Like much of the country, we had a big snow storm in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comffice:smarttags" /><st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Georgia</st1lace></st1:country-region> last week that shut us down. Big for us anyways. Shut the schools down for a week. Southerners go hog wild when we get a little snow. It was no different this time. Its been like a giant outdoor party for days. Kids took over the local high school grounds with all manner of sledding devices - some store bought and others cus<st1ersonName w:st="on">tom</st1ersonName> made. We live in a suburban area. I never knew we had so many alternative vehicles around us. I saw several ATVs, gators, razors, lawn tractors, kids on snow skis, snow boards etc. One night I looked out and there was one kid on a 4 wheeler pulling his buddy on a kayak. They were flat hauling around, sliding, laughing. There was on point where he nearly took out a mailbox with the Kayak, but they quickly recovered. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o> My teen son at 12:30am the night of the first snow - going out with the other crazies. His mom thought I had totally lost it for letting him go. <o></o> A friend of mine who is also a professional motorcycle writer as a side job, brought me some motorcycle books to read. One thing that is clear about these writers is that they observe things that many of the rest of us dont see and have a way of putting thoughts down on paper in a way that we can really relate to. As I was reading and relaxing today, I was getting all fired up to go riding. I had developed a good case of motorcycling cabin fever. But, it was starting to get later in the day and there might still be a little ice and snow on the ground. What the heck, I needed to go riding. Since it was already approaching 3:00, I knew it had to be a relatively short ride. Inspired by the motorcycle books, I decided to try to make the most out of what little time I had to ride and would intentionally try to be more aware. Usually I zip through my local area on my motorcycle, trying to get somewhere more epic. But, today I vowed to slow down and really take in those areas just down the street. <o></o> The Bandit hadnt been cranked in several weeks. I almost busted my arse taking it out of the garage. Checked the oil levels, chain tension and tire pressure. I also remembered how much I was glad that StarTron was invented for Ethanol gas. <o></o> <o></o> Suited up for the cold and headed down the driveway. About halfway down, the sun coming from my right, hit me in the eyes. Oh no, I forgot to bring my sunglasses, so back up to the house I go. Just a little frustrated, because I was running out of daylight and it had taken me longer to do the pre-ride check than anticipated - isnt that always the case! So, with sunglasses on, I head back out. Now, Im on the road! Gtt about halfway down my street and remember a vow Ive made to my 50 year old, hearing declining self - to always use ear plugs. Ive forgotten the damn earplugs!! Theyre not in my riding jacket either, because I had taken them out to go dirt biking. So, I do a U-turn and head back to the house. Im wondering if any of my neighbors are seeing all this and wondering what is going on? I go in and get the ear plugs and finally, Im on my little journey. I remind myself right out of my street to be more aware. To look around and see my local area in more detail. My route plan is to just go North and make turns when I feel like it. After a few miles there is a little road on the left that is decently twisty semi-rural road, if I remember correctly. Right away there are areas of visual interest. Horses, cows, creeks, lakes, barns etc. Im soaking it all in. I was seeing things I havent noticed before. About that time - whoa! In a spilt second, Im thinking what was that? My big Bandit had just made a little wiggle. Not too big, but one that will definitely wake you up as a rider. Within half a second, I look ahead and determine the source of the wiggle: the road has snow and ice patches. How in the world had I missed this observation? Note to self - while being more aware of my surroundings, dont forget to maintain awareness of the road <o></o> As I ventured a few more yards, the road was becoming increasingly filled with snow and ice <o></o> I decided to backtrack and stay on more heavily traveled roads. Not something I normally like to do, but best with the recent snow. I passed through a little area called Birmingham Crossroads. For the first time in hundreds of times going past it, I paid attention to the little market at the corner. This was a little trading crossroads when the area was nothing but cotton fields. For the first time, I studied the building and wondered about its long ago past. I could imagine local farmers and their families going there for goods. <o></o> The next little town is called Ball Ground. It has a little strip of old buildings and a small main street. It looks like marble must have been its main business. There is a good barbecue joint not far from here called Two Brothers. They used to have sawdust floors until a few years ago when the local health department made them get rid of the floors. <o></o> One old building has an old rusted Coca-Cola sponsored sign. Diversified Manufacturing it says. Wonder what they made there? <o></o> After passing through Ball Ground there is an access road which takes you to 515, also known as the <st1:Street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Zell Miller Mountain Parkway</st1:address></st1:Street>. Zell was a Georgia Governor and United States Senator from the region. Interesting to note that Zell was a democratic Sentator that supported George Bush for President. I think he was also instrumental in getting the funding for the road which has brought a lot of economic impact to the rural Georgia Appalachians. I thought about how much poverty I saw on family trips to the region when I was a child. Now, because of tourism etc., and helped by this road, the area has been doing better. <o></o> 515 is 4 lanes and to me is like an interstate with stoplights. Great for getting to the mountains in a hurry, but not the best route on a motorcycle. <o></o> Looking south on 515 below Jasper <o></o> After getting some gas at my favorite gas stop going to the mountains - Race Track, I decided at the first light to get off of the big road. The sign pointed to Waleska, the <st1:Street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Waleska Highway</st1:address></st1:Street>. Waleska is a little rural semi mountain town, with a small college. Id been through there several times in the 80s, going to visit <st1lace w:st="on"><st1laceType w:st="on">Lake</st1laceType> <st1laceName w:st="on">Arrowhead</st1laceName></st1lace>. The road had big hills and long sweeping turns. Also, I was glad to note there was no snow or ice. I spotted a road called <st1:Street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Henderson Mountain Road</st1:address></st1:Street>. This just sounded like it was going to be interesting so I turned. <o></o> <o></o> One thing that caught my eye was a little old church on the corner. Typical small old rural church, with a row of covered concrete picnic tables. This brought back some deep memories. Once or twice a year when I was growing up, my family drove to the big city of Muscadine <st1:State w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Alabama</st1lace></st1:State>, for the First Baptist Church Family Reunion - All Day Singing and Dinner on the Grounds My moms family was from there. We got to hang out with my grandparents, aunts, uncles, 1<SUP>st</SUP>, 2<SUP>nd</SUP> and 3<SUP>rd</SUP> cousins, etc. Everyone brought food and set it out on that row of concrete tables. What an incredible spread. Fried chicken, fried catfish, hush puppies, collard greens, green beans, biscuits, gravy - you name it. It was a huge feast! The singing was something to behold also. It was a mix between the early Grand Ole Opry and Gospel Jubilee. My grandmother was an incredibly kind lady, with a mischievous streak . If someone got up and sang off key - she would whisper at least she has nice hair Wed all chuckle to ourselves in our seats. My Grandfather was larger than life to all his grandchildren - a kind and gentle (at least to all of us) and rugged man's man. We all loved to hear his stories and his words of wisdom. As I got older I received some of his wisdom about drinking. He didnt feel that anything was wrong with it, as long as you didnt have a problem and kept it in moderation. I can remember him doing a shot of Wild Turkey over ice on a few occasions. Hed have one shot and that was all. Hed have a big grin, gulp it down and go ahhhhhh! I remember asking him once why he liked the <st1lace w:st="on"><st1laceName w:st="on">Baptist</st1laceName> <st1laceType w:st="on">Church</st1laceType></st1lace> so much if he thought it was OK to drink. He told me he never met a good Deacon that didnt drink at least a little and he also related a little saying about the annual events. He told me he and the his old friends called it: The First Baptists Annual Reunion - All Day Singing and Dinner on the Grounds, Whiskey in the Bushes and Hell All Around! <o></o> The <st1lace w:st="on"><st1laceName w:st="on">Old</st1laceName> <st1laceType w:st="on">Church</st1laceType></st1lace> <st1:Street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on"></st1:address></st1:Street> <st1:Street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Henderson Mountain Road</st1:address></st1:Street> started off up a hill and soon entered kind of a residential area. Then it became a little more rural feeling. Soon it turned into dirt and looked like it was going to become more interesting. <o></o> <o></o> Id been on dirt once before on the big Bandit. Not an Adventure Bike, but it did OK. This road was getting slick and mushy from all the snow melt. But, I pressed on to see what interesting finds there might be ahead. But, after a little ways, the road became covered with snow as far as I could see going up the hill. The sun was starting to set, so I decided it was time to head on back home. <o></o> <o></o> On the way home, passed that little church again. <o></o> <o></o> <o></o> I decided to try some of those creative shots that people take when they are riding their motorcycle. With winter gloves on, it wasnt such a great idea and I almost crashed trying to get the camera out of my pocket. <o></o> <o></o> This is the shot the camera took itself when I almost dropped it. <o></o> On the way back home, I was reminded that I didnt wear enough gear. The cold started setting in. Its one of those things we all share as motorcyclists. That last half hour of the ride was brutal - that point of no return, where the shivers started. Tried some warming tricks to no avail - singing loudly to myself, trying to flex my torso, feeling down by the engine etc. Talking to myself - Endure, endure, endure! What is adventure without a little challenge? <o></o> Two and a half hours of being more aware. I love motorcycles. <o></o>
thanks for taking us along on this ride love the rr, the pics, the words behind amazing how you can see your local world in a whole new light when you are HYPER-AWARE i've ridden on these roads before... i'm so appreciative to relive them with your ride report thank you
You don't always have to go far to have some fun and find a little adventure. I think that most of us tend to forget that sometimes...I know I do. I have ridden Henderson Mtn road all the way over the mountain and I don't remember the pavement ending....only some pavement in poor condition. I think you might have missed the right turn required to stay on Henderson Mtn Rd. It has some pretty tight curves near the top of the mountain. Enjoyed you pics. Looks like you found a good way to delay the onset of PMS
Nice post. I am from Chattanooga TN but currently live in Medellin, Colombia for work. You post made me miss the SE USA. Thanks!
Great read and photos! My riding withdrawal is terrible. 10 degrees here, no riding for me for a long time.