DAY RIDE TO MURPHY, NC

DR8-12-15-1 — Jeff checks the route before we head out.

On Wednesday, August 12th, we took a Day Ride to Murphy, N.C.

It was a beautiful day with low humidity and blue skies.

Pam kicks off the day in this video:

We left our home in North Knoxville at 9:30am and took Alcoa Highway to Maryville. We then rode 411 south to Greenback where we stopped to fuel up and eat a light snack.

After our stop we got back on 411 south, rode through Vonore and onto Madisonville where we took 68 south. We rode 68 almost to Tellico Plains, then took 39 to 315.

315 is a beautiful winding country road.

315 took us south into Reliance, a small community right on the Hiwassee River.

On the bridge looking over the Hiwassee River.

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

From Reliance, we took 30 west and stopped at a roadside picnic area.

DR8-12-15-5 — A nicely maintained area just off 30 west outside of Reliance.

DR8-12-15-6 — Another view of the Hiwassee River from the picnic area on 30 west.

After our brief stop, we took 30 west back to 411, then rode south to Benton just north of Cleveland.

In Benton we took 314 which brought us out to 64/74 right on Ocoee Lake. 64/74 is a beautiful road that runs along the Ocoee through the Cherokee National Forest.

Our first stop along 64/74 was at a roadside beach.

All the views along 64/74 are beautiful.

Our next stop, right off the highway, was Centennial Olympic bridge where the 1996 canoe/kayak slalom Olympic events were held.

The Bicentennial arch. — The Centennial arch.

The river this time of year is mostly dry.

Here’s a short video from the bridge:

After our visit to the Ocoee, we got back on the bikes and continued on 64/74 right into North Carolina and then onto Murphy.

We rode through Murphy and on into downtown where we parked right in front of Shoe Booties Cafe at 2:15pm

Inside Shoe Booties Cafe. A really nice atmosphere.

And of course, lunch makes me happy too.

The staff at Shoe Booties was really nice and the food was great! Check it out next time you’re in Murphy, N.C.

After lunch we walked about 1/2 block to the Cherokee County Museum.

Cherokee County Historical Museum is a short walk from Shoe Booties Cafe.

I get to stand by this beautiful bear painted by a local Indian tribe.

The museum is filled with local history.

Fred, the museums curator, tells us the history behind this Indian made statue found on a local farm. — Fred, the museum’s curator, tells us the history behind this Indian made statue found on a local farm.

Fred was very knowledgeable and friendly and made our visit interesting. Next time you are in Murphy, be sure to visit this museum!

The courthouse next to the museum is made out of local blue stone.

After walking around town we got back on the bikes and traveled down Joe Brown Highway. Joe Brown Highway is a country road that took us way up into the mountains.