We had 6 bikes with 6 riders meet at the Waffle House on 176 & Springfield, one of which was new to our group! Kim Barnette from Harley of Greenville, invited by Doc.
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| Kim Barnette and Sarge |
The decision was made in the parking lot to head northwest to Little Switzerland, so at 9:30 a.m. we rode toward Lake Blalock via Old Furnace Road through Boiling Springs, to 221 through Chesnee.
After a brief stop at the Hot Spot gas station in Chesnee, we made the long, straight run north on Hwy 221 to Marion, NC. We made our second stop at the Shell gas station at 221 and I-40 in Glenwood to top off the tanks and stretch our legs, then continued on around Marion on 221.
We hung a left onto 226 near North Cove and began to wind up the snaky mountain road to Little Switzerland. By this point we were happy to get off Hwy 221; it’s a pretty ride, just long and straight. Heaven forbid the straight hauls… Curvy is much more fun!
We took the 11 mile ride to Little Switzerland nice and easy, not having any other vehicles ahead of us, and pulled in to the Mountain View Restaurant just in time for lunch!
Before our lunch was served, we were treated to some entertainment by a waitress, who mistook our new rider, Kim, for a petty thief. It seems that Kim had walked in with a “31 brand” purse, and the waitress purportedly had an identical purse stolen from her Jeep earlier that day. Instead of politely asking Kim to verify ownership, the girl blitzed across the deck, got in Kim’s face and demanded to see the purse, claiming that it was hers and that Kim had stolen it from her Jeep. While the rest of our group sat there in awe, I was thinking, “Girl, all that stands between our friend and you are 5 big BIKERS… This may not end well for you!” But Kim showed great restraint, handed the girl her purse, and we all watched as she scavenged through its contents. The waitress, realizing she had made a grave mistake, tossed the 31 back at Kim and fled the scene in tears. Proving that chivalry still exists, our 1st Officer, Sarge, had an impromptu meeting with the restaurant owner inside, and the girl eventually came back out to apologize to Kim, and all was well. Case Closed.
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| Kim looking pissed! |
Oh, and the food wasn’t bad either!
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| Big Ben and Sarge |
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| Will and Brian |
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| View from our table! |
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| Another view from the table! |
After our “eventful” lunch, we headed left onto the Blue Ridge Parkway for a breezy ride under the canopies of trees and tunnels, and then another left onto NC 80 (The Devil’s Staircase) back toward Marion.
Halfway down, we were captured by http://www.blindkenny.com/ photography! Click on the link to find our pics! (Click “Find Your Photos”, then on September 9 on the Calendar)
We backtracked to the Shell station on Hwy 221 & I-40 just outside Marion, took another butt rest, and decided to head back through Rutherfordton, hang a right onto 64 and enjoy a coffee break at The Rock (Chimney Rock). Big Ben and Stud Muffin continued on 221 for home, and the rest of us criminals rode down 64.
We ended our day by enjoying a great coffee break on the back deck of Fibber Maggie’s Riverfront Inn, sharing stories and laughing about The Great 31 Purse Caper, as it will come to be known.
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| Smoke Break! (check out the sign) |
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| Coffee Break... |
We covered 230 miles for the day, beginning at 9:30 a.m. and ending around 6:00 p.m.
The weather was clear blue skies, no clouds to speak of, and low 60 deg temps all day. The weather was honestly the icing on the cake for the ride. It definitely put us all in the fall season mood!
Until next weekend, ride safe, and have an excellent week at work!
This is Doc, signing off.
Mike “Doc” Driscoll
2nd Officer, SCRC 313
Great ride, looking forward to another one soon!
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