A morning breeze off the Oconaluftee River in Cherokee, North Carolina, eases the rising summer heat as I head north on U.S. 441. Like many fellow motorcyclists, I can’t resist the lure of riding across the Great Smoky Mountains on such a glorious day. Taking 441 past the southern terminus of the Blue Ridge Parkway, I often encounter the herd of elk reintroduced to the park … [Read more...] about The Smokies: Over, under and around
Notes from the road: Autumn can be a season of renewal, too
She sits there as I grab my clanking golf bag and walk past. She sits there as I make a quick trip to the grocery store — without her. She sits there as the weekend arrives and dust still accumulates on her gleaming paint. I tell myself I should take her out for a ride today. Then the day slips away, and my motorcycle still sits there. “This guy rides more than anyone I … [Read more...] about Notes from the road: Autumn can be a season of renewal, too
Notes from the road: Adventure is a just an unpaved mountain road away
Some days, tarmac just doesn’t suffice when you’re an adventure rider. On a quiet Monday with nothing on the calendar, I headed into the lush wilderness of the Pisgah National Forest to escape the heat of summer and find that connection between earth, motorcycle and man that often gets lost navigating through heavy urban traffic. I needed the tonic of the wilderness, to borrow … [Read more...] about Notes from the road: Adventure is a just an unpaved mountain road away
Escarpment escape: Two-wheeled heaven along The Blue Wall
Ancient and weathered it stands like a sentinel at the gates of another realm. Seen from the foothills of the piedmont, the Blue Ridge Escarpment rises suddenly to divide the land, allowing passage through only a handful of mountain roads. Savvy motorcyclists gather along these roads to experience the sudden 2,000-plus climb over the Eastern Continental Divide into Western … [Read more...] about Escarpment escape: Two-wheeled heaven along The Blue Wall
Cumberland Cascades: Stunning waterfalls await Tennessee travelers
My first roadside break of the morning began at Washington Ferry on the western bank of the Tennessee River. Happy to be on another road trip, I savored the quiet riverfront view, although I fear the lone fisherman initially hidden from my view was probably annoyed by my approach on the raspy three-cylinder Yamaha sport-touring bike. The fisherman packed up and departed … [Read more...] about Cumberland Cascades: Stunning waterfalls await Tennessee travelers
