On the evening of Dec. 31, 1952, legendary country singer Hank Williams checked into the Andrew Johnson Hotel in downtown Knoxville, Tennessee. By the following day, the iconic performer would be pronounced dead at a hospital in the depths of rural West Virginia. Although there is much debated speculation and haphazard lore as to what really occurred along “Hank Williams’ Last … [Read more...] about Lost highway: The last ride of Hank Williams
Rally ’round a train trip: Amtrak eases cross-country to the BMW MOA Rally
It’s day six near Lorton, Virginia, and I find myself sitting in plush travel comfort. I am barely aware of the ear worm rattling in my brain. It is an old Memphis style blues song, “Mystery Train” written by Junior Parker and made popular by The Band in 1976. The earworm keeps repeating, “The train I ride 16 coaches long. Well, that long black train carries my baby home.” My … [Read more...] about Rally ’round a train trip: Amtrak eases cross-country to the BMW MOA Rally
“Head of the Dragon” motorcycle ride in McDowell County, West Virginia
The “Head of the Dragon” joins Back of the Dragon, Claw of the Dragon, and Tail of the Dragon to complete the Body of the Dragon motorcycle rides series in Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia. The ride consists of 91 miles of McDowell County two lane country roads. You will be riding: Route 52, Route 80, Route 83, Route 16, and Route 161. Your ride … [Read more...] about “Head of the Dragon” motorcycle ride in McDowell County, West Virginia
Thunderbolts and Lightning: Venerable Airhead still conjures pure magic
As I swung through an area of particularly nice farm country on my 1982 BMW R100 RS, I found myself sitting by the side of the road, simply soaking in the beauty all around. A massive sea of yellow flowers filled the scene in every direction, in rolling waves. The hardwoods are almost in full leaf now in the piedmont of North Carolina, and the bright green of spring makes … [Read more...] about Thunderbolts and Lightning: Venerable Airhead still conjures pure magic
Following dreams in Virginia’s Craig and Giles counties
We weren’t 30 minutes into our ride before the first deer tried to kill me. She jumped over the fence on the left side of Virginia Route 42, which slowed her down before she bolted across the highway in front of me, otherwise we may have collided. Nick, my riding partner for the day, watched it all from the perch of his Harley Road Glide. He asked me later if my little Honda … [Read more...] about Following dreams in Virginia’s Craig and Giles counties
