This annual trip is typically a weekend run to Maggie Valley to visit with friends of the BBR and ride some of the greatest roads and twisties.  I did not plan a long trip this year, so I decided to take a week off and take my time to enjoy the ride and the mountains.  I left Baton Rouge on Saturday morning (May 28th) and took a slow ride up the Natchez Trace, exiting at Florence, Alabama for the night.  On Sunday I headed to Benton Tennessee to  spend the afternoon and night with JDubya and TNT before heading to Maggie Valley for the week.  The rain followed me to Tennessee and spoiled the Sunday afternoon ride that was planned.  But, visiting with friends and eating grilled fish is better anyway.  On Monday I headed to Maggie Valley and planned to spend the week riding various routes and enjoying the greenery, twisties, and the mountains.  On Tuesday I visited the Biltmore Mansion in Asheville.  After riding the Blue Ridge Parkway back to Maggie Valley, I sat around and waited for friends to arrive.  Wednesday through Friday it rained every day and kept us from doing any serious riding.  We took short trips (40 miles or so) and would head back to the hotel to visit since the roads were wet.  On Saturday we had good weather, so off we went to enjoy of day of riding the mountains.  Sunday was the final day.  I left early Sunday morning and rode 13 hours to get home.

The pictures that follow show some of the friends and the area.  All of the pictures posted here that were taken at the hotel were taken by Cheryl Brown and shared with me.  My pictures only include time at JDubya and TNT's, the Biltmore, and some on the Blue Ridge Parkway.  Thank you Cheryl for taking the pictures and agreeing to let me have them.

Me, Jim, Mark cooking