Deb would like to go - but can't go.  She committed to singing at two events over the weekend and also attending some kind of event at church.

It is a bit of an irritation to me......she is committing to so many things that we seldom have an opportunity to ride together - and she does not have the ability to do anything without planning months ahead of time.

So....I am coming alone, by myself, without a wife.

MM, if it gets cold at night you can warm up your hands between those two pillows  

I don't remember Suches being particularly cool last year.......is my memory fading?  I do admit that it gets harder with each trip to remember that event specifically....details of the trip tend to blend together with other trips I have taken.  I can remember stopping for gas and it being really hot.....and enjoying the air conditioning inside the little rustic store.

All of us will be hauling the bikes to Robbinsville this year.......I believe I will be coming very early on Thursday morning during the cool hours, and I should be arriving around noon and take an afternoon ride.

At this point Friday weather looks a little bit iffy for rain - we will just have to wait and see what develops.  Monday is forecast for showers - so staying on an extra day would not make any sense.  
 

MM:

We are staying at the Two Wheel Inn.  Biker friendly folks, good people who have owned the place a bit more than a year - they need our business.  The place comes with a garage to put the bike in!

https://twowheelinn.com/

You might be able to find a bit cheaper place at one of the hotels in or near Robbinsville.

MM:

First.....I am sorry your sister passed.  I find it really hard to express my feelings for that event - what does someone 300 miles away say that makes anything easier for you and your family?  I hope that like your family, she went knowing that she had been a good and faithful servant and she was called home.

The weather forecast keeps changing, and that is no surprise a week out.  A couple days ago Wednesday was forecast to be the wettest day - now it is supposed to be sunny and the warmest day of the week!  All of the mornings are going to be down around freezing, and the afternoons are supposed to be 53 - 60.

I can bring Deb's heated vest for Marcia - she has never worn it on a long trip so I don't know if it will last all day....but if it only lasts a few hours it could help to get her through the first part of the ride until things warm up in the afternoon. Deb also has some warm motorcycle pants that I can bring along in case Marcia wants to try them.  (I believe that on a bike with a windshield, the passenger gets more wind and it is a bit harder to stay warm).

I will call the Two Wheel Inn today and let them know of our plans - I don't expect we will have to make any reservations, as last year only about 20% of the rooms were occupied.

https://www.accuweather.com/en/us/robbinsville/28771/daily-weather-forecast/3...



 

If the weather there acts like the weather here today - it was 28 when we got up this morning and the sun had warmed things up to 45 by noon......and we will top out at 50 by 2PM, - it will stay there until 6PM.

I expect that the routine will be getting up and going up to Huddle House for breakfast with the ride starting around 10AM.  We ride here and there, get a light lunch somewhere, and then start a path toward home so we can arrive just about the time dark and cold set in.  The ride will not be too aggressive with cold tires and leaves scattered all over the road - the riding is really good however as there are almost no campers, motor homes or tourists clogging them up. There will be a few "leaf lookers".......that tight section of 28 heading into the Highlands was great last year - we sailed through without the normal parade of slow tourists blocking the road.

We will just have to watch the weather and plan on the arrival and departure dates.  Stewmills and his brother can be there Sat/Sun so I will be there to ride with them on those days unless the weather turns really foul - riding Thur/Fri or Mon/Tues makes no difference to me as long as the weather is good.

I have only ridden the Natchez Trace in the area south of Franklin around Leapers Fork, and it is not very exciting or scenic in that area.  It is a 45mph strip of asphalt with mowed grass along the edge....then trees beyond that - the view in almost any direction doesn't go beyond the tree line.

 

The weather forecast is changing rapidly.....now it appears Mon/Tue/Wed are excellent - too bad I have to work!

Thur/Fri are now looking like they could be wet, Sat/Sun are dry and sunny, and Mon (11th) is potentially drizzly.

So....we just need to wait and see how the forecast is going to change as the week progresses.  I am still planning on leaving Thursday morning and staying until Sunday if the weather allows.  If only Sat/Sun remain as the dry days......I am not opposed to coming down Friday afternoon/evening and riding Sat/Sun.

https://www.accuweather.com/en/us/robbinsville/28771/daily-weather-forecast/3...

The color in the trees are about at their peak in my area now.   But my spare room is occupied by a young man just getting on his feet , so I don't have anywhere to put a body (or two) up at the moment.  

We might have to go all the way to see Bad Wolf before nice weather gets into the picture , how twisty roads fit into the picture , I don't know.  

 can anybody do the following weekend?  

45 at night and 70 in the day ?   I day ride all winter long on sunny afternoons for short trips of a couple of hours.   I've found that below 50 deg. it ain't fun no more.   Every day is Saturday .  except Sunday ...