I eased my new Yamaha to a halt on the quiet bridge over the Tugaloo River, stopping on the state line between South Carolina and Georgia. I followed the Blue Ridge Mountains down through the Carolinas all morning to explore this corner of the Peach State. There wasn’t much room next to the railing of the river crossing, but the rare passing pick-up truck didn’t seem to mind … [Read more...] about Three cylinders, three states
Rider Tours
Mud-splattered dream of adventure
I’ve always wanted a 1960s Honda Dream 305. I love vintage Hondas. There are about 15 in my garage right now: Trail 90s, CB100s, SL350s, XL500s, CB750s and even an early ’80s GoldWing. The one thing that’s always been missing — a Honda Dream. Aesthetically, there’s nothing quite like them. At the time of their introduction, they were somewhat futuristic while already having a … [Read more...] about Mud-splattered dream of adventure
Going back in Floyd time
Floyd is just different. You wouldn’t be able to tell from a Virginia map. Floyd looks much like any other small-town county seat in the southwest part of the state. And you likely wouldn’t be able to tell on a quick drive-through, passing through the main intersection of State Route 8 and U.S. 221, the corner of Main and Locust, where you’ll find the county’s sole traffic … [Read more...] about Going back in Floyd time
Finding serenity: A ride to boost your mental health
It’s dark and raining. Nearly 333 miles into this trip, I’m 12 miles east of Suches, Georgia. As elevation increases, the rainy drizzle intermixes with fog, diminishing the usually excellent head lamp and fog lights to less than what my tired eyes need. Adding to the challenge, earlier rain and wind has stripped most of the already waning fall color from the trees, creating a … [Read more...] about Finding serenity: A ride to boost your mental health
Going solo: A ride along the Blue Ridge
The road treated me well today, each corner unfolding knowingly into the next. There were some amazingly clean stretches of familiar asphalt that begged for just another few feet before brakes, a half-second sooner on the throttle. I rediscovered that perfect, mid-corner spot for my head a few times, just above the handgrip on either side of the tank — the place where I could … [Read more...] about Going solo: A ride along the Blue Ridge
