Dillard House, Dillard Georgia

April 24th, 2004

   By Dan Harvey

    Off on another great adventure to a place we have never been and with people we have never met.
    Sandee Bible and I left McDonalds and zipped through the Forge and around Gatlinburg without much delay. At Sugarland's Visitors Center, we met Terry Elmy, Jim and Lynda Hickey, Terry and Joy Hall, Dave Corbett and Barbara Winkler and Bobby Smith. But we still had more coming.
    We rode over the mountain towards Cherokee along with hundreds of other bikers. It was the weekend for the Cherokee Survivors Rally and the Honda Spring Fling. Bikers were everywhere. After crossing the mountain, we stopped at Mingus Mill where we met Michael and Sharon Trudgeon from Greer, South Carolina. They have been on our mailing list and have finally has the chance to ride with us.
    Leaving the mill, we turned towards Cherokee but opted to hang a left on the Blue Ridge Parkway to avoid congestion in town. As we climbed to above 5,000' the warm air gave way to cool breezes making that extra layer of clothing feel good. When you were in the sun, it was OK, but those shady cool curves were a little nippley. We rode around to the Great Smoky Mountain Expressway which we took over to 441 South. We followed it down to Dillard Georgia just in time. Bobby Smith was getting weak and could barely hold up his bike. Bobby has a rare disease that triggers his hunger urges on every ride he attends. His disease is called "Bottomless Pit." Even Bobby could not handle all the food we were served. It was like a buffet but they bring it to you. Everything you can eat. Spare Ribs, Fried Chicken, Country Steak, Country Ham, Green Beans, Corn on the Cob, Broiled Potatoes, Greens, Fresh Tomatoes & Onions, A Casserole, etc, etc. ALL YOU AN EAT! They will just keep bringing it out. Then, strawberry cobbler with ice cream! WOW!
    On the way back, we went back North through Franklin, then took Rt. 28 North around Fontana, past Deals Gap and rode the Dragon. Over at the Parkway, we rode up Happy Valley and on the Foothills Parkway to Townsend. There Sandee Bible and I split and headed for Jefferson County while the others headed towards Maryville. The Maryville crowd saw good weather all day but my choice to follow along the base on the mountains through Wears Valley caused Sandee and I to get wet. Sandee is a trooper though and never complained. Both are bikes were filthy...oh well, anohter 3 hours of cleaning before tomorrow's ride.