SheepOfBlue

So after two cancellations due to rain I got in a ride I had plotted. The basic plan was to head east to Scottsboro (all places are in AL) then head down to Ft Payne past the Alabama Museum and then up to Little River Canyon. Run the rim road then down to Dog Town. Wander the back roads from there to Talladega National Forest. Make a stop at Cheaha State Park (highest point in AL) From there loop down and come back north via TGP. Then back in the fast way.

Well the day started with a swing by the breakfast bar, but I passed as I need to improve my aerodynamics. The minions in training were doing well though

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	route.pdf (584.5 KB, 3 views)
	July19.pdf (198.3 KB, 0 views)

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SheepOfBlue

Next I headed east and saw the bridge was closed ... Well not really they just closed one half of a bridge I despise and are replacing it. So you can still get across the river. As I thought about getting across at alternate places I realized my route was wrong. I should have detoured at the river and went into Valley head to maximize turns and bypassed Ft Payne altogether. Oh well I was not 100% sure so I just continued on the planned route. The ride was fairly uneventful and pleasant though as I headed up the mountain after getting to Ft Payne. The heat was getting up there , because I stayed fairly low the heat just climbed and then stay at water free hot tub temp. Perfect to get warm all the way through The rim road is AL176 and while fun care must be taken. The road tends to get minor gravel washes at random spots (none today though) and lots of tourists. Add in the facts that it has some dangerous pitch changes and a deep canyon on one side and you can have fun but must keep speeds well under control (there is more than a few turns that crest a hill and then drop hard right at turn in which could be fatal at speed when the front washes). Still the road is fun at moderate speed and the scenery is fantastic.

First pic is a historic train station in Ft Payne the rest are little river canyon

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SheepOfBlue

Well I get to the end and the GPS is acting bizarre but I decide to trust it, bad mistake For some reason it decides to route me back along the state portion of the rim road. That section while MUCH better than it used to be is narrow, with horrific pavement and lots of gravel. It wanted to route me a 'shortcut' to Dog Town but the road in question is more for a motard than CBR So after looping back to the end of the Federal part I proceed again. This time I ignore the turn and go straight down to Dog Town. A loss of time but far from a disaster. From there I proceed to Talladega National Forest.

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A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way

SheepOfBlue

As I near I20 I see something that looked interesting on the GPS and detour This is a stroke of luck as I pass the start of the Talladega Forest scenic route and get on at the head rather than miles lower as was routed. The road is winding and car free. Pavement is spotty as they stoned it eons ago. The grip was good but the bike tended to move a bit on the grain. Disconcerting at first but when I got used to it the road was a nice lazy cruise. Decent turns but I would not want to bang it up a notch on that pavement. Got some pics at an overlook and road down to Cheaha for more pics, a magnet and a water break.

Not sure what was up with the guys riding with sidearms The one idiot seemed a bit to full of himself for me to want him armed

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A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way

SheepOfBlue

Here I make my big mistake though. The GPS is unclear on what way to go so I head out Cheaha road.... BIG MISTAKE! The pavement is dodgy then it turns into a long stretch that was recently stoned (still had signs up). Had I headed down as the was planned and hit 49 I would have had a nice winding road and loop back to TGP. Instead I took the same time to go less distance and less enjoyable

Got to TGP about 4 and snapped a couple of pictures.

From there it was back in, taking about 2:30 but again the GPS routed me strange at one point. I was paralleled onto a crap city road instead of staying on the main road about 1/4 mile away Not sure why it was cranky today but it steered me wrong multiple times.

Total ride about 400 miles. A nice ride and a change from my normal haunts.

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A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way

TornadoB8

Where are the pics.

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CCS#27
Dunlop, Vortex, Vesrah, Silkolene

SheepOfBlue

Won't let me upload. Says I have hit my quota. I will ping the supers today

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A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way

ONEvcs

Si, dales un "pingazo".

SheepOfBlue

Oh and I have no photos but I forgot about the jerky stand I passed. You know you are in 'bama when you pass a stand that only sells jerky.... Of course being a local I stopped for some Buffalo and Elk jerky

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A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way

SheepOfBlue

Pics added and some that had to be included also

First was just to hard to pass

The other two guess some goat wizzed in his wheaties

There now quit whining about the delay

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A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way

TAZ

Cool ride report, and thanks for sharing!

You might want to reconsider putting so much faith in that GPS.
Do it the old-fashioned way - plot out the course beforehand, and perhaps rely on the GPS only if you get lost.

One thing I like to do is plan my trips as independent legs which are strung together to make a loop. That way, if I get off-track, I can continue the original course as long as I can find my way to my next 'waypoint'.

SheepOfBlue

I don't totally rely on it in most cases but I was hoping to find a back way down. Most of the time I use it more to guess the time to the next transistion (or destination) I also have maps for most states down here (though some of that was sub-state map riding) except NC as I gave it away one time and have not grabbed a replacement. Also the roads in that area are not marked to well .

Next I might have to go on a 200mile micro ride to drag the Seamus clan along

Oh and Juan I have less than no idea what you said (normally that is my job )

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A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way