Day 1 - Backroads 'n Waffles

Well, it’s that time of year isn’t it. Ya know…yer breathin becomes a li’l more labored…yer heart beats a li’l faster…yer brain’s all fuzzy…yer vision’s somewhat distorted…and the fever sets in for the long haul. No...not the flu season...it's springtime and the promise of ridin season bein in full swing. And there’s only one true cure…ok, so it’s not something ya really wanna be cured of…but ya know what I’m talkin ‘bout…doncha.

This year we would trumpet the arrival of springtime with a ride to the Little River Canyon in northeast Alabamy…just outside of Fort Payne. I know…my first thought was on how I coulda probably picked a better destination for kickin off the season…but that’s where my finger landed on the map in my effort to pick some place “new” for this bloomin ride. Ok, so I gotta practice on this pun thingy a little.

Now don’t get me wrong. I ain’t bashin the fine state of Alabama…hell, I lived in Bama til I was ‘bout 11…but let’s be honest, it’s not the first place ya usually think of when tryin to pick out an excitin ride destination. Well, for all you’se Bama folks that are ‘bout ready to kick my ass ‘bout now, I was proven wrong on this occasion, as I would highly recommend a visit to the Little River Canyon to anyone. I woulda never guessed such a beautiful canyon existed in the Land ‘o Crimson.

We’re meetin up with some old friends in north GA ‘bout noon’ish for the rest of the ride over to Bama…so let’s get started. The bike’s already packed…as I ALWAYS pack the night before…and our son safely off to school to be picked up by his Nana for the weekend, so the missus and I saddle up and head out to Blairsville, GA...to meet up with our friends, Cuz ‘n Loosie from SC, and Dog ‘n Rae from NC. Some of ya’s may have already read of my Waffle House addiction on these rides…or as Cuz calls it, the Casa de Waffle…so we head out early enough to allow me to satisfy my cravin before the rest of the misfits arrive. We hit TN-360…my ever so common back way to Tellico Plains, TN…and enjoy a meanderin ride thru the country before pickin up TN-68 south towards the Jawja border, sections of which are like ridin a scenic parkway. Sorry I don’t have any pics of it, but it’s just one of those roads ya wanna keep rollin on, so we didn’t stop for any shots. In fact, I took far too few shots on this ride. I’ll do better...well, that's what I keep tellin myself anyways.

Anyways, we hit the Casa de Waffle in Blairsville early enough for me to pig out sans witnesses, and wait ‘round for the rest of the crew to show up…which they did promptly at noon as agreed upon. Ole Cuz is one prompt feller on ride meets. After our hello’s ‘n hugs, the six of us head outta town on US-76 west, the Southern Highlands Scenic Highway. After a few miles on the Highlands, we jump off onto some back roads for the rest of the day’s ride…and backroad ridin is what north GA is all about. Along a stream here…over a hill there…thru some twisties over yonder…with nary a four-lane to be found…much less, dare I say it, an interstate anywhere. Schweeeet! Now, I’m all for goin out and just gettin lost on these kinds of backroads…but not so much when I gots a string of bikes behind me, all countin on me to get us where we’re ‘sposed to be fer the night. The crew of misfits I usually ride with get quite a chuckle outta my navigational ways….seems I can find my way anywhere out in the country…but will get lost within two blocks of our destination in the city. On this day, I led us thru so many backroad twists ‘n turns on our way to Bama that, at one stop, Cuz walks over to my bike and starts admirin my newly acquired tank bag…fondlin it like a biker on a cheap, easy date. Turns out it wasn’t that he admired my new bag so much, as it was that he suspected me of hidin a GPS in there somewhere. Nope, no GPS. I don’t knock ‘em, but I don’t use ‘em either. The missus will tell ya that I have such a map fetish that I probably have every road in the southeastern U.S. permanently burned onto my brain.

After openin my tank bag to prove to Cuz I wasn’t tuned in to a satelite system somewhere, we make our way on over to the DeSoto State Park, and check into our cabins. We would also be joined this weekend by a couple from Birmingham, AL, James ‘n Kathy…old time friends of Cuz ‘n Loosie’s. While we were waitin on the folks from Birmingham to show up, we…”we” bein the guys…head down into Fort Payne for supplies. I think it’s one of the reasons the missus enjoys these rides so much…the guys usually take care of all the supplies and cookin and such. A short time after we get back, James and his bride roll up in their pickup…with his brand new Deuce in the back. Huh? Wha? Seems James recently gave up his sinful ways of crotch rocket ridin…so cut him a break…he’s still a learnin the tourin ways…’sides, he’s a right fun feller to have ‘round.

Ahhhhh…brats over the fire…spirits a flowin…and tellin lies ‘round the campfire. Is there any better way to kick off the season?! We’re gettin a liesurely start in the morn…no threat of early risin…so kick back and have a few more…we’re gonna.

See ya in the morn for a putt along the canyon.