Riding in The Great Smoky Mountains

[MPittma100]

As some of us know, the state lines of NC, TN, and GA all meet up here in the Great Smoky Mountains. Those of who have attended the XS Southeast Rallies already know how much they love riding this area. I happen to be one of them.

I am in Bryson City, NC this week - and have been here since last Wednesday. Bryson City is about 20-25 minutes from the Ironhorse.

Since Wednesday, we have ridden to such places as the NOC, The Ironhorse, Fontana Dam, Tale of The Dragon, Gatlinburg, TN, Townsend, TN, Cherohala Skyway, Cherokee, and will top off the bike road trips with a visit to Wheels Through Time Museum in Maggie Valley, NC tomorrow.

Lots of people had pulled to the side of the road today in Gatlinburg to observe a black bear feeding. He was just barely into the woods off of the road. No people were eaten during this incident.

Don't know the exact mileage of the combined trips, but we did manage just 3 miles short of 200 today. Wish I had taken some pictures, but the enjoyment factor of sitting on the XS11 did not allow my fingers any time to push a button on a camera.

I will admit having gone to the Nantahala Brewing Company in Bryson City more than once this week to enjoy a cold one, play several games of Corn Hole, and feel the breeze of "The Big A_s Fans". May be going back there before the week's end.

Have family coming up starting tomorrow evening for the Memorial Day weekend. Got a feeling that I will be moving from motorcycle to a 6-man raft sooner than later.

It has been a lot of fun this week. Wish some of you XSives could have made it up here.

Mike

[clashpistol]

Wow! I got a visual. No pictures needed.

NOC, The Ironhorse, Fontana Dam, Tale of The Dragon, Gatlinburg, TN, Townsend, TN, Cherohala Skyway, Cherokee, and will top off the bike road trips with a visit to Wheels Through Time Museum in Maggie Valley, NC tomorrow.

Although I have never been to these places just the names puts an image in my mind of places I would love to see and ride.

One day I hope to get to Wheels Through time. We should have went last month when went to Myrtle Beach. Next time when I don't have my GF's kids I wanted to kill.

[jjz28]

Sounded like a great time!

[MPittma100]

Wtt

Went to WTT on Thursday. Quite a few people were there. Was the first day of the outdoor event (on the WTT property) where guys were riding old Indians and HDs around in circles in a wooden structure - forgot the name of the structure.

Spent about 3 hours in the museum itself. Dale Walksler and his son Matt were there. Talked/listened to Matt for a while. He is preparing an old Indian to enter in the Born Free Custom Bike Show in California next month. I believe he said it was a 1946 model. Looks much different than stock. Supposed to be finished in 2 weeks. I saw the work in progress and it looks very cool. Hope he does well there.

Enjoyed the rest of the museum - as much as you can see in that time frame.

There is one bike in the museum that has been deemed the "World's Rarest Bike". Only one is known to be produced. It is very old (teens - twenties) and it has an 80 cubic engine. It took HD 20 more years to produce an 80 cubic inch engine. The name is TRAUB.

Dale and Matt are doing a second season of "What's in the Barn". Starts 6-10-14.

Had a good time that day. A lot of you have been there, and for the rest of you, it is a must see. Real easy to go more than once as there is too much to take in on one visit.

[madmax-im]

Thanks Mike...I plan to head there sometime this summer for a day trip...

[motoman]

Went to WTT on Thursday. Quite a few people were there. Was the first day of the outdoor event (on the WTT property) where guys were riding old Indians and HDs around in circles in a wooden structure - forgot the name of the structure.

Spent about 3 hours in the museum itself. Dale Walksler and his son Matt were there. Talked/listened to Matt for a while. He is preparing an old Indian to enter in the Born Free Custom Bike Show in California next month. I believe he said it was a 1946 model. Looks much different than stock. Supposed to be finished in 2 weeks. I saw the work in progress and it looks very cool. Hope he does well there.

Enjoyed the rest of the museum - as much as you can see in that time frame.

There is one bike in the museum that has been deemed the "World's Rarest Bike". Only one is known to be produced. It is very old (teens - twenties) and it has an 80 cubic engine. It took HD 20 more years to produce an 80 cubic inch engine. The name is TRAUB.

Dale and Matt are doing a second season of "What's in the Barn". Starts 6-10-14.

Had a good time that day. A lot of you have been there, and for the rest of you, it is a must see. Real easy to go more than once as there is too much to take in on one visit.

Hi Mike, SWMBO and I will be 'caging' thru Atlanta end of August on our way to Columbus for mother inlaws 90thB.day(she still drives her Camry to store and church). Sounds like it would be worth a look-see. Is the museum fairly easy to get to off the Interstate headed south? And what's its full name?

We've in the past have just flown there, but with the expense of the 'right of passage' a bit more than doubled (along with throwin' in your first and last born) in a 3yr. period, a 'road trip' was lookin' pretty good.
I've done that trip to Atlanta several times, taking vacation time and runnin' a local eighteen-wheeler there and back. Double teaming it makes it some 27hrs. driving, and by myself never devided out the 'off-duty' time, but figured 2 1/2 days oughta' get us there.

[madmax-im]

Brant its called Wheels Through Time...its not right off I40 but you can get to it from there...its in Maggie Valley NC

[jetmechmarty]

Wheels Through Time I believe it is directly on US19 in Maggie Valley, NC. I live 85 miles north of ATL and very near US19. For me, it's close to a three hour trip.

Mike,
Were they running the Wall of Death?

[MPittma100]

Wtt

Hi Mike, SWMBO and I will be 'caging' thru Atlanta end of August on our way to Columbus for mother inlaws 90thB.day(she still drives her Camry to store and church). Sounds like it would be worth a look-see. Is the museum fairly easy to get to off the Interstate headed south? And what's its full name?

We've in the past have just flown there, but with the expense of the 'right of passage' a bit more than doubled (along with throwin' in your first and last born) in a 3yr. period, a 'road trip' was lookin' pretty good.
I've done that trip to Atlanta several times, taking vacation time and runnin' a local eighteen-wheeler there and back. Double teaming it makes it some 27hrs. driving, and by myself never devided out the 'off-duty' time, but figured 2 1/2 days oughta' get us there.

WTT contact information is here:

http://www.wheelsthroughtime.com/contact/

WTT is open Thursday through Monday. Closed Tuesday and Wednesday.

You should definitely go there. You will be glad you did. May want to visit nearby Cherokee as well.

Mike

[MPittma100]

Wall of Death

Wheels Through Time I believe it is directly on US19 in Maggie Valley, NC. I live 85 miles north of ATL and very near US19. For me, it's close to a three hour trip.

Mike,
Were they running the Wall of Death?

Marty, They were running The Wall of Death. I watched one show while there. You feel like they are going to come right out of that circle at any time. They were using some old Indians and HDs. One guy rode with no hands and stood up on the pegs. There is a cable at the top of the ring on the inside diameter. I suppose if one got too high, the cable would be the end of him and the bike and possibly a few onlookers. They do come very close to that cable!

Mike

[jetmechmarty]

Marty, They were running The Wall of Death. I watched one show while there. You feel like they are going to come right out of that circle at any time. They were using some old Indians and HDs. One guy rode with no hands and stood up on the pegs. There is a cable at the top of the ring on the inside diameter. I suppose if one got too high, the cable would be the end of him and the bike and possibly a few onlookers. They do come very close to that cable!

Mike

I have seen the show. The last time was at the Barber Vintage Fest. At Barber there is really so much going on, it's like it's just another distraction. It would be fun to see it as the center of attention.

[STEPPENWOLF]

Here is a neat place to visit with a downloadable map to different places to ride..I thought it was pretty cool.
http://visitncsmokies.com/activities...FYtDMgodQiAACg

[jetmechmarty]

Here is a neat place to visit with a downloadable map to different places to ride..I thought it was pretty cool.
http://visitncsmokies.com/activities...FYtDMgodQiAACg

Come on down in Sept. for XS Southeast and we'll show you a big piece of that list.

[STEPPENWOLF]

Come on down in Sept. for XS Southeast and we'll show you a big piece of that list.

I really want to..may be in my cage..I just started riding again after about 18 months out of the saddleBut if I can make it I have two other riders near me who might be going and we could have a three some
I would love to see a bunch of XS's together..think the most we had with our SWOHXS group was 10 at one time.I have been shall we say pretty frail here of late
.
Have not lost the spirit or desire to ride...
See you somewhere down the road.

[jetmechmarty]

I really want to..may be in my cage..I just started riding again after about 18 months out of the saddleBut if I can make it I have two other riders near me who might be going and we could have a three some

If you ride down, you're probably looking at about seven hours in the saddle. The ride tours are at least that, but you may shorten that as you desire. Just meet us at the highlight points. If you need the cage, by all means, bring it!