Maggie Valley North Carolina - SEVROC Day Two - People Gathering In The Rain

Outside the bathroom window, which we kept open for ventilation, was a shed with a tin roof.so, all night, we listened to the rhythm of the falling rain. It was still going on at 6:00 AM, so we rolled over and didn't get up until 8:40. The type of rain and clouds, coupled with the radar projections, made this look like an all-day thing.

Only the ducks are happy

Blondy's new truck (and more rain)

We walked down to Pops' for breakfast, stopping for conversation along the way. Most had already eaten but Zeke and Hang joined us. Pop wasn't cooking today so the breakfast was a little short of expectations.

Talking with Butch and Teresa

Six Pack and Blondy

Zeke (looking cheerful) and Hang

The Chev SSR club gathers in Maggie Valley this week every year. A lady from the club told us that trees were falling throughout the area due to excessive rain and shallow roots. One came down in front of their SSR last night. They hit the bushy part and didn't do much damage but another car struck the trunk and a lady ended up in the hospital.

This is the SSR that hit the tree

We also heard at breakfast that new people had bought Ghost Town and were working to bring it back to life. This will provide a huge boost to Maggie Valley if it comes to pass. Then our motel rooms here will cost more.

We wandered back to the room, visiting along the way, and then I finished yesterday's blog. Last night, I had done a preliminary post so folks who couldn't be here would be able to see the pictures.

Wild Rose and Blondy

Moth

About 11:30, Sandy and I drove the Equinox to Waynesville and visited the WalMart. They did not have Delight Irish Cream single serve coffee creamers. Neither did they have any eye droppers. To top it off, someone stocked the shelves with the product facing backwards so that all the customer could see was the list of instructions or ingredients. It's hard to get good help these days.

Rather than drive straight back, we continued on US 74 to Balsam Gap and took the Blue Ridge Parkway across to US 19. It was bright despite the rain, giving everything a numinous quality. There was almost no traffic and patches of heavy fog. At one pullout, three bikes had pulled in and the last one, an Indian, had fallen over. The first two riders didn't notice at first but soon rushed over to help pick it up. None of them knew the correct technique. I asked if they were OK and they said yes, but that they needed gas. I suggested they continue eight miles to Soco Gap and then coast down a couple of miles to the Shell station in MV. For the last few miles, I followed a Honda Civic with Georgia plates who braked to 20 MPH in almost all the curves. Despite my close following, they passed three pullouts without giving way. Typical flatlander lack of etiquette.

The mountains are smoky

Oh to be a geologist like my father

We stopped at Fuzzy's on the way back looking for a second small vest for Sandy. Unfortunately, he only had Medium and Extra Small, so we were out of luck. The vest chains were heavy, manly and not at all suitable for her, either.

At the motel, more people were arriving all the time. The rain stopped about 4:10 as well, so we didn't have to hide under the roof.

Rain ended at 4:10

Southern Draw and his magic boot

Butch and Thumper

Susan and Badger arrived from Florida

Linda waiting for Mikey

It was good to see Daley

Rainman arrived on his KTM

Big Dawg got in with his contingent from Circle City

Blondy greeting Red Rover

Flip is in the building

Sandy, Joker and Wild Rose - three from SEVROC 1999

At 5:00 PM, Sandy and I plus Zeke and Hang climbed into the Equinox and headed across US 19 through Cherokee to Two Rivers Lodge, where we stopped to say Hi to Blain and Kathy.

Hang, Zeke and Blain

Blain, Kathy and Miss Opal

We then continued to Bryson City where we had supper at Pasqualino's Italian Restaurant. My chicken Cordon Bleu wasn't as good as I remembered, but Sandy's chicken parmigiana was excellent. The place was not as crowded as last year.

Checking real estate in Bryson City

Small town hall for a small town

A well fed looking crew

We followed US 74 back to Waynesville and Maggie Valley. I didn't want to chance Bambi on the two-lane US 19 at dusk. We arrived about 8:00 PM and spent a pleasant and dry evening reminiscing and BS'ing with the assembled multitudes.

Brandon and Oak

Joker and Flip

Rainman and Blondy

Mikey

Kicking back

Sandy accidentally locked us out of our room, so I phoned co-owner Rob and he came over and let us in with his master key. We decided to call it a night about 11:00 PM and, after I sorted receipts, photos and notes, I hit the sack about midnight.

This evening's forecast for the rest of the week

Today's Route (109 Equinox miles):

Interactive map

Maggie Valley North Carolina - SEVROC Day One

We were up at 6:00 AM, probably just because I told Laura and Bill that we would be going to Pop's for breakfast at 7:00. I really have no idea why I picked that early hour, but I still managed to get the blog captions up and posted before we left.

Laura, Bill and Sandy - it's good to be mentioned

Pop believes in a kinder, gentler world

Bill, Laura and Sandy

I have granddaughters who would love this hat

Pops smiling as usual

Bass Man has arrived

Brandon and Sheila with their first coffees of the day

They said it was supposed to start raining at 1:00 PM. Apparently, they said that yesterday but the rain didn't start until after 4:00. It was overcast but not threatening so we decided to go for a ride. I checked the bike tire pressures and let some air out (higher altitude will do that) and we got suited up.

Brandon and Sheila are from Kansas. They regularly attend the Eureka Springs rally in Arkansas, but this was their first trip to the Smoky Mountains and I wanted to show them our warm-up loop. We left Maggie Valley on US 19 up through Soco Gap and down the winding road to Cherokee, where we stopped at Dairy Queen. Then we rode out to the southern tip of the Blue Ridge Parkway, took it up to Soco Gap and then followed US 19 back to Maggie. Sheila was getting used to her new Touring Spyder, so I kept the pace moderate. Or maybe I was just going easy through the turns because I haven't hardly ridden since last September. Doesn't matter, we enjoyed the ride.

Harrah's Casino - Cherokee NC

Another Touring Spyder at a Harley Davidson dealership

The Oconaluftee River through Cherokee NC

Cherokee has wildly painted bears all over

A traditional stop

What to have?

Sandy went for the salted caramel truffle Blizzard

The absolute southern end of the BRP

So green

So not straight

One of many colourfully named tunnels

The Smoky Mountains

Descending to Maggie Valley

This used to be the Applecover Inn

A favourite breakfast spot

Our motel

We got back to the motel at 12:30. At 1:10, it spit a few drops of rain and then stopped. The WiFi was being obnoxious from our room, so I spent some time down by the middle of the motel where the access point seemed to be located. More and more people started to roll in so the afternoon was mostly visiting and catching up.

Sandy took a walk next door to Fuzzy's Bait & Tackle, which was officially closed, but they were good business people and invited her in. Then she came and got me to check out a leather vest because she didn't like the one she had for years. The new one was half price and looked good, so she bought it. This will keep The Lovely Carlene gainfully employed sewing patches when she gets here. Then there was a nylon riding jacket that was also 50% off, so she got that as well.

Motel co-owner Rob doing chores

Mas Tequila, Rick and Lonny

Billy Bob and Linda arrived from Pa

Teresa from Kentucky and Gabi, the other motel co-owner

The other half of Butch & Teresa

We first met Wild Rose at SEVROC in the fall of '99

Six Pack Jack (centre) arrived on his yellow Wing

Bass Man and Mas Tequila (who is indicating I am #1)

Water in a mason jar? I think not!!!

Relaxing and catching up

Fuzzy's shop next door

Sorry, daughters

Fuzzy and someone whose name I didn't get

Butch & Teresa

Lanny made it from Arizona

In discussion with Billy Bob and Linda before we got here, we had decided that we would have supper tonight at the Sagebrush Steakhouse in Waynesville. Linda's Facebook memories a couple of days ago posted a picture of a group of us there last year. We numbered an even dozen when we got to the door, and they gave us the same long table as last year. It had extra chairs, which was good because the Georgia gang wandered in soon after and joined us.

As we were enjoying supper, it started to rain. Heavily. Some of us were here in cages, but others were on bikes. It let up a bit before we left but still kept coming down until we went to bed.

The advance party

Brandon & Sheila

Lanny smiling as usual

The long table

The other side of the table

The rain begins again

I'm glad we brought the cat

Waynesville's Finest helping a disabled vehicle

Back at the motel, Zeke and Hang had arrived from Illinois. While everyone was hanging out, I got a call from Lealand. He and Nicky were the Freedom Riders who were supposed to join us at Two Rivers Lodge next week. They had looked at the severely pessimistic weather forecast and, understandably, decided to cancel the trip. After talking to Sandy, I called Blain at two Rivers and, with many apologies, cancelled as well. Then I called our friend Murph from Ottawa, who was also coming down, and told him the bad news. We will head home on Sunday and have a bit more time to get ready for the trip out west. Maybe play some golf. Wash the bike?

It was about 9:30 PM when the last of the party animals decided to head back to their rooms. The WiFi was, strangely, working very well so I managed to get all the photos in this post uploaded. Then it crapped out again. It was still raining and forecast to continue all through tomorrow. Oh well, we come for the people anyway.

Today's Route (38 motorcycle miles):

Interactive map