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October 20th, 2006 Ride to Waynesville, NC |
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On Friday Oct. 20, 8 people with 5 bikes rendezvoused in Winnsboro for what was to be a great weekend in the mountains of North Carolina. Our destination on Friday was to be The Lodge in Waynesville NC. After an hour and a half ride we arrived in Spartanburg SC at Papa Sams for breakfast where we met 2 more riders, Mark and Jim Davis.
After eating we headed out of town to Highway 11, (foothills highway) to 276 with a stop at Caesars Head where the scenery was absolutely breathtaking.
Leaving there, we headed back out onto 276 for a short distance and turned right on to a road leading to camp Greenville in hopes to arrive at a spot called Pretty Place. We did indeed arrive where the 4 mile road dead ends into a beautiful open air chapel that literally hangs over the side of a mountain. Words can not describe what we experienced there, and all that I can tell you is that if you ever get the opportunity to go there, don't pass it up. Leaving there, it was lunch time and we headed to Brevard for a stop at Main St. Cafe. After lunch it was on to Waynesville, via 276 through the Pisgah National Forest, across Mt. Pisgah, and into Waynesville. After checking in at The Lodge, and some much needed rest (some of us were suffering with monkey butt), it was back on the bikes for a short ride to Fat Buddies for dinner.
Saturday morning found us raring to go, but facing a ride in cold and foggy weather. But we are seasoned riders and a little cold and fog would not deter us, and we were soon on the bikes and headed up hwy. 209 to Hot Springs NC. After about 6 or 8 miles we spotted some sunshine on the side of a mountain and the sky soon opened up into a beautiful day. I have ridden many mountain roads from Georgia to Tenn. And everything in between, but I can not ever remember a road as scenic as hwy. 209 from Waynesville to Hot Springs. Part of this area was settled by the Scotts because they said it reminded them of their homeland of Scotland. Upon arriving in Hot Springs it was lunchtime again (imagine that) and we all enjoyed lunch at a place called Paddlers Pub.
After a little shopping it was back on the road for a return trip to Waynesville. On the way back we made a side trip that took us through a beautiful valley. After leaving there we stopped at the intersection of 209 and 63 and visited the tiny St. Judes Chapel of Hope. This chapel was built by Mrs. Barutios to thank the saint whom she credits with her miraculous recovery from cancer. Leaving there it was on to Maggie Valley and an ice cream stop. Then it was back to The Lodge for some rest because it would soon be dinner time. After a short ride, we find ourselves at a place called Smackers for dinner.
I have not mentioned up to this point that this day Oct. 21. 2006 was mine and Judy's 40th wedding anniversary and everyone with us had made this day very special.
Well, Sunday morning comes and this is go home day. Again we find ourselves facing a cold and wet ride. But Judy has prayed special prayers and again we ride into what turns out to be a gorgeous day with us staying just behind the rain. We leave Waynesville and head up Mt. Pisgah and onto the Blue Ridge Parkway, with our destination for the day being home with a stop in Chimney Rock for lunch. After lunch it was get home time, but not without an ice cream stop at Brewsters near Spartanburg. After that we were back on the to home carrying with us the memories of the greatest bike trip that we had ever taken. My Thanks to all of our Starrider friends who shared this with us and as always we are looking forward to more great adventures like this one. 384, ride to eat, and eat to ride
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