Memorial day bike at West Bike Shop

Yes it was Hot and Humid but also a great day for a memorable
bike ride. West Bike shop (sponsor of my Teenage Fit and Fun PBS show 1 pm PBS)

put on a great ride w/ 200 plus riders on a mid 90 degree day.   Sheriff escort and super rest stops helped us all enjoy a great ride despite the heat.

Cades Cove to Big Creek two great parks to see in one day

Got up on Memorial Morning and grateful to be able to do all the wonderful activities we get to do as a free country ... thanks to our veterans..     One buddy (sharon) is doing her 900 mile GSMNP trail map and needed a 1.2 section up around Indian Graves Gap off Cades Cove road.    We met up and did around 4 miles on a gorgeous day.  At 8 am in the GSMNP it was actually cool and pleasant.  Then after a little time at work and meeting with a sponsor of Fit and Fun (Dr. Michael Beeler Masterpiece Smiles) in Norris I headed to Big Ridge State park .. (( off norris exit for App museum take right. past the dentist office about 11.5 miles to the park.)))    I am going to lead a hike here for the Get on Local trails series (Legacy park/TCSC) this summer in July.    What a lovely state park with great areas for camping, picnic, play, fishing, biking, water activities.  My 11 year old Gracie B and bud Jenna E biked around and saw some nice cabins I plan to rent out soon  There are many 1.0-1.5 mile trails that can be put together for a nice hike.   The rangers at the Big Ridge State park were very nice and had maps etc.

Bryson City Get A Way

  A few hiker/biker buds decided after the spring GEt on Trail Spring hikes w/ Friends of the Smokies were over to head to Bryson City for an overnight trip   It is not a bad drive thru the park during the middle of the week.  We drove over 441 towards Cherokee and 3 of us decided right past Oconoluftee Visitor Center to drive up on Blue Ridge Parkway do bike 10-12 miles.   Yes it is hilly but OH so worth the climbs.   And during mid week there are not many cars at all on this gorgeous scenic parkway.   After a few hour bike we drove just a few more miles to Cherokee and had picnic lunch.  Then we met most of the rest of the group in Bryson City (10 miles from Cherokee) and biked on the Road to Nowhere.  If you park at the high school, it is only about 8 miles to the tunnel.  This is the tunnel that was going to lead to the long road across the mountains to Fontana area of the GSMNP.   It ended up being a road that would cost 10x the original price and also was going to damage the wildlife and waters around the area.  WE learned a lot about this where we stayed at the Historic Calhoun House.  Owner Luke helped work out a settlement for the county which has helped their economy while preserving the beauty of that area  After a nice dinner and hanging out at the Calhoun, we had a great breakfast then headed out the Lakeshore Drive (Rd to nowhere) again and this time hikes a few short loops close to the tunnel.  Goldmine loop then Noland Creek trails are nice hiking trails with lots of shade and pretty flowers.

Dogwood Arts walks and bikes in blooms Knox Botanical & Alcoa maryville greenways

We had a number of good walks this April and many on some of Dogwood Trails.  One new one which has been around a long time is the Knoxville Botanical Gardens in East KNoxville.    Once you drive up Summit Hill to the end past Weigals you see signs for Mabrey Hazen House and also some green signs for Knoxville Botanical Gardens.  Follow the signs another 2 miles or so and you will find this jewel.

We had around 22 folks come to take pictures and hear about the history and future of this 48 acre garden spot.   The Family who had this property for over 150 years  built some pretty stone structures and walls.  There are so many interesting and often exotic forms of flowers, plants and I think Vicky Baumgartner said over 20 types of Dogwood Trees.    It is a must see for everyone!

Then on the weekend there was a bike and bloom that met at Spring brook park east of the big pool area. We had thought maybe 12-20 would be coming and ended up with right at 50 people.  !!! We biked over to the industrial park and pond then added the new Alcoa Pedestrian bridge that also extends another 2-3 miles further towards Louisville road. We then came back to main trail and headed to center of Maryville A few took a breather and got a snack at the nice Maryville Library (my hubby and gracie enjoyed that) then half went on and went to the end of the greenway towards Sandy springs area  You can do 22 miles along greenway there and the plans for an eventual link between Blount and Knox greenways is an exciting plan for the future.  Thanks to Cycology bicycles also for helping with  this Dogwood arts ride sponsored by Covenant Health   www.cycologybicyles.com has a link to get added to their mailing list of rides