Stage 9: Cherokee, North Carolina to Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 263 miles.

To describe today accurately would be almost to describe two separate rides. After a few hours of sleep at our mountain home, this morning Nikki Hancock, Jacob Martin, Shane and I took off from Cherokee, North Carolina and had an amazing ride through the Nantahala National Forest along the Nantahala and Hiwassee Rivers, before crossing into Tennessee and traveling around Ocoee Lake. The weather was perfect, traffic was pretty light and we were gripping and ripping it on our machines.

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During a mid-day fuel stop at about 120 miles in, we received a message from the Cannonball’s automated texting service notifying us of severe weather ahead with the chance of flash flooding, and also letting us know that our designated check in time at the daily finish line would be extended to accommodate the delays. Within 10 miles after getting back on the road, we were in the thick of it. One of the worst rain storms I’ve ever ridden in on any motorcycle much less a 90 year old one. We struggled to see more than 30 feet past the front fender, but pushed ourselves and our machines onward into the heart of the beast. Every mile was like riding into a face full of needles at 45 miles an hour. Fairly certain our rain suits were drier on the outside than we were on the inside of them.

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At 180 miles in just before a fuel station, we pulled over at an emergency checkpoint where staff informed us of a course change due to flooding. While pumping gas, Nikki grabbed us some stylish masks to try and take some of the sting out of our faces from the pelting rain. Back on the road we pounded out another 70 miles in absolutely terrible conditions, while reminding ourselves that we paid for this fun. Finally when we all agreed that one more fuel and coffee stop was in the cards 17 miles from the day’s end, we checked our phones again to see another automated text stating that the road conditions were too poor to continue the day’s event and that the remainder of the course was cancelled.

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Riders behind us at the 160 mile mark had the choice of requesting their support crews to come back and pick them up or could hop on one of two official sweep trucks and trailers if there was room. Naturally, with 17 miles remaining and our clothes entirely soaked under the rain suits we decided to champion the remainder of the miles and do it for fun.

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This evening’s stop and dinner was hosted by Bumpus Harley-Davidson of Murfreesboro, and we appreciate all of the hospitality. We only had a few bikes at the finish line due to the weather; most will arrive later this evening on trailers. Tomorrow is our one and only rest day, where we will focus on changing tires, chains, cleaning intake valve pockets and any other small maintenance items in order to get us the remainder of the way across the United States. Our only casualty of the day was the spring on our brake light switch which went flying at some point in the torrential rainstorm this afternoon.