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[Midnight Rider]

After leaving JC, AK, Jon, and Heidi, Suzanne and I headed West through extreme North Georgia, into North Carolina via Murphy, then West on 64 to Chattanooga.  76 through Georgia is a great ride...lots of curves, nice shady roads, and LOTS of bikes out.  64 West is another great hwy, taking you by the Ocoee River (site of the summer Olympics whitewater events), then on to Cleveland, TN.  Hit I-75 South into Chattanooga, and Suzanne and I checked into The Read Hotel in downtown.  They have valet parking there, so I got to park the Ultra on MARBLE floors just next to the parking attendent's stand.  She was safe for the night there.  After a 400 mile day and 11 hours, we were ready for a hot shower and a couple of good Brewskis, which we found at Big River...a bar/restaurant near the Tennessee Aquarium.  They were also haveing River Fest, an outdoor concert lasting two weekends, down by the Tennessee River, which flows through town.  Big River has a microbrewery, so they always have some good beers to check out, and we did some checking.  Then Suzanne had her "dessert" of a Chocolate Martini, and I washed things down with a Margahootie.  Good eats too!!

After a good night's sleep at the Read (it's supposed to have a haunted room...311), we rolled out about 9:30 headed West on I-24 to I-59 South towards Birmingham.  We took a side trip to Valley Head, Mentone, AL...through Desoto State Park, then over to Little River Canyon National Preserve.  Some excellent riding the entire way!!  We then took old hwy's back to Gadsden, then the slab into B'ham, arriving home about 3:30, after 200 additional miles.

Of course, after she cooled down, and we cooled down on the porch with a couple of Light Heinies, my OCD kicked in and I was compelled to remove the bugs that had commited suicide on my windshield and fairing.  I'm giving Suzanne lessons on OCD detailing of a CVO!!  She's a quick learner!!!   [smiley=xyxthumbs.gif] [smiley=xyxthumbs.gif]

Some photos of the rest of the trip are attached....

[Midnight Rider]

Part of Desoto Falls in extreme Northeast Alabama...

[Midnight Rider]

The Lower Falls...

[Midnight Rider]

Little River Falls, at the beginning of The Little River Canyon...the water level is down, so they're not as full...

[SEULTRA]

Excellent "ride telling"! When reading I felt I was there. We all know the "after ride" feeling and the value and relief of a shower and good food & drink   Sounds like you had a great time... thanks for the post.  [smiley=xyxthumbs.gif]

[Midnight Rider]

A view of the canyon....deepest canyon west of the Mississippi....really a special place!!

There's a 20 mile (give or take) road around the canyon rim, mostly speeds of 20 or 30 MPH...can't go any faster...too many curves!!!  Nice ride, and a good ending to a great weekend!!  

[SEULTRA]

A view of the canyon....[highlight]deepest canyon west of the Mississippi.[/highlight]...really a special place!!

There's a 20 mile (give or take) road around the canyon rim, mostly speeds of 20 or 30 MPH...can't go any faster...too many curves!!!  Nice ride, and a good ending to a great weekend!!  

I didn't know that.... Hope you can make it out to Cripple Creek to see the Royal Gorge http://www.royalgorgebridge.com/ it's fairly deep as well. Anyone know the difference between a gorge and a canyon?  [smiley=nixweiss.gif]

[harleydiva]

After TC and I left the Ocean to Ocean group we headed towards Chattanooga.  What a beautiful ride.  It was particularly awesome to me because TC had shared stories about the beautiful sights in our own state which I had never seen.  We took the back roads so it was even more beautiful than being on the slab.  We stopped at several scenic views, falls, canyons...wow.   [smiley=xyxthumbs.gif]   Mentone was particularly peaceful and beautiful ... I wanted to get off the bike, buy property, and stay.   [smiley=huepfenjump3.gif]  The weather couldn't have been more cooperative, hot as he!! and humid, but that's Alabama.  No rain showers,   [smiley=xyxthumbs.gif]  When we were moving along, the wind made the ride even more pleasant.

After we got back to Birmingham, we cooled off on TC's porch with a couple of brewskies.  Didn't take very long for TC's OCD to kick in, and it was time for my 101 OCD Wash The Road Grime Off The Bike Course.  She's all pretty and clean again and in her "stall" next to the Dacati.  Actually, I think the Dacati has an inferiority complex now that the Harley is in the same stall.  

It was a perfect weekend, and I'm really enjoying the whole experience of riding ...can't wait to meet all of you in Maggie Valley.   [smiley=huepfenjump3.gif] [smiley=drink.gif] [smiley=xyxthumbs.gif] [smiley=banana.gif]

[Midnight Rider]

SE...I would love to make it to Cripple Creek, but not this year    Love the Colorado/Northern New Mexico area, but have only done them in a cage a few years ago.  There's one ride I really want to do....from Durango, over the pass, into Silverton, then to Ouray.  Spectacular road!!

Not sure about the difference between a canyon and gorge....maybe a canyon has been carved by water, and a gorge was made by a fault in the earth?  My best guess.  No matter, they're both spectacular things to see.  I've seen the Gunnison river Gorge and it was unreal!!!  If I had the time off, I'd be there in CC with you guys!!

Oh yea, that should have been deepest canyon EAST of the Mississippi...sorry for the geography error.  My brain is fried at this point!!  My bad!!

[harleydiva]

Regarding the difference between a gorge and a canyon, I decided to look in Webster's:

Gorge:  deep, narrow passage with steep rocky sides; a ravine

Canyon:  a narrow chasm with steep cliff walls, cut into the earth by running water; a gorge

There you go ... sounds like they are one and the same.   [smiley=xyxthumbs.gif]    They're beautiful!  

[HUBBARD]

Regarding the difference between a gorge and a canyon, I decided to look in Webster's:

Gorge:  deep, narrow passage with steep rocky sides; a ravine

Canyon:  a narrow chasm with steep cliff walls, cut into the earth by running water; a gorge

There you go ... sounds like they are one and the same.   [smiley=xyxthumbs.gif]    They're beautiful!  

Ya'll didn't see no "Hollers?"  Guess you'll have to come to West "By God" Virginia, to see those! [smiley=huepfenlol2.gif]  Later--HUBBARD

[erniezap]

Ya'll didn't see no "Hollers?"  Guess you'll have to come to West "By God" Virginia, to see those! [smiley=huepfenlol2.gif]  Later--HUBBARD

OK, I'll bite.  What in heck is a "Holler"?

[Fired00d]

OK, I'll bite.  What in heck is a "Holler"?

Ahhh, you've got to come to the east coast, specifically the southeast coast. [smiley=huepfenlol2.gif]

 [smiley=pumpkin.gif]
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 [smiley=fireman.gif]

[Fatboy]

OK, I'll bite.  What in heck is a "Holler"?

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It's a Gorgeous Canyon!  [smiley=duhk.gif]

Everybody knows that........

 

[Midnight Rider]

Yea Hub, we saw a bunch of Hollers, man...I'd still like to come up to West "By God" Virginia though and see ya'lls version of the same. Been to Virginia, Kentucky, Tenn, NC, SC...all around WV, but never been there.  Understand there's some good stream fishin' up there. We got Hollers in AlaDamnBama too!!!  Some good 'uns. [smiley=huepfenjump3.gif]