Trans Eastern Trail: Ga loop. 4/4-5/14 – 2 days - 509 Miles along the northern part of the 1500 mile route.

Trans Eastern Trail: Ga loop.

4/4-5/14 – 2 days - 509 Miles along the Northern part of the 1500 mile route.

Figure 1: The Northern section of the Loop - 509 miles

Friday 4/4

I start at 6 am from Spartanburg SC and have an uneventful ride to start of the loop at Highway 76 near Westminster SC. I take and unplanned, minor detour to the Ga side of the Chattooga River. (Figure 2)

Figure 2: the Ga side of the Chattooga River

The GPS track could be better (my fault). I am making wrong turns and missing others. The Hale Ridge Road sector from Warwoman road to Dillard is improved since the last time I was here in November 2013. It is now a nice, even gravel surface. I take the (Big Bike Bypass) BBB around the first major wet crossing.

Figure 3

The gravel road at top of Unicoi Gap: Wilkes Creek/Chattahoochee road, into Helen, is open at the top but closed at the bottom. (Figure 3)

A DNR officer loading trout into the creek tells me the only way out was to turn around and ride out and take Highway 17/75 into Helen, I have no choice. Highway 17/75 is a nice road. There are several Ohio based cyclists training in our warm weather because it has been a rough winter up North.

Figure 4

I stop for gas and lunch at a BBQ joint in Helen. What a tourist trap! When a guy is sitting in a new Corvette, with the top down, listening to Peter Frampton's “Do You Feel Like I do” and cars are riding up and then leaving, it makes you wonder what he is “doing”.

Highway 348 Road out of Helen is nice pavement. (Figure 4)

I make a left onto Hatchett creek, with two wet crossings, before returning to Hwy 19. Then another left at Vogel State Park, up to Wolf Pen Gap. This area was part of the Tour de Georgia bicycle races and is familiar.

I make a right onto gravel at top of Wolf Pen Gap. This section is challenging with ruts and drops. I take  a wrong turn at bottom and end up back near Brasstown Bald, so I set GPS for Mulberry Gap and take busy, 4 lane highways through Blairsville and Blue Ridge into Ellijay and Mulberry Gap. I see Derek Kozlowski training for RAAM with his support crew. What an amazing guy and challenge he is preparing for. I arrive at Mulberry Gap at 4:30 PM. Weather was minor mist all day and I stayed dry, but Ellijay is wet.

Figure 5: Arrival at Mulberry Gap

I set up my humble camp and eat dinner at the barn with all the cyclists. Dogs are everywhere, I feel at home. Sleep okay, temp in low 40's. 

Figure 6: Camp at Mulberry Gap

Saturday 4/5

I wake up at 7 AM with the sun eat breakfast at the barn, and roll out at 8:45. It is shaping up to be a beautiful, clear, cool Spring day. Last night I loaded back-up GPS tracks and navigation was much better today. The route stays close to the Pinhoti trail, crossing it many times. Sections in Chattahoochee National Forest above Rome Ga are beautiful. Nice curves on good pavement in farm country with an occasional gravel road thrown in. The ridgelines remind me of the Swan River valley in Montana. (Figure 7)

Figure 7

Figure 8

I cross into Alabama and do not know it. There is no state line sign on the back roads. 80% of Alabama section seems to be unpaved. The sector in Talladega National Forest is 32 miles long with improved, loose gravel. It ends on the Cheaha Parkway – with nice views. (Figure 8) I only see two other dual sport motorcycles in Talladega National Forest. Where is everybody????

From the end of the Cheaha Parkway into Roanoke, it is a patchwork combination of short dirt and un-improved gravel roads through some poor areas. (Think: third world country) Some sections are MUDDY. Lots of unleashed dogs running around, yard birds, wild turkey, deer and an occasional loose cow or horse. This area reminds me of a combination of the Dukes of Hazard and Africa.

   

Figure 9

Figure 10

With dusk approaching, the nearest sizeable town is Roanoka Alabama.. After a fuel stop (#3) I found a decent room the Key West Inn for $65/ night. A Pizza Hut is next door.

I put in a solid 10 hour day, and feel great. Standing on the pegs in the gravel and the constant navigating keeps me from falling into the zombie like trance I experience sometimes on "boring" slab pavement. Rain is in the forecast tomorrow, so Alabama dirt roads will be slippery. My choices are: 1) continue on the route in mud, 2) take pavement on the next section to Florida, or 3) turn back and head for home, riding out of the wet weather and get back at a reasonable time.

Figure 11

Sunday 4/6/14

I wake to steady rain with a forecast for 100% heavy rain all day in the area I plan to ride.  I opt for #3 because: I am alone, did not pay and entry fee to do this and have nothing to prove other than to have a safe, enjoyable trip. Riding muddy, un-improved dirt and gravel roads on a 600lb Adventure Motorcycle is not a wise thing to do alone, or with anyone else. I will be back.

With a full tank of gas, I set to GPS to "Go Home" and head North, ending up on I-85 and ride through downtown Atlanta, in light Sunday traffic - what a contrast. 

Escape to Musterground Mountain

It was a damp, cool December morning, the breakfast at Chic-Fil-A was served friendly and hot. 4 guys gather and begin to plan the day's ride. We do not know each other. Our conversation is about our bikes, equipment and what we ARE going to encounter. The other conversations in the restaurant are about the past or dreams of the future. There is nothing better than living in the moment and enjoying it.

We roll out of the parking lot and it starts to rain. A quick stop under a gas station awning allows Jed time to pull on a pair of rain pants over his jeans and sneakers. The borrowed Ducati Hypermotard he is riding seems more suited for ripping through streets and mountain twisties than semi-technical gravel and steep grades. I have a feeling Jed can handle it.

A few pavement miles later and some minor traffic, we stop at the gas station at Highways 11 and 178 to top off fuel. The start of our gravel destination road is off of Highway 130 at the Bad Creek Access area.

Upstate SC ADV Riders at entrance to Musterground Mountain.

We hit the double track gravel, hard packed and dusty from the lack of rain during the past month. The trail begins.
No adjustments were made to tire pressure or suspension, so either we had it right or there was a lesson or two to be learned. Jed takes off, spinning wheels and kicking up gravel with Ricardo in pursuit. Robert grooves his way into it on the trusty KLR - smooth and calm. I am the sweeper for the first section. My big 1150GS lumbers along smoothly.

The first big test comes in a section of 20% uphilll. It is short and the 4 wheel users have churned up the gravel, cutting some ruts and washboard into the trail. I stand on the pegs to establish the perfect center of balance, gear down and begin the climb. Then the washboards take over. The supension it too stiff and the tire pressure is too high to keep me on the ground and I start to bounce, loose traction and fall. Robert is right behind me and immediately stops. We heave the 600lb black beast upright and I get her going again to finish the climb.

All smiles at the Thompson River Crossing

 After a quick break at the pipebridge over the Thompson River we continue up an ominous loose and steep section towards Musterground Mountain (pictured) and encounter more technical loose surface, steep sections mixed with pleasent, smooth double track. The easy sections blend well with the more challenging sections.

We arrive at Musterground Mountain Gap and are faced with decisions about which way to go. There are three roads to choose from. Maps come out, the GPS is consulted and we decide to explore all of the them. Robert plays with the KLR on a short run-up section.

We have not encountered anyone else yet.

Road option 1 is a short dead end.

Road option 2 is smooth and has berms that Ricardo demonstrates can be jumped on the V-Strom. I take them standing up and, with flexible knees, roll the big 1150GS over them, sticking to the ground. Road 3 ends and we turn around and trace our way back to Musterground Mountain gap. Robert is up front and when he returns to the short run-up section he hits it hard, launcing the KLR into a Rhododendron patch. We fish her out, dust her off and she starts up with a little extra cranking to move fuel back to the carbuerators.

Road 3 starts out sandy and Ricardo dumps the V-Strom. We quickly get her back up and going again and find out that road 3 is another short dead end.

We had explored all the roads on the maps and decide to head back out.

When we return to the parking lot entrance, we stop for a group photo and then begin our paved trip back towards Highway 11 and 178.

Lessons learned and skills improved = too many to count
Permanent damage = none
Friendships formed and experiences enjoyed = priceless

For more information about Jocassee gorges and the Jim Timmerman Wilderness area, go to [url]http://www.dnr.sc.gov/managed/wild/jocassee/index.htm[/url]
This area is opened seasonally and frequented by hunters.