Once upon a time, many a young motorcyclist cut his or her riding teeth off-tarmac. Tykes on smaller bikes burbled over bumpy, leaf-strewn, or gravely terrain, honing riding skills while smoky, two- or four-stroke engines propelled them toward adventure. These rides often marked the beginning of that invisible draw, the magnetic “what’s around the next corner” pull of … [Read more...] about Regrowing roots: The return of riders to their dirty beginnings
Rider Tours
Exploring southwest Virginia’s rock churches
Bob Childress was on a mission from God. Robert Walter Childress, born in 1890 in a remote area of Southwest Virginia near Ararat, deplored what he saw in his neighbors while he was growing up, thinking them to be untamed, uneducated and violent country people. After a brief career in law enforcement, he dedicated his life’s work to conveying civility through … [Read more...] about Exploring southwest Virginia’s rock churches
Waterfalls, museums and twisty roads: Exploring the spirit of Franklin, NC
The usually smooth hills of the Blue Ridge begin to grow steeper and sharper as U.S. 64 twists toward the Cullasaja Gorge. Temptation lures my attention to the rockface cliffs and glimpses of tumbling waters below, but the road demands my concentration. This section between Highlands and Franklin, North Carolina, holds a special allure for motorcyclists given the stunning … [Read more...] about Waterfalls, museums and twisty roads: Exploring the spirit of Franklin, NC
The Crooked Road: Two-wheeling and Two-Stepping Across Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail
Like mashed potatoes and gravy, road trips and music just belong together. Either alone is fine, but the pairing makes a memorable, comforting combination, better together than separately. But better yet, now imagine the road and the music and you on two-wheels, with a real-time, real-life musical soundtrack underscoring your ride. Welcome to Virginia’s “Crooked Road,” the … [Read more...] about The Crooked Road: Two-wheeling and Two-Stepping Across Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail
Helene, a Year After: Chimney Rock Remains in Riders’ Hopes and Memories
Nothing much remains of the main street in Chimney Rock, North Carolina. Workers continue to move earth and replace utilities scoured away by Hurricane Helene nearly one year earlier. Demolition of damaged buildings continue. Access remains limited. For decades, this scenic section of the Hickory Nut Gorge attracted riders to the twisting roads through the Hickory Nut Gorge … [Read more...] about Helene, a Year After: Chimney Rock Remains in Riders’ Hopes and Memories
