Biker Rags

DAY RIDE TO CADES COVE

Pamo is ready to ride.
Pamo is ready to ride.

On Wednesday, March 9th, we took a Day Ride to Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains.

At 10:30am, with temperatures nearing 60 and warming fast, we only needed our leather jackets, heavy gloves and 3/4 Pilot helmets. We packed our chaps just in case we needed them in the mountains.

We kicked off the day in this short video:

We left our home in North Knoxville, heading south on Broadway and connecting onto Chapman Highway.

We stopped at the Weigel's on Chapman Highway to fuel up and eat a light snack.
We stopped at the Weigel’s on Chapman Highway to fuel up and eat a light snack.

We continued up Chapman Highway and into Seymour. Once in Seymour, we turned right onto 411 and traveled into Maryville.

Once in Maryville, we got on 321 and traveled into Townsend where we stopped briefly at the river view right behind Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church. This is church property that welcomes visitors.

The backside of St. Francis.
The backside of St. Francis.
View of the river behind the church. Very scenic and peaceful.
View of the river behind the church. Very scenic and peaceful.
The hole in the rocks across the river is labeled "Webb Cave". Looks quite tight!
The hole in the rocks across the river is labeled “Webb Cave”. Looks quite tight!

After enjoying our peaceful visit, we continued through Townsend, into the Great Smoky Mountains, and shortly on toward Cades Cove.

Along the roadside before getting to the Cades Cove entrance.
Along the roadside before getting to the Cades Cove entrance.
The Smoky Mountains are full of beauty.
The Smoky Mountains are full of beauty.

Once we reached the entrance, we began the eleven mile scenic loop. (You can find out more about the history of Cades Cove by CLICKING HERE.)

There are a few donation boxes along the route. Here's Jeff with the box at the beginning of the loop.
There are a few donation boxes along the route. Here’s Jeff with the box at the beginning of the loop.
Already, it's easy to see how pretty this area is.
Already, it’s easy to see how pretty this area is.
A wider view.
A wider view.
Let's ride the loop!
Let’s ride the loop!

About fifteen minutes into the ride, we stopped to see the view.

Jeff looks out into the Cove.
Jeff looks out into the Cove.
A beautiful pasture with a nice surprise in the distance....
A beautiful pasture with a nice surprise in the distance….
It's a fox enjoying the pasture!
It’s a fox enjoying the pasture!
He doesn't seem to mind people staring at him.
He doesn’t seem to mind people staring at him.

After stopping and watching the fox play, we headed on our route. There are various cabins and churches along the way that visitors are welcome to stop and view.

Our next stop was twenty minutes later.

View from the other side of the loop.
View from the other side of the loop.
Visitors check out the historic cabins along the loop.
Visitors check out the historic cabins along the loop.

After this photo stop, we continued on the loop until exiting Cades Cove. The traffic on this mid week day in March was low and we made only three stops. Our total time inside Cades Cove was one hour. You could easily spend most of the day in Cades Cove if you visited all the structures and made more stops.

We rode back into Townsend and stopped at the Riverstone Restaurant to get a bite to eat. It was 2:30pm, so we were hungry.

Always love seeing these hand painted signs.
Always love seeing these hand painted signs.
A quaint and welcoming restaurant.
A quaint and welcoming restaurant.
The interior is rustic and warm.
The interior is rustic and warm.
Another interior view.
Another interior view.
We started with a nice fresh salad.
We started with a nice fresh salad.
And finished by sharing some soup...
And finished by sharing some soup…
... and a sandwich. YUM!
… and a sandwich. YUM!

Next time you are in Townsend, check out the Riverstone Restaurant. The folks are really nice and the food is really good.

After lunch, we jumped back on the bikes and took 321 through Walland and into Pigeon Forge. From Pigeon Forge, we got onto Dumplin Valley Road and road over to 25/70. This led us to Asheville Highway and then back into Knoxville.

We arrived home at 4:30pm and our total ride was 130 miles. A nice Day Ride on a beautiful March day.

Jeff with the greeting committee.
Jeff with the greeting committee.

Jeff wraps up the day in this short video:

You can see our entire list of DAY RIDES BY CLICKING HERE.