Biker Rags

DAY RIDE TO HARRIMAN, TN

dr8-31-16-1On Wednesday, August 31st, we took a Day Ride. Our plan was to take the long way around to Harriman.

We left our home in North Knoxville at 10:15am. It was warm with temps expected to reach the mid 90’s. Jeff kicks off the day in this video:

We rode north on Clinton Highway, stopped to get our morning snack, then took Edgemoor Road to Oak Ridge on into Oliver Springs. In Oliver Springs, we took 61.

We came up this way on 61.
We came up this way on 61.
Looking over Watts Bar Lake.
Looking over Watts Bar Lake.
And that's the way we're headed.
And that’s the way we’re headed.

Highway 61 took us just north of Harriman where we took 27 north to 328.

328 is a curvy, winding country road that took us up to Oakdale, a picturesque rural community.

View into Oakdale.
View into Oakdale.

From Oakdale we took 299 west, a beautiful road that runs on top of the plateau, then rises above Harriman and Rockwood. 299 took us to 40 west.

299 deadends into 40 west.
299 dead ends into 40 west.
It's not often you can sit on the side of the road at an interstate entrance. This one isn't very busy.
It’s not often you can sit on the side of the road at an interstate entrance. This one isn’t very busy.

We hopped on a short leg of 40 west and on to 70. We took 70 east to 27 just south of Rockwood. We rode through Rockwood stopping briefly at this plaque…

Wish we could of seen the tree!
Wish we could of seen the tree!

From Rockwood, we rode on into Harriman.

In Harriman, we stopped at Rising Sun Cycles and spoke with Ross Walls, the owner (who is also a Time Warp Vintage Motorcycle member).

Rising Sun Cycles in Harriman, TN.
Rising Sun Cycles in Harriman, TN.
Jeff and Rusty, owner of Rising Sun Cycles.
Jeff stands with Ross Walls- the owner of Rising Sun Cycles.

We spent some time inside the shop.

This 1968 Honda CL Scrambler 305 is a beaut!
This 1968 Honda CL Scrambler 305 is a beaut!
It's an off road version of the Honda C77 Dream.
It’s an off road version of the Honda C77 Dream.
And this on has less than 4 miles logged!
And this one has less than 4 miles logged!
Rising Sun Cycles is full of interesting bikes.
Rising Sun Cycles is full of interesting bikes.

After spending some time at Rising Sun Cycles, it was almost 2pm and we were ready for lunch. We rode a couple of blocks to Simply Sweet Bakery, also in downtown Harriman.

Simply Sweet Bakery in downtown Harriman.
Simply Sweet Bakery in downtown Harriman.
Side view of Simply Sweet Bakery.
Side view of Simply Sweet Bakery.
Inside the Simply Sweet Bakery.
Inside the Simply Sweet Bakery.
We ordered the lunch special.
We ordered the lunch special along with a sugar cookie.
It was all delicious!
It was all delicious!

After lunch, we rode around downtown Harriman, getting a glimpse of some vintage cars inside one of the historic buildings.

So cool what you can find in a town like Harriman!
So cool what you can find in a town like Harriman!

Then we got back on 328 riding north. 328 took us back up on the plateau and then to 27 and on into Wartburg.

View of one of the main streets in downtown Wartburg.
View of one of the main streets in downtown Wartburg.
The pretty courthouse in downtown Wartburg.
The pretty courthouse in downtown Wartburg.

We then continued to ride through Wartburg, making a stop at the 27 Quik Stop Market.

Stopping in for a cold drink.
Stopping in for a water break.

After our break, we took 62 to Coalfield where we stopped for gas.

Fuel stop in Coalfield.
Fuel stop in Coalfield.
dr8-31-16-24
The convenience market and gas station is in the same building as the Coalfield Post Office.

We then continued on into Oliver Springs. From Oliver Springs we took 61 to Clinton then 25 back into Knoxville.

We got back home at 4:30pm and our total ride was 156 miles.

It's good to be home!
It’s good to be home!

You can view our entire list of DAY RIDES by CLICKING HERE.