Lost rider.: Road trip Oct. 21-23 2011

Winter is around the corner so I thought I'd get one last Camping road trip in before it gets to cold. This trip consisted of 755 miles round trip through North Carolina and South Carolina. Friday the 21st wasn't really much left work at around 5:15 or so and went straight to the mountains. Saturday the 22 woke up early and was on the road by 7:45am. Topped of fuel and hit the blue ridge parkway for the morning chill and frost covered ground. My destination was Lake Jocassee where in North Carolina I was supposed to pick up a gravel service roads and ride south Toward the lake and camp on the lake. But due to two issues I was unable. First issue was My abs brakes decided to cut out leaving me with very poor and limited stopping power and there was a gate blocking the gravel road which i couldn't find a way around. Randomly though my brakes started working and all electronics were back up and running. After taking a few random roads I went to look for a Place called Paradise falls. After riding past it a few times and a 10 minute hike through the woods I finally found it. The directions call for looking for a small little church. They just didn't mention the church is about the size of a small 2 car garage and some stone steps. I guess I was just looking for something alittle bigger or a sign by the road. But as you can see it the photos below I'll add, it was worth the effort.

So since camping on the lake fell apart I wasn't sure where to go. Ended up finding a campground site off Lake Keowee a few more miles south of Lake Jocassee off Hwy 11. Which I wasn't aware Hwy 11 is a beautiful scenic Hwy of South Carolina. Once I set up camp It was pretty boring from there. It consisted of a decent size camp fire, a cold beer from the gas station up the road, and a warm dinner with my feet popped up and relaxing. Besides it being 34 outside over night I'll go ahead and save you the boredom of reading it.

Sunday was the day of Adventure where the GS got to brake free from the main roads later in the day. Hitting the road at 8am for most of the morning it was Scenic Hwy 11 through SC. Which was again cold but very Beautiful scenic views and great riding road. Recommend anyone with a bike to go ride it. Took Hwy 11 for a good while till I hit I-85 but I came across a old battlefield Called Cowpens National Battlefield where the American kicked the British ass in under an hr. It was a small place but I mean come one Americans kicked some ass. I'll toast a beer to that. But it was kinda cool seeing some of the old guns and swords they used and learning a little history at the same time.

Around noon I came to Charlotte where I could finally shed some layers of clothes and have lunch on Lake Norman. Which I'm never go back to this restaurant again. I don't know what it was but I felt sick after I ate

Uharrie National Forest was My last stop. I didn't really know where i was going or doing i just wanted to go off road somewhere and have fun. I came across one gravel road named Low Water Bridge road that sounded promising so i turned Right and it really was a low bridge about water level. Signs were posted everywhere warning of sudden flooding and the this road was subject to flooding during rain. Then I found another Gravel road that looked promising. For maybe 2-3 miles I rode this road not really knowing were it went but the compass said North so i kept going. Found out it was pry a hunting trail or Forest service road in case of emergency either way I enjoyed it and the GS got to get its feet wet again. It later dumped me out of some other road next to an old barn full of old junk and trash bags. Flipped a coin turned right this time. Saw I was on Pisgah Rd. and Came across an old covered bridge with was really cool. Seemed I wasn't the only visitor There was a Chinese family running around with a video camera taping anything and everything. Father Followed his daughter with the camera everywhere she went for about 15 minutes. If i didn't know any better you would think they were going to burn the place down and they wanted to film it one last time. It made me laugh but I still enjoyed the bridge. Just wish we had more always makes road trips more interesting.
From there I came home and well was just cruising back.

Overall mileage for the weekend was 755miles. I was hoping to break 1000 but maybe next time. With brake issues and now needing a new rear tire I'd say it was a good weekend overall. Clear blue skies all weekend you just can't beat. enjoy the photos.. Bike is off to the shop Tuesday since the abs pump and brakes are all new.