The right sherpa (guide) can make all the difference.
By all accounts, Sir Edmund Hillary would not have been the first to reach the summit of Mount Everest in 1953 without his talented sherpa, Tenzing Norgay.
While we weren’t scaling the Goddess of the Sky, the North Georgia mountains can be tricky for the uninitiated. Many people have found themselves lost, dazed, and confused on those mountain switchbacks.
So, we couldn’t sign up fast enough when we heard Jeremy Whitehead was leading a pack of Corvettes on a foray into the forest-covered hinterland.
Jeremy has spent countless hours exploring the highways and byways that snake around this mountain range, and it shows.
With nary a misstep, he was a confident sherpa who guided us over scenic backroads and through picturesque mountain towns. Experience, patience, and positive energy are but a few of Jeremy’s attributes displayed throughout this afternoon’s adventure.
For the lucky Classic Glass Corvette Club members, this mountain excursion proved to be exceptional Corvette-approved fun from start to finish. We caught up with Jeremy to learn more about his journey and where the road is leading him.
Reading Maps For Fun
Rod Worley – Editor – You ran the cruise like you’ve been living in these mountains your whole life. How long have you been exploring the North Georgia Mountains?
Jeremy Whitehead – Since about the year 2000 or so. I was into Triumphs back then and we did quite a few driving events. I gained some experience with them and started leading some of my own rides.
Eventually, I got into a motorcycle group and became one of the primary road captains with them. Eventually, I became President of the North Georgia Motorcycle Club and we’d usually ride every other week.
We have so many fantastic roads in this part of the country. My wife laughs about the fact that I read maps for fun, but I find it enjoyable to find roads that I can string together for a group ride.
I would always advise pre-driving the route a few days ahead of time as there can be some surprise gotchas, but that isn’t always possible.
Summer Sabbatical
Rod Worley – Editor – Why did you start doing midweek cruises?
Jeremy Whitehead – I’m on sabbatical this summer and just decided to do some tame rides that didn’t conflict with everyone’s weekend plans. There’s usually far less traffic, and it’s pretty easy to get into restaurants in the middle of the week.
This is such a large club that we try to do a variety of events for a variety of folks. We don’t expect that everyone will be able to make every event, so the idea is to offer different types of events and let people pick what appeals to them.
Not really actually surprised by the turnout. Classic Glass Corvette Club (CGCC) has quite a few retired folks who are available through the week and like tame speeds, so I suspected this would be a popular event, and it has been for the most part.
Manageable Small Group
Rod Worley – Editor – Jeremy, you purposely limited the group size for this event. What experiences led to that decision?
Jeremy Whitehead – A couple of years back, I was working with our then–new member officer who wanted to put together some cruises. We opened it up to the whole club and did about 3 in a row that were 30+ cars.
It got to be completely unmanageable with people getting lost, and I could only see about 8-10 cars directly behind me. I decided that I really didn’t want to lead huge groups again.
The GMRS radios we all use are only good for about a mile despite what the “official range” is. When people in the middle lag behind and don’t keep up, it makes it so that the radio calls can’t reach the rear of the group.
That’s why I always stress my group driving tips in my driver’s meetings. Also, drivers need to make sure they take responsibility for the car behind them.
If we make a turn and the driver behind doesn’t see the car ahead, they have no idea which way we went. Yes, I think limiting the number of cars to a manageable number (12 seems to be a very good number) is the way to go.
Smaller groups are far easier to get into restaurants and gas stations as well.
Events On The Horizon
Rod Worley – Editor – The word is out about your cruises. Any thoughts about future events?
Jeremy Whitehead – Future events? Well, just off the top of my head, I’ve been thinking about Warm Springs and maybe a tour of the Chickamauga Battlefield Park.
My 3rd great-grandfather was wounded in battle there and sent to Andersonville prison in South Georgia.
I keep aiming to put together a multi-day small group for a ride up into West Virginia and beyond.
I’ve done some exploring up there and found some AMAZING roads. I guess maybe this Fall might be a good time for that.
Toccoa Riverside Restaurant
A morning spent carving mountain roads can work up an appetite quickly. Fortunately, Jeremy had a lunch break at Toccoa Riverside restaurant, strategically placed in the itinerary.
This Blue Ridge eatery provides casual family dining overlooking the scenic Toccoa River. Since 1992, this local favorite has featured fresh-caught trout, steaks, seafood, ribs, and signature pasta dishes.
You can enjoy a beautiful view of the river from anywhere, whether in the dining room, outside deck, or the “Toasted Bear” lounge. Judging by the smiles and positive comments afterward, we’d give the dining experience a hearty thumbs up.
And while we’re giving recommendations, you would do well to sign up for Jeremy’s next exercise the moment you hear about it. This kind of Corvette experience doesn’t happen often enough.
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