:: US Fall ride - 3 Sisters, Great Smoky Mountain, Deals Gap, Cherohala skwy, BRP..

[VietHorse]

After getting all my things done in Texas, headed to Atlanta with some other friends and a new riding plan to Smoky Mountain.

Thursday morning, took the 7:45A flight, cheap one, by SouthWest:


Landed:


A friend of mine came to pick me up from the ATL airport:


He left for me this room in his guest house in Atlanta - two beds, with all other stuff i.e. kitchen, laundry etc...:


Get all my package stored at his house, he drove me to Alabama.
On the way, feel the heat of motorcycle, which I hard to see in Houston:




Arrived Alabama:


And almost there:


We stopped outside for lunch. The accent of people here make me difficult to understand. However, all the thing around lunch was motorcycle related - all the guys around talking about motorcycle, wearing motorcycle shirts... etc... What an impression!

Into the gate of the Museum:




Baber started his collection from 1989.
1994 he opened the non-profit museum.
Now there are around 1200 bikes models showed on 05 stories building.

[VietHorse]

Many bike brands which I 've never heard:










and many more....

[VietHorse]

You can also see this Museum in an interesting video clip - it would help you somehow imagine the size as well as the spirit of the Museum:

[VietHorse]

During my visit, they had so called a qualification practice of the Vintage bike racer on the track behind the Museum. Enjoy seeing all the beautiful beasts in the Museum and hear the racing sounds from the windows - what a feeling!!



Oh, this bike looks sick:


This looked pretty new, even the wooden parts:




An interesting info is the starting point of this Museum was from three VFR - hehe, I am now riding a VFR as well :




Cool set up - feel like on a track:






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[VietHorse]

Front view of the museum:






These Ducaties right at the entrance of the museum:


Some small stuff:


The museum is arranged with a "mixture style". Means you can see all kind of bikes (naked / sport / cruiser...) and all year of them (old and new) on the same floor. I have asked the admin there, and he said that 's the intention of them. They don't want anybody come in the Museum and miss some good stuff. They want all the visitor can experience every kind of motorcycle during their visit.

[VietHorse]

Some special stuff, i.e. Micheal Jordan's racing bikes:


Or a steam bike:






Just wanna have them all !!!


Spent some more time with the bikes and the souvenir shop, then we headed back to Atlanta for a dinner.

Here was where we had dinner that day:


The place is a meeting place of Atlanta bikers every Thursday night. That night was the last one before all the bikes are stored in the garages until next year riding season:




Great opportunity to meet with a friend, who is very impressed to me with his strength and great recovery after a serious accident:


He looks great as always:


And he could drink well, too:


Went sleep quite late that night for packing stuff for the long ride from the day after.
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[VietHorse]

After around 15mins cornering, we stopped at a tourist place:


Wrestler came in:


I was there with the RWB VFR:




I have no idea why people hang a lot of shoes on this tree:


At the time we arrived, a singer was sitting infront of the shop, playing a country song with his guitar. Great moment with the nice view, nice song and music, with good friends, in a bit chilly weather.


We on road again:








We started to see the fall color:


Fall smell, color and feeling are all around...


The road and view was too beautiful then, I was so excited, so that I keep riding ahead, passed the entrance of the cabin.



Rode for a while, not seeing Wrestler in the mirror, I stopped beside of the road to wait:





Then I saw him, he asked me to return as I passed the destination.
We head back, and I saw Switchblade, other inmate on the way. We all came to the cabin.

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[VietHorse]

Saturday morning, discussion for the ride:


BR was ready for his Dragon session:


8:40AM, we reached the Deals gap:


A group photo in front of the Deals Gap store. RA was the one taking this pix:


Took some photos here, it was my dream to be there and ride there:


My great friend:


Other pics of the place:


It was quite early so there were not many bikes:


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[VietHorse]

Back to the Deals gap resort, more bikes were coming:






I did not have anything to hang on here:


Someone climbed quite high to hang the stuff:


Breakfast:


It's nice place and really impressed me, the things I had only seen on internet:






Dave showed me his big photo on the wall. Great one!


Done the breakfast, we prepared for Cherohala. I was told that this Cherohala skyway is one of the most beautiful riding road during this season.
So, what to wait for?? Just took some more photos before departure:

[VietHorse]

Left the Deals gap, we rode on the Hwy-80 heading to Cherohala Skyway.

Stopped for fuel:


My excitement before going to the new road:


As per my request, Kimball lead us to visit the Cross, where we tribute to a passed away friend:




The road after that was really amazing. Left side was the cliff, right side was a river. That day I could not stop to take any photos there. However, I have tried to have some photos during my lonely ride later on.

Fall colors:








It's very nice curves:

....

Dave was heading back and we didn't understand why we stopped:






Really great weather to ride out:







(to be continued...)

[VietHorse]

Thanks Dave who has been standing sacrifices behind me to make sure I don't have any more issue
Sometimes need him at the front for photos:







14hrs, we stopped for lunch:




It was my dish:


Kimball invited me to try the soup there, I don't remember the name but it was really nice.

Then we returned with the same route:


I was stopping there to wait for taking pix of ridding buddies:
I had been waiting for too long. I think they were waiting for Bill (with Multistrada).
Took the time for shooting around:


Really clear, deep sky:


Nice VFR, however the sun was going down:


Then the guys came in when I was about heading back to find them:

[VietHorse]

We all headed back to the Cabin. The road near the Bear Creek also very nice:




I stopped outside of the cabin to take some photos:




Reached the cabin:




BMW1000RR seemed so attractive:


For sure the VFRers did give lots of jokes to the Bimmer:

[VietHorse]

Back to the second night in Robbinsville. Sy and Ed were super good cooks.




They made awesome foods for us and ready as the time we comeback from Cherohala:


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:


Just sitting around, drink, chit chat...




The cabin was looking great at night:


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.


Slept tight that night....

[VietHorse]

Friday morning, 12Oct, Wrestler and me two-up on his Red VFR to RollingAgain's house.
Until now, I still don't understand what made Wrestler missed the road and went further than RollingAgai's house may be around 10miles. LOL....
At least, we get to the right place, RollingAgain was almost falling into sleep.
Beautiful white pearl VFR was up on the trailer, ready for the trip:


Getting RollingAgain's bike, check around and make all the baggage organized and ready to roll.
His bike is almost the same as my bike in Vietnam, just the difference is mine is ABS version. It 's really great that he installed the Power outlet on this bike, it's good for me to use it for my GPS. Thank to my great GPS, I brought it from Vietnam, installed the US map myself and it works fantastic since the time I was in Texas.

Our first stop was for gas. Here was the second stop, for our stomachs. Hahah...


RollingAgain was so amazing, he got the things so well prepared and organized. He was a bit too excited with the drinks LoL...


Wrestler was, too:


You have been caught, Mr. Wrestler:


Then we were heading to the Blood Mountain, where RollingAgain said it's a good start for a mountain ride.
At this junction, RollingAgain was making a sudden turn to the right. Wresler missed the turn and we gotta wait for a while:



Nice lake beside where we stopped:


Wrestler came in!


Prepared to roll again:


Nice roads ahead:






I could not stay behind the trailer, even though there was a beautiful VFR on it. Push more gas, rode on my own GPS:




....

[VietHorse]

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Finally, arrived the cabin. The entrance:


Wonderful color, which I only see on the internet:


Front view of the beautiful cabin:


04 bikes at that time (RollingAgain, SwitchBlade, Viethorse, Wrestler):


RollingAgain and SwitchBlade were offloading food and drinks:


Some nice view around:






Front yard of the cabin, where we had a big fire on the next day. Awesome place:


Someone so excited before going for the dinner:


Dinner menu - Good Friends, Good Food, Good Times:






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