My good buddy Brandon (AKA D1ngo Berry) came down to TN from VA so we could hit some new roads. I had been planning to go down to some of the twisty roads in N. GA for some time now and yesterday we finally made it.
We fist took 64 going east from TN, following its wide & winding route along the Ocoee river, beautiful to say the least & an easy ride for all beginners. From there we took 68 going south crossing the TN\GA line. About 50miles so far.
68 turns into 60 @ Mineral Bluff, GA. We continued on 60 down to Suches, GA. 33 Miles of wide & tight twisties. The roads was recently paved which is good since the tar snakes on the pavement can get dangerous when wet. The construction and repairs are near its end, and this road will be sweet when finished. 83 miles so far.
We turned east on 180 @ Suches, and this is the road I was looking forward to. It leads to Wolf Pen Gap the twistiest road in GA. Well I didn't like it one bit. The road was a bit narrow, old and the pavement looked patchy. The road edges had major stress cracks at spots & were sloping down in places too. As you head up the mountain you can see just how far you will travel if you mess up. There are two hair pins that when approached going north you are going down, the view beyond the hair pin is hair rising... no run off, and it looked the cliffs the Coyote on Road Runner cartoons always runs into... these have to be the most dangerous turns a have ever seen in my life. Not what it is all cracked up to be... the locals must be nuts! 97miles so far.
From 180 we turned south on 348 AKA Richard B. Russell Scenic Highway. This is a very nice road and one that can be pushed on with confidence. Still no where near as safe as a track, but as good as it gets on the streets IMO. Nice sweeping turns, great pavement and the occasional off camber. We made it to the end of 348 and had to stop chat about how the trip was worth it just for that road. A local pulled up to chat with us on his 99 CBX1100 (AKA Blackbird) and his tires looked like he had just come from the track... the constant series of long sweeping switchbacks will do that to the tires here, and that is when we noticed our tires looked the same... freaking sweet. @ 110 miles, we forgot to stop for fuel and being in the middle of no where, the local was a blessing... we followed him back on 348 to a near gas station.
All fueled up & ready to leave, the local informs us that we are now at the top of Blood Mountain (19/129). I have heard many stories of it making the news a few years back as the locals have made it a personal race track of sorts... not good. But the guy told us that heavy police and a "Blood Mountain" task force during weekends has put an end to that... wow! Good thing it was Monday
Before we head out another local pulls up, on a '95 R6. Tall skinny dewd, walked kind funny, but who doesn't on leathers. He asked if we minded if he tagged along, and off we go.
Blood mountain is 3 lanes wide for the most part, this road was easier to go fast on than 348 and offered lots of room if you mess up. The local were pulling us along at a pretty good pace. And I never been here before! I decide to let the guy on the R6 go ahead while the other local on the CBX lead the way. Following them was easy to get into a good rhythm following their lines. About a 3rd of the way in, the guy on the R6 lights up the rear coming out of a bend, he corrects & passes the CBX (two lanes 1 way going up) I decide to try to follow and managed to get past the CBX as he intended to follow the pace of the R6, but that was too much to ask of the big bike. He goes wide & I slip through on the inside lane, I try for a few bends to catch the R6 but it wasn't happening. lol. This is his back yard after all. Going down & back up this mountain is an awesome experience, I liked this alot more than the Deals Gap (The Dragon) and will surely return again.
By this time we were 150 miles away from home & we head back to TN. It was fun, but after riding with those guys we were beginning to feel a bit tired & the ride back home didn't look too appealing. We cruised on back & made home with no issues... thank God!!!
In the next coming months I will be finalizing my move to Cleveland, TN and yesterday helped me realize that it is going to be great to be living near so many good routes.
Hit me up if you are coming this way... as if I need an excuse to get out