Took my 2023 1250 BMW GS to the GA mountains for the first time to check out some water falls, get some BBQ and ride off road on some dirt roads. First I went to Jumping Goats Coffee Roasters in Cleveland. Got there a little after 9am and had a Cappuccino which was good but this place was all about the views. It was amazing. It overlooked a cow pasture and a couple mountains. I believe one was Mount Yonah.
After that i road over the the Raven Cliff Falls trail head ($5 to park) and hiked 5 miles (round trip) to the falls. The trail is great and goes along a running creek the whole way which i love. Plenty of little pools of water you could take a dip in. But the falls at the end of the trail is not much. Basically ends at a big stone wall of a mountain. When i saw that i realized Diane and i had done this one before. Took me about 1 h and 40 min. Great exercise.
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| The trail head |
Then i went to lunch at Jim's Smokin' Que on 129 going up to Blairsville. I think i saw on FB that it was ranked best in GA at some point. I got the Brunswick stew and pulled port sandwich. It was good but i don't know if i would call it fantastic or anything.
Then I road back to Hatchet Creek Rd (dirt) to get to Helton Creek Falls. I was excited to ride the GS on a dirt road for the first time but i didn't realize i would also have to cross 2 creeks. I could have parked after the first one and walked to the falls but i decided to go for it. I made it across both but it was not pretty. I think i was hanging my feet off the pegs in anticipation of falling. As a result my feet got soaked and my boots were full of water. But i got across and i was so excited! Helton Creek Falls was just a short walk (and some stairs) from the road but it was much more impressive than Raven Cliff. There was lots of folks there swimming in a pool at the bottom of one of the falls. Wish i had my bathing suit on. Hatchet Creek/Helton Creek road was awesome. I would love to live on it.
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| Oh shit! |
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| First creek crossed! |
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| View of Helton Creek Falls from road |
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| Looking down the first set of falls |
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| Swimming hole at the top |
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| swimming hole |
Then i road down to Turners Corner and had one beer at the restaurant there which is no called Riverside Tavern at Turners Corner. I've always loved that spot to chill and relax on the river. Incredible day of riding, coffee, and food. Hot ride home though (85 degrees) especially once i got back to 85 and pleasant hill road.
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| Back home under the cherry tree :) |
