wonderland

Family adventure~

My wife and I took our daughter on a fantastic adventure Saturday. We drove down to Cades Cove Saturday morning before the gates were open to car traffic. So we loaded the bikes up with gear and pedaled into the cove. I was riding the X-tra Cycle, and carried our hiking gear. We rode back to the Abrams Falls trailhead and locked our bikes up. The journey to the falls would continue on foot from here. So we hiked the 2.5 miles to Abrams Falls where we sat by the water and waded a little. We had planned to swim, but the mountain water was too cold, probably from all the recent rains. It was amazing relaxing back there by ourselves. It is a hike that is normally very popular, so we felt lucky to enjoy it all to ourselves. When people started showing up, we took our time gathering our gear and headed back. We hiked out, then finished with a ride. After making it out of the woods, we set-up a picnic. It was an amazing day.

foothills loop

Kinzell Springs>321>Suspended Bridge>River Road>Wesley Woods>Foothills Parkway>Wears Valley>Lyons Springs>Metcaf Bottoms>Little River Road>Townsend Greenway>GPS Map CLICK HERE

Kona Major Major

It's been an extremely busy week, and it's only getting busier. But I got a chance to break in my new cross bike on a quick ride Saturday morning. It was a beautiful ride. Sun was shining, and my new bike is fast as hell. Now I just need to whip myself back into shape.

one sunny day, some time ago

I found this photo on my phone. It was taken a few weeks ago on the Cosby side of the Foothills parkway.

I have nothing to update you with from this weekend. I did a few runs, but running photography is never as good as cycling photgrpahy.

the other side

We were greated by Llamas as we entered the woods. Not sure where they came from, but it looked like they had broken free from a farm. Later we saw a fox, and a gang of wild turkey.
There was no snow at the lower elevations, but it didn't take long for us to climb into the snow.


Nearing the top of the first climb, we could see the Parkway ahead in the distance:






The top.

snow in the pines

Foothills Parkway was closed due to snow and ice.
I rode the Litespeed Appalachia to Look Rock Tower.

North-side Heinous Loop

shawn.eric.myself-> Kinzell Springs-> Wesley Woods->Foothills Parkway->bushwack->bushwack->I felt as if we were lost at sea and we desperate to reach land->finaly back to Foothills Parkway (Wears Valley side)-> Wears Valley-> Lyons Spring->Metcaf Bottoms->River Road->Townsend->barely back by dark.

another shot from top

North-side heinous loop (not so heinous)

3:30 approximate loop: / 34 miles

From Kinzell Springs-> North Hwy 321-> over the swinging bridge-> Old Walland Highway (River Road)-> Wesley Woods-> Gravel Road->Doubletrack-> Singletrack up to-> closed portion of Foothills Parkway-> Hike-a-bike singletrack to Wears Valley side of closed Foothills Parkway-> Wears Valley Rd.-> Lyons Springs->Wear Gap-> Little Greenbriar-> Little River Road-> 73-> Townsend greenway-> car-> dip in the river.

I can't help but feel a sense of regret that one day the parkway will be completed. Not only for the reason that its nice to ride this beautiful road without the presence of anything, much less cars. But also, one day there will be a straight shot from Pigeon Forge to Townsend, and pretty soon the folks of Townsend will feel like they have to entertain their new influx of visitors with Ferris wheels and go-kart tracks, mini-golf and cotton candy, among other ridiculous distractions from the heritage and awesome nature of these smoky mountains. Economically speaking, this area needs jobs; and this construction provides them, both in the short run and the long run. Its just not the kind of growth I would prefer, its more like a deal with the devil, if the devil owned an outlet mall.

foothills

Full Circle

Car shopping can be both fun and frustrating. I looked at everything from a truck to a Subaru wagon. In the end I ended up back where I started, and I bought a used Element off www.craigslist.com. We drove down to Chattanooga Friday night to get it, and stayed for dinner at The Terminal Brewhouse. Erin loved it, and the Element too.

Saturday I did a long ride from town to the country and back.


Sunday I headed to the Foothills for some punishment; from all the downhilling miles.
Route: River road-> closed portion of Foothills Parkway-> top-> back.
I chased a mountain goat all the way to the top, in disguise as Eric Nelson. I tried to feed him beer and slow him down, but he only rode faster. As the hot sun beat down and the climb wore on; I started dreaming about taco's and lost focus of my plan to slow him down. I hung on at my best pace, willing to explode.

Nice place to stop for a few sips of that good ol' Mountain Brew:

the Cove

Today was Macie's birthday and we headed to Cades Cove early for a bike ride. We were on the road as the sun was coming up and started the loop in great weather. A few minutes into the ride, the rain moved in and we sought shelter in an on old cabin while lightning crashed in. We stayed for well over an hour waiting on the storm to pass. Nothing like a mountain storm.

the road to nowhere

Foothills Parkway in the rain

Fontana

Rich Mountain / Parsons Branch

GSMNP

It might not of been as good as going to Pisgah, but it was damn good!

























Brians song.