Surrounded by the ancient peaks of the Blue Ridge Mountains and buffering the hustle of Interstate 81, Roanoke, Virginia (pop: 100,011) is a cultural and outdoor gem in Southern Appalachia. Once a large-scale railroad hub, the city itself remains an economic beacon for much of the bucolic, rural landscape in Southwestern Virginia. Nowadays, the metro-area has transformed into … [Read more...] about Star City of the South: Roanoke, Virginia
Rider Tours
The Blue Ridge Mountains: Of what was and shall ever be
North Carolina is a collection of wonderful regions and places, from the mountains to the sea. Each is different of course, with its own geography to be savored on two wheels. It is remarkably easy to avoid being trapped on highways and allow oneself to be consumed by the beauty of the byways. Along the way, the people are terrific as well, with different traditions and foods … [Read more...] about The Blue Ridge Mountains: Of what was and shall ever be
Flying on the ground: A tour to the Helen Balloon Festival
I have motorcycles. A bunch. New ones, old ones. And I ride a lot, nearly every day. Short, far, sometimes for months at a time. Riding is its own unique sensation and operation, and I think that’s why I enjoy it so much. Sometimes if I ride long enough, it even feels like I’m flying. I wonder what it’s like to fly — don’t you? Maybe you know, maybe you’re a pilot or fly … [Read more...] about Flying on the ground: A tour to the Helen Balloon Festival
Touring the two Virginias: Seeing new life in the Bluefields
A few days earlier, a buxom, wet and nasty bitch named Helene came our way up from Florida, uninvited and unwelcomed, and for many people in many places throughout our divine mid-Atlantic mountains, life would never be the same. The hurricane absolutely devastated several communities, large and small, mostly in North Carolina and Tennessee, but also in far southwest Virginia. … [Read more...] about Touring the two Virginias: Seeing new life in the Bluefields
Helene’s Wrath: Fleeing the Aftermath With a Weeklong Odyssey
On the third day with no power, no water and no more ready-to-eat food, I looked at my Yamaha Tracer 9 GT sitting there with nearly a full fuel tank and accepted it was time to mount up and escape the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. I underestimated Helene, as I’m sure many others did. As a native and lifelong resident of the region, I’ve seen countless downgraded hurricanes … [Read more...] about Helene’s Wrath: Fleeing the Aftermath With a Weeklong Odyssey
