Gots some pixxors to share w/ my fellow Roadbikereviewers as I sit in my office drinking a Newcastle (or 3) and upload the photo's my clubmate PChrosto. the ride is called the "Cherohala Challenge" since it goes thru the Cherokee and Nantahala National Forests. A 115 mile loop w/ over 9,000 feet of elevation (we ended up going 118 due to a detour straight up "Happy Valley") One of our clubmates had never done a century before much less one w/ so much climbing but he had done some "hill repeats" here in Florida (climbing causeways) and kicked my fat arse. Anywho, enjoy the pixxors...wish we were still there instead of this hot and humid thunderstorm magnet of Florida....
Gutfiddle loadin up the rental at 5:30am already sweatin my arse off...
Camp is set up in Joyce Kilmer Forest (Horse Cove Loop)
Spacecoast Freewheelers before the ride, represent w00tw00t!
old tobacco barn
Crestin the first hill on the way to the tail of the dragon
I THINK that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the sweet earth's flowing breast;
A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
A tree that may in summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;
Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.
Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.
Gutfiddle on the Cherohala Skyway courtesy of Pchrosto
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I had to give the poor boy a ride home after his poasting binge. The commuter in him didn't want to brave a hail storm. One of the worst storms I've seen around here in a few years, hail got so bad we had to duck in and (uhm) hide out at Hooters for a few hours. Poor Darcey got a tingle when the lightning struck nearby.
I had to give the poor boy a ride home after his poasting binge. The commuter in him didn't want to brave a hail storm. One of the worst storms I've seen around here in a few years, hail got so bad we had to duck in and (uhm) hide out at Hooters for a few hours. Poor Darcey got a tingle when the lightning struck nearby.
Congrats on completing the ride. I think flatlanders should earn bonus points for attempting a ride like this.
Why did so many people turn off at the Foothills Parkway? Was there a mark painted on the road? This is the fourth year I've done the ride, and I hadn't heard of people making that mistake before.
Congrats on completing the ride. I think flatlanders should earn bonus points for attempting a ride like this.
Why did so many people turn off at the Foothills Parkway? Was there a mark painted on the road? This is the fourth year I've done the ride, and I hadn't heard of people making that mistake before.
yeah right after the "unofficial sag stop" there were 3 marks on the road the first one pointed left to turn towards the Parkway but didnt have a CC under it and the last marker was a straight arrow w/ the CC. Alot of ppl just saw the first marker and turned left and climbed straight up (portion of that road is 20%) some added 16 miles and stayed on it all the way back to 129. After Pchrosto checked someone's mail and determined we were on the wrong road at the risk of getting shot we turned around.
yeah right after the "unofficial sag stop" there were 3 marks on the road the first one pointed left to turn towards the Parkway but didnt have a CC under it and the last marker was a straight arrow w/ the CC. Alot of ppl just saw the first marker and turned left and climbed straight up (portion of that road is 20%) some added 16 miles and stayed on it all the way back to 129. After Pchrosto checked someone's mail and determined we were on the wrong road at the risk of getting shot we turned around.
i'm always right, just had a feeling that things looked different from last year. another factor was that all the markings were freshly painted and were identical in style, just with the small CC for our ride.
Tail of the Dragon was in perfect shape, I think some of the motor bikers might be cleaning the road surface. I've seen pix on killboy.com with riders carrying brooms. Also the North Carolina side looked freshly paved, that is one ecstatic descent.
Sadly a no on the BBQ, got there too late Friday, rode Saturday and all the small places stay closed til noon on Sundays it seems.
mmmm we need to recruit Linda to become a member of the club
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