 | Turn right out of Applecover Inn on 19, ride for
about 4 miles. |
| Turn left on 276 North, which will be the second
light. |
| Travel
for 6 miles and go underneath I-40. |
| Turn
Right onto Rabbit Skin Road. |
| Go
about ? miles until you ride alongside a river on your left. |
| When
you see the large bridge to your left, turn left and go over it. |
| At
the stop sign, turn right onto Riverside drive. |
| Follow
Riverside Drive to the end. |
| Turn
left onto Highway 209. |
| 209
makes a right turn in Fines Creek. You will see an old store on the
corner. |
| Turn
right and continue following 209 North. |
| 209
will take you directly into Hot Springs. There are several little
shops and some restaurants here. The Paddler's
Pub has burgers and other items. |
| 209
turns into 25/70 in Hot Springs. Continue on this road towards
Asheville. The actual springs are just before you go over the bridge
to leave Hot Springs on your left. They have naturally heated spring
water in their hot tubs. |
| After
a few miles on 25/70, be sure to veer right at the yield, and continue on
25/70 towards Asheville. |
| Stay
on 25/70 for a while looking for Momma's Kitchen on the right. |
| Turn
right onto Little Pine Road which is also Sweet Water Road, right after
Momma's Kitchen. |
| After
a few miles, you will go over the Pigeon River again. Just after the
bridge you will take an IMMEDIATE left turn onto Bear Creek Road. |
| Follow
Bear Creek Road until you get to a 4 way intersection. |
| At
the Stop sign, turn right onto Meadows Town Road until it ends. |
| Turn
left on Leicester Highway, which is also 63, heading towards Asheville. |
| Follow
63 until you reach Newfound Road. You will get into a small town area,
and there is a gas station right on the corner. |
| Turn
right onto Newfound Road. |
| You
will come to I-40 eventually. If you wish to get back quickly, get on
the interstate heading west. Get off at exit 27 and follow the signs
for Maggie Valley. |
| To
tour a couple more little towns, continue on Newfound Road. |
| You
will come into downtown Canton. Canton is a papermill town, you will
see it as you ride through. |
| Turn
left onto Bridge Street. Turn right onto 19/23 and head towards Clyde. |
| Both
these towns were devastated by the floods of '05. Florence and Ivan
came through within 2 weeks of each other and flooded both these
towns. It was a very sad time, but they have come back remarkably
well. |
| After
you go through Clyde, continue on 19/23, which will become a freeway. |
| Get
on the freeway and head towards Maggie Valley. |
| Get
off exit 103 (Maggie Valley/Highway 19) |
| 7½
miles later, you will be back at Applecover Inn, ready to sit in a
rocking chair! |
