On the third day with no power, no water and no more ready-to-eat food, I looked at my Yamaha Tracer 9 GT sitting there with nearly a full fuel tank and accepted it was time to mount up and escape the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. I underestimated Helene, as I’m sure many others did. As a native and lifelong resident of the region, I’ve seen countless downgraded hurricanes … [Read more...] about Helene’s Wrath: Fleeing the Aftermath With a Weeklong Odyssey
Blue Ridge
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
Follow the tracks: Exploring Indian petroglyphs, mounds and a mythical monster
By Michael E. Gouge The mysterious stone silences the onlookers. Captivated by the lines, cupules and figures carved into Judaculla Rock, the boisterous group of riders grow calm as they catch sight of the sacred Cherokee landmark, wondering — as all visitors do — about the meaning behind the ancient petroglyphs located just south of Cullowhee, N.C. “One of the stories is … [Read more...] about Follow the tracks: Exploring Indian petroglyphs, mounds and a mythical monster
Wine Touring: Tasting the Crest of the Blue Ridge
By Michael E. Gouge 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 … [Read more...] about Wine Touring: Tasting the Crest of the Blue Ridge
