Spring 2019

Here's a bunch of stuff after me and my wife's awesome trip down South for the winter.
Don't have time to write about all of it--------but here's a bit of it.
Lot's of fun !!!!

 

I drove our motorhome down to Alto Pass, Illinois and camped on a cliff overlooking Bald Knob
mountain----on top is a beautiful huge white cross visible for miles---too far off to see in this picture.
It's really not a campsite but it's off season and no one seemed to mind I was there for 2 days. I even
got a city council mens OK---not sure that meant anything---but I didn't get run off.

 

 

 

So why was I here you ask ???? Two reasons.
First there was an offroad (gravel road) bicycle race here about 2 weeks ago and I watched a video ot it
and got the route figured out that they rode and decided to ride it alone on my bicycle.
2nd----I was waiting for my good buddy "Loosenut" to get down here so we could do some dual-sport
motorcyle riding. He'd been down in a couple days.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The bicycle race finished right here. This is an old railroad bed that was part of the route.
It is only legal now for hikers and bicyclists--------used to ride it on my old Bultaco--but that's
ancient news.

 

 

I never knew the total history of this old railroad. Well here it is.

 

 

 

 

My motorhome is parked right on top of this bluff. I both hiked the short portion of the
railroad bed and bicycled it.

 

 

 

Lot's of neat stuff still out there---this is a beautiful area that I sometimes take for granted.

 

 

 

 

So off on the bicycle race route I went. There would be 2 road closures that I would have to
figure my way around. I knew that when I started the ride and didn't know what I'd do
to get thru or around them.

 

 

 

I had no clue gravel bicycle racing was so popular---all kinds of events all over the world
I found out. All of this route I had been riding my motorcle on since the 70's and was very
familiar what I was getting into. And there were probably 20 serious climbs I would
have to do.

 

 

 

Nobody anywhere out here. Kids are in School---it's mid week---everybody's working and it'stoo bad of weather for
most folks.............my favorite time to get out. This is the way I see cool stuff without rubbing elbows
with a jillion other people.

 

 

 

 

My first road closure----about 3 miles thru here.
I rode thru it knowing the forest service let the racers use this route.
Found out this closure was going to last a long time because of some erosion.
I didn't see any----------none---nada---nothing.

 

 

Road past the Godwin Trailhead----a 6 mile hiking trail.
Me and my buddy Jay Grafton rode it on our mountain bicycles in 1997 ----22 years ago???

 

 

 

Here's a picture of us starting the ride.
My wife dropped us off here and picked us up in Grand Tower.
1997

 

 

Yeh that's me-----we bit off more than we could chew and pushed the bikes
more than we rode them.

 

 

 

 

Meanwhile on Pine Hills road overlooking the Mississippi river to the West.

 

 

Went past the campground I would end up in a couple days later waiting on Loosenut.

 

 

 

 

I've been on many an organized bicycle ride-----these marking were for the racers.
You followed the green arrow for the 100K route and the other for the shorter route.
I followed the shorter route and planned to ride the other one the next day.
Rain and mud changed my mind on that one. And that route is a bit tough on a motorcycle.
And I knew it. Me and loosenut did ride it tho and it was a hoot-----that will follow
in a later video.

 

 

My second road closure really had me worried. If I had to go around this it would mean another
25 miles of bicyling for me--------I didn't have it in me.
I sweet talked my way thru the equipment and men.
Drop offs----dirt, sand, gravel and stuff laying everywhere as I went thru.
I can't believe they let me thru-----you know how liability is these days.

 

 

Road 30.4 miles according to my ODO-----not bad for an ole' man.
By the way-----my bike is electric and the battery was pretty much shot after all those climbs.
You still pedal a lot and get a good workout.

Here's a video of my bicycle ride.

 

 

So ---------Loosenut shows up and we go for a heck of a ride on our dualsports.

 

 

 

 

Loosenut jumped it-------I'm too old to jump or wheelie.
So he helped me across !!!!!!
Besides he had one of those awesome Yamaha WR250R's and all I had was a 350 KTM.

 

 

One thing I wanted to do on this ride was check on an old washed out bridge over Huchisons creek.
Actually it's on a creek adjacent to Huchinsons creek.
It's one of my favorite roads in Southern Illinois and I've been so pissed they've never fixed it.
They've pissed our tax dollars away on some stupid investigation I suppose.
Half your tax dollars go on investigations---then they investigate the investigation.

 

 

 

 

We had to cross to cross Huchinsons creek to get to the old bridge-------2 days earlier it was 4 feet deep and impassable.

 

 

 

 

 

 

My buddy Loosenut
If they would have fixed this bridge when it first got washed out---it would have been quick
cheap and easy-----------but not now-----------stupidity. At first all it needed was some boards replaced
on the deck.

 

 

 

 

Were just having fun----playing hide and seek like a couple school boys.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The old courthouse in Thebes, Illinois on the Mississippi river.
We stopped here for a snack and pondered life in general.

 

 

 

 

 

I didn't mean to cause such a problem-------------but I sure did !!!!

 

 

 

 

This is bald knob cross on top of...............you guessed it----------bald knob.
Not the highest point in Illinois as some think.
It is lit up at nite and I got to see it for the first time lit up while camped in Alto Pass.

 

 

 

I rode my honda 250 rally a lot over the 2 days we rode together.
And yep---------we rode right thru this water. I rode thru it once by myself and it was pretty deep.
Me and Loosenut came back as I wanted to take him thru here and new the water would be down
a little------------but it had some up a good 6-8 inches and we barely got thru. The water
went a long ways around the corner. I'd tell you where we were at..........but I'd have to kill ya.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I made the hard part--------got so excited I just fell over.
Loosenut thought it was hilarious--------and it was.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Can you hear me now !!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

Yeh-----------I can hear ya !!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

I led one day------Loosenut led the next.
Man we had a loot !!! Steve always led us to deep water---------I luv it.

 

 

 

 

 

Well if you can't hear me I'll just come to you.

 

 

 

 

Road below was 6 foot deep I bet.

 

 

 

 

 

It was hard not to go for it---------but we didn't

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cool little pond in Southern Illinois.
Bean Ridge on Bean Ridge road.

 

 

 

Back at Pine Hills Campground---Steve had pulled his toyhauler down and we were as comfy as could be.
The Shawnee forest service is fine with gathering firewood from fallen trees. I had brought my Milwaukee battery
chain saw and we had a heck of a fire.

 

Here's a video of me and Loosenuts fun.

 

 

 

More Video With The Loosenut

 

 

 

More as I hit the road in the van with toys in the back.
I headed down thru Kentucky with my Honda Rally and bicycle in my van and took small 2 lane
backroads all the way-------just pokin' along with no particular route in mind at all. I got near Mammoth
Cave National Park to camp not knowing fully what was in store for me. I always ask for maps of parks
when I go in to find hiking trails, bicycle trails and neat stuff to see----I was not dissapointed.

 

 

 

The Mammoth Cave R.R. Co. was so interesting.
It was built for one purpose------to take tourists to the cave from what is now the town of Park City, Ky.

 

 

 

 

The railroad over the years was abandoned after many years and good roads were built into the park.
On the old railroad bed they built a bicycle trail thru the woods.

 

 

 

A little of the trail ran alongside the highway and crossed it several times.

 

 

 

With some nice overlooks along the way.

 

 

 

The trail didn't always stay on the old railroad bed as some of it was destroyed building the roads.
As you can see an old steam locomotive isn't capable of climbing anything like this.
I think they can only do at the most a 5% grade-------this was much more.

 

 

 

The Furlong cemetery was very interesting. It was just off the trail a bit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The trail went right by a small pond with a board walk all the way around it.
Of couse I had to ride it.

 

 

 

 

A Hearth is the only remains of an old house along the route.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gentle grades and gentle curves give way to the old railroad bed.

 

 

 

This is the Southern terminus of the bike trail as it neared Park City, Ky.

 

 

 

 

Me and my wife have ridden many old railroad grades on our bicycles.
For me this was the most entertaining with all the hills and curves.

 

 

 

A video of my Bicycle ride

 

 

 

March Moto Madness Motorsickle Rally
After my stay at Mammoth Cave National Park I made my way Southeast on very small
curvy and hilly backroads and was hungry for breakfast. I wish I took pictures inside this place
but would have felt like I was intruding on the locals around the woodstove in here.
I had a great breakfast and a long conversation with an 85 year old man whose grandfather
built this place. The insides were like 1800----not a put on showpiece---it was still like the way
it was and has been owned by the original family until about 4 years ago.
Google---find out where it is----------and go. Leave your camera and cellphone in the car or
you might get thrown out.

 

 

 

 

 

Just a few miles out of the town of Tellico Plains, Tennessee I came to the March Moto Madness
motorsickle rally. I've been here a couple times before but have been riding the area starting in the
80's or so. I rode the Tail Of The Dragon before it was called that.
I think over 400 riders show up to ride the mountain backroads.

 

 

Right away I met these fine folks.
We spent the next 3 days riding together-------all day long for 3 days.
Great riding partners from Indiana.

Left: Me (Honda 250 Rally)
Next: Paul Carothers (KTM 500 EXC)
3rd to right: Ann Fisher (Yamaha XT250)
Right: Jeff Fisher (KLR---a green one)

 

 

 

 

Bikes were my 250 Honda Rally, KLR, Yamaha 250XT and a KTM 500EXC.
These 2 guys were way better riders than I was--------I tried to keep up.

 

 

Anns bike was brand new and fit her to a tee.
She road her husbands KLR before the new Yamaha which was a much too heavy bike for her.
This made her a much better rider.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The riding in the mountains around Tellico Plains was awesome as usual.
Seems I didn't take all that many pictures-----the video shows it all much better.

 

 

 

 

Stuff We Saw

 

 

 

 

Locals call this "The Ruins"
I was told what this stuff was in the next pictures but don't remember.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All my buddies were members of the Mud Dobber gang.
An offroad club that they are very active in.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dangdest thing------all 3 of us had the same helmet--------and same color.
We looked like a team I guess.
And guess we kind-a were.

 

 

 

 

Somebody in our group came up with this rock.
I asked for it as my wife likes me to pick up rocks on my travels so she can paint them.
I usually don't like carrying 40 pounds of rocks on my small dual-sport so this one rock would
have to do. I think I had 100 lbs. of rocks in our motorhome on our earlier trip to the Southwest.
Watch the old movie "The Long Long Trailer" with Lucille Ball-------you'll see what I mean.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The weather at this rally has been known to be very crappy. One year about 6 tents ended up in the trees.
And my EZ-UP awning got wadded up.
This year was the best year for weather---warm and dry each day--------until it wasn't.
Actually this happened after the ride was over.
I told one young guy this looked like the aftermath of "Woodstock".
He said "Whats Woodstock" ?????

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My white Transit Van and my buddies vehicles.

 

 

Ann and her husband had built a beautiful bike hauler and camper with their transit van.

 

A Short Video of the Rally

 

 

And finally more stuff to do on my way home !!!!

I left the rally that Sunday morning and had no plan.
Thought I might go riding down in Mississippi or something ????
I needed a bath---some said at the rally you'd get dirtier taking a shower there---my wife would
have never went in there !!!
So I spotted this state park that sounded really neat.
I parked and unloaded at a nice campspot at "Fall Creek Falls" state park.

 

 

Loaded with some maps I got on my bicycle and went exploring the next morning.
It was midweek-----kids were in School---mom's and dad's had went back to work and it was a
bit cool out for most folks----so I dang near had the place to myself.
I'm gonna regret it when it warms up.

 

 

 

Found a bike trail to the main attraction---the big falls.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I rode my bike to an overlook to the big falls---figuring I could ride down to the falls on my bike.
NOT !!!!

 

 

 

 

 

The big falls fell into a huge hole------it was spectacular but not much water was going over the edge.
That hole is very deep.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I hiked almost to the bottom-------the hiking was extreme.
This is some of the trail down and is why I was told not to try and ride my bicycle down there.

 

 

Going back up I took some more pictures---it was a good work out for me.
I wasn't steady walking on those rocks but did enjoy the excercise greatly----and the views.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So now what--another falls------was it as spectacular I guessed not-----but it was more.
And a bridge---------well you know me.

 

 

 

 

I took a trail first to this suspension bridge.
Felt like I was in the jungles of Borneo--------wherever that is.
It made my whole trip----this bridge did-------------I'm easy.

 

 

 

 

 

At least a couple hundred feet across and maybe a hundred foot down to the river.

 

 

 

 

 

I got to the other side and hiked down into the river bed hoping to hike to the bottom of Piney Falls.

 

 

The trail ended here---------I was close but wasn't going any farther.

 

 

 

 

 

So I hike back to the Piney falls overlook----expecting to not seeing much---------I was wrong.

 

 

 

 

A bit rocky getting there----but it was a short hike

 

 

 

 

 

Spectacular !!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pull my finger----------see what you get.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So off I went on more bicycle trails around the lake.
Had it all to myself

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Back at camp----------I fired up my Milwaukee battery chain saw and made quick work of
a downed tree. I had a fire.
All Nite long !!!!!

I spent 2 days at this park------one of the nicest I've ever been in. Wouldn't come here in the summer.
It will be packed as I'm sure a lot of other people like it too.
I headed back home after my stay here--and my wife and little doggy DiDi were glad to see me.
And I was glad to see them--------I missed them.

 

A short Video of My Stay at the State Park