The Foothills Parkway continues to be my favorite route for training each week. I’ve traversed the Parkway between HWY 129 and HWY 321 more than 60 times this year and it’s refreshing every time I ride it. I rode it yesterday – and then elected to take my mountain bike out for a wet-weather ride on the “closed” side of the Foothills Parkway deep into the heart of Blount County looking down toward Townsend.

With the leaves almost gone, the valleys on either side of the ridge are now visible, adding new sites and vistas not viewable in the heart of summer. Soon enough, Clingmans Dome will be capped with snow – and I’ll be on the Parkway to capture the imagery.

The snap shoot herein was photographed last Sunday in the late afternoon. Enjoy.

The Foothills Parkway is a retreat of sorts. I have the opportunity to be on “high” ground and it feels closer to the heavens above – in some small way. Certainly I enjoy the views and the ability to get away from the rest of the world around me.

This Sunday, my trek across the Foothills was just beautiful, but a little loud. Well, sorta-kinda. While asking the Big Guy and the powers-at-be for some assistance, motorcycles passed me en masse. Literally. I experienced more than 140 to the top of the Parkway and another 120 coming back down. Whoa. I suspect the wet Saturday created a ton of pent up energy to “ride.” And rideth they dideth. Ok then. Sunday was grand. Except that I had to work – and that wasn’t very much fun. I did ride – and that was fun. Nothing else to add.
Ride oneth.

Over the last four months I’ve ridden the Foothills Parkway more than 45 times; many of which were from Highway 321 to Highway 129 and back. It’s become a ritual for me on Tuesday and then again on Saturday and Sunday. During the summer months I managed a few weeks where I rode the Parkway four times in a week. Someone asked me recently, “are you bored with that route?” My answer, “not at all.”

Actually it’s very relaxing and different each time. There are no mail boxes, dogs, stores, or houses to mark the route. Other than the pull-off areas along the way (overlooks), the route is tree-lined and quiet. Well, most of the time.

Saturday’s rain was a soaker. I left at 8:25 and by 9:40 I was at the top headed toward 129. On the way down I noticed rain clouds and rain showers in the eastern valley. Eventually the showers poured and I was soaked. The water in my shoes was coming out on the sides! I’ve learned to deal with the rain – and riding on one inch wide tires at 35mph (downhill) in the rain. While I was prepared with a plastic baggie for the iPod –  the heartrate monitor didn’t like the excessive mositure. Today’s image was taken from the waterproof (!) Pentax looking toward Townsend.

Ride oneth.

Over the past week I’ve had the opportunity to ride the Foothills Parkway four times. Two of those were end-to-end from 129 over to 321. It’s a spiritual experience to say the least. Besides, it’s the best way I know to drop four or five pounds in a single workout. It’s the cornerstone to my diet of carbs, sweet treats (like chocolate) and beer. Enough said. This photo was taken atop the Parkway on Saturday, July 25th, 2009. Enjoy.

Ok then – I rode my bike on my favorite stretch of road today: the Foothills Parkway. Few cars were moving, but I was passed by a couple of hundred (yes more than 200) motorcycles. I experienced only one close call – a racer-bike (go figure).

Mid-way up the first climb an ambulance passed me with sirens blaring loudly. A few minutes later a Tennessee State Trooper passed me. I suspect it was a racer-bike doing something stupid on the Dragon.

The Dragon has many corners and most of them are shaded by large trees. Those trees tend to create damp, slick corners and it’s very easy to get sideways along the way. One suggestion for all those motorcyclists who want to go fast: rent the track at Virginia International Raceway – or better yet, sign up for a track day and “prove” your worth. It’s so easy to brag about racing down the Dragon, but few of those riders have the balls to attempt to race on a real track. Why? Because they aren’t fast. Period. They tend to learn a few corners and the lines and that’s it. They also seem to forget it’s a public road meant for TWO-WAY travel. Ergo, when you cross the yellow line and smack a vehicle head on  – it’s going to hurt. Nuf said.

The photo for today was taken on Hwy 129 near the entrance to the Foothills Parkway. Njoy.

The day was brisk; burr-burr.

When I left the house at 11:00AM it was 30 degrees outside. By the time I crested the Foothills Parkway the temp was a tropical 24 degrees. Ah, the temp drops a few degrees when you’re atop the mountains.

I traversed the Foothills over to the Dragon and then to Fontana Village … and back. The 90+ miles required almost 6 hours (which included about 12 minutes of bio-breaks, eating and clothing addition/subtraction). Sure enough the total climbing elevation was just over 7,500 feet; no wonder I’m tired. The future of training will include more of the same, with warmer temps I hope.

Ride oneth.

After riding my bike 75 miles in truly cold weather, I am exhausted.

I rode from my house to the Dragon and back, and the temp (windchill) was around 34 degrees. Burr.

Actually I rode 37.5 miles from home and turned around … thank goodness. On the return trip, as I crossed  the Foothills Parkway, I looked east toward Gatlinburg and North Carolina … wow. Every mountain top was covered in snow. It was a beautiful sight, but the brisk temps made the trek a little “tougher.” I stopped on my return trip to snap the photo of the day. Enjoy.

Long shadows this afternoon created a dramatic scene along the Foothills Parkway. Temps were perfect, as were road conditions. This short stretch of the the Foothills Parkway is “sweet.” The Foothills are considered a national parkway which, if completed, will traverse the foothills of the northern Great Smoky Mountains in East Tennessee, located in the Southeastern United States. The 71-mile (114 km) parkway will ideally connect U.S. Route 129 along the Little Tennessee River in the west with Interstate 40 along the Pigeon River in the east, passing through parts of Blount County, Sevier County, and Cocke County. However, it’s been under construction since 1944. (Alaska’s built more bridges to nowhere and we can’t complete the Parkway?) Go figure.

Eventually large sections of the Parkway will cross a series of high ridges running roughly parallel to the Tennessee boundary of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and will offer unobstructed views of the Great Smokies to the south and the Tennessee Valley to the north. When this road is completed I intend of riding it end-to-end. For now, enjoy the photo. Make sure to click the photo for the 2000 pixel-width version. Ride on.

This week I’ve ventured to the Parkway four (4) times. Imagine riding the same stretch of road four days during a week. I did and it was truly wonderful. Why? Because it’s all uphill, the scenery is beautiful, there are no dogs, and you can obtain water (free) at the Look Out camp site. While the BGE rules my heart, and Hawai’i is #2, the Foothills reside in 3rd place. Repeated visits to this stretch of road this week were driven subconsciously by a desire to extend summer. I vowed today to keep her on my weekly ride list over the late Fall and winter months. So it is written – so it shall be done. Ride “oneth.”

The sky is the daily bread of the eyes.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson