Blue Ridge Motorcycling Magazine

Quick Shifts

This old engine makes it on time: The Great Smoky Mountains Music Train departs

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One of the most beautiful, poignant sounds to echo out into the ancient mountains of Western North Carolina is that of a train whistle in motion. If you ride a motorcycle into downtown Bryson City, that iconic howl can be heard almost daily. Recently, it signaled the inaugural departure of the Great Smoky Mountains Music Train. “This is a moving, musical experience,” said … [Read more...] about This old engine makes it on time: The Great Smoky Mountains Music Train departs

Fabulous Five: The best of East Tennessee on two wheels

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Fall makes the perfect time to explore several picturesque lakes, scenic byways and natural wonders of East Tennessee. Most of these top five places can be squeezed into a long weekend tour combining stunning scenery, twisty roads and a rich history. 1. Stunning TVA dams Created by the TVA in the 1930s and ‘40s to bring power and flood control to the region, what’s known … [Read more...] about Fabulous Five: The best of East Tennessee on two wheels

“I Used To Have One:” Then and now, Honda CT70 & ST125

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While tooling around town on my 1971 Honda Trail 70, I get a lot of comments. Folks praise the sight of the vintage bike, usually parked at the coffee shop or while filling up at gas stations. In traffic, I get a lot of thumbs-ups. People will often roll their windows down just to let me know they “used to have one of those.” It never gets old. And that’s one of the universal … [Read more...] about “I Used To Have One:” Then and now, Honda CT70 & ST125

The Chevy Chase Inn: The oldest bar in Lexington, Kentucky

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With a sly grin rolling across his face, Kevin Heathcoat pointed to the top shelf of bourbon behind the counter at the Chevy Chase Inn, just above the old photographs and dusty trinkets adorning the wall. “That bourbon right there will ruin all bourbons for you after you taste it — it’s just that damn good,” Heathcoat, a co-owner of the inn, chuckled while watching the … [Read more...] about The Chevy Chase Inn: The oldest bar in Lexington, Kentucky

Where the Two Rivers Meet — Marietta, Ohio

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There are towns that seem to have been waiting all these years for a motorcycle to arrive properly, and Marietta is one of them. On a warm summer morning, with Rose idling along Front Street, her Thunderstroke sending that slow floorboard pulse up through my boots, the place feels less like a stop and more like a beginning. The air smells of river water, hot brick and … [Read more...] about Where the Two Rivers Meet — Marietta, Ohio