The trip over to Huntsville was very nice and I promised to take Jeannie that way one of these days, I was quite impressed with the terrain and how nice that corner of Alabama was.
For the next couple of weeks I rode around were I live on the new GSA as well as a Christmas day ride to Dahlonega where Jeannie and I got pretty soaked on our way home. This was Jeannie's first ride with her side cases mounted, her first ride in some pretty heavy rain. We also witnessed something different, the Dahlonega square empty :)
For new years we had planned a trip to Florida, to join my brother in Tallahassee and ride down to St. Petersburg to spend new years eve, we than planned on heading up to the east coast of Florida around Daytona with a final destination of St Augustine. Unfortunately the rains that we got in GA 2 days before new years hit Florida by the day we were supposed to leave so we all decided it would be safer and off course dryer to cancel the Florida ride.
Well Jeannie and I had Friday off, and Saturday so why not get a short two day ride in. And without hesitation I said, lets head west towards Huntsville and hope she likes and enjoys the trip as much as I did back in early December.
The temperatures were supposed to be on the mid to high 40's during the day and low 30's at night. problem is the sun never came out on Friday so the temps never really came up to expected. But Jeannie and I headed out anyway, we took our liners and our gloves and we carved ourselves a way thought the cold !
I decided to post a picture of the route we took straight out of Google Maps and list the roads we took below it
We rode west on GA 20 to Cartersville, than west on US 411 to Rome and eventually into Centre AL where we took AL 68 north, there was a landslide on AL 68 which we only knew because I nice gentleman told us about it while we had brunch in Centre AL, he guided us through CR 273 and CR 48 back unto AL 68 and around the land slide. Which is another reason I love to ride motorcycles, he approached us asking where we had come from and where we were heading, and when I told him he was kind enough to tell us about the land slide and guide us around, we motorcyclists get this everywhere.
AL 68 eventually brought us to AL 75 and into Albertville where we hopped on US 431 for a few miles through Albertville and Guntersville. While at a gas station in Albertville warming our cold bodies a bit another stranger approach us, asking the same usual questions and sending me up Cathedral Caverns Road (AL 5) till it meets up with US 72. Which was again another great find. From there I took a gamble and decided to let AL 65/TN 97 takes us north to Huntland TN. Our final destination was Sewanee Inn in Sewanne TN at the University of the South campus. So this road seemed like a nice cut through and scenic. And this road was a jewel of a ride. I want to do it again soon and hopefully share it with friends and family.
I took these pictures in Huntland TN, at the end of AL 65/TN 97 soaking up the sun with 21 miles left to a warm room and shower !
Our overnight stay was the Sewanee Inn in Sewanee TN, I highly recommend this place to anyone for a stay, it is not cheap, but not your run of the mill hotel either, with a beautiful lobby and fireplace room, greatly appointed rooms, nice bar and very fancy chef style dinner. There are other restaurants in town, but we were ready to stay in for the night. Everything is walking distance from the hotel if you are a little adventurous.
Overnight temperatures dropped below 30 degrees and high 20's when Jeannie and I woke up so we waited for at least mid 30's (10am) before we headed out. This is what we walked up to on the bikes in the morning.
I don't have too many pictures of our way back, it was a sunny and nice day but cold, and I think we both wanted to soak in the ride but we also knew a heater and hot shower waited for us at home, (besides needy 4 legged children). So we headed back home. The way we took was completely different but very surprising because neither one of us knew how pretty the corner of GA, TN and AL was. Below is a map of the route back home and a little description of the ride.
We started out at 34 degrees south on TN 156 heading towards South Pittsburg which is a great road because is on top of the mountain plateau but drops curvy and fast before it reaches the city. From there we hopped on US 72 for a few miles than to AL 117. This road was very nice, and it takes us all the way into the state line with GA where it turns into GA 48. Now I do have to mention a place on top of the mountain on the AL side before crossing the state line Mentone. Mentone is right on top of a Mountain plateau its quaint and quiet little town with shops and a few restaurants and bistros. Looks to be more alive in the summer but there was lots of people there soaking the sun. We stopped for brunch and walked up and down main street a bit (which is AL 117) very nice place.
The ride home from there was uneventful and fairly quick. We were home earlier than we thought.
This kind of ride is the best in the world, 80% unplanned, chances are taken on smaller roads and just great riding. I am getting quite accustomed to having my back watched by Jeannie, she is officially riding behind me and sharing all the nice moments with me on our intercoms.
This is just the beginning of what I hope to be many years or riding together.
Till next time!!. Thanks for keeping up with us.
Looks like a lot of fun. Did you happen to go to the University of the South in Sewanee?
ReplyDeleteI knew it was there, but I did not go to the school, we arrived late and left early, next time I would like to walk around the school and visit the beautiful chapel as well as the surrounding buildings. We also did not know the Inn was there, "Hotel Tonight" an app my wife uses told us about the place, we actually booked the room while in the parking lot.
ReplyDeleteVery nice place.