Autumn In Dixie Victory Ride—Tellico Plains

As planned we pulled into Shoney’s right at 8:30 expecting to have to wait a few minutes for Paris and Russell. They were going to have to drop the dog by the Vet at 8:00 and was expecting to be a little late. To our surprise they were there and so was Jeanie and Roy. They decided to bring Isabella (their brown Doberman) instead of boarding her. We stood outside for a few minutes waiting on Jamie before deciding we were too starved to wait any longer. We hadn’t been seated more than a minute and Jamie calls letting us know he was almost there. About the time the drink orders were taken Kevin (dodat) rounded the corner of the food bar.  He was on his way to work and decided to stop by and wish a good trip. Jamie joined us shortly after.

We were standing in the parking lot after breakfast about ready to get back on the road. David takes a look at the bikes on the trailer and notices that one of the straps had started to tear and was about halfway. Right before we left his house he grabbed another pack of straps just in case. Good thing he did.

 

With the potential strap issue thwarted we hit 72E heading for a gas stop in Kimball. We left Kimball around 11:00 and by 2:00 ET we hit TN 310 for the last 17 miles to Tellico. About halfway 310 ends and picks up TN 39. Up to this point the skies had looked like rain at times but had not cut loose. Looking toward where we were heading you could see the rain clouds and within a couple of minutes the bottom dropped. Russell had cut around us to ride the

By - Wendell Rogers - Aka: Rocketcitymadman, Photography by Karen and Wendell Rogers

Leadin’ the way!

There’s a helmet law girls!

twisty’s a few miles earlier but Jamie was stuck behind us.

 

The whole way there David and I had been giving the girls a hard time. “Sure am glad we trailered the bikes with all this rain!”. Not two seconds after the bottom dropped I hear David, “Sure glad we trailered, good idea I had there huh?” We both looked at each other and ducked.

 

Jamie and Russell were soaked of course, but within a few minutes we were parking  in front of the Crows Nest; our home away from home for the next few days. The rain had stopped just in time to get settled in.

 

 

While the girls took the tour the rest of us took the opportunity to get the stuff unloaded. Russell, with a little bit of help from Roy and myself got the banner hung from the railing. Thanks to Cycle Nation and The Humidor  Pipe Shop for sponsoring the ride and providing some goodies to give away.

 

We when got there Mike Morgan was already settled in Cabin 10, Tim Williams and his wife had arrived the day before. All that was left was for Ken and Teri to arrive. We all sat around making good use of the chairs on the covered porch while we waited.

 

The rain had stopped by the time we agreed to head out for super, so we mounted up and

That’s alright girls, we got it!

Good job on the sign, Russell!

Hidden Treasures!

rode to Nut-n-Fancy. As we were pulling in, by the look of the clouds off to the west, it was doubtful we would get back before it hit again. It did come through about halfway into our meal but passed by quickly. The down home cooking was excellent with as many choices as you would see at grandma’s, plus a Honey Bunn Cake to die for.

 

We had to go by the grocery store to get the last few things we needed for the weekend, so we made plans to all gather at the Crows Nest around 7:00. David, Russell, Roy and myself headed for the (so called) grocery store (don’t get me started) while Jamie, Mike, and Ken took a early evening ride up the Cherohala.

It didn’t take no time for the evening to pick up and before long there was a pool game going and a foosball rivalry building. On our scouting trip, a few weeks back, there was quite a bit of trash talk concerning foosball prowess amongst a couple of  the boys and the time had come to put up or shut up. Let me tell ya, that was fun to watch. Naw, I’m not saying. It won’t be long before the braggin’ makes it your way.

 

Not sure how it got started, ( I think it was Jeanie) or when, but sometime during one of our stops on the way a challenge was issued to David that he couldn’t eat 6 saltine crackers in a minute. I guess I should give the background for this challenge so you can

That’s one tuff cracker!

Let the party begin!

understand the reasoning behind it. On one of our rides during this summer Roy paid David for some accessories he had bought from him, and for several rides afterward it seemed that he was always giving money to David for some reason or another. It turned into a joke that the ride wasn’t complete unless Roy gave David some money. So this challenge was an effort to break the trend. It came with a ten dollar bet. Well you can bet David was bound and determined that he was going to get that money and keep the trend in tact. All day long and up till minutes before the effort he was discussing strategy, with whomever would offer their opinion, on how to go about it. The time came and everyone was gathered around the bar. With the 6 saltines in front of

I said I’m not saying!

him and my phone in front of me, in stop watch mode, he popped one in his mouth. All eyes were on him as he worked on the first cracker. I announced “15 seconds”. David cut a look at me like “ALREADY?” The next thing I know he’s waving his hands and said “Baby, pay the man!” He had made sure to tell Pam not to take a picture of him giving Roy the twenty. So when Roy gave him ten in change the flash fired. The trend continues, at least in David’s mind.

 

Friday was Karen’s birthday so Paris made her a cake and Ken and Terri brought her the Birthday Diva sash. She wore it with pride and promised to pass it on to the next Diva

Birthday girl!

Get too close to ‘em and you get sucked in!

girl. The girls toasted her birthday with a shot of chocolate cake and the party was on.

 

We all had a good time. The pool games, foosball, moving from conversation to conversation, and the spectacular lightning show, off to the southwest, made the evening seem to fly by. Several took the opportunity to melt away in the hot tub and  even the rain that had dominated the early part of the evening tapered off giving promise to the following day. Little by little the crowd dwindled and by midnight the last hold-outs retired for the night.

 

My feet hit the floor around 6:30 and when I opened the bedroom door there was Russell

Man this really hits the spot!

patting-out sausage for breakfast. I was going to help but he had everything pretty much set to cook. The coffee was on and he and I enjoyed several cups while we solved the worlds problems on the porch outside the kitchen. At that time the rain was still hanging around but starting to taper off. I knew the planned departure of 9:30 was out but held out hope for the days ride with a possible late start.

 

Before long the animals began to stir (and I’m not talking about Bell) and in no time Russell took the helm producing a wonderful breakfast that included sausage-gravy, eggs, sausage, bacon and biscuits. Judging from the sighs and groans coming from all points of the room everyone got their fill. Even Bell

On the road to Bald River Falls!

got a few pieces of pig. If Bell wasn’t spoilt before she got there she was rotten by the time we got through with her.

 

By mid morning the rain had all but stopped but the clouds hung low over the mountains. The organized ride pretty much fell apart transforming into an everybody do their own thing. Several took off up the Cherohala, others hit the town, some went shopping at the craft fair in town, while some of us searched the world over for a grocery store with groceries.

 

Mid afternoon found many of us sitting around the various big screens watching either the Alabama, Auburn or Georgia games, scarfing down the beef stick and crackers Roy and Jeannie brought, along with

Russell’s at it again!

Cheese-dip, salsa and chips David and I found in the next town over. There were a few logs cut that afternoon as well.

 

A little after 5:00 Russell and I got started on supper. He manned the grill  while I prepared the accessories and severed as the runner. By 6:00 the bar area was overflowing with burgers, dogs, brats, potato salad, and chips. Nothing like a good burger or dog off the grill. It really hit the spot.

 

After supper we all gathered up stairs in the play room for the give-away’s.  Cycle Nation, The Humidor Pipe Shop and Artisan’s Salon & Spa were kind enough to provide us with some nice items. We drew names from a hat until

everything was gone. David and Jamie took $50.00 gift cards supplied by Cycle Nation, Pam won a spa treatment from Artisan’s Salon & Spa with Carol taking the hair makeover. Russell was trying to save that for David but it got away. Jeannie and Tim grabbed Victory shirts, Ken won a blue tooth helmet set, Mike took the Victory vest, and Roy and myself won the cigars from the Humidor Pipe Shop. If I’m forgetting something I apologize. As the evening progress a few more chocolate cakes disappeared along with several beers. A few games of foosball were lost and won and many stories as well as a few lies were told. It was fun wondering from, place to place in and out, and just enjoying the company of good friends and the making of a few as well.

Drawing names for the goodies!

Ride to Eat , Eat to Ride!

I joined Russell on the front porch around 7:30 (which is late for me) the next morning. Once again we solved a few world issues. By 8:00 or 8:30 I could hear rumbling from the cabins below us and within a few minutes Mike and Jamie were climbing the stairs onto the porch. They were going to hit the Cherohala and the Dragon once more before heading to the house and with a couple of be carefuls and a goodbye they were gone. The rest of the morning was spent gathering our belongs, straightening the place and loading bikes. Shortly before leaving Ken an Teri as well as Tim and Carol joined us for a group picture. I wished we had done this while everyone was there but it just didn’t happen.

 

Even though the weather didn’t cooperate and the riding was somewhat limited I believe everyone had a good time. The fun level was high, the food was good and the company, as usual, extremely enjoyable. By quarter till 11:00 we pulled out leaving the Crows Nest in the reaview. Jeanie and Roy left the truck parked in town and headed up the Cherahola and over to the Dragon. The rest of us hit the Hardees in town for a late breakfast before making our way toward home. Thanks again to everyone for joining us. Can’t wait till next year.

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