Sweetwater, Tennessee

Unloading the Bike

We spent the night at our old standby Days Inn in Sweetwater. It is inexpensive, right off Hwy 68, and nice. Great, familiar location after riding Cherohala Skyway or the Dragon.

Black-Eyed Susans Out Front

Riding the Blue Sky

Lunch at Laurel Park

Stop for Lunch

 We rode up to Unicoi, Tennessee and had a relaxing lunch near a stream. We thought it might be crowded because it was Memorial Day weekend, but we were wrong. Virtually no one but us... and the bugs were there...

Relaxing Stream

Steven found a hot sour pickle at a convenience store. He said even that pickle was a bit much for him. (Which is amazing!)

I do not remember this stream being this dry the last time we rode through here.

Yum!

Steven Sits Under the Tall Trees

Bridge Over Stream Leads to Forest

Bennett Lake, Chattanooga, TN

"To get to heaven, turn right and keep straight."
~ Wesleyan Methodist
Here we are at the lovely (& deserted) reservoir near Bennett Lake, Tennessee.

Choo Choo Cafe

Barbara Hawley, Owner of Choo Choo Cafe, Erwin, Tennessee

Looking for coffee at 4 pm, we stumbled on this delightful cafe, tucked inside the Market Square Gallery on South Main Street. The former railroad store is something to see. Charming. Unique. Rich with history, good food, and southern hospitality.

Lights and minature villages, a huge Christmas tree decorated with Easter eggs. Is this a restaurant or antique store? Yes, both. And More. It's a museum and a walk through time with photographs of the town in the 30s and the railroad that plays such a vital role in the Erwin economy. The dining tables feature decoupaged photos of trains and ancestors. There's a dance floor and live music on the weekends.

We came for coffee and couldn't resist the homemade desserts, so we shared a triple layer, just-made chocolate cake. Melted in your mouth. Dinner nightly, says owner and hometown girl Barbara Hawley, is a $7.95 buffet.

A remarkable tribute to a remarkable heritage. Don't miss it.

Indian Creek, Unicoi, Tennessee

Pristine water... lovely sound of rushing life...

Indian Creek, near Unicoi, Tennessee

“Valley Beautiful” ride through Unicoi, in the northeast corner of Tennessee, near the Unaka Mountains. We pulled off of Highway #107, near the North Carolina border and walked along the beautiful, isolated Indian Creek.