I am fortunate enough to live in Southwest Virginia, where great motorcycling roads surround me, so I thought it would be fun to explore my backyard with a St. Paddy’s Day cloverleaf of four loops to the southeast, southwest, northeast and northwest of sister towns Blacksburg and Christiansburg in Montgomery County, just west of Roanoke. Blacksburg has 45,000 residents but … [Read more...] about Looking for shamrocks in Southwest Virginia’s ‘Burgs
rides
Glorious Graham: The Secret Side of the Smokies
There, in a break in the tree line, flashed a vision as I sped along U.S. 129. Simmering blue-green water, distant soaring ridges, a heavenly sight flashed before becoming blocked again by roadside underbrush. My Yamaha Tracer 9 willingly carved a quick U-turn. I nestled her up against the guardrail in the narrow strip of grass between the open road and the precipice … [Read more...] about Glorious Graham: The Secret Side of the Smokies
Welcome to TriSTAR – Where Three States Meet and the Adventure Begins!
Motorcycle Sport Touring Association - TriSTAR Rally May 23 - 27, 2025 Sparta, North Carolina The name says it all – TriSTAR! This exciting motorcycle rally gets its name from its one-of-a-kind location in the charming mountain town of Sparta, North Carolina. Nestled just off the legendary Blue Ridge Parkway, Sparta sits right where North Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee … [Read more...] about Welcome to TriSTAR – Where Three States Meet and the Adventure Begins!
Exploring Elkin: From Mill Town to Motorcycling Mecca
Nestled on the banks of the serene Yadkin River, the town of Elkin resembles many small North Carolina towns: a main street lined with older buildings, a movie theater, a bank, various shops. One of the joys of motorcycling is discovering these time-capsule towns. It’s even more joyous to see them thriving in the 21st century. “About eight years ago, we were stagnant. The mill … [Read more...] about Exploring Elkin: From Mill Town to Motorcycling Mecca
Star City of the South: Roanoke, Virginia
Surrounded by the ancient peaks of the Blue Ridge Mountains and buffering the hustle of Interstate 81, Roanoke, Virginia (pop: 100,011) is a cultural and outdoor gem in Southern Appalachia. Once a large-scale railroad hub, the city itself remains an economic beacon for much of the bucolic, rural landscape in Southwestern Virginia. Nowadays, the metro-area has transformed into … [Read more...] about Star City of the South: Roanoke, Virginia
