Dark Corners doesn’t sound like an inviting motorcycle destination when low clouds and brisk temperatures engulf the Blue Ridge, but shortly after dropping down U.S. 176 the clouds vanish and I savor the feeling of warm sunshine on black leather. This region of Upstate South Carolina offers milder weather, great roads and a rich history for two-wheeled explorers. It makes a … [Read more...] about Exploring the rich history and wonderful roads of Dark Corners
Rider Tours
Regrowing roots: The return of riders to their dirty beginnings
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
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
