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I have been lucky in life and have been involved in several interesting hobbies. A common thread for me in all of them is being part of a group (and sharing activities with others) increased my level of enjoyment. Lucky for me, when I started back riding after my kids finished high school, I found the MTF. Initially, my involvement with the MTF was reading the online forum and attending a few ride-to-eat (RTE) events. I was at one of these events, a RTE at Dreamland BBQ in Tuscaloosa, AL, and several of us were talking about how our events should be planned to including riding as well as eating. From those comments sprung the Summer Mountain Ride.

The first Summer Mountain Ride was in July 2002 . Approximately 20 riders met in Cleveland, TN for lunch on Friday. After lunch, we rode though Ducktown, TN, across the Cherohala Skyway, stopped at the Tapaco Lodge (on US 129 near the infamous Dragon) for Supper, and then on to the Ridge Top Motel and Campground. I lead the group out of Cleveland and it was both strange and exciting. It was strange because I don’t like to ride in big groups. It was exciting because I felt a little like Marlon Brando in the “Wild One” with all the bikes lined up behind me. Saturday was an all day group ride with stops at the highest point on the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Steak House Café in Walhalla, SC (sorry, no steaks), and some of the waterfalls along US 64 between Highlands, NC and Franklin, NC. We had a great day with a lot of spirited riding and some good food. One thing I learned was that 230+ miles in the mountains with a group of 20 riders was a loooong day. Something else I noted was that our group included some very good riders and all were mature enough to ride their own ride (and not try to ride over their head to impress others). Several of the riders who participated in the first SMR are still around on our forum. Neil Dolson came all the way from Ontario, Dave Hinks and his wife Susan made a 850 mile sprint from the Chicago area to get to Cleveland just as we were leaving after lunch, Russ Dickenson became famous for talking under water, Bob Moore (DRBob) won the MTF drag race on Saturday afternoon, Don Braziel completed a ride without dropping his bike, and Bill Neese (and helpers) did an oil change in the Ridge Top parking lot at 200AM. My wife was named “Brave Susan” and snapped this picture of Dennis Wynne while facing backward on the rear of my bike.

SMR 2002 was so much fun that there had to be a SMR 2003 . We met for lunch Friday in Athens, TN, rode to Tellico Plains, TN on TN 39, then crossed the Cherohala Skyway for an early supper at the Tapaco Lodge (Catfish again). After supper, several of the SMR riders went up the hill on US 129 and made a pass (or 2) at the Dragon. Headquarters for the event was again at the Ridge Top Motel. We went back to the Ridge Top because of the location, the price, the big courtyard, and because the owners/operators (Ron and Darlene Pickett) were so friendly. Saturday was another group ride and the intent was to show the MTF riders some of the back roads (paved) of the Smokey Mountains. NC 215 was curvy but a little scary because of the gravel in the corners, NC 107 was scenic but I still remember Brenda Leduc asking me if I had taken a wrong turn – she said this road had a few straight spots ;o). County Road 1001 (Eli Road) was the one everybody loved. This road has everything from fast straights to sections that seem like they must have been game trails just a few years ago. We stopped for a late lunch in Franklin, NC and split up the group after that. Some riders went back to the Ridge Top, some went sightseeing, and a few of us went for more twisties on Wayah Rd (AKA Thunder Road). Saturday night at the Ridge Top was the best MTF gathering I have been to. Some of the ladies organized a pizza party and nearly everybody stayed out in the yard at the Ridge Top socializing. The 2003 crowd included more couples such as Alan and Brenda Leduc, Terry and Marsha Braud, Bill and Susan Neese (Susan, AKA, Long Suffering Susan – Susan was allowed to come since she had already cut enough firewood for the winter), Bob Moore and Mark Bush (Bob had Mark on scholarship and yes, they are a coupe), and others. One of my favorite SMR pictures is this one of Long Suffering Susan taken during a break on the Cherohala Skyway.

SMR 2004 and 2005 were also successful events. When the number attending got too big for full group rides, we split into smaller groups and changed the activities. We still stay at the Ridge Top but Saturday’s ride is now a Poker Run (one thing I remember about the poker run is that in 2004 Don Braziel drew four 2s to win ~$260 which paid for his plane fair to Memphis where he borrowed Bill Neese’s Voyager to participate in the SMR). John Wynes (XGMAN) has taken over as the coordinator of the SMR and has some great ideas for 2006. I have branched out into “Adventure Riding” and am the coordinator for the Smokey Mountains Rough Road Ride (which runs concurrently with the SMR). If you haven’t been to one of these rides you are missing something special. Plan for it in 2006 - be there or be square.

Check the MTF Webpages for details on the 2006 SMR and other MTF Events.

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