Archive for May, 2005

A Good Route

Tuesday, May 31st, 2005

Having heard that Wayah Road was good for motorcycle riding, I decided to ride it and find a route to Wayah Road in the process.

While staying in Hendersonville, Vickie and I set out to ride Wayah Road. We took Hwy 64 to Cashiers, but, not before having lunch at the SmokeHouse Restaraunt. After eating the usual great burgers and fries, we headed up NC 107 to Silva then NC 116 to Hwy 28. Both 107 and 28 are good roads with plenty of curves. The condition of these roads was good, but, there was a small amount of gravel in places, so be watchful of it. We took 28 to Wayah Road through Nantahalla Gorge and back to Franklin NC. from there it was back track 64 to Hendersonville.

Hiawassee GA

Tuesday, May 3rd, 2005

Well this was the tenth year of spending the first weekend in May in Hiawassee GA. It all started with the BMW owners of Georgia and their yearly rally there. This is the first year we never actually made it to the rally site. Too busy riding and eating the local food.

The trip started Friday morning taking the usual route of Hwy 76 from Columbia to Hiawassee. This is a nice route but, does not start getting really interesting until almost at the SC/GA line. The next day we ride to Blairsville GA for breakfast at the “Hole in The Wall” restaurant. We then get on hwy 19 then hwy 348 (which is an excellent road) but, fog slowed the pace down then we connect with 75A, this takes us to Helen GA where we stop for coffee and dessert.We left Helen and took 75 to Cleveland GA then hwy 11 to Dahlonega through Suches and then to Blue Ridge GA. From there it is back to Blairsville via hwy 76 for dinner at another restaurant that we have frequented a couple of years ago. Same good food and plenty of it. After dinner it is back to the cabin for some coffee and relaxing on the front porch (and a little studying for final exams this week).

We leave Sunday to go to Hendersonville N.C. We take War Woman Rd. out of Clayton GA to Hwy 28. We take 28 north to Highlands N.C. the n64 to Brevard N.C. but, not before stopping at the Smokehouse restaurant on 64 for some great hamburgers and fries. They are most famous for their barbeque ribs though.

Monday had us taking the interstate back to Columbia to get home as soon as possible so I can get to class on time. The bright spot of this leg of the trip was 43.35 mpg, not bad for interstate speeds loaded and 2-up.