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Back to the second night in Robbinsville. Sy and Ed were super good cooks.
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...DSC03669-1.jpg
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...DSC03671-1.jpg
They made awesome foods for us and ready as the time we comeback from Cherohala:
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...e/DSC03672.jpg
That night was really chilly outside, but I was so happy. It 's really kind of bikers spirit. We had Hot tub available there, but who cared? We have lots of things to talk with each others:
The dinner prolonged until Midnight. We moved outside as a big fire had been lit up:
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...e/DSC03682.jpg
Just sitting around, drink, chit chat...
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...e/DSC03674.jpg
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...e/DSC03675.jpg
The cabin was looking great at night:
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...e/DSC03686.jpg
I was also so brave and happy that Kevin (ST1300) brought the VFRD Flaf there for me to sign - that's awesome, a Vietnamese member been there and physically sign on the Flaf which only presented in US. I may be the furthest member on VFRD to sign on that.
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...e/DSC03691.jpg
Slept tight that night....
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I heard about Blue Ridge Parkway many times, all the nice words, except about the Po Po...
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...3/DSC03799.jpg
The road to BRP started to be wonderful. It was quite chilly and a bit wet.
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...3/DSC03814.jpg
I was thinking of taking lots of photos that day, as I went riding with Sy and Ed, who may not too aggressive with speed.
At an overlook:
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...3/DSC03817.jpg
Awesome fall color:
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...3/DSC03820.jpg
@4160ft high:
You will never see this signboard in real, as we already threw them away - or may be it has been rebuilt, I don't know:
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...3/DSC03819.jpg
We kept continue riding up the mountain. The roads seemed weter and weter as long as the higher elevation, it was more and more foggy as well. We could not go fast and have to be very careful with the wet road. We stopped at another overlook area:
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...3/DSC03829.jpg
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...3/DSC03832.jpg
We were discussing of wearing raincoat and also heading back with incompleted BRP:
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...3/DSC03827.jpg
Whatever it is, It was nice experience to me though:
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...3/DSC03828.jpg
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Left the Overlook area, we kept continue for some miles then come back. Too bad that the weather did not permit us to enjoy the Blue Ridge Parkway on that day. We took exit to US19 (Soco Road) and back to Cherokee.
Some more nice view on the way back:
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...3/DSC03839.jpg
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...3/DSC03855.jpg
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...3/DSC03878.jpg
Arriving Cherokee:
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...3/DSC03885.jpg
Stopped for a rest at a gas station:
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...3/DSC03886.jpg
The big building at the background of the two above photos is a big Casino in Cherokee. People say that Gambling is kind of biggest income for this area.
I was hopping that we could see some sunlight from the sky. If so, we could come back to Blue Ridge Parkway and do the rest of exploration. Especially myself and Ed never been there. However, the cloudy and dark sky made us to come back Robbinsville.
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...3/DSC03893.jpg
Sy helped to save the riding day by making a round trip. We did other route back to the Cabin.
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...3/DSC03911.jpg
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...3/DSC03916.jpg
Another stop, beside the Nantahala Outdoor Center.
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...3/DSC03922.jpg
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...3/DSC03924.jpg
I don't really understand the first three lines on the board:
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...3/DSC03927.jpg
Is that the Export gate #3 of the Commercial Silvermine?
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...3/DSC03931.jpg
Cold water but it is more enjoyable than the mist on the Blue Ridge Parkway. I was played canoeing for a while http://d26ya5yqg8yyvs.cloudfront.net/icon10.gif :
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...3/DSC03937.jpg
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...3/DSC03939.jpg
(to be continued...)
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Three of us back to the Cabin, that time was till quite early.
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...3/DSC04044.jpg
Some nice shots around the Cabin:
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...3/DSC04043.jpg
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...3/DSC04048.jpg
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...3/DSC04047.jpg
Then I myself headed to the Dragon. It was almost no traffic on the Dragon. This time, I done the Dragon for two times without any issue.
I put my team's logo (ACE MTSG) here:
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...3/DSC04072.jpg
And I even have time to stop at some places to take photos and chit chat with Killboy and US129photos cameramen.
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...3/DSC04131.jpg
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...3/DSC04103.jpg
Very few motorcycles at Deals gap:
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...3/DSC04141.jpg
This bike is really sweet, he passed me sometimes on the Dragon:
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...3/DSC04153.jpg
Back to the Cabin after two rounds of Dragon, I stopped at the bridge which lead to the Deals Gap resort:
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...3/DSC04162.jpg
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...3/DSC04164.jpg
Well, that's it for the Day 3 at the Smoky mountain:
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...ay3/Day3-1.jpg
(to be continued...)
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Most of the friends have left the Cabin that evening for their work on the next day (Monday).
It was two of us, Ed and me in the cabin that night. We did not cook, we went to Robbinsville to have dinner.
Chit chat entire evening while we all packing up for the day after.
Monday morning, after saying good bye, Ed headed back to Atlanta.
I had my plan for the Monday, 4th day with the VFR.
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n.../Day4/Day4.jpg
I would do a round loop, from Robbinsville thru the Dragon to Maryville (Tennessee), Townsend, then follow the Hwy71 crossing the Smoky Mountain down back to Cherokee, Glenville, Cashiers, Highlands, Franklin and back to the Cabin in Robbinsville.
Amazing fall color that morning:
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...DSC04180-1.jpg
VRF always amazing, too:
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...4/DSC04184.jpg
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...4/DSC04186.jpg
First riding day alone, I can stop anywhere to feel the air, see the things and take photos:
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...4/DSC04188.jpg
What could be more beautiful? I would never mind keep posting such kind of awesome look:
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...4/DSC04189.jpg
This hill is on the way to Dragon:
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...4/DSC04193.jpg
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...4/DSC04194.jpg
I don't know what kind of the houses, it looks more like a store:
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...4/DSC04195.jpg
A nice and clear lake:
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...4/DSC04198.jpg
What the color:
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...4/DSC04199.jpg
There were almost no traffic on the Dragon on Monday morning. I really enjoy slaying the Dragon for two times.
(to be continued....)
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First time passed the Tabcat bridge, heading to Tennessee. I saw this dam pretty close:
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...4/DSC04201.jpg
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...4/DSC04203.jpg
The cliff beside the dam was nice too:
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...4/DSC04206.jpg
Lonely road:
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...4/DSC04205.jpg
The roads from Dragon to Maryville was narrow, but clear, not so many twisties. I had to ride on the freeway for about 15 mins to reach Maryville:
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...4/DSC04208.jpg
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...4/DSC04210.jpg
I think I did quite zig-zag route within the Maryville as I wanted to see things around. However, that was not so easy for me to take fotos as there were lots of traffics on the roads.
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...4/DSC04211.jpg
Left Maryville, I rode on the 73 for around 10miles before getting into the Smoky Mountain area:
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...4/DSC04214.jpg
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...4/DSC04215.jpg
(to be continued...)
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Yes, it seemed to be the starting point:
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...4/DSC04221.jpg
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...4/DSC04222.jpg
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...4/DSC04224.jpg
The traffic started to be crowded. There were a lot of cars who go for traveling toward the Smoky Mountain. Easily see the cars stopped at a large pull-off area or overlook area.
However, I did not bother much, as I planned to spend my day easily and I can head back to cabin anytime I wanted.
A nice stream along the road:
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...4/DSC04226.jpg
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...4/DSC04231.jpg
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...4/DSC04240.jpg
(to be continued...)
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Passed Cherokee, I keep continuing on 107 down to Glenville and Cashiers.
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...4/DSC04313.jpg
The roads to Glenville was awesome, a bit small but very few traffic, and lots of twisty:
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...4/DSC04314.jpg
Arrived Glenville around 3:30PM. I was quite worried because there was still quite long way back to Robbinsville, and I did not know how the road would be:
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...4/DSC04317.jpg
Glenville Post office:
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...4/DSC04316.jpg
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...4/DSC04318.jpg
I stopped for a while. Look at the map, try to figure out the location and the route back to Robinsville from Glenville. I was thinking of riding in the dark on 129 when getting back the cabin. Then I decided to continue with the planned route.
Kept going for a little while, I saw a very nice lake on the right:
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...DSC04320-1.jpg
That's the boat rental station:
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...4/DSC04322.jpg
The bike in the sun:
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...4/DSC04325.jpg
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...4/DSC04327.jpg
Quickly got on the bike, to Cashiers in about some miles, then I turn right at Cashiers to 64.
The 64 to Highlands and the 28 to Franklin were really great as well. However I was feeling not really comfortable as the sunlight hit directly to my eyes. It was quite difficult for me at many corners.
It was quite late, darker and darker so I did not take anymore photo, except this:
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...4/DSC04330.jpg
In Vietnamese, Macon, actually "Ma con" means a "little ghost". I was reading that in Vietnamese all the way back to Robbinsville. Damn, that night was the first night I stayed alone in the Robbinsville cabin!!
Hit back to the town, had dinner and end the riding day.
I turned all the light inside and outside the cabin that night. Made some plans for the cases of someone knock at the door at the midnight... ect... Damn, that was a long night! :))
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Day 5 with VFR.
It was the day I plan to move away from the Cabin in Robbinsville. I was hopping I can head North to reach Virginia, just pass the state line couple of miles then I can claim that I 've been to one more State. http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/p...ult/tongue.png
Well, If having a local with me, for sure I can make it. However, I chose the safer option which could let me take an easy day and really enjoy the ride.
Here is my tracklog of the day 5:
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n.../Day5/Day5.jpg
Last time see this:
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...5/DSC04332.jpg
Got off the cabin, started the bike, it was quite chilly:
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...DSC04340-1.jpg
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...5/DSC04341.jpg
I headed to Dragon from theere. Done the last round of the Dragon.
Nothing else to see and taking photos others than these - RWB VFR at the state line btw NC and TN:
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...5/DSC04345.jpg
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...5/DSC04351.jpg
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...5/DSC04353.jpg
I left the Dragon with the same route #80. But this time, I have chance to take photos with the very beautiful lake, I think it may just around within 10miles from the Dragon:
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...5/DSC04368.jpg
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...DSC04366-1.jpg
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...5/DSC04360.jpg
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...DSC04356-1.jpg
