Nightstalker wants to ride with YOU! - Page 2

Nightstalker · 05-13-2007, 07:28 PM

I had the great opportunity to ride with my good buddy KennyH today. He's a local to Southeastern Tennessee and knows the roads in the area well. I met him at his place this morning and after reviewing some maps, our best laid plans were made and we were off, Kenny on his KLR 650 and me on my KTM 950.

KennyH

We stopped to fuel up the bikes and ourselves. Ummm, yummy bacon egg and cheese sandwich.

We made our way along twisty blacktop roads to Tellico Plains, then to our first gravel road, Witt Road, which has some stream crossings.

Nightstalker going out.

And coming back. I just can't get enough!

KennyH on another crossing.

Nightstalker · 05-13-2007, 07:34 PM

We switched bikes for a while and headed for Buck Bald.

KennyH at the top with my KTM 950.

Nightstalker with KennyH's KLR 650.

View from the top of Buck Bald.

GS Bones · 05-13-2007, 07:44 PM

10 months time frame.

An RV.

A KTM.

An ambitious itinerary.

OH, this is gonna be good.

Bones

redfishguide · 05-13-2007, 08:26 PM

Hey Nightstalker,

If you wind up near low country South Carolina (Beaufort) look me up. Place to camp and local riding. We rode together during the original PB 300. I had the 05 S model which you helped work on after a crash.

Also consider joining us in the Ocala National Forest around Daytona bike week in march for several dual sport and adventure rides. I have a Winnebago and 950 and sometimes a dr 650.

Jack
http://tinyurl.com/4dndf

PS the women folk just love Savannah and Charleston

kennyh · 05-13-2007, 08:45 PM

Great riding with you today TZ, it had been too long. I always wish I had taken more pics, and today was no exception. Got a couple though.

More playing in the water.

Another Buck Bald view.

The dude himself

This guy can do more on the 950 than I can on my little xr. Gotta get me one of those. Thanks again for the demo ride, me likey.

Nightstalker · 05-14-2007, 05:35 AM

We came down off Buck Bald and headed back up 68 to FR126, which is a great gravel road. Along the way I spotted FT136, which was marked for motorcycle travel, so we detoured to investigate.

KennyH heading in.

I don't think that this trail gets used much. There had been a forest fire and there were trees down everywhere. The trail was really grown in. You can clearly see the trail in this shot.

KennyH, using his better judgement stopped. There appeared to be a commanding view of the area at the top of the trail so I continued. The trail got steeper and steeper and there were logs laying everywhere, in every direction. I made it half way up and stopped.

Looking down the trail.

Looking up the trail, time to turn around, bummer dude!

We hooked up on River Road and took that to the Gravelhala.

KennyH

Pretty waterfall along the road.

Nightstalker, WFO.

Nightstalker · 05-14-2007, 05:40 AM

We ended up on 129 and rode that up to the Dragon. Stopped there for some grub, and boy was it excellent!!

Tree of shame.

Not too crowded, for a beautiful Sunday afternoon.

Thanks for the great ride buddy!! You're the best!

mckimr · 05-14-2007, 07:35 AM

Looks like a great start to a great adventure.
When you get to Tampa, I'll be in touch.

Marvin the Martian · 05-14-2007, 08:53 AM

Fontana Dam from the top, 480 feet high!
Fontana Dam from the campground at the bottom. What a cool place to camp!

Having stayed here myself I can tell you it is not a cool place to stay. The daytime heat is very high due to lack of air flow and the campground is poorly kept and washrooms dirty, and not cleaned daily. I also though it looked good at first sight but was shocked when I stayed there. Sorry to ruin the thoughts but I'd be avoiding my duty as a fellow rider to ignore this and let some else suffer.

GB · 05-14-2007, 09:52 AM

Looks like a great place to do a D-S ride

Nightstalker · 05-14-2007, 05:03 PM

Thanks for the heads up! It's a cool location, but I bet it gets hot there. I don't think I'd be too happy taking my 38' motorhome up 129 from Robbinsville to get there.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marvin the Martian

Fontana Dam from the top, 480 feet high!
Fontana Dam from the campground at the bottom. What a cool place to camp!

Having stayed here myself I can tell you it is not a cool place to stay. The daytime heat is very high due to lack of air flow and the campground is poorly kept and washrooms dirty, and not cleaned daily. I also though it looked good at first sight but was shocked when I stayed there. Sorry to ruin the thoughts but I'd be avoiding my duty as a fellow rider to ignore this and let some else suffer.

Ishamael · 05-14-2007, 05:29 PM

Nightstalker,

What a fantastic way to see the country. I am sure it took quite a bit of effort to get the money saved up, but it looks worth it already.

Nice pictures and a great write-up. Keep it up!!!

advdude · 05-14-2007, 05:36 PM

Looks like a great way to see the country!! damn i'm jealous I'll be following your adventure.

dualsportriderfl · 05-14-2007, 06:07 PM

That KTM looks great in black.
Tom

AaronADV · 05-14-2007, 07:40 PM

great shots, awesome ride report

Good luck on your trip

05-13-2007, 07:28 PM	#16
Nightstalker ^OP YO BUDDYPAL! Joined: Aug 2003 Location: Sunny Phoenix, AZ Oddometer: 5,748	Gravel Road Tour of North Carolina I had the great opportunity to ride with my good buddy KennyH today. He's a local to Southeastern Tennessee and knows the roads in the area well. I met him at his place this morning and after reviewing some maps, our best laid plans were made and we were off, Kenny on his KLR 650 and me on my KTM 950. KennyH We stopped to fuel up the bikes and ourselves. Ummm, yummy bacon egg and cheese sandwich. We made our way along twisty blacktop roads to Tellico Plains, then to our first gravel road, Witt Road, which has some stream crossings. Nightstalker going out. And coming back. I just can't get enough! KennyH on another crossing. __________________ 2004 KTM 950 Adventure 2008 Honda CRF450X North American Ride Report Index and GPX files at: NSRides.com Nightstalker rides North America 2007 snug htiw swoC

05-13-2007, 07:34 PM	#17
Nightstalker ^OP YO BUDDYPAL! Joined: Aug 2003 Location: Sunny Phoenix, AZ Oddometer: 5,748	Gravel Road Tour of North Carolina We switched bikes for a while and headed for Buck Bald. KennyH at the top with my KTM 950. Nightstalker with KennyH's KLR 650. View from the top of Buck Bald. __________________ 2004 KTM 950 Adventure 2008 Honda CRF450X North American Ride Report Index and GPX files at: NSRides.com Nightstalker rides North America 2007 snug htiw swoC

05-13-2007, 07:44 PM	#18
GS Bones Beastly Adventurer Joined: Nov 2005 Location: Upstate NY Oddometer: 1,129	10 months time frame. An RV. A KTM. An ambitious itinerary. OH, this is gonna be good. Bones __________________ ______________________________ "Context is everything."

05-14-2007, 05:35 AM	#21
Nightstalker ^OP YO BUDDYPAL! Joined: Aug 2003 Location: Sunny Phoenix, AZ Oddometer: 5,748	Gravel Road Tour of North Carolina We came down off Buck Bald and headed back up 68 to FR126, which is a great gravel road. Along the way I spotted FT136, which was marked for motorcycle travel, so we detoured to investigate. KennyH heading in. I don't think that this trail gets used much. There had been a forest fire and there were trees down everywhere. The trail was really grown in. You can clearly see the trail in this shot. KennyH, using his better judgement stopped. There appeared to be a commanding view of the area at the top of the trail so I continued. The trail got steeper and steeper and there were logs laying everywhere, in every direction. I made it half way up and stopped. Looking down the trail. Looking up the trail, time to turn around, bummer dude! We hooked up on River Road and took that to the Gravelhala. KennyH Pretty waterfall along the road. Nightstalker, WFO. __________________ 2004 KTM 950 Adventure 2008 Honda CRF450X North American Ride Report Index and GPX files at: NSRides.com Nightstalker rides North America 2007 snug htiw swoC

05-14-2007, 05:40 AM	#22
Nightstalker ^OP YO BUDDYPAL! Joined: Aug 2003 Location: Sunny Phoenix, AZ Oddometer: 5,748	Gravel Road Tour of North Carolina We ended up on 129 and rode that up to the Dragon. Stopped there for some grub, and boy was it excellent!! Tree of shame. Not too crowded, for a beautiful Sunday afternoon. Thanks for the great ride buddy!! You're the best! __________________ 2004 KTM 950 Adventure 2008 Honda CRF450X North American Ride Report Index and GPX files at: NSRides.com Nightstalker rides North America 2007 snug htiw swoC

05-13-2007, 08:26 PM	#19
redfishguide Old Dirt Biker Joined: Dec 2004 Location: Beaufort, South Carolina Oddometer: 347	Hey Nightstalker, If you wind up near low country South Carolina (Beaufort) look me up. Place to camp and local riding. We rode together during the original PB 300. I had the 05 S model which you helped work on after a crash. Also consider joining us in the Ocala National Forest around Daytona bike week in march for several dual sport and adventure rides. I have a Winnebago and 950 and sometimes a dr 650. Jack http://tinyurl.com/4dndf PS the women folk just love Savannah and Charleston

05-13-2007, 08:45 PM	#20
kennyh Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Feb 2004 Location: Friendsville, TN Oddometer: 268	Great riding with you today TZ, it had been too long. I always wish I had taken more pics, and today was no exception. Got a couple though. More playing in the water. Another Buck Bald view. The dude himself This guy can do more on the 950 than I can on my little xr. Gotta get me one of those. Thanks again for the demo ride, me likey.

05-14-2007, 07:35 AM	#23
mckimr Adventurer Joined: Dec 2006 Location: Tampa Florida Oddometer: 14	Great Start Looks like a great start to a great adventure. When you get to Tampa, I'll be in touch.

05-14-2007, 08:53 AM	#24
Marvin the Martian Beastly Adventurer Joined: May 2005 Location: Madness takes its toll. Please have exact change Oddometer: 1,025	Fontana Dam from the top, 480 feet high! Fontana Dam from the campground at the bottom. What a cool place to camp! Having stayed here myself I can tell you it is not a cool place to stay. The daytime heat is very high due to lack of air flow and the campground is poorly kept and washrooms dirty, and not cleaned daily. I also though it looked good at first sight but was shocked when I stayed there. Sorry to ruin the thoughts but I'd be avoiding my duty as a fellow rider to ignore this and let some else suffer.

05-14-2007, 09:52 AM	#25
GB Mod Squad Joined: Aug 2002 Location: Toronto, ON Oddometer: 53,466	Looks like a great place to do a D-S ride

05-14-2007, 05:29 PM	#27
Ishamael Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Aug 2006 Location: SoCal Oddometer: 112	Nightstalker, What a fantastic way to see the country. I am sure it took quite a bit of effort to get the money saved up, but it looks worth it already. Nice pictures and a great write-up. Keep it up!!! __________________ '07 KTM Adv '02 Goldwing

05-14-2007, 05:36 PM	#28
advdude Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Aug 2003 Location: New Orleans Oddometer: 119	Looks like a great way to see the country!! damn i'm jealous I'll be following your adventure. __________________ "Wherever you are, just act like that's the place to be"

05-14-2007, 06:07 PM	#29
dualsportriderfl Explorer 157 Joined: Jan 2007 Location: Florida Oddometer: 75	Thanks for the pics Nightstalker. That KTM looks great in black. Tom

05-14-2007, 07:40 PM	#30
AaronADV Beastly Adventurer Joined: Jun 2006 Location: North Carolina/Idaho Oddometer: 1,713	great shots, awesome ride report Good luck on your trip

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