As the heat of summer started to ease, I packed up the bike one Friday, needing to experience another road trip before the cold winds of November would arrive. A weekend escape to the kitschy fun of the alpine-themed town of Helen, Georgia, seemed very appealing. It only enticed me more that it was Oktoberfest season, and I knew Helen would be a pretty lively place to make my … [Read more...] about Georgia on my mind: Helen lures riders to region’s attractions
Rider Tours
Chasing Crozet: Along railroads and tunnels
For us gearheads, there's nothing but motorcycling that stirs our soul like railroads, so I decided to follow the route of the old C&O RR through the Virginia and West Virginia mountains, specifically from Crozet to Hinton. Crozet is named after one of the more influential Virginians from the 19th century you’ve probably never heard of. Here I wanted to follow what would … [Read more...] about Chasing Crozet: Along railroads and tunnels
Skyline Drive to Front Royal: Thwarted by rain, rewarded with sun
Pausing at the southern gate to Virginia’s Skyline Drive, I surveyed the dark clouds ahead. There’s that sensible side of yourself that tells you today is not the right day for exploring one of the region’s most famous scenic drives. Then there’s the sunk-cost motorcycling addict who says, I’ve traveled this far to do this. I’m not afraid of a little rain. A decade earlier, I … [Read more...] about Skyline Drive to Front Royal: Thwarted by rain, rewarded with sun
Lost highway: The last ride of Hank Williams
On the evening of Dec. 31, 1952, legendary country singer Hank Williams checked into the Andrew Johnson Hotel in downtown Knoxville, Tennessee. By the following day, the iconic performer would be pronounced dead at a hospital in the depths of rural West Virginia. Although there is much debated speculation and haphazard lore as to what really occurred along “Hank Williams’ Last … [Read more...] about Lost highway: The last ride of Hank Williams
The eternal Tennessee River: Riding from Chattanooga to Rocket City
My aversion to riding main highways resulted, quite by accident, with the road bending through a stately Chattanooga neighborhood. As my three-cylinder Yamaha purred through the narrow streets, a vista opened on the right. To my delight, I realized I’d inadvertently arrived atop Missionary Ridge. Always the history buff, I can’t resist reading a historical marker or visiting … [Read more...] about The eternal Tennessee River: Riding from Chattanooga to Rocket City
