SquirrelyGrl Tales

Lost the job and then a friend passed back home. What else is there to do but head south? B and Muki were on board. We slapped plans together on Friday night. I packed the pickup, B booked a trailer, a friend was able to watch the cat then Saturday morning we were off.

Once we got 15 miles from town, the traffic was horrendous (it never is easy) getting to CHA. I helped out Monday and Tuesday at the shop, but I was ready to get the GS out.

I rolled out Wednesday, near enough my projected time. The 310 was smooth on the highway, Hwy 64 had more traffic that I preferred. I enjoyed it more on the back roads towards Waynesville, NC. I love riding through Nantahala, such a pretty place. Bryson City had lots of leaf peeper traffic, the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad was in full swing. I was strategic with my parking, the bike is slightly tall for my short frame.

I’ve had so many grand adventures from the DR200, Hawk 400 and the GS500 F. Riding the 310 on my old stomping grounds was cathartic. Silke would have approved, then have told me to keep riding til I was done.

A most formidable woman, Silke was one of the most interesting, honest and adventurous people I had the pleasure of meeting. I think if the world stopped spinning for a time (it probably did), it would have for this woman. She brought together so many of us hooligans and wanderers, she herself was far from her starting place of Germany and traveled the world. Hunter, her husband was a unique character. My life certainly would have been missing a spark if I had never met them (and the rest of the AVL crowd).

I met up with my friends, whom I haven’t seen in years. I’m honored to have kept their friendship and regretful I couldn’t have stayed longer. Time has passed and the crowd I once knew at the Notta is not the same as I came to know and love. Which is not to say interesting and sincere adventurers are not to be met at the event.

Every ride is not as long as I want it to be, but we had to get back before the weather turned. B got his ride in and we met in Robbinsville. We got to spend another day with the family, it was a great trip.

Our last day we spent time with Muki on the Guild-Hardy Trail, passing underneath the Lookout Mountain Incline Railway. B and I have ridden the Incline back in the day, pretty neat. We had great family time and got to see the new additions.