Larry's log:
Another 78 degree morning, per the Weather Channel. But to me, it felt cooler this morning. Perhaps the humidity had settled down a bit. We were on fairly major roads for about the first 35 miles. At eight miles, we crossed the Tennessee River. I noticed signs along our route indicating the Sequoiyah Evacuation Route with a picture of two nuclear plant cooling towers. I guess this is the route out of town when the nuke plant explodes.
The route got interesting around Ocoee. This was a town on the Ocoee River, and at the base of the Cherokee National Forest. In my opinion, this was the more scenic of the two forests we rode through today. One rider called the scenery "outrageously spectacular." At Ocoee the road became a narrow, windy two lane road along the river. The town consisted mostly of motels and white water rafting outfits. In fact, most of the traffic over the next 15 miles from here was buses carrying rafts and day-trippers.
The river was used for kayaking in the 1996 Olympics. There is a TVA power plant about 13 miles upriver that generates the rapids. I'm told they regulated the rapids along the river for the Olympics, using this dam. This was also where the rafting trips started. Going by here, it looked like a Normandy invasion, with all of the rafts launching. The river appeared fairly shallow, with rocks clearly visible in many areas. I was also told some of these were added for the Olympics. A mile or two up from the dam was a Visitor's Center where you could walk a suspension bridge across the river.
In general, the scenery along here was woodsy, with good river views to the right every now and again. On the left, wooded bluffs made their way down to the road. There wasn't much climbing on this stretch, but it was very scenic. This seems to be the first National Forest that I haven't had to climb into!
It was also along this stretch where we found out the route would be ten miles less than advertised! It was supposed to be a 134 mile day, but ended up being 124 miles. All of the sudden, landmarks on the card started showing up ten miles early!
Unfortunately, about 25 miles from Ocoee, we turned away from the river onto Rt. 68 towards Georgia. The next five or six miles through Ducktown and Copper Hill, appeared to be old copper mining areas. There was a highway sign noting the site of the first copper smelter in Tennessee. There was either a copper plant or power plant in Copper Hill, where the Boilermakers Union was on strike. Besides their strike signs they had a portable sign noting that they had "gotten rid" of two people, and rhetorically asking which "scabs" would be next? Nice guys.
About two miles later, at about Mile 67, we entered Georgia. We saw a Georgia State Highway Sign, and took pictures there. Then, about a mile later, we saw the Welcome to Georgia sign, so we took pictures again. One more state to go! Lunch was in the small community of Mineral Bluff, GA at Mile 75. I think we had come within several miles of North Carolina on this portion of the ride. It's too bad the route didn't go through there, so I could add another biking state to my list. Unfortunately for me, I wasn't up for exploring on my own today.
The real climbing started after Mineral Bluff. After a few miles there was a sign announcing that the next 33 miles consisted of winding roads with steep grades. I was expecting the worst. However, we've been on windier, steeper roads on other portions of the tour. The nice thing about windy, steep roads is they tend to be scenic. That was the case here, with the trees of the Chatahoochie National Forest providing good shade.
Shortly after the 33 mile sign, we passsed by the Morgantown Baptist Church. I liked their sign, "Vistors Welcome, Members Expected." I've noticed through Kentucky, Tennessee and Georgia, that Jesus is alive and well.
The Chatahoochie Forest entrance was reached about 13 miles after lunch. Unlike the Cherokee, this did feature climbing, along part of the "winding road with steep grades." Without a river alongside, it was mainly a lot of trees and some twisty, several mile long, but not really steep climbs and descents. At Mile 110, there was a scenic overlook of the surrounding valley, which was probably 2000 feet below. I got pictures of that. Across the street was the start of the Appalachian Trail. I was fortunate to see three brown deer here, too. (Do you ever see just one?)
Then, a four or five mile downhill, and some up and down rollers into town. Actually, we're sort of on the edge of town. With 7700 feet of climbing, this was the heaviest climbing day of the tour. So, appropriately, the motel was located at the top of a steep driveway. Fortunately, the clouds, light north wind, and trees had kept the day's temperatures tolerable. I was not totally drenched at the top of the climbs, like I have been in days past. I don't think it topped out at anything more than 90 degrees today. I felt surprisingly good all day.
Apparently, Dahlonega's past was in gold mining. Someone also told me that there used to be a mint here. Today, it is a remote Atlanta suburb, with a touristy town square. There is also a gold museum in town.
In my opinion, the remainder of the tour now is pretty much just going through the pedal strokes. The terrain is flattening, and it looks like a rain-free forecast. Anyone who's pedaled every mile until now, should make every mile to the end.
-- Larry Schwartz
A nice cool morning, for a change. I made sure to take my painkillers and wrap my knees well for the ride. Plus an extra peanut butter and honey bagel for breakfast to power me up for the first part of the ride.
It was a hectic ride to the first rest stop. Plenty of morning commuters going to work. We had quite a bit of climbing and descending to the first sag stop. Drivers were tolerable to us and the north wind pushed us on.
It was a beautiful ride along the Ocoee river and we enjoyed watching the kayakers and white water rafters in the water. Boy did that look like fun! And much cooler! The road became much narrower and we did have a few impatient drivers. Including a bus full of rafters who told us to move off the road. We had nowhere to go but the river and they were the ones with the rafts!!!
We were very happy to find out that the route was 10 miles shorter by the time we reached the 2nd sag stop. From there, we had a few good climbs to lunch in Mineral Bluff. Just prior to lunch, we entered Georgia and did the photos at the signs.
Lunch stop was off to the road and the treat was root beer floats! Not for me. I did not think that I could stomach that and climb after lunch.
After lunch the real climbing began. But the scenery was awesome and Daniel and I were taking turns to stand on the long hills. We took it easy and enjoyed the forested ridges and views off the road. The rest stop at 102 miles was a quick stop to replenish and we continued our climbing for another 8 miles, thru Suches and Woody Gap.
At the top of the climb, the lunch stop with the video camera took some footage of us as we finished climbing and beginning the descent. This was also the trailhead of the Appalachian Trail.
It was 16 miles to the hotel from here and most of the ride was downhill with just a few small uphills. The last climb was into the motel and that was fairly steep. But at least we will be descending it in the morning.
Larry's college roommate and family are here tonight to take us for dinner.
Tomorrow will be 138 miles and 4000 feet of climbing. To South Carolina!!!!
Judith Jolly (and Daniel Schaaf)