George Dickel and The Skyline Ride

“Have you ever taken TN-50 out by Tims Ford”? That was the question Jerry asked me last year while we were standing outside Hooters looking over the crowd at Bike night. “Man, that is just absolutely fantastic riding”, he said. The way he described it stuck with me and I jotted it down in my mental notebook. Ever since then we’ve talked about making that ride but for a long time life just got in the way. We didn’t get to it last year but this last weekend things fell into place. I just love it when a plan comes together; all the better when good people are a part of it.

 

At about a quarter till 9:00, Karen and I pulled in to Hardees for a quick biscuit before making our way to the rendezvous

point. As I killed the engine I glanced down through the clear map cover on the tank bag at my phone. I noticed I had a text message.  Mike and Jessica weren’t going to make it. “Well, shoot” I said as Karen pulled her helmet off, “They’re not coming”. I must admit I really wasn’t surprised. Jessica had lost a good friend a couple of days before and was still taking it pretty hard. I was surprised when Mike said they were going not 10 minutes earlier.

 

A few minutes and a couple of biscuits later we’re making our way down US-72. The weather forecast for the day was suppose to be sunny with a high of 75. At this point it was a long way from 75 and the sun was playing hide-n-seek behind the damp dreary sky above us.

By - Wendell Rogers - Aka: Rocketcitymadman

The Other Tennessee Whiskey!

Falls Mill Break.

Click on any of the pictures to see more pictures from that day.

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I usually don’t mind it but when you’re on the edge of good riding weather and the man says it’s gonna be a good one, you’re damn well disappointed when it ain’t!

 

When we pull in the Kroger parking lot I spot Paris’s Vegas and aim for it. Russell is sitting on the bench up by the store and he’s right behind us by the time we dismount. I knew Jerry and Russell were going but wasn’t sure if others might show. While we were waiting I ran in Kroger to see if I could find Chick some “Hot Hands”. Of course they had just about everything from a full blown camp stove setup to a Vasectomy kit but no Hot Hands.  Karen had been fussing about the weather most of the morning and this would have helped the situation. Actually she

corrected me later as I was telling of her displeasure over the weather to Jerry, when she said ”No, I’ve been bitchin”. Jerry pulls up right at 10:30 but we give it about 15 more minutes before heading out. Once we decided we were it, we hit Winchester Road out through New Market, past Elora, and make a right in Huntland. All the way out there I kept thinking this foggy damp  morning has got to break. We hit US-64 and make a left in Old Salem and pull up at Falls Mill for our first rest stop. Jerry mentioned that he had been all around it but had never stopped. With that in mind, today was as good a day as any. With the helmets and gloves off and the obligatory smoke (Karen & Jerry, Russell and I just enjoyed the smell) out of the way I grab the camera and we made our way toward the mill. As we’re telling Jerry what all to expect we noticed the sign. To our disappointment, being a Sunday, the Mill didn’t open till 12:30. According to the cell phone it was only 11:30. Well now, isn’t that special? So far the weather sucks and the Mill’s closed. What’s wrong with this picture?

 

Just when I thought this ride was going south with the weather, as we’re standing there talking, I noticed the sun on the ground to our left.  It peaked through the clouds just for a few seconds and it was gone again. Still, it left me with some hope for the rest of the ride as we climbed on and hit the switches.

Full Belly's and Ready To Go!

Broaster Chicken All Around!

Hidden Treasures!

Back out on 64, we’re heading toward Winchester and the sun flirts with us a little off and on for the next few miles before deciding to come out of the closet. By the time we hit the ramp to take US-41 toward Tullahoma he was beaming and the damp dreary skies of early morning are just a distant memory.  I thought to myself as the temperature eased toward perfect how wonderful it felt and that I better savor this as much as I can. Before we know it Summer will be here in full force and we’ll be sweating like a stuck pig, wishing for Fall. When you live in the Tennessee Valley you pretty much come to terms with the fact that most of the

Did somebody say ice cream?

time, while others have four seasons we have two, Winter and Summer. Every now and then the good Lord throws us a bone and sneaks a Spring or a Fall in on us and I’m hoping this is just such a year.

 

I come to a stop at the light of US-41A and Jerry pulls up beside me. “Was you planning on stopping for lunch somewhere?” The light changed as I nodded yes and pulled out. I found a parking lot and pulled in so we could discuss the options. It was decided that if we spotted a Mom and Pop place between here and Tullahoma we would hit it. With  Winchester a ways back and about out of Estill Springs, I was beginning to think we were  running out of luck when I spotted something. With a quick glance in the mirror

No Words Needed!

Eye Candy!

I hit the left lane with Jerry and Russell right on my tail. The lot was almost completely full. That could only mean one of two things. Either it was the only place in town or the best place in town and I’m hoping it’s the latter. We found a spot at the end of the lot by the dumpster just big enough for all three bikes and backed in.

 

The Sample Family Restaurant was an Estill Springs, TN meat-n-three and judging from the crowd a pretty good one at that. We all opted for the Broaster Chicken along with our favorite vegetables and a hunk of cornbread even though Jerry had never heard of Broaster Chicken. Judging from the “hmmm” after his first bite, I think he approved. It was that or the brussel sprouts.

 

There’s just something soothing about the atmosphere of a Southern, after church, lunch crowd. The yungun’s in their Sunday best, Mom and dad trying everything they can to keep the gravy off the white dress or shirt, with Pawpaw and Mawmaw riding heard over the whole bunch. Just sweet old fashion goodness. We left Estill Springs with a smile on our face, a full belly and another “Good Place To Eat”  added to the list.

 

About 8 miles down US-41 we take a right and a quick left onto TN-269 and before you know we’re riding in some the prettiest scenery in the state.  Easing our way out of

Thought we'd  have to pull Jerry out of the water!

Tullahoma the 269 back road takes us to Normandy, TN, a whistle stop town located in the hollow and hills of south-central Tennessee, half way between Tullahoma and Manchester. At the three way stop on the west side of the tracks, I almost missed it, but noticed a sign on the east side saying “George Dickel Distillery with an arrow pointing behind us. I  yelled to Jerry, “that’s where we’re headed”. We cross the tracks and doubled back onto Cascade Hollow Road.  Some sharp curves and twisty’s here and there, on a road I was convinced lead to the past, brought us to an absolute gorgeous Tennessee hollow with pristine meadows, split down the middle by a beautiful flowing stream. Off to my left was the entrance

to what looked like the distillery buildings and a road leading to a place to park. I aim the bike that way with the intention of  doing just that. Out of nowhere a man enters my peripheral vision yelling “Whoa! Whoa!” Somehow all three of us managed to stop without colliding and toppling over like a set of dominoes.

 

“We’re closed!”, he yelled over the engines.

 

I already knew that from checking out the website but I wasn’t about to let him know I knew that.

 

“Oh, sorry!”, I answered. I glanced over to my right and just a few yards further down the main road, I noticed the visitor center and visitor parking area. Even if they had been open, I was in the wrong place.

 

“You mind if we park over there, take a break, and take a few pictures?”, I asked.

 

“Not at all”, he replied. “Just be sure to stay off the porch, cause the sensors will set off the alarm. Take your time and take all the pictures you want.”

 

Now, here we are, he don’t know us from Adam, we’re violating the territory that he is charged with, and he’s still just as nice as he could be. That, my friends is what we proudly call “Southern Hospitality”!

She just wanted to pull up a chair!

Up on top and all that’s missing is a Sundrop!

Tim’s Ford Dam

We spent a good 30 to 45 minutes there just looking around and enjoying the scenery as well as the peacefulness. Of course I got a few pics while I was at it.

 

At one point I walked over to Karen while she was looking out over the stream that flowed under the road where we were standing, and she said, ”Makes you fell like pulling up a chair and sitting a while, don’t it?” Amen, to that.

 

We ventured a little further up into the hollow before turning around and heading back through Normandy, to the present day, and our next stop.  Back out on 41,  a right by the cemetery and a little over 10 miles later, we’re circling the square in Lynchburg

Another Dam Picture!

An old barn on top of Skyline

looking for a place to park.  The main reason for yet another visit to Lynchburg was so Mike and Jessica could do some shopping at Judy’s Leather, which we tried to do the last time we were here but they were closed. Of course, as I mentioned earlier, they didn’t get to make it today. Just the same, it was good place to take a break so we stopped. We were putting away the gloves and getting ready to walk when two guys came up and started looking at the bikes. Their shirts let us know they were riding Harley’s. Russell introduced himself and they started asking about the Vegas and the Jackpot. About that time I noticed a couple that we usually see at bike night so Karen and I was busy talking to them and didn’t hear the conversation

Russell and Jerry were having. As we walked away Jerry says, “Well that’s a first.”

 

“What’s that?, I ask.

 

“That guy said, Ya know, I ride a Harley but I believe the Victory is a better quality bike.”

 

We took the usual walk through Judy’s and we hadn’t no more gotten out the door and Russell says, “How about some ice cream?” Sounded like a good idea and even Karen and I got a scoop. After the ice cream we hit a couple of the other stores before deciding we had worn out our welcome.

 

We gave the bikes a drink at the Shell station on the corner before making our way down TN-50. Since he knew the road Jerry took the point. We stopped briefly at Tim’s Ford Dam to marvel at the feat of engineering on display. I’m not sure if it was here or earlier, but at one point Jerry said “There are a lot of places all throughout this country I’d like to ride but if you think about it we have some of the most beautiful and best riding right here in our own back yard.” He’ll get no argument from me on that.

 

This stretch of road more than lived up to his description of it,

and with the warm afternoon sun crawling over our shoulders, it made it all the more enjoyable. On the outskirts of Winchester we made a left onto TN-16, snaking our way up Skyline. At the top we stopped at a place called Keith Springs Market.  I hear they have a pretty good bologna sandwich, a SunDrop you can still get in the glass bottle, and a porch where you can watch the world go by. Well, we didn’t get to have that sandwich or the Sundrop, but we did get to watch the world go by at least for a little while.

 

The last leg of our ride took us over the top of Skyline, through Jericho, Hytop, and back down into Paint Rock Valley. As we were winding our way along the top I leaned back and said to Karen, “I bet this would be something to see in the Fall.” She agreed and knowing us, we’ll be hitting it again come October.  Hopefully with good friends in tow.

 

All told I believe Russell said we traveled a little over 200 hundred miles but who’s counting. Thanks guys for making our Sunday so enjoyable! Maybe next time we’ll get that SunDrop. Till then, ride safe!