Biker Rags

DAY RIDE TO EASTERN FOOTHILLS PARKWAY

Jeff is ready to ride.

On Thursday, March 27, 2014 we took a Day Ride to the Eastern Foothills Parkway just south of Newport, TN.

You can hear about the beginning of our ride in this short video:

We left our home in North Knoxville at 10:15am. The skies were cloudy and the temperature around 40 degrees. We rode through Knoxville and stopped on the Henley Street bridge for a few photos:

View of Knoxville from the bridge.
Looking down Henley Street bridge toward town.
Looking down Henley Street bridge toward town.
The iconic Baptist Hospital will soon be gone.
The iconic Baptist Hospital will soon be gone.

We traveled down Chapman Highway then stopped at the Weigel’s on John Sevier Highway to fuel up.

Fueling up at Weigel's.
Fueling up at Weigel’s.

After our quick break, we continued south on Chapman Highway, riding through Seymour and then on into Sevierville. After riding through Sevierville, we took 339 south and stopped to admire the Harrisburg Covered Bridge.

The Harrisburg Covered Bridge
The Harrisburg Covered Bridge
Built by Elbert Stephenson in 1875.
Built by Elbert Stephenson in 1875.
Restored in 1972 and again in 2005.
Restored in 1972 and again in 2005.

We got back on the bikes and continued on 339. This road, 339, is a beautiful winding country road going through Sevier County and then into Cocke County, ending at 32 Cosby Highway.

At 32, we made a right turn which immediately placed us at the entrance to the eastern section of the Foothills Parkway. Separate from the original parkway, the views here look down into Cosby and Kodak. It is six miles long and comes out on I-40 just about ten miles south of Newport.

I talk about our ride in this short video:

Here are some photos from the Parkway:

Parkway entrance.
Parkway entrance.
View into Cosby.
View into Cosby.
We gotta do the selfie.
We gotta do the selfie.
Several parking areas dot the Parkway.
Several parking areas dot the Parkway.
View into Kodak.
View into Kodak.
Closer view into Kodak.
Closer view into Kodak.
Jeff digging the view.
Jeff digging the view.

After spending time on the Parkway, we exited right onto I-40 and rode to the Newport exit. Our destination was, once again, The People’s Choice Restaurant.

The People's Choice Restaurant in Newport, TN.
The People’s Choice Restaurant in Newport, TN.
The staff here is great! A special thanks to Kathy for taking such great care of us.
The staff here is great! A special thanks to Kathy for taking such great care of us.
The food here is AWESOME! Everything, and I mean EVERYTHING tastes excellent.
The food here is AWESOME! Everything, and I mean EVERYTHING tastes excellent.

If you are looking for a biker friendly restaurant with great home cooking, be sure to put The People’s Choice Restaurant in Newport on your list.

After lunch, we rode through downtown Newport, took 321 north for a couple of miles, then took 160 north.

160 is yet another pretty country road.
160 is yet another pretty country road.
These old country houses have character.
These old country houses have character.
What a great old country store. Wish we could have seen it open.
What a great old country store. Wish we could have seen it open.

160 north took us through Bybee and then into Morristown. We continued on 160, which loops just south of Morristown, then ends at 11E. We rode south on 11E through Jefferson City, New Market and then back to Knoxville.

Heading down 11E toward Knoxville.
Heading down 11E toward Knoxville.
View of railroad trestle from 11E.
View of railroad trestle from 11E.
Looks like Jeff is doing all the photo snapping work once again.
Looks like Jeff is doing all the photo snapping work once again.
We see this barn sign so often, it has melted into the scenery.
We see this barn sign so often, it has melted into the scenery.

We got home at 3:15pm and our total ride was 140 miles.

Our fur kids are always glad to see us home.
Our fur kids are always glad to see us home.

Jeff sums up our ride in this short video:

You can see our entire list of Day Rides HERE.