November 19, 2005 - Brasstown Bald (yes that is really the name of it)

Our fun trip today was with Steven and Krista Landy and their yellow Goldwing.  We went to Helen, Georgia for lunch and then up to Brasstown Bald Mountain, which is the highest point in Georgia... 4800 feet.  Temperature was in the mid 40's when we started the trip and pretty much never got above 54... so wind-chill was approximately -89.

We started about 11:00 at their house.  I will now describe their driveway... imagine walking to the edge of a 4 story building and looking over the edge at the street below.  That pretty much describes their driveway.  I took one look at it and just parked our bike at the bottom next to their mailbox and we walked up to their house.  I was starting to feel like a wimp until he told me that someone had tried to make it up once on a motorcycle and they didn't quite do it.  They fell over and caused $3000.00 worth of damage.  I didn't feel like a wimp after I heard that story.  Naturally, he and Krista ride up it all the time... so anyway... off we go.

We stopped in this little town with the excuse that we had to check the map to make sure we were going right... but it was really just an excuse to have a cigarette.  Steven is looking at the bank across the street and debating wither to rob it since he already has his ski mask on.

Here we are in Helen for lunch.  Nice hot food!

Here is Janis and Krista.  Horse drawn carriage carrying tourists would go up the street behind us. The town is like a little Bavarian village.  Guess I should have taken a picture of downtown.

Then we made it to Brasstown Bald Mountain. Here is Steven contemplating the meaning of life.  We were relieved that he decided not to rob the bank.

Janis is contemplating the effects of helmet hair.

See that tower?  We are about to climb up a trail that only a donkey could go up to get to it.  We could have taken a shuttle for $2... but noooooo  we had to hike it.

18 hours later and we arrive at the top.  These next pictures are the view looking down from the tower.  I think you can see 4 States from up here... but maybe 3.  Guess I should have read the info more.

There is the parking lot we just hiked up from.  See our bikes?

Krista is an official real biker chick.  She has a dew rag for her head and leather chaps for her legs... we have thermal underwear and a baseball cap. I can't remember the name of that town down there.  Looked nice though.  Had a big lake around it.   Well that's it for this trip.   We stopped once more on the way home to get a drink but I forgot to take a picture.  Arrived home about 5:30 after traveling about 180 miles today.