Last summer KC and I did an over night trip to Fort Payne, AL to stretch our legs and for him to show me the Little River Canyon...a natural wonder created over a couple million years as the Little River carved its way through some serious rock. During that trip we thought that we'd see more if we could return before the leaves emerged. That turned out to be the right idea, although the views were still hampered by the thick brush along side the rim of the canyon. Though it probably would violate any number of state and federal laws, this was a job for a drone camera. Next time....
This past winter/spring has been cold, windy and wet, so this was the first time since last year that we've done an overnight trip. Our route to Fort Payne aboard our 2016/2017 BMW R1200GS Adventures was beautiful, though it was a busy Saturday (the day before Easter and mid-Spring Break for thousands of kids)...
The end of the trip was the payoff as we climbed the steep switchbacks inside the canyon and stopped frequently to gawk at the canyon/river views. When I say steep, I mean 20% or better and first gear all the way.
The last stop was at the Little River Canyon Parkway where you could descend a trail/stairway to observe a beautiful waterfall. I failed to read the signs and ended up on the angry end of the Ranger's whistle and then his bullhorn.
"TWEEEEEET. TWEEEEEEEEEEET"
"STOP NOW. TURN AROUND. GO BACK. YOU ARE GOING TO DIE".
Relax man....it's gonna be OK.
Apparently (he thought) I had endangered my life being where I was and this brought out the control freak in the Ranger.
OK...I'm an idiot and he's an asshole....we were made for each other.
While I made my retreat upstream I spotted this family showing no regard for their safety. Hey Ranger, save them quickly.
Around 4:00PM we checked into the Hampton Inn in Fort Payne and chilled out for a couple of hours in our superbly air conditioned and wifi connected rooms. The front desk recommended we try the Santa Fe Steak House..
On the following morning (Easter Sunday) and after a hearty Hampton Inn breakfast, we set out for our prime destination...Desoto Falls State Park. The route placed us on one of the canyon rims which was lined with very nice homes which must have had, one imagines, unspeakably gorgeous views. We turned into the parking lot for the falls and had a very short walk to the falls, which were spectacular. Once again, I put myself in a dangerous spot, but this time there was no Ranger to save me. Somehow I managed to escape the Reaper's grasp.
From Desoto Falls, we began our return home ride in earnest. The temps rose steadily to the mid 70's under, in the words of George Strait, a blue clear sky. At the I-75 overpass near Resaca, GA we stopped for pee breaks, a slice of Flying J pizza (delisioso!!!!) and a brief chat with a trucker sporting the very best white beard I'd ever seen (and I told him so). Our final break came at a gas stop outside of Dawsonville where we had a hot dog and a refreshing pink lemonade. With our jacket vents wide open we eased back onto the road and pointed the GSA's towards home.
The last turn of the day called for us to turn left onto Hwy 365 with a massive flow of southbound traffic. KC caught a quick break and shot across the oncoming lane and swung left onto the northbound lane. I was clearly pinned in with a steady stream of Holiday traffic heading south and said goodbye over our intercom as I waited for break. The intercom sputtered as he rode out of sight a half mile up the highway. Twenty minutes later I pulled down my long driveway, about thirty minutes ahead of when I told Sherry I'd be home.
Not having ridden two consecutive days in many months I was plumb tuckered out. We both need to get our riding legs back and, to that end, we are planning a West Virginia trip soon that should be 5-6 days in the saddle.
That'll help.
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