August 13-16 2020
This year’s SMC Annual Camp/Cookout and Ride was located in Hiawassee Georgia. The event began on a Thursday and went through Sunday. Our home base was the Bald Mountain Campground and RV resort. Dorsey, John, Roy, Pam, Eric, Tommy and Mike were the first to make it in. Dinner was uptown in Hiawassee at Cancun Mexican restaurant.
Friday mornings ride departed at 11:30 with “Big C” making it in before the departure time.
Friday lunch stop at Hofer’s German cafe in Helen GA.
After lunch we stopped at the Nora Mill Granary grist mill and country store. Dorsey decided to do a little parking lot brake adjustment on the ‘31VL.
After Nora Mill we headed to Anna Ruby Falls for a short hike to see the falls.
Then more beautiful curvy riding roads lead us to a refreshment stop at LaPrade’s Marina on Lake Burton.
A great day of riding Friday found us back at camp for camaraderie, refreshments and some tall tails to be told! A few more SMCer’s arrived, Billy, Allison, Joe, Keith, Debbie, Kendall, Doug, Kent and Jamie (Kent’s buddy from Metter Ga.). Dinner was at Hiawassee Seafood Bar and Grill in Hiawassee.
Saturday morning began wet from the all night rain. The plan was to roll out at 9:30 am. The rain had stopped and was forecast to begin again about midday and continue for the rest of the afternoon rather heavily. We suited up and rolled out to see what the day offered.
The route was cut a bit short as Roy lead us directly to Brasstown Bald (highest point in Ga.) on rain slick roads to wait for Dorsey, Joe, Billy and Allison. Dorsey’s VL was being cantankerous…guess it did not want to get wet so they went back to the campground to get Dorsey’s backup bike, a 350 “Honder”. Go Dorsey!
They rest of us arrived to a cloudy Brasstown Bald parking lot to wait. Eric, BigC, Jamie and Mike decide to do the hike up to the top to be more intimate with the clouds. On a clear day you can see Atlanta 84 miles away. Today’s visibility was about 100 feet. This was a very arduous hike, with us having to stop several times along the way.
On the way down from the top it began to rain. By the time we got to the shelter at the parking lot it was raining pretty hard. The lot was shrouded in clouds as we could not see anybody or the bikes…maybe they left us! Then we began to see one or two get under a small information shelter. Then several guys came up to where we were to get out of the rain. Eric and I said we wished we had our rain gear and Dorsey volunteered to go get our gear. Man it is true, “You Meet The Nicest People On A Honder”!!!
The rain subsided a bit and we headed out with our destination being TWO (Two Wheels Only) for lunch and a reprieve from the rain. On the way the rain was heavy at times and slick. It was still a nice ride though!
Doug’s ’29 Indian Scout proclaimed, “me no likeum rain kemosabe” by not wanting to run, so some roadside diagnosing was in order. Doug coaxed the scout into making it about a mile and a half to TWO.
Our bellies got fueled up and a bit of relaxing took place while waiting for the rain to pass. A bit more scout surgery took place in TWO’s parking lot.
We gassed up the bikes and headed on as the rain looked like it was gone for some more fun on curvy roads.
After a great day of riding and hanging with friends, we convened back at the Ponderosa encampment for a cookout! Hamburgers, hotdogs, cucumber/tomato salad, chips, potato salad and Debbie’s world famous cowboy beans were consumed along with various refreshments. Later that evening a bit of star and satellite gazing took place first with identifying the two planets of Saturn and Jupiter. What a great weekend!!! A big “THANK YOU” to everyone who was able to make it happen!
