********11-12-05 Added some more pics!*********
Started out early, just BigD, DeviousLady, myself and PopCycl on the two Goldwings. It was a brisk and foggy morning, but we were geared up and it was enjoyable.
Our destination was an awesome area that BigD and PopCycl have been talking about since their trip to Kentucky last November to visit our friend Little Ray. Shady Valley, TN - Our first glimpse was magestic, you come around a sweet curve and there it is in all the glory God could bestow on this earth. Cleared pastures, with a backdrop of gold, orange, red and still some green trees. It just takes your breath away. The roads had to have been designed by motorcyclists, as they rival our NC/TN Tail of the Dragon hwy 129. (Actually the gas station/sandwich shop/convenience store/motorcycle clothing/hardware store we stopped at sells a sticker "Dragon Schmagon". 421 is nicknamed The Striped Snake! ) We bought a Striped Snake sticker! The only downside of our trip was that we were following a SLOW moving funeral procession down most of 421 and didn't get to enjoy it much. It was a military funeral and it made us a little somber for a short while to know we were that close to one of the great americans who gave their all for our country. After an enjoyable lunch at that quaint little store we turned on hwy 133 - see pics - WOWIE, WOW, WOW!!!
Saw many of the 15 MPH curve signs, and PopCycl left a little chrome and boot sole on the pavement. I found those grab bars they put on that wing work REALLY well - Pop doesn't have the usual fingernail slashes on his sides! 
The leaves were at peak for most of the ride through 133. Damascus, VA is a bicycling haven and it was a joy to see families and many young couples cycling through the town and countryside on paths/bridges made just for cyclists! PopCycl told me to keep the camera at the ready, I wasn't sure why. We had to stop because someone pulling a trailer decided to turn around in the road! I wondered what was interesting enough to make someone do that, Pop said - "Just wait, you'll understand." We rounded a corner and WOW, I did understand! The "Worlds Shortest Tunnel" is a rock outcropping that they cut through for a train. 133 now goes right through it, amazing! You can look at it and see where they cut the shape for the smokestack of the old trains.
EDIT - Found a link to the country store and area info!
www.shadyvalleycountrysto...re_002.htm





The above picture is a good example of MOST of the roads we traveled!
We bought gas for $2.15 per gallon!!

There were LOTS of christmas tree farms.


Here are a few more pics to enjoy.




From the top of BackBone Rock (Shortest Tunnel)



Started out early, just BigD, DeviousLady, myself and PopCycl on the two Goldwings. It was a brisk and foggy morning, but we were geared up and it was enjoyable.
Our destination was an awesome area that BigD and PopCycl have been talking about since their trip to Kentucky last November to visit our friend Little Ray. Shady Valley, TN - Our first glimpse was magestic, you come around a sweet curve and there it is in all the glory God could bestow on this earth. Cleared pastures, with a backdrop of gold, orange, red and still some green trees. It just takes your breath away. The roads had to have been designed by motorcyclists, as they rival our NC/TN Tail of the Dragon hwy 129. (Actually the gas station/sandwich shop/convenience store/motorcycle clothing/hardware store we stopped at sells a sticker "Dragon Schmagon". 421 is nicknamed The Striped Snake! ) We bought a Striped Snake sticker! The only downside of our trip was that we were following a SLOW moving funeral procession down most of 421 and didn't get to enjoy it much. It was a military funeral and it made us a little somber for a short while to know we were that close to one of the great americans who gave their all for our country. After an enjoyable lunch at that quaint little store we turned on hwy 133 - see pics - WOWIE, WOW, WOW!!!
Saw many of the 15 MPH curve signs, and PopCycl left a little chrome and boot sole on the pavement. I found those grab bars they put on that wing work REALLY well - Pop doesn't have the usual fingernail slashes on his sides! The leaves were at peak for most of the ride through 133. Damascus, VA is a bicycling haven and it was a joy to see families and many young couples cycling through the town and countryside on paths/bridges made just for cyclists! PopCycl told me to keep the camera at the ready, I wasn't sure why. We had to stop because someone pulling a trailer decided to turn around in the road! I wondered what was interesting enough to make someone do that, Pop said - "Just wait, you'll understand." We rounded a corner and WOW, I did understand! The "Worlds Shortest Tunnel" is a rock outcropping that they cut through for a train. 133 now goes right through it, amazing! You can look at it and see where they cut the shape for the smokestack of the old trains.
EDIT - Found a link to the country store and area info!
www.shadyvalleycountrysto...re_002.htm





The above picture is a good example of MOST of the roads we traveled!

We bought gas for $2.15 per gallon!!


There were LOTS of christmas tree farms.


Here are a few more pics to enjoy.




From the top of BackBone Rock (Shortest Tunnel)



