Thursday June 16, 2005 Local in Stecoa – North Loop -Deals Gap & Smokey Mountain Park
I woke up lazily again. I was really relaxed, not having to push miles again today. I chose to do a loop on the northern side of the Iron Horse. It started by again running up Hwy 28, a great road in itself, and onto the Dragon for another run. Once across the mountain, I took a right onto the Foothills Parkway, a very nice almost deserted roadway running through the mountains to the north. It then connects up vis Rts 321 & 73 to the Great Smokey Mountains National Park, where all the fun turned into traffic hell. The scenery almost made up for the constant line of slow moving traffic. This loop took way too long and I wouldn’t recommend it. The difference in traffic volume form the Cherohala Skyway to here was dramatic to say the least. Route 421 runs through the park and is apparently a big “must do” for cages and land yachts of all types. The passes and forests were awesome, with a deep, dark and old feel to them.
I also stopped in Bryson City for food and alcohol, remember that dry county thing. Once again I made it back to camp later than I had wanted to. I really wanted and early day, but it was not to be.
In doing a chain and tire inspection I noted that the chain was in very good shape, well lubed if a bit loose.
I also noted that the rear tire seemed to be doing well also,
yet a closer inspection showed the wear bar was 1/32” away from being flush.
Uh-oh. Yet as I looked at mileages since it was installed, I had almost 5k on it. Considering the loads and speeds and 1900+ miles of slabbing it, I wasn’t that surprised or upset. I called the dealership in Asheville, Myers Motorcycles, and I was able to get set up for an appointment Friday morning to have the tires swapped out. I also mentioned the problem with the loose ignition switch. The person I talked to was out the door to the Brits in Georgia rally some 50 miles South of where I was.
I crashed early again, but I didn’t get too far. Someone in the public room across the way was playing some sort of video on the projector and through the impressive sound system. Loud would be one word to describe it. The sound of revving rice rockets, sound effects of crashing and glass breaking and police sirens…. I sure it was a great video. It was 9 pm when I tried to nod off and it was 10 PM when I got up, marched over to the room and after making a comment or two about the loudness and the open windows and that tents some 50 feet away on the other side of the creek, I shut the windows and grumped back to my tent. I was a bit miffed that the gang playing the video could be so rude to others in the campground. I later learned that it was one of the owners playing the video and that quiet hour at the Iron Horse is 11pm. Be warned that if you are a person that tends to nod off by 9-10, you may have some difficulty doing so.
The Iron Horse is a great campground, off the road and next to a creek. A creek that had garbage hooked around several rocks the entire 5 days I was there. The people and food and atmosphere are nearly perfect, as are the well kept ground and clean showers. A bit more effort would and there would be no complaints at all. These two small issues marred a near perfect stay. I don;t let stuff like this bother me, I just note it a keep having a good time.
[ This message was edited by: JasonS on 2005-06-28 19:47 ]
