Sitting at a table in the dining room of the Rivers & Rails Tavern in Dillsboro, North Carolina, Craig Szymanski looks out the window and watches a family wander down the row of shops on Front Street in the small, bucolic community. With the late afternoon sunshine falling behind the ancient Blue Ridge Mountains, the hungry group notices the lights of the popular tavern. … [Read more...] about Coast to Coast and Carolina, too: Chef brings culinary flare to Jackson County, North Carolina
Quick Shifts
Stateline Motorsports: Bristol’s Hub for Motorcycling
On the western end of the famed “Snake” (U.S. 421), riders will find one of the region’s top motorcycle dealerships, featuring several brands of bikes and a welcoming environment for a rest stop while touring East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. Stateline Motorsports, part of the Friendship Family of Dealerships, lies on the Virginia side of the historic bordertown of … [Read more...] about Stateline Motorsports: Bristol’s Hub for Motorcycling
Elkin’s Angry Troll Brewing: A must-stop for riders and foodies alike
If the intriguing name doesn’t convince riders to stop into Angry Troll Brewing in Elkin, North Carolina, the tasty food and beverages surely will. Nestled at the eastern end of Main Street, the cozy brew pub makes the perfect destination for those “ride to eat” motorcycle outings. Behind doors emblazoned with a grimacing troll logo await a wood-paneled, exposed beam bar and … [Read more...] about Elkin’s Angry Troll Brewing: A must-stop for riders and foodies alike
A Star is Reborn: Returning a Bavarian tourer to its place on the open road
There clearly was no reason to be looking for a third BMW R100 RS. Our garage already is home to a pair of my favorites, a 1977 non-CFO RS that was once owned by Malcolm Forbes, and a smoked red ‘82 which was a Euro delivery Beemer for a U.S. Army Officer stationed in West Germany. And yet, classified ads continue a siren song of sorts that requires periodic attention. A … [Read more...] about A Star is Reborn: Returning a Bavarian tourer to its place on the open road
Blue Ridge Parkway: Touring the region’s most famous scenic byline
I wasn’t always a motorcycle enthusiast, but I’ve always been intrigued. Maybe I can blame Marlon Brando in “The Wild One” or Steve McQueen in “The Great Escape” for starting the itch that needed scratching. My first foray was in Kauai, Hawaii, as a marine on a Kawasaki Ninja 1990 ZX-11. That bike was stupid fast, and I was just stupid. I had some gateway bikes afterward, … [Read more...] about Blue Ridge Parkway: Touring the region’s most famous scenic byline
