SheepOfBlue

So I decided to run some stuff closer in that I have not been on in a while. The route started by running east out US72 to AL65 which runs through Paint Rock Valley. I detoured at Trenton and ran out a blind canyon that I have not been in for a bit. Still nice at the end but getting houses in it At the end of Paint Rock Valley you can turn left and continue up into TN on AL65. The road is interesting but narrow with no shoulders. Instead I turned right on AL148 and ran up to the top of Skyline Mountain. Running across the top is some fabulous road with easy sweepers and no cross streets. Fun but not at all technical (you could run stupid speed up there) Down the north side has a couple of funs turns dropping a lot of elevation and taking you out to US64. Turn right then exit on US41a into Cowan TN. In Cowan I found a munster mobile for sale. Following that leads up the mountain to Sewanee and the rock a common blue sheep haunt.

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

SheepOfBlue

Usually I continue on to Monteagle but today I headed down TN56 to a natural bridge and the on to Stevenson AL (road swaps to AL117 at the line). The one that looks like a fire ring I believe is the source of the natural bridge. Yep that trickle and LOTS of time

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

SheepOfBlue

Continuing on to Stevenson some ruins

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

SheepOfBlue

Once through Stevenson I continued across the river on AL117 despite the sheep guard in the road. I went up the hill then looped back down to the planned route of CR-91 interesting road but the pavement was spotty running next to the river and got unpredictably narrow and bumpy with not edges running up the mountain. Might be OK if you knew the road but definitely called for care.

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

SheepOfBlue

That took me to AL73 and good pavement again. But now I needed gas so I diverted north rather than the planned southern direction. Well that was good because that was a fun section and ran into TN where it was 156A for a tiny distance then tees on TN156. Running that east out to the Interstate got me to a gas station where I retraced the road (and fun sections ) back south. I then took a nub of AL90 that dropped me into Georgia and onto GA301 headed into Trenton. The eastern side is OK but clogged with people but on the other side is a decent stretch with 3 switchbacks and decent pavement Saw some squids that were amusing. Then turned and retraced my path back through Trenton but then jumped on GA136 going up the other side. This turns to AL71 (where I left 73 it turns to 71 so almost the same road) This leads back to AL117. Then at Stevenson I hit US72 and slabbed back.

Overall a good ride with some sections I would leave out on repeat. However I was well pleased with AL117 which has been in poor condition at times. The TN side has slide areas but the repairs are good and generally do not come into play.

Roughly 277 miles covering a 622 square mile area .... yep Blue Sheep have a large migration pattern

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