My parents decided to make the trip to Ocoee with me and do a little riding for themselves. I think they went mostly because it would be their last chance to take a trip with me before the wedding. We went down Friday after I got off from work, arriving at the Parksville Lake Campground late in the night. We had hoped to stay at Thunder Rock, but it was full so we had to backtrack to Parksville.
A hot night of sleeping in the tent gave way to an early morning in the truck for a drive over to the Blue Ridge Parkway, our route of choice for today. I have ridden the Blue Ridge from Cherokee, NC twice before, both times turning around 38.5 miles down the Parkway at the highest point on the parkway, which tops out at 6,047 ft. The first ride, I climbed into the car at the highest point during a thunderstorm, and last year and I turned around at the highest point and rode 14 miles back before climbing into the car. This year, my plan was to ride out all the way back for a total of 77 miles. The ride out features three mountain climbs of 10, 5 and 12 miles in length. There is a sweet descent 7-mile from Waterrock Knob after the second climb that makes the whole ride worth it. The ride back from the highest point features two climbs of 7 and 4 miles in length. The climb back up to Waterrock Knob is definately the hardest, but overall the trip back is easier.
Garmin satellite layout of my ride on the Blue Ridge Parkway
I settled into a good pace for the entire day, rolling over the first climb and by Big Witch Gap and Thunderstruck Ridge. Couldn't help but get a little AC/DC going in my head for the rest of the day.
You've been...thunderstruck!
Many tunnels along the parkway
The first descent was fun, but I was in climbing mode and ready for the second climb up to the Waterrock Knob Visitor's Center. It was cool to see all the motorcycles that were out on the parkway. Many people gave me the thumbs up as they rode or drove by. I was holding a good pace up this climb. It isn't very steep so I could roll the big ring up most parts. Some black clouds were hanging around the summit, but it never did rain on me. I was feeling great when I reached the visitor's center. I was now 22 miles into the ride with my favorite part coming up.
Dark clouds in the distance
Getting darker as I near Waterrock Knob Visitor's Center
The descent from Waterrock Knob is awesome. Just over 7 miles of 40+ mph descending goodness! The curves are just gentle enough that you can remain tucked if you have the nerves, but sharp enough to still be a challenge and make you question whether to grab the brakes or not. Last year, I tried to catch a car down the mountain. I got it in sight, but never could catch it. I was hoping to have a carrot ahead of me again. It just so happened that a car came by me just as I left the visitor center and began the descent. The early part of the descent is more gradual and only about 35 mph. The car got away from me, but I stayed patient and waited for the curves to begin and the grade to become steeper. I was tucked as low as possible, butt on the top tube below the nose of the saddle and chest on the stem. It isn't the most comfortable position after a few minutes, but dang is it fast!
I was able to catch the car. They noticed me in the rearview and sped up which helped me to go even faster as I was close enough to get a little draft. I was tempted to tuck in right behind them, but there were just too many overlooks for them to turn into and I did not want to end up implanted in their trunk lid. It was such a fun descent. I topped out on the steep part at 66 mph with the draft off the car. That's the fastest I have ever gone on a bike.
Looking into the distance you can see the haze that gives the Great Smoky Mountains their name
Next up, was a 12 mile climb up to the highest point. It was much more gradual than the first two climbs and I was able to big-ring the whole thing. I finally reached the turnaround point after 3 hours and 6 minutes. There were three older ladies at the pulloff that came over and asked me a few questions, like "Where are you riding to?" and the typical "Do you know Lance Armstrong?" Of course I said "Why yes I know Lance. We started together earlier. He should be coming by in a few minutes." No really I didn't say that...but I did think about it. Messing with people is fun.
My parents were behind me on the parkway, plugging along at their own pace. My Mom rode up the first climb and then back down to the truck. My Dad had planned to ride out as far as he could until my Mom caught up in the truck. Then he was going to jump in and they were going to come back and give me food/water support for the rest of the way. On my way back down the 12-mile descent, I passed my Dad who was taking a nature break in clear view at an overlook. Bikes are quiet and give you sneaky ability so you can surprise people while they are watering the bushes. A few miles into the difficult climb back up to Waterrock Knob, my Mom passed by in the truck. She picked up my Dad, who was now on the same climb after turning around behind me.
This climb was definately the hardest of the day. I got rained on for about 4 miles of the climb. It was a gentle rain that felt good on a hot day such as this. The parents caught up to me with a mile to go. I stopped at the truck to refill bottles and have a banana before finishing off the climb. Once over the summit of Waterrock Knob, it was back to clear blue skies and dry roads for the descent. Only one climb remained and it was a fairly easy one compared to all the others. I was up it in no time. My Dad got a little crazy and started pulling off at the overlooks so he could run next to me like a Tour de France hooligan. He almost got taken out by a guy on a recumbent that was coming down the mountain. Like I said before, bikes are quiet and sneaky.
The Waterrock Knob climb coming back is 7 tough miles.
On the final descent, I let it all hang out, trying to have fun and waste what legs I had left. Surprisingly, I still felt really good. There were some mild curves that were enough to slow down my parents in the truck, but not effect my speed. I caught them on the way down. I actually had several opportunities to pass them which was tempting, but I figured it wasn't worth killing myself over so I just pulled up next to them a few times and then tucked back in behind the truck. I ended the day with 78.6 miles in 5 hours and 25 minutes, with a 14.4 mph average speed. This ride featured 15,569 ft of climbing. Not a bad day in the saddle at all.
My Dad took the scenic drive home from the ride and so little else was accomplished on Saturday. We just had dinner and rested up for the next day. Sunday morning I was up at daylight again. This time I took the road bike out from the Parksville Lake Campground and went up to the Chilhowee Campground on top of Chilhowee Mountain. It's 7 miles to the camground when you leave Hwy 64. The first 5 miles are tough as you twist your way up the mountain, climbing about 4,000 ft. The last two miles just roll along the top of the mountain until you descend part of the way down the backside of the mountain to the campground. It was a nice ride. I got see some nice morning views overlooking Parksville Lake, an angry swarm of honey bees at an overlook and a rattlesnake crossing the road. I got back after 23 miles of riding, then loaded up the truck with the mountain bike.
Ride from Parksville Lake Campground up Chilhowee Mountain to the campground
Looking across Parksville Lake just after dawn
Looking down on Parksville Lake from an overlook about halfway up the Chilhowee climb
Looking across the mountains at the larger Big Frog Mountain from atop Chilhowee Mountain
Another view overlooking Parksville Lake
Looking across the plain that borders the backside of Chilhowee Mountain
We drove down to Thunder Rock Campground and sat up a campsite for Shannon and Amber. They were planning to spend a few days here at the end of their trip so we left them tents and other camping things. My Dad and I took a lap on the SERC race course and then rode the short Quartz loop. We got in an additional 12.3 miles of riding, bringing me weekend two-day total to 113.8 miles of quality climbs.
Mountain Bike ride around the Tanasi trails
My Dad climbing along the trail
The Ocoee River was flowing fast today
We were able to watch from the trail as rafts came down the river
Shannon and Amber arrived at the campground after we finished the ride. Shannon and I went for a dip in the Ocoee River in my favorite deep section while my parents went of to explore the local roads on their motorcycle. Shannon and I floated down the river numerous times, enjoying the free ride down and the coolness of the water. We found a nice place to exit the river where a trail was located to take us back to the campground. It was a great end to a good weekend of riding. I just love it in the mountains. On the drive home, I was already planning out fun things to do the next weekend when we were scheduled to race the SERC finals in Fontana, NC.
Shannon and I floating the river
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