Sadly, our few blissful days of Fall Break zipped past us at record speed, the only speed that weekends and holidays seem to know. Our good times here in Pigeon Forge included shopping, collecting fall leaves along a most enjoyable hike on a mountain & river trail, lazy mornings spent lounging around reading magazines, and homemade chicken marsala and pesto pasta, by Jerry and Sharon, who can cook for me anytime. We packed, layered clothing and bundled up, and were on the road early this morning. Thankfully the sun was out in full force, and although the air was chilled, we were prepared for it this time.

I had fun holding the DV cam over Jerry’s shoulder as we sliced through the crisp mountain air, back down the Foothills Parkway, capturing clips of the mountains we passed, and the road before us. We gave the Tail of the Dragon a second try, enjoying it immensely, as before, although there was quite a bit more traffic, with the weekend factor and more encouraging weather.

We took the advice of a friendly stranger, and tried the Cherohala Skyway that he recommended. I can’t say how glad I am that we ran into him, as the Skyway was one of the most beautiful roads we’ve taken on the bike. The elevation started at about 3000 feet, and fluctuated to more than 5000 feet at times, and the views were gorgeous, no matter which direction we looked in. We used the video camera for most of the Skyway, and I tried to get as much in as possible, though the footage doesn’t even come close to doing it justice, compared to what our eyes took in. I even did a bit of a head cam, by holding it over J.’s helmet to give an idea of his perspective. Tim, if you are reading this, I promise I was careful to hold on to your camera tightly — Jerry warned me. I loved every mile of the Cherohala, though some of it was marred by the two slow Harleys in front of us. I quickly tired of looking at the backs of the old tubby riders, but thankfully, they didn’t ruin our video.

We got it right this time, as far as layering against the weather. I was comfortable all day long, from the chilly morning and midday, to the warmer temperatures once we passed Atlanta — all we had to do was remove our rain jackets after Deal’s Gap, and our sweatshirts and scarf south of Atlanta. The only true discomfort of the return ride was the absence of gas stations or any sign of civilization, it seemed, down a long stretch of highway in rural North Carolina, near the Georgia border, when we wanted nothing more than a pit stop. However, all problems were soon enough resolved.

As with all of our trips, we learned several things to store in our brains for later:

1. Rain gear not only protects from rain, but from cold winds, too!
2. Never travel without a water bottle — even _potential_ dehydration is not desirable.
3. Don’t be frugal with film — always keep an extra tape or memory card, for generous footage without guilt.
4. Focus on simple video shots of streams and dancing tree limbs — let nature work it’s magic.
5. Always keep a pen and paper in riding jacket, because you never know when you will run into an interesting stranger with directions and a great tip for a scenic route through the mountains.