Hot Springs and Maggie Valley, N.C.

June 12th, 2004

   
    Sandee Bible was already at the gas station this morning when I showed up around 8:30. We had breakfast at McDonalds and waited on the others. Terry Elmy arrived about the same time Rick and Barbara Williams drove up. This was the group for the ride which got under way around 9:30 AM.
    We rode down Rt. 66 to Douglas Dam Rd. which we followed to Dandridge. Then, out towards Chestnut Hill and Newport with a alternate route that turned left short of Chestnut Hill. It took us over to Rt.25 and it felt like it was a shortcut. From Newport, we rode to Hot Springs and took a break at the Camp Store. There was a Bluegrass Festival being held at the Hot Springs Spa and there was quiet a crowd in town.
    We were riding pretty consistently thus far as I knew we would be getting hungry soon. It was 11:00 AM when we left Hot Springs and rode Rt. 209 to Maggie Valley. A good shower side tracked us for about 30 minutes just as we entered the Valley. There was only 5 miles to go before we got to the Maggie Valley restaurant. That's Ok. The place we stopped had a few leather clothes and some of the group shopped while waiting for the rain to stop. (Rick Williams even bought a leather vest).
    After a great meal, we rode over to Cherokee and stopped at Dairy Queen where Terry left us to head home. (Happy Anniversary to Terry and Ruth.)
    Between Cherokee and Gatlinburg, we made several stops for photo ops and to enjoy the scenery. Mingus Mill and the Sugarland's Trail were places we not only stopped at, but we stayed awhile and walked around. I discovered no one in the group has ever been on Roaring Fork Motor Trail so we introduced them to it as well.
    A little more rain sprinkled on us as we left Gatlinburg via the Crafts Community. Sandee and I stopped for something to eat which got me home around 8:45 PM. Not many miles today, but they were all quality miles to say the least.