The new Harley-Davidson Pan America was already sitting outside Asheville Motorcycle Rentals when we arrived. Owner Phil Cann wanted to put some break-in miles on the new adventure bike before it enters the rental fleet, which was the perfect excuse for a day trip through the Blue Ridge Mountains. I gathered a motley collection of cruisers, customs, café and adventure riders … [Read more...] about The Green River Staircase: Tackling Switchbacks works up an appetite for Seafood
The Devil’s Triangle: Forests, windmills, a spooky prison and the atom bomb
Nestled at the base of the Cumberland Mountains, the Devil’s Triangle awaits. It’s one of those motorcycling routes that will motivate you to rise at dawn and endure a couple of hours on the interstate just to savor this lonesome road’s dramatic twists. A few years ago, a riding companion and I passed through these hills on my way north to the Cumberland Gap. We had little … [Read more...] about The Devil’s Triangle: Forests, windmills, a spooky prison and the atom bomb
Georgia Guidestones: Mysterious monument beckons riders to Georgia field
Know that riding buddy who loves conspiracy theories? Maybe you are that person. If mysteries intrigue you, then follow the backroads south to northeastern Georgia where a strange granite monument sits eerily in a lonely pasture. This controversial assemblage of inscribed slabs sprang from the mind of a mysterious figure who called himself R.C. Christian, a pseudonym. In … [Read more...] about Georgia Guidestones: Mysterious monument beckons riders to Georgia field
Notes from the road: Zen and the art of roadside loafing
The crunch of gravel beneath my adventure bike grows quieter as I ease the tall bike up to the guardrail next to the tranquil mountain lake. The arrival of summer always lures me to explore unpaved lanes, especially if they lead to hidden waterfalls or secluded lakes. One of my favorite loops takes me to Cascade Lake in Transylvania County, North Carolina. Not far from … [Read more...] about Notes from the road: Zen and the art of roadside loafing
A Dozen Memories: Johnson City’s Southern Dozen always offers excitement
Johnson City, with its towering sign above downtown, appears on the horizon as I trek west from the Blue Ridge Mountains. Each year, I return to this charming town in northeast Tennessee to continue my exploration of The Southern Dozen, a collection of motorcycle routes branching out from the city created by local tourism officials to showcase the region. “The Southern Dozen … [Read more...] about A Dozen Memories: Johnson City’s Southern Dozen always offers excitement
