Days 1-5

Day 1:

Atlantic Beach, NC to Newton Grove, NC

Miles Traveled: ~220 miles

We started our cross country journey by dipping our boots in the Atlantic Ocean in Atlantic Beach, NC. We looked pretty ridiculous walking down the beach to the water edge in all of our motorcycle gear, but figured it was worth it for the pictures. We had a late start to the trip due to returning the Uhaul we used to transport the bikes up to NC. Despite the late start we made pretty good time on the smooth North Carolina backroads. Overall the day was pretty uneventful and consisted mainly of paved country backroads and averaging around 50 mph. The hardest challenge of the day was getting used to shifting with motocross boots on. We ended a long day with no place to sleep, so we scoured the route for a suitable place to stealth camp. After riding around for 30ish minutes we chose a place in an industrial place behind a warehouse. It seemed like a prime spot to quietly camp without being noticed, however it ended up being the loudest "campsite" around. We were apparently right next to train tracks, some business with a loudspeaker a lady talked over all night, and we had a semi truck driver sleep in his running big rig on the other site of the business. In the morning after a horrible night sleep we woke up with everyone and everything soaked in dew. We were groggy but in high spirits ready to concur day number 2.

Our super loud camp site in a random industrial park

Day 2:

Newton Grove, NC to Maggie Valley NC

Miles Traveled: ~325 Miles

The day started out similar to day one, making good time on back roads through rural North Carolina, until we found out Preston's father lived in Maggie Valley NC. We had planned on going around 200-250 miles, but when we realized Mr. Peacocks dad lived 8 miles off the trail we made the push to get there by the end of the day for fathers day. At the time we thought we were three hours away but little did we know we would hit our first dirt trails and end up taking 8hrs to get to get to Grandpa Johns house in Maggie Valley. On the way we hit our first offload trail We arrived cold, wet, and tired to amazing hospitality by Preston's father and more importantly warm beds and showers. At midnight while unloading our bags Preston told me that is was officially his 55th Birthday.

Random breast cancer Bus we found in NC. The Side says "save a life grope your wife"

Day 3:

Maggie Valley, NC to Tellico Plaines , TN

Miles Traveled: ~240

Day three we left from Maggie Valley feeling refreshed and reenergized. As we entered the Smokey Mountains the ride truly began to feel like we were going to hit some off road sections. After creeping through Smokey Mountain National Park behind tourist looking for bears along a oneway trail the TAT route led us to a road closed sign. Not wanting to reroute back through the near stand still traffic ( moving slower than idling in 1st gear) we decided to ignore the park service sign and lift our bikes over the ledge to the left of the sign. We were half convinced that someone saw us and their would be rangers waiting for us at the other end of the 9 mile horse trail. we got lucky and popped out on a windy patted road which lead down to Deals Gap a popular motorcycle hangout and the start of the Tail of the Dragon. We parked our bikes next to the dozens of Harleys and Sports bikes and began to ask about were the start of the Tail of the Dragon was. Apparently our dirt horse trail spit us out at the midway point of the the Tail of the Dragon and we had no idea. So we headed back in that direction complete the 318 turn over the 11 mile stretch of road. After slaying he dragon and getting passed by numerous scary fast crotch rockets we pushed on to Telco Plaines, TN the original start of the Trans America Trail. Preston made a point to point out that it was his birthday through the day across our bluetooth headsets and how we should be nice to him because of it.

Day 4:

Tellico Plaines to Estill Springs, TN

250 Miles

From Tellico Plaines we quickly hit a pretty technical gravel and dirt trail complete with three water crossings through streams with about two feet in depth. We easily made it through the crossing with little problem until the third crossing where Brett, my dad dropped his bike completely filling his air box with water. In order to get him out Preston and I had to completely soak out boots and assist him in lifting the 400lb+ like out of the stream. After about 20 mins of draining water from his bike and a small amount of tinkering we were able to get the bush pig running again. It was pretty miserable riding all day with wet boots, but we made it to Estill Springs where my uncle Todd lives with little other problems. Preston got a call from his wife Chris wishing him a happy birthday, so despite celebrating his birthday already a day early we decided to grill burgers on Uncle Todds boat and drink beer in celebration.

Happy and Dry in our cabin in Tellico Plaines before dads bike took a dip in a mountain spring

Day 5:

Rest Day- Tims Ford Lake

We spent the day playing on the lake trying to master my uncle's standup jetski and get up on his vintage air chair successfully (Basically a chair on a fat ski with a hydrofoil underneath with allows the ski to rise up out of the water when you lean back. Preston woke up to dozens of birthday texts and realized that it was June 20th (his real birthday) so we decided to head to the marina for dinner to once again celebrate his 55th birthday. For all we know tomorrow we will wake up and once again be told its Preston's birthday and we be forced to be nice to him and celebrate for a 4th day.