interesting ride out of atlanta. To North Carolina and Tennessee

[Ga. Cycle Rider]

Here is one that in all my 30 plus years of ga, tn and Nc riding that I have not done until last week. I chose a route up into the Ga mountains and then headed into the Trackrock area off Ga 180 just past Richard Russell. Made my way up to Ga 76/2 at Young Harris. A quick turn off on Hwy 66 got me to Nc old hwy 64. A nice twisty ride west on Old 64 brought me into Murphy Nc. After crossing hwy 129 I made a right turn onto Joe Brown Hwy. Even though the signs said the road ended and turned to dirt etc etc, and I was not on my KLR, I kept going. Well after at least a 20 mile ride through up and down switchback turns rolling past farms and older homesteads I came upon Hiawassee dam access road. a left there took me on a deserted stretch of backroad that straddled lake hiawassee and eventually crossed the dam. That road dead ended at Nc hwy 294. A right turn there rolled me past a pretty wild place with some religious over tones called Field in the woods. This place had a hillside with a 200 step stairway that took you to the top of a hill that had the ten commandments spelled out in huge letters. It had no effect on me personally but was interesting at the least.

Nc 294 turned into Tn 123 and  intersected with Tn 68. At that point one could choose to go north on 68 up to Tellico Planes and head over Cherohala Skyway or head south back to Copperhill/Mckayesville  to ga Hwy 60 back down to Suches/dahlonega area into north atlanta.

I have been all around it, but have never ridden the Joe Brown Highway.

[gnuse]

I do that several times a year to enjoy the different seasons. Glad you let us in on your ride. There are quite a few options to ride in that area and around that loop.

[Roadhound]

Joe Brown Hwy is an interesting little piece of road. If you enjoyed it, you might want to ride Charlie Creek Road in NC. It runs off of Hwy 215 just east of the parkway. Charlie Creek Road will take you to NC281 (Canada Road) right on 281 will take you to Hwy 107 just south of Cullowhee, NC.

[accbiker]

Yeah, Trackrock Church Road is a great little road north of Brasstown Bald.  Great find.

-David
Athens, GA

[jdlstorage]

Interesting route.  I have been many places throughout north Georgia but not that one.  Once this weather decides what it is going to do I will plan on going that way.

Jim

[gnuse]

I think Friday's weather may find me retracing your route. 

[Ron Dawg]

If you get over around Trackrock, look for the soapstone boulders beside the road with the Indian carvings in them and stop in at Alexander's General Store. That's like a family owned, pre-historic Wal-Mart. They have great deals sometimes on all kinds of stuff from hunting gear to  major appliances. You need to see it.

[gnuse]

I can't believe I have been by there, hard to forget due to the S bend and church right nearby. I will make a point of stopping. Know Alexander's and agree on your comments. My wife says she hopes she never finds clothes she likes in there because her tastes run more towards the current decades. 

[Ga. Cycle Rider]

Joe Brown Hwy is an interesting little piece of road. If you enjoyed it, you might want to ride Charlie Creek Road in NC. It runs off of Hwy 215 just east of the parkway. Charlie Creek Road will take you to NC281 (Canada Road) right on 281 will take you to Hwy 107 just south of Cullowhee, NC.

    I have been on Charlie Creek road several times. My biggest problem with it is I always blow by it coming south on 215 and have to turn around to get on it. The blue hair parkway is a favorite of mine due to the fact that I run up to My friend Gary Jensens place all the time, it is the Switzerland inn on the BRP north of Asheville. Too bad he is closed for the season right now. I would really like to be up there for his great seafood and prime rib buffet. I also love to ride 215 north bound from hwy 64 all the way into Canton NC. and then weave through the back roads up to Marshall Nc. Its a great day ride out of North Atlanta where I live. It winds up being a little over 400 miles round trip.

[gnuse]

As forcast, it was a perfect riding day today. Blue skies, mild temperature, NO traffic, and a nice shiny new C14. Stopped short of riding the Cherahola, but other than that it was good. I love this bike and I love these roads.

[Ga. Cycle Rider]

As forcast, it was a perfect riding day today. Blue skies, mild temperature, NO traffic, and a nice shiny new C14. Stopped short of riding the Cherahola, but other than that it was good. I love this bike and I love these roads.

The no traffic part was one of the good things I noticed while riding that loop last Sunday. Gotta know it was all yours on a Friday. I am probably going to roll up to Stumphouse Tunnel on Sunday after I watch my wifes  LSU tigers fight it out with the  Dawgs for the S.E.C.   championship on saturday. Anyone not familiar with The Stumphouse Tunnel might want to google it. It is a partially completed Railroad tunnel bored into the side of a mountain between Highlands NC and Wahalla SC. I get to it by rolling out war woman rd out of Clayton Ga and go down hwy 28 just past the intersection of 107 that takes you back to Cashiers. Its well worth checking out. It stays a certain temp in the tunnel that made it perfect for curing cheese as was done there before the state of SC took it over and opened it to the public.