there & back home on the interstate. It was a full day that's for sure, plus I was stopping & did a couple short hikes.

Oh, is that all? You lazy sack of...

I won't lie, I'd love to meet you but I am NOT going to follow you around. Too much energy, too health conscious, too fast on the bike. I'd be willing to buy breakfast and dinner, but the middle of the day you'd be on your own.

 

[FJRBandit]

:clapping: :clapping: :clapping:

 

[BobbyBlue]

Man, Thanks for taking us along ! Good Karma on Ya ! You make this forum so much richer by sharing....some of us cant ride everyday and we thank you too.

 

[Maggellanos]

Thanks for sharing! :clapping:

 

[Boomer612]

Just saw this.. very nice and like others have said ..."mad photo skills"