Blue behind you

10/5 Sunday

Early in the morning a boat started up nearby. I heard a few guys talking, then quiet. Bruce and I made coffee and packed up slowly. Nate packed up faster without the coffee.

Nate selected a route to Cycle Gear in Chattanooga taking less highway, it lengthened our 2 hour 15 min trip by an additional 30 minutes. Nate pushed straight through in silence while Bruce and I could talk over coms. We discussed gas and breakfast stops that never occurred. After 10 am, Bruce called Cycle Gear and confirmed they had a Cardo radio. He let Nate know at the next road crossing. Bruce lost cell service before he could confirm a hold on one. When we arrived they had what Nate needed.

We refueled and headed off to a Waffle House for a celibatory breakfast. Configuring Nate's new Cardo and upgrading the firmware during breakfast. He drew some looks wearing his helmet in our breakfast booth. Back on the highway out of Chattanooga, we could all communicate again.

We reached Tellico Plains and the Cherohala Skyway by mid afternoon. For a number of miles, we followed a truck towing a trailer. Eventually, Nate and Bruce reached their tolerance limit and passed. I followed. Further along, we reached two Harleys stuck behind a slow car. The bikes waved Nate by and a few turns later Bruce and Nate passed the car. I did not get a good straight away to pass. The Harleys passed the car and then waved me by them. I was out of radio range and trying to catch up.

After passing a few cars, I caught up with three more. The second and third cars pulled off into an overlook, and I quickly passed the remaining van on the straight section of road. A few curves later I saw flashing blues. I slowed down and we traveled a number of corners to the next overlook. Just before stopping I heard the guys on radio. I let them know that I was being pulled over. They didn't have long before I pulled into their pullout with my officer. They kept separate from me while I provided my license and registration. The officer did not ask about them.

One of the Harley guys came and talked. Maybe I shouldn't have waved you by... Not your fault I assured him. Eventually I received a warning for 65 in a 40, and a $160 ticket for passing on a double yellow. After I snapped a few photos I left alone while the office filled out paperwork in his cruiser.

Bruce and Nate caught up many miles later. They think the officer was coming for them when the group of cars blocked him from exiting his pulloff. I was behind that group of cars and passed the van in front of him. They chumed the waters before I swam past. But I was not obeying the traffic laws and deserved the fine.

We next visited Deals Gap and witnessed all sorts of bad behavior. Mostly from very tricked out and expensive foreign cars. It was rather fun to watch, but I couldn't help thinking they all deserved tickets more than I did. We have vowed to avoid the Dragon on weekends, so we left without a ride through today.

We headed for the Iron Horse Motorcycle Lodge via Rt28. Always a very nice road. It was very hard to drive 40mpg on the Cherohala. I was even less successful in staying under the speed limits on Rt28. It's going to be hard to enjoy these roads and obey all the speed limits. Even harder with two devils on my shoulder.