Kemosabes - Gray, TN.

January 3rd, 2004

Trip Statistics:

Time Traveled -
Miles Traveled - 215
Accommodations -
Gas - $10.00
Food (Estimated) - $10.00

   
    6:30 A.M.and it's raining in Wears Valley. I loaded all the groceries and surplus goodies in my Toyota from the night before. I had to go home, unload the truck, wash the Harley and get back to McDonalds by 9:30. It was going to be tight.
    Still perspiring from the rush, I circled through McDonalds at 9:32. Rain was threatening and the park lot was still wet from a recent shower. No one was there. There were a total of 8 bikes signed up for this ride, but as usual, if it looks like rain, everyone ducks for cover. Actually, I can't blame you. If I had not committed to lead this ride, I would have stayed home too....but it turns out that there was one other nut willing to ride today, and what a day it was.
    The Twin Lakes Hog Chapter was having their membership renewal drive today at Colbochs. I got there around 10:45 and saw a few bikes on the porch but none in the parking lot. Shortly thereafter, Sandee Bible showed up on her Honda, Shadow. Ready for a new adventure and ready to brave the rain, Sandee and I headed off for Gray Tennessee and Kemosabe's Roadhouse.
    I recently got a Garmin GPS V and installed in on my bike using a Ram handle bar mount. This was going to be it's first trial. I had already programmed in Kemosabe's address and started following the GPS's directions using the "fastest route" feature. We left Colbochs and followed 25 to route 160. Sandee immediately said it was taking us to I-81 and she was right. We did follow I-81 up to Greenville and went "Off route" heading North East until the GPS found another route away from the Interstate. As slick as can be, the GPS took us to the front door of Kemosabe's.
    Just after arriving, Dan Robinette showed up in his pickup truck. Dan was feeling a little stopped up this morning so he decided not to ride. We were just as glad to see him and enjoyed having lunch with him.
    The ride back home was one that meandered the back roads South and West. Neither of us had traveled some of these roads and that was what was good about the ride. We eventually came out in Greenville and I was able to find familiar landmarks.
    Sandee headed home on 11E and I hit I-81 getting back about 5:00 PM. (I did take the long way home.)
    Oh and by-the-way. The weather did get better and better as the day went by and we ended with sunshine and blue skies. Nary a drop of rain fell on us after we left Colbochs