Biker Rags

DAY RIDE TO CLEVELAND, TN

Have directions, will travel.
Have directions, will travel.

 

On Wednesday, April 23rd, we took another Day Ride. Our destination was Charleston, TN in North Cleveland, TN.


Here is a short video of our upcoming route:

We took off from our home in North Knoxville at 10:30am. The skies were clear blue and it was cool- right at 50 degrees. We both wore our leather jackets and chaps. We also wore our Olympia “Best Gloves Ever” and our HCI Pilot helmets.

We rode south on Alcoa Highway through Maryville, took 411 to Greenback, and stopped to top off our tanks and eat a snack.

The Marathon Market on 411.
The Greenback Corner Market and Deli on 411.
Great food here!
Great food served here!

After our stop, we continued south on 411 to Vonore where we took 360 which runs south into Tellico Plains.

DR4-23-14E
Jeff standing on bridge on 360.
DR4-23-14D
From bridge on 360 heading toward Tellico Plains.

Here is a short video of our ride so far:

DR4-23-14F
In downtown Tellico Plains.

We stopped for a short delay on 39 West due to road work. No matter- the scenery was beautiful.

Road block on 39.
Road block on 39.
The delay gave us time to enjoy the scenery.
The delay gave us time to enjoy the scenery.

We then rode west on 39, then took 315 south to Reliance- a small community right on the Hiwassee River. We stopped along the bridge for a few photos.

On bridge over the Hiwassee River.
On bridge over the Hiwassee River.
View from the bridge.
View from the bridge.
Other folks enjoying the day.
Other folks enjoying the day.
Another view from the bridge.
Another view from the bridge.

At Reliance we took 30 north which took us to 411. We took 411 north for a couple of miles then rode 163 west into Calhoun.

Calhoun and Charleston are part of Northern Cleveland which leads straight into Cleveland, TN. We spotted Catie’s Kitchen right off the highway.

Catie's Kitchen in Cleveland, TN.
Catie’s Kitchen in Cleveland, TN.
Inside Catie's Kitchen.
Inside Catie’s Kitchen.
Jeff said smile, so I smiled.
Jeff said smile, so I smiled.
Great home cooking at Catie's!
Great home cooking at Catie’s!

The folks at Catie’s were super friendly and the food was great.

After lunch, we rode around Cleveland trying to get our bearings. We stopped to get our directions clear and then headed east on 64.

64 is one of the most beautiful roads we’ve ever ridden. It runs from Cleveland east along the Ocoee Scenic Byway, the Ocoee river, and by the 1996 Olympic Rafting Site. We stopped briefly at the dam overlook.

At the Ocoee.
At the Ocoee.

Jeff talks about our trip so far in this short video:

The bikes parked at the Ocoee dam.
The bikes parked at the Ocoee dam.

We continued down 64 and stopped again for a few more photos.

Along 64.
Along 64.
A view of 64.
A view of 64.
Along 64.
Along 64.

We rode 64 into Ducktown and stopped for gas and a snack.

We stopped in Ducktown, TN.
We stopped in Ducktown, TN.
It's always good to stretch and break when on a long ride.
It’s always good to stretch and break when on a long ride.

After our break, we took 68 north through Ducktown, Turtletown, Coker Creek and back into Tellico Plains.

We made this short video in Tellico Plains:

From Tellico Plains, we continued north on 68 to Madisonville, then took 411 north through Vonore. After crossing the lake in Vonore, we took E. Coast Tellico Parkway heading north. This is a small two lane road that runs along the Little Tennessee River.

Along E. Coast Tellico Parkway.
Along E. Coast Tellico Parkway.
Another view.
Another view of the two lane road.
The E. Coast Tellico Parkway is another beautiful East TN road.
The E. Coast Tellico Parkway is another beautiful East TN road.

This two lane road comes out on 95 just south of 321. We took 321 to Maryville, then Alcoa Highway back into Knoxville.

We got back home at 7pm and our total ride was 265. We had a great day!

Here’s our wrap up video:

You can see our entire list of Day Rides HERE.