The mountains seem to cradle this bucolic valley. Beyond the orderly rows of vines, the blue-gray band of the Southern Appalachian Mountains fences off this area of east Tennessee, protecting it. Cherishing it. Briefly interrupting this peaceful scene, a group of nearly a dozen motorcyclists arrive at Tsali Notch Vineyard near Madisonville, Tennessee, after crossing the … [Read more...] about Wine Touring: Across the Cherohala to Tsali Notch Vineyards
Rider Tours
The unfinished dream of the Foothills Parkway
Riding close to the outside railing made my stomach suddenly flutter with a fear of heights as I crossed the eight new viaduct bridges on the newest section of the Foothills Parkway. A glance to the south revealed open space and a ridgeline across the valley as the ground suddenly disappeared only to return and disappear again. Eastern Tennessee’s unfinished dream of a scenic … [Read more...] about The unfinished dream of the Foothills Parkway
Chasing the Powhatan Arrow: Riding in the wake of a long-retired train
It’s a fair question to ask why a rider like me from the epicenter of the magnificent roads and sublime scenery of the Blue Ridge Mountains would be tooling along on my 2007 Honda ST1300 on one of Virginia’s flattest, straightest roads, U.S. 460 between Suffolk and Petersburg. It was a spiritual quest of sorts, following as closely as possible the original main line of the … [Read more...] about Chasing the Powhatan Arrow: Riding in the wake of a long-retired train
Wine Touring: Tasting the Crest of the Blue Ridge
The Eastern Continental Divide in the Blue Ridge Mountains features some of the best motorcycling areas in the country. It reaches its highest point in North Carolina, home to one of the newest federally recognized wine-growing regions — and an excellent destination for those leisurely harvest-season rides. Heading south of Asheville along U.S. 74A, riders wind their way up a … [Read more...] about Wine Touring: Tasting the Crest of the Blue Ridge
Track Day: A terrifying, yet gratifying ride at Road Atlanta
Learning how to ride did not come easy for me. There were times I thought I would never get the hang of it and get out on the road. But, through the support of other riders, it gave me the encouragement and motivation to keep pushing and learning. Through that support — and a lot of practice, training and a slew of track-day instruction — I finally began to feel confident in my … [Read more...] about Track Day: A terrifying, yet gratifying ride at Road Atlanta
