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
Reviews
Poem: “The Road is a Woman”
The road is A woman Almost naked Draped In scanty strands Of yellow and white A maiden Stained Here and there With skids of Burnt rubber From runaway semis, And the blood Of a fawn Half eaten by Vultures I can't fool this one She's seen too much And knows that I'm just like all Of the … [Read more...] about Poem: “The Road is a Woman”
Airbags: Pricey luxury item or essential gear?
As motorcyclists in an ever-changing world of both style and technology, the time has come to ask ourselves: Are airbags or air vests essential safety gear? Do they work? Are they affordable? Are they reusable? MotoGP, the top tier of motorcycle racing, requires racers to wear a specific helmet, leathers, pads, boots, gloves — and yes, airbags. In fact, airbags have been … [Read more...] about Airbags: Pricey luxury item or essential gear?
Reviving a classic movie house: food, music and charm fill Mars Theatre Brewing
Glowing neon letters spelling out “Mars Theatre” beckon as the sun sets on Main Street in the small Western North Carolina town of Mars Hill. Music begins to fill the air as you open the big double doors of the old 1947 cinema house and follow the stairs down to a whimsical eatery, brewery and makeshift community center. Scott Spruill, who operates Mars Theatre Brewing Co., … [Read more...] about Reviving a classic movie house: food, music and charm fill Mars Theatre Brewing
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
