There is a section of US 421 between Mountain City, Tennessee and Shady Valley, Tennessee that is commonly referred to as "The Snake" by riders in this area. It's a little over 10 miles in length and has close to 140 turns and is a hoot to ride.
Once in the town of Shady Valley the locals claim that within a twelve mile radius there are a combined 489 curves on the locals roads and highways. I can't say that we've found them all, but we aren't done trying either.
Shady Valley is also the home to "The Country Store", now known for being a pit stop for riders of all kinds of bikes it also holds claim to being the oldest continually operating business in the state of Tennessee. While nothing fancy it is a welcome sight out in the middle of the Tennessee back country for riders needing a break and wanting to fill their tanks and bellies.
We almost always stop in for a cold drink and sometimes lunch, as well as to check out the bikes in the parking lot. There's always a crowd on the week-ends and there's no telling what, or who you'll see.
On this particular trip during the first week-end of May we rode with our pals and riding buds Teddy and Tim.
Teddy & Tim's Honda VTX 1800 C
Tim ambling over to the store
Julie & Teddy being silly 
You can't miss 'The Country Store', not only well marked there's usually a crowd there too
Typical week end crowd at the store
Julie & Teddy showing me some loveLeaving Shady Valley on 133 headed towards Damascus, Virginia it doesn't take long to get to one of the stranger sights in the area. It's called "Back Bone Rock".
Back Bone Rock is a natural rock formation that is roughly a half mile long and about ten feet across. It juts up from out of the side of a foothill and ends at a creek.
Many years ago when the area was being used as a timber supply there was a need to get trains into the back woods. The loggers and railroaders decided the best way around Back Bone Rock was to go through it and carved the hole you see then built a railroad bed and laid tracks for the train. Once they quit logging the area the tracks were picked up and a road was built on the sight of the original railroad, including what is referred to as "The Worlds Shortest Tunnel" going through Back Bone Rock.
There is now a state park and camp grounds at the base of the rock as well as a hiking trail that takes you up and over the top of the rock.
There were climbers there that day trying their hand at scaling Back Bone Rock
Teddy & Tim making their way up the staircase leading to the top of the rock
"Whew. Made it."
"Oh c'mon Teddy, this is supposed to be fun!"
View from the top 
Long way down, huh Tim?
The creek at the end of the formation
The other side of "The Worlds Shortest Tunnel" 
Not an exceptionally long ride, but a full day with stops. We had a great time as always with Teddy and Tim and look forward to many more trips with them in the future.
Bruce
