Frosty Fall Club Ride
It was one of those mornings that you wake up and check the outside temperature and wonder if you make the right decision telling the Van Voorhis that you were going to go on their ride today. While the forecast was for a sunny day, all you could see was fog covering the nearby hillsides.
Sixteen hearty souls on fourteen different motorcycles met at the Cracker Barrel on Strawberry Plains Pike to begin the adventure. Most of us rode through heavy fog and cold temperatures to arrive there. We had cold fingers, full tanks, and empty bladders!
While this was supposed to be a fall foliage ride, we started out focused on the bikes ahead of us and navigating south and east through the fog. You know a ride is well planned when the first bathroom break comes at 45 minutes! We stopped at the Douglas Dam overlook and noticed the fog was lifting and the sunshine was burning through. Bill and Nancy led the group on backroads in Sevier County which twisted and changed elevation to provide entertaining riding. We somehow ended up going by the Bush Bean plant three different times.
Our lunch stop was the Indian Creek Market. The combination store and restaurant had a reserved table so everyone could sit together. We discussed the scenery and wildlife we had seen on the morning ride.
After lunch, it was back on the bikes for a roundabout route to the Van Voohis’ beautiful mountain cabin. We walked uphill to a scenic overlook to the fire ring. The hosts provided a weiner roast for those who decided to stay awhile.
It was a great day and makes me realize that as club members we should look for opportunities to lead club rides ourselves. It is nice to share the back roads that you have discovered and foster the friendships we make in our clubs.
Sixteen hearty souls on fourteen different motorcycles met at the Cracker Barrel on Strawberry Plains Pike to begin the adventure. Most of us rode through heavy fog and cold temperatures to arrive there. We had cold fingers, full tanks, and empty bladders!
While this was supposed to be a fall foliage ride, we started out focused on the bikes ahead of us and navigating south and east through the fog. You know a ride is well planned when the first bathroom break comes at 45 minutes! We stopped at the Douglas Dam overlook and noticed the fog was lifting and the sunshine was burning through. Bill and Nancy led the group on backroads in Sevier County which twisted and changed elevation to provide entertaining riding. We somehow ended up going by the Bush Bean plant three different times.
Our lunch stop was the Indian Creek Market. The combination store and restaurant had a reserved table so everyone could sit together. We discussed the scenery and wildlife we had seen on the morning ride.
After lunch, it was back on the bikes for a roundabout route to the Van Voohis’ beautiful mountain cabin. We walked uphill to a scenic overlook to the fire ring. The hosts provided a weiner roast for those who decided to stay awhile.
It was a great day and makes me realize that as club members we should look for opportunities to lead club rides ourselves. It is nice to share the back roads that you have discovered and foster the friendships we make in our clubs.
