Biker Rags

DAY RIDE TO DANDRIDGE, GATLINBURG, CADES COVE

This bike isn't quite ready to ride.
This bike isn’t quite ready to ride.

On Thursday, May 1st, we took a Day Ride traveling toward the Great Smoky Mountains.

 

Pamo introduces the day in this short video:

We left our home in North Knoxville around 10:30am. The temperature was 50 degrees and the skies were mostly cloudy.

We took 640 to Asheville Highway, rode north on 11E, then took 139 heading toward the Smokies Baseball Stadium in Sevierville.

You can see the cloudy skies in this photo.
You can see the cloudy skies in this photo.

We rode south on 66 toward the mountains, then got back on 139 which is the Douglas Dam Road. This road runs right along the water into Dandridge.

We stopped along 139 and took a photo of Goose Creek Farm Bed and Breakfast. It looks like a great place to stay!

Goose Creek Farm off Highway 139.
Goose Creek Farm off Highway 139.

At our stop in Dandridge, we discovered a bit of history we hadn’t seen before.

The dyke that saved Dandridge.
The dike that saved Dandridge.

Located right in Dandridge is a 1009 foot dike that keeps Douglas Lake from swallowing downtown.

More about the dike.
More about the dike.
Downtown Dandridge just below the dyke.
Downtown Dandridge just below the dike.
View from top of the dike looking into downtown.
View from top of the dike looking into downtown.
Douglas Lake at the top of the dike.
Douglas Lake at the top of the dike.

Jeff talks about the dike in this short video:

We took a few more photos of downtown Dandridge before continuing our ride.

Pamo in front of the visitor center.
Pamo in front of the Visitor Center.
Jeff walking down the brick Dandridge walkway.
Jeff walking toward the Visitor Center.
Beautiful hotel in Dandridge.
The Shephard Inn on Main Street in Dandridge, TN.

From Dandridge we took 25/70 toward Newport. We stopped on 113 for  gas and a snack.

We took a quick break to fuel up.
We took a quick break to fuel up.

Then we continued on 25/70 until we reached 411 in Newport. We took 411 south to Chestnut Hill and stopped briefly at Bush’s Baked Bean factory.

The Bush's Baked Bean Mercantile.
The Bush’s Baked Bean store and museum.

Pamo talks about Bush’s Beans in this short video:

We left Chestnut Hill continuing on 411 to Cherokee Hills which is just east of Sevierville.

The Cement factory at the intersection of 454 and 416.
A & W Concrete at the intersection of 454 and 416.

At Cherokee Hills we took 416, a beautiful curvy road through the mountains. 416 runs right through Pittman Center and right into 321. We took 321 going toward Gatlinburg and stopped at Three Jimmy’s Restaurant on Glades Road.

3 Jimmy's Restaurant
Three Jimmy’s Restaurant
Folks at Three Jimmy's are friendly.
Folks at Three Jimmy’s are friendly.
Food was good too!
Food was good too!

After lunch we rode through Gatlinburg and took scenic 73 through the mountains.

Usually 73 is heavy stop and go traffic, but today, traffic was light making our ride perfect. We stopped, of course, for photos:

View along 73 in the Great Smoky Mountains.
View along 73 in the Great Smoky Mountains.
The water along 73.
The water along 73.
Closer view of the water.
Closer view of the water.

Pamo gives another update in this short video:

Then we rode to Cades Cove. We stopped along the route for photos of the tunnel.

Heading toward Cades Cove.
Heading toward Cades Cove.
Jeff hams it up. Go Jeff!
Jeff hams it up. Go Jeff!
Close up of the tunnel.
Close up of the tunnel.

Then we rode on to the Cades Cove parking area.

Entrance to Cades Cove loop.
Entrance to Cades Cove loop.
View at entrance of Cades Cove.
View at entrance of Cades Cove.

We didn’t take the time to do the loop today. Instead we rode back to 73, continued on through Townsend, Walland and then into Maryville.

Once in Maryville, we took 129 Alcoa Highway back to Knoxville.

In Knoxville. Almost home.
In Knoxville. Almost home.

We got back around 5:30pm and our total ride was 165 miles. It was a beautiful ride.

Jeff and Susie in the backyard. It's great to be home!
Jeff and Susie in the backyard. It’s great to be home!

We do a “favorite things” video:

Then Jeff wraps up the ride in this short video:

You can view our entire list of Day Rides HERE.