I am having to re write this as my iPad decided to lose notes on the last 5 days so this may not be very accurate.
Monday 25th May
We had a good ride from Atlanta to North Carolina to Bob and Jude's for a cookout.
We were made very welcome by every one there and the food was great. Bop and Jude have a fantastic place up in the Mountains of the Nantahala National Forest surrounded by twisty mountain roads.

Tuesday 26th May
We went for a ride with Anita and Dave, a wet but warm ride they are also staying with Bob and Jude, first stop was a jewellery school where they were hoping to get a ring made for their grandson, while there we were given a tour of the place. They had many different classes all run by volunteers and lodgings for the students. Dave and Anita are members of HOG and were also running in a competition called the ABC's of touring, they needed evidence of all the different countries, states, counties etc that they visit so as we crossed the state line into Georgia we stopped for a photo of them on their bike holding the club magazine. We then rode to a place called Dillards where we had a very disappointing and over priced lunch. The roads here in NC and this part of Georgia are just fantastic and even though Dave and Anita were on a big fully dressed Harley he knew how to ride it, even though the pace was slow for me it was still a great days riding.
Once back at Bob and Jude's is was not long before the booze was out and the table full of food.

Wednesday 27th May
We all headed off for a ride today the sun was shining and the forecast was good, first stop was Dry Falls. A waterfall that you can walk behind.

Second stop was Bridal Vale Falls. This water fall you can ride behind it.

From there we rode to a small town called highland and then on to Helen a Bavarian town. Yes a Bavarian town in USA where they serve Brockwurst knockwurst sausage, it was felt as though you had been transported back to Europe. We had an excellent lunch by the river watching people float by on inflatable rubber rings.

This was followed by more riding on excellent roads back to Bob and Jude's.
Where we were again well fed and watered.

Thursday 28th May
Dave and Anita are having to return to Canada today which is a shame as we were just getting to know them, but they have invited us to stay in Canada so hopefully we will get to see them again.

Bob and Jude took us for a fantastic days riding today. As today we rode the dragon, well a road called the tail of the Dragon it starts at Deals Gap Motorcycle Resort, the road is 11 miles long and has 318 curves with no joining roads or drive ways on to it. Jude had decided to sit it out and have a coffee and partake in some people watching. Bob has ridden this road many times and warned me of its dangers, there is a tree called the tree of shame where bits of people and their bikes hang from. These are the people that crash on the dragon and he was more than happy for me to take the lead.

The weather conditions were perfect warm, dry and overcast. So no sun in your eyes as you come around a corner or out of the shade. Setting off with Bob's warnings ringing in my ears by the second bend I had forgotten about them and had settled in to a rhythm. It took about 20 minutes to reach the end where we pulled over to wait for Bob who was not far behind. He said that that was the best ride he has ever had following me on the Dragon, on the way back I picked up the pace a little and earned my self a dig in the ribs from Marcia after heavily grinding out the center stand in front of the many photographers pitched by the side of the road.

The ride back to Bob and Jude's was again a great ride there are just so many good roads around this part of the world, we would never of had the chance to ride them had we not been able to stay here with Bob and Jude as we would of probably ridden through.

Friday 29th May
Marcia and I headed off on our own today. First stop was the Wheels Through Time Museum. Smaller than the Barber Museum but packed with rare vintage American motorcycles also a few cars and some assorted memorabilia. Some of the bikes were immaculately restored and some were just how they found them. Nearly all of the bikes are in working condition and are regularly started up.

Whilst inside the Museum the heavens opened but by the time we had finished it had started to dry up, we then headed for the Nantahala river for a spot of white water rafting. We got there a little late as the last ride was at 2 o'clock and we arrived a few minutes before so did not have time to change we just stuffed what we could in the panniers and signed up. We both got soaked but it did not really matter as we did not have far to go and it was very warm.
The trip took about 2 hours to do 10 miles and was a bit tame the last bit being the best and had it all been as good as the last rapid it would of been fantastic, however we had the best guide and he tried to make it as exciting as he could by getting one side to paddle backwards while the other paddled forwards through the the rapid sections. There were sections where it went very cold and misty and Marcia and I were waiting for the banjos to start playing.

Saturday 30th May.
Out riding with Bob and Jude again today first stop Wallmart to pick up some engine oil as my bike is in need of another oil change, we have now clocked up 17,000 miles.
Then they took us to see Doug and Toni who we first met at the cookout here on Monday. Doug has just finished restoring a Chevrolet Chevelle 454 SS.

They don't live far from Bob and Jude but in Georgia, they are surrounded by twisty roads and live in a fantastic house in a fantastic location with excellent views.

We then went for a ride to Jim's Smoking Que for lunch, big portions of pulled pork mmmmm.

Followed by a short ride back to sit on the porch with a cold beer and update my notes on the blog only for my iPad to lose all of my 5 days of notes.

Jude had cooked us yet another great dinner and also a chocolate birthday brownie.
Feeling very content and fat.