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Nova Scotia 2015: Downhill Run to Home

Got caught smack dab in the middle of 'Trivia Night' at The Blue Otter on Lake Chatuge when we walked in seeking dinner. Chose the place because the parking lot was packed....it wasn't the food or the service, it was DJ Dans Trivia Night! The Blue Otter sits on beautiful Lake Chatuge in Hiawassee Georgia - where we have been looking for property to buy - and includes a very busy marina. It was apparent that the locals were crazy about DJ Dan....tables were reserved for 'Trivia Teams,' and DJ Dan made sure we felt obligated to play, despite our protestations that we were just there for dinner! I relented, listened to his game rules and told him our team name was 'Wild Hogs.' I know, I know.

We endured the bad service, I enjoyed my shrimp tacos, we played along w DJ Dan....and ducked out after the second bonus round. I seriously questioned Dans sources in the Literature category.

The day started slow....waiting on the realtor, who never actually showed up. Paul and I were cooling our heels...the sun was shining, the area is rife with good asphalt, and we needed to ride. I plugged four listings into my gps and we decided to do drive bys....which can be a potentially dangerous activity on a bike in these parts. The first one was thumbs down...too trashy. I opted not to tak Bessie off and up the 3rd back road back road....Paul ventured forth and ended up on an uphill gravel road ( it was another one of those I told you so moments). If we cannot access the property safely on the bikes, we are not interested. We traveled for 30 minutes on nice twisty turny asphalt to get to the 3rd property....on the last turn off, I'm staring at a gravel road that goes straight up...no way, even Paul shook his head and motioned for me to turn around. Ok, enough house hunting...let's enjoy the sunshine and the asphalt.

Headed north on 129 to visit the Biker Barn...the nearest Harley Dealership is 80+ miles. 129  North features the Tail of the Dragon. We are so close to so many fabulous roads for riding in this area! I buy a frame and a skull salt/pepper set....moving on to tackle Brasstown Bald, the highest point in Georgia, just over 4400 feet elevation, it's not Pikes Peak, but the last 4 miles to the top is a series of 10 mph switchbacks virtually straight up. Just the kind of challenge I like! Once at the visitor center....we take a van to the very peak. And the driver provides information about the flora and fauna, in particular the 'blue haze' we see in the Blue Ridge mountains and the 'smoke' we see in the Smokey mountains. It is isoprene.  gas emitted from the trees and decomposing vegetation. On a clear day -today is not - you can see the skyline of Atlanta from atop Brasstown Bald. 

Back to Hiawassee through the Chatahoochee National forest...I'm reminded of the horrible condition of PA and NY interstates as I'm cruising along on smooth asphalt on a Georgia BACKROAD! We were not successful in finding property that met our need but we WERE successful in riding the awesome Georgia twisty turnys! 

"Excitement is found along the road, not at the end, and likewise, peace is not a fixed point-except perhaps in the unwanted 'rest in Peace' sense. PEACE is the breathing space between destinations, between excitements, an occasional part of the journey, if you're lucky. PEACE is a space you move through very rarely, and very briefly-but you are not allowed to stay there. You have to keep moving, and go do what you do because you can..." ~ Neal Peart, Far and Away : A Prize Every Time

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