Against The Wind Weekend Rides

Palmer is on the right and this was his first ride of any distance since having hip replacement surgery. Notice the WW II German Tank Commander helmet - actually this is an 80's bicycle helmet. Bernie, on the left, and I took him from Lula to Gillsville and returned via Hwy 52. He did great and I can tell you that I don't think I would have been out on a bicycle if I had had the same work done on me. Also, Palmer was riding a comfort bike with fat tires which made it even harder plus the wind was blowing 10 to 20 mph during much of the ride back up the hill to Lula.

Bernie and I decided that if he did start having problems, we would inject WD 40 into the new joint and that should cure any problem. Actually, Bernie had a different brand in mind that he says works better but I can't remember the name.

Sunday after church, the urge to ride got the best of me. See this months Bicycling Magazine for a more thorough explanation of my addictive behavior. Anyway, left Quillians Corner and rode up to Clermont and beyond. With the wind blowing 20 and gusting upwards to 30, I thought that I might should stop at Goofy's and have a brain checkup but just kept on pedaling. 10 miles into the wind before getting to turn back south. Got in 28 plus miles for a total of 2301 for the year.

Color is starting to set in along Skitts Mountain Road. This is a favorite spot to watch the change in colors. Skitts Mountain is in the background and is still verdant but should start changing within a couple of weeks. I will post progress photos if I ride that way.

The picture below is from our October 5th hike at Chilhowee Campground. As we were hiking to Benton Falls trail, we came to a sandy spot and spotted a footprint that could only have come from a Big Foot. There were only a couple of prints like something had crossed the trail in front of us. Later, we saw other signs that may well have come from this beast. While we never saw it, one just has to believe that it was there watching us.

Chilhowee Campground Adventures

Well, I am finally back and updating. It has been a hectic month or more with not enough riding but still had a lot of fun. Last weekend, Oct 4-6 was spent at Chilhowee Campground in Tennessee with our son Kyle and grand daughters Kayla and Brooklynn.

I have seen lots of NFS campgrounds and they don't get any better than this one. Paved roads throughout, camping spots that are spreadout if you go to campgrounds C-F, and excellent pads for tents or campers. Fire ring, table, and lantern post are all provided. Cost is $12 per day unless you need electricity. Also had warm showers, toilet paper provided, and the facility was very clean.

The real reason we went was to see Kayla on the left and Brooklynn on the right. Kayla just lost her first tooth.

Brooklynn and her baby doll that goes everywhere with her, usually dragging along.

No camping trip is complete without a hike somewhere. In this case, we hiked to Benton Falls with Kayla and Brooklynn leading the way.

There was more of an adventure on the return hike. We took a shortcut trail and thought we had run into a hornets nest only to discover that it was a swarm of honey bees. The swarm is in the top center of the picture. We retreated at first and then, after discovering it was honey bees, we slowly made our way past since the swarm does not normally attack. Yellowjackets and hornets would have been another story but then, we would not have been "inching" past.

A view of the lake from the trail around it. There is also a swimming beach, picnic tables, etc. along the sides. We saw several mountain bikes riding around the lake and elsewhere in the campground. There are several good trails for mountain bikes (not motorized) and I may take mine up there if we go again.

Bee on flower - end of story.

Kayla is getting into taking pictures and she took this one of Grandpa and Grandee.

A view to the west from one of the overlooks on the road up to the campground. This was after sunset so it is not really clear.

After we packed up Sunday afternoon, Debbie an I made another excursion to the Cherohala Skyway. We started in Tellico Plains, TN and ended in Robbinsville, NC before following US 129 back home. Check out this link. My one picture does not do it justice - lets just say that you can see a long way when you are over a mile high.

http://www.cherohala.com/

Dang! If I had been composing the picture, I would have had that cloud in the background more visible.

More to come later on the continuing adventures of a man and his bicycle.