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DAY: 4  DATE: Thursday, June, 21   MILES: 226  TOTAL MILES: 878

LOCATION: Ooltewah, TN

COMMENTS:

     On the road @ 0730 for another spectacular day AND, it is the first day of Summer. The morning was cool (57) but the sun was bright, the sky was clear and no humidity. Once away from Asheville I didn't see another vehicle for an hour. The scenery was spectacular and I did my best to shoot from the seat while also stopping at some Scenic Spots. Problem is that sometimes you drive by and realize that would be cool to see but, tooooo bad, no place to turn around.

    Which brings me to another observation, there are no guardrails. The Department of the Interior has done a great job mowing that strip between you and Never Never Land. You wouldn't want any pesky brush even thinking about slowing you down. Hell, you'd be goin' mach 50 before you hit anything. If you survived that, then the bears and every other carnivore would be having wings for lunch. I wonder how many vehicles have careened off the road never to be found. You'd need a freakin' marine EPIRB if you ever wanted someone to find your dentures.

    I've never spent this much time cruising in the North Carolina mountains, but I gots to wonder, George Moose, why did you ever leave? They may not be as high as those out West, but they are every bit as spectacular, rugged and, remote. It's hard to put it into words. Everyone should take the opportunity and drive down this road. I couldn't even begin to guess what The Department of the Interior budgets each year to maintain the BRP to such a high degree? I think I like this end of the BRP best.

    Well, I comes down off the mountain, start have grease withdrawal symptoms and, have a Big Mac attack. Yup, so much for the motorcycle diet. My mileage went from 44.4 mpg to 2 mpg. Screw it, it tasted good. I'll just suck down 12 extra Vytorins tonight.

    So now I figure it's just an uneventful ride over to Tennessee. Wrong! I'm following US 64 through the Cherokee National Forest along the Ocoee River and find all sorts of rafting places.  I mean lots! It's a two lane road that probably rivals US50 going to Ocean City on the weekends. Then the Ocoee River runs into Lake Ocoee which is formed by a hydro dam. I stop by and yak with some folks at Lake Ocoee Inn & Marina. A really a nice setup. Some of their slips actually provide pumpout connections slipside. Now, how can I get the Good Ship Finally to Lake Ocoee?

    The internet service is down here so this won't be published until? I have no idea where I'm staying tomorrow night but it will be along the Natchez Trace Parkway.