Time to start getting the bike ready, retorquing the front pulley, testing the air beds ...... repacking the bed roll with the two air beds rolled up inside it.

Did the airbed test inflate/deflate using the little blower device.   It can be full in less than a minute, it can get sucked flat in less than 2 minutes.   Fusing on the bike socket is good for the workload and the battery can still start the engine after one inflate/deflate cycle without having to run the engine.   To be safe, I will carry a small charger and a cord inside my clothes bag along with the cell phone charger for cabin use.

Bed roll is larger now, has a ground sheet and a fatter air bed inside it now.   Theoretical is now practical, so I am good to go.

I could do it the week later if the weather is better. I really don't like riding in the rain!

Bad news from work -- they are scheduling a training weekend for the weekend of the 10th 11th 12th so on those days I will be required to be sitting in a classroom instead of going to the mountains.

We will just have to judge the weather closer in and decide what to do.


Right now we have Mi Mountain reserved on the original dates, June 17th and 18th.


If the weather pulls nasty, we can abort June 17th and 18th as we have no money laid down at Mi Mountain as they take no charge card anything, just cash or checks upon arrival.

The one weekend I said that I can't do it is the 12th.......I have to help my uncle that weekend.

Since you want to practice your "camping"....it really doesn't matter if we don't have a cabin "guaranteed" upon our arrival.  If we can't get a $ 30 cabin.....tent spaces are never hard to find.

Dave

The weather forecast for the 16/17/18 is looking better....some morning rain is forecast for the 19th.

http://www.accuweather.com/en/us/franklin-nc/28734/june-weather/334781?monyr=...

With more than 2 weeks to go.....it still can change - but at this point it looks promising!

I met with Dean last night, and since he has been going to the area 2-3 times a year for the last 14 years......he had some information (and a marked up GA map) to share.

He says some of the best riding is in norther GA.  The roads aren't clogged up with campers and tourists, and the roads are generally in very good condition.  He really likes 28 all the way from Deals Gap, then south past Franklin, then just after passing into Georgia turn right onto Warwoman and go over to Clayton.  From there continue west to 76, then you have a choice of continuing west on 2 or south on 197.  There are several loops that are really good, and they include 129/19 through Blood Mountain, and the B. Russel Scenic Highway which is 348.

He also suggested a good lunch spot is the Two Wheels Inn that is located at the intersection of 180 and 60 - for his adventurous riding style (Ducati Multi Strada) the TWI is about 2.5 hour from Franklin.  One of there "all day routes" is from Franklin south on 28, and over to the TWI for lunch as described above, then northwest on 60 and another road or two to Tellico Plains, then onto the Cherohala, then back to Franklin - which is a 320 mile loop.  He also said a small town called Helen is always crowded - it is a Swiss Village kind of place and full of crafts and people.

Here is a link to the TWI - Dean says to be there before 2 if you want lunch.
http://www.twowheelsonly.com/

Oldfellor.....decide if you want to stay in Franklin for 3 days - or if you want to practice your rambling.      

Here is a MapQuest route from Franklin to TWI....it is just over 3 hours non-stop.....about 111 miles.  All of the riding area is accessible from Franklin, and according to Dean having to ride back on the same road is never boring, as they are like completely different roads.....in one direction you have lots of downhill turns, and on the return route they are uphill turns.

https://www.mapquest.com/directions/from/us/nc/franklin-282022239/to/us/north...

There isn't any reason for us both to bring a tent....unless it is a tiny backpack tent that only sleeps one.  If you don't have a tent, I have a 2 person backback tent that might work.....I will set it up and see how big it is.  This one was just a bit too small and we got a bigger tent that could fit us and the dog - but I believe it is OK for 2 people and a little bit of gear.  The weird part is that our much larger tent packs up into a bag that is only about 50% bigger than the smaller/lighter tent.....I will see which one packs on the bike best.