Excursions pour la Journee avec Gaston

Gaston Gagne · 08-29-2010, 05:29 AM

Seriously, I don't speak French, but feel free to post comments in whatever language you like.

I never tire of this spot.

For those who are interested: Old Jonas Ridge is getting fresh pavement on the 181 end, and the sawdust/salt residue has been mostly swept off of the Parkway end.

Gaston Gagne · 08-29-2010, 06:29 AM

School started this week for real. The weekend forecast was looking good, so Lucky and someone who doesn't have a screen name and I headed out Friday after work for some commando camping and dual sporting.

We got things going with a little bit of Old 105. As many times as I've done that road, I think that this was the first time I'd ever expressed it end to end. Great fun!

A few weeks ago, I found a different place to cross from NC into Tennessee, and I have been wanting to work it into a ride for a while. On the way out there we ran into this:

We were a few minutes behind the 7:30 time, so we got served what was left.

The food and fellowship at the Bethel Baptist Church are both prodigious. The dual sporting aint too bad either. We wended our way up Mountaindale and over Locust Gap into the Volunteer State. The plan was to cross Doe Mountain on Fire Tower Road. It doesn't appear to exist as a public right of way any more. What's the opposite of eminent domain, and when did it become so prevalent?

Anyway, back to the trip. We were forced to go to 421, but we steered clear of Mountain City. We crossed Iron Mountain on Spear Branch/Cross Mountain and rode the crazy, cliffside curves down TN 91 in the dark. Adding to the technical difficulty were the random red eyes and flapping wings in the headlight beam. You couldn't swing a dead cat by the tail without hitting a whippoorwill. I think they're getting ready to head south.

We camped at the Holston Mountain Freewill Missionary Mosque.

We toured the minaret.

Speaking of red eyes, the pollen was really taking its toll.

Morning in America

The main dome of the mosque.

We got right to work.

We had to attend to a sticky throttle actuation issue. Not a good place to have a sticky throttle.

I think I heard Lucky muttering something about coffee.

Set the controls for biscuits and coffee.

We had to do some running around to find Big Creek.

Denton Hyatt Harr

nebokasnc · 08-29-2010, 02:56 PM

The night pics just dont do the view justice, wish we had a camera that had a really long shutter speed.

GB · 08-30-2010, 05:57 PM

Bravo Gaston, c'est une bonne excursion. Merci bien pour l'avoir partager.

Lucky Intervale · 09-04-2010, 05:22 AM

Wow, change your email and it's easier to hack into the NSA than get back on! ANYway... just a few adds to Gaston's post; it's hard enough to keep his rear wheel in view let alone do the happy snappy thing. A welcome rest here at Bethel.

Lucky Intervale · 09-04-2010, 05:25 AM

C'mon, kids on Christmas morning don't look this happy!

Gaston Gagne · 10-05-2010, 09:00 AM

Q came to town sending the nostalgia machine to full tilt.

He was a bit uneasy at first, not having paddled anything but a big ole barge for so many years.

Sunday we hit Brown.

Maple Sally. Conditions were *prime*.

Old House Gap. You can get cell reception and scary dudes packing heat on Sunday.

Gaston Gagne · 08-02-2011, 06:44 PM

knybanjo · 08-03-2011, 12:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gaston Gagne

PistonPants · 08-12-2011, 08:04 PM

Idaho Dammit! When are we gonna get the Idaho report?!?!

Piston

av_mech · 03-29-2012, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gaston Gagne

Seriously, I don't speak French, but feel free to post comments in whatever language you like.

Was ist das?

Kyle B · 05-06-2013, 08:10 AM

No, I just need to take it slower over the treacherous rocks!

Sent from my telapathic modem.

08-29-2010, 05:29 AM	#1
Gaston Gagne ^OP Past Easy Joined: Jan 2006 Location: Western Piedmont, NC Oddometer: 1,587	Excursions pour la Journee avec Gaston Seriously, I don't speak French, but feel free to post comments in whatever language you like. I never tire of this spot. For those who are interested: Old Jonas Ridge is getting fresh pavement on the 181 end, and the sawdust/salt residue has been mostly swept off of the Parkway end. __________________ Cela est comment nous roulons. Gaston Gagne screwed with this post 09-06-2010 at 02:46 AM

08-29-2010, 06:29 AM	#2
Gaston Gagne ^OP Past Easy Joined: Jan 2006 Location: Western Piedmont, NC Oddometer: 1,587	School started this week for real. The weekend forecast was looking good, so Lucky and someone who doesn't have a screen name and I headed out Friday after work for some commando camping and dual sporting. We got things going with a little bit of Old 105. As many times as I've done that road, I think that this was the first time I'd ever expressed it end to end. Great fun! A few weeks ago, I found a different place to cross from NC into Tennessee, and I have been wanting to work it into a ride for a while. On the way out there we ran into this: We were a few minutes behind the 7:30 time, so we got served what was left. The food and fellowship at the Bethel Baptist Church are both prodigious. The dual sporting aint too bad either. We wended our way up Mountaindale and over Locust Gap into the Volunteer State. The plan was to cross Doe Mountain on Fire Tower Road. It doesn't appear to exist as a public right of way any more. What's the opposite of eminent domain, and when did it become so prevalent? Anyway, back to the trip. We were forced to go to 421, but we steered clear of Mountain City. We crossed Iron Mountain on Spear Branch/Cross Mountain and rode the crazy, cliffside curves down TN 91 in the dark. Adding to the technical difficulty were the random red eyes and flapping wings in the headlight beam. You couldn't swing a dead cat by the tail without hitting a whippoorwill. I think they're getting ready to head south. We camped at the Holston Mountain Freewill Missionary Mosque. We toured the minaret. Speaking of red eyes, the pollen was really taking its toll. Morning in America The main dome of the mosque. We got right to work. We had to attend to a sticky throttle actuation issue. Not a good place to have a sticky throttle. I think I heard Lucky muttering something about coffee. Set the controls for biscuits and coffee. We had to do some running around to find Big Creek. Denton Hyatt Harr __________________ Cela est comment nous roulons.

08-29-2010, 02:56 PM	#3
nebokasnc n00b Joined: Jun 2010 Oddometer: 1	Great Ride!!!!!! The night pics just dont do the view justice, wish we had a camera that had a really long shutter speed.

08-30-2010, 05:57 PM	#4
GB Mod Squad Joined: Aug 2002 Location: Toronto, ON Oddometer: 53,498	Bravo Gaston, c'est une bonne excursion. Merci bien pour l'avoir partager. __________________ ADV decals, patches & flag? Here

09-04-2010, 05:22 AM	#5
Lucky Intervale Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Jan 2007 Location: Forest Hill Country Club Oddometer: 122	Holston ain't a cow! Wow, change your email and it's easier to hack into the NSA than get back on! ANYway... just a few adds to Gaston's post; it's hard enough to keep his rear wheel in view let alone do the happy snappy thing. A welcome rest here at Bethel. Attached Images __________________ '07 KLX 250S... with mad mods '08 DL650... party on, Darth '68 CL90... my first ride! Straight from here two lanes of Freedom...

09-04-2010, 05:25 AM	#6
Lucky Intervale Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Jan 2007 Location: Forest Hill Country Club Oddometer: 122	C'mon, kids on Christmas morning don't look this happy! Attached Images __________________ '07 KLX 250S... with mad mods '08 DL650... party on, Darth '68 CL90... my first ride! Straight from here two lanes of Freedom...

10-05-2010, 09:00 AM	#7
Gaston Gagne ^OP Past Easy Joined: Jan 2006 Location: Western Piedmont, NC Oddometer: 1,587	Q came to town sending the nostalgia machine to full tilt. He was a bit uneasy at first, not having paddled anything but a big ole barge for so many years. Sunday we hit Brown. Maple Sally. Conditions were prime. Old House Gap. You can get cell reception and scary dudes packing heat on Sunday. __________________ Cela est comment nous roulons. Gaston Gagne screwed with this post 10-12-2010 at 10:24 AM

08-02-2011, 06:44 PM	#8
Gaston Gagne ^OP Past Easy Joined: Jan 2006 Location: Western Piedmont, NC Oddometer: 1,587	__________________ Cela est comment nous roulons.

08-12-2011, 08:04 PM	#10
PistonPants Crankcase Scavenger Joined: Jun 2008 Location: Cantwell, AK Oddometer: 296	We wanna hear about Idaho! Idaho Dammit! When are we gonna get the Idaho report?!?! Piston

05-06-2013, 08:10 AM	#12
Kyle B "Dirty Jobs" Joined: Aug 2010 Location: Lost in the hills of SW VA/ Winter in SW Florida Oddometer: 478	No, I just need to take it slower over the treacherous rocks! Sent from my telapathic modem. __________________ Migrant worker by choice---usually just lost on a motorcycle....> Suzuki 2006 DRZ400s BMW 2009 R1200GS BMW 2004 R1150RT Kyle B screwed with this post 05-06-2013 at 04:30 PM

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