Traffic. If there’s an Alleghany Highlands dictionary, the word “traffic” isn’t in it. Y’see, there just ain’t any. How many times have you been on a beautiful mid-Appalachian backroad in the Carolinas, Tennessee, Georgia, or elsewhere, staring down the tailpipe of a car or truck in front of you, going 30% slower than you want to go, looking for a safe place to pass? Apart … [Read more...] about Virginia’s Alleghany Highlands: Far off the beaten path, but not too far
Virginia
The eggsanity of it all: A thousand miles and several diners in 24 hours
As riders, we’e always aware of road surfaces: Dry? Oily? Cracked? Tar-snaked? Pot-holed? We make these determinations in milliseconds. We don’t ponder the nature of pavement, but I do — or, at least that’s what I’m doing as I stand on the southbound lane of Interstate 81. In the rain. Surrounded by massive 18-wheelers. For four hours. Most of my mototravels seek out … [Read more...] about The eggsanity of it all: A thousand miles and several diners in 24 hours
The back of the Dragon: A (multi-) peak experience
Perfection is a conceptual thing. It doesn’t exist in nature, but for those of us who enjoy motorcycling, the Back of the Dragon, cutting north-south across the “waist” of Virginia, comes damn close. Bring your “A” game when you come to ride the Dragon. The challenges are constant and intense. You’ll cross three mountains — Clinch, Brushy and Walker — on your trip over … [Read more...] about The back of the Dragon: A (multi-) peak experience
The Southern Dozen: A lost state reveals 12 routes to paradise
The air temperature rises as you cross to the windward side of the southern Appalachian Mountains, where heat from the Tennessee Valley blows westward. There are so many scenic motorcycling roads here that the local visitor’s center asked motorcyclists to compile a list, which became “The Southern Dozen.” They include excursions to natural wonders and local historical sites. … [Read more...] about The Southern Dozen: A lost state reveals 12 routes to paradise
Bath County Virginia: Where the deer and the gentry play
Ingalls Field isn’t in any of the tourist guides of Bath County, but go there anyway. What could be more fun and interesting than a mile-long runway painted in a strip of asphalt on the top of a 3,792-foot mountain, the highest public use airport east of the Mississippi? Getting there is half the fun. SR 606 out of Clifton Forge, Virginia, feels more like a goat trail than a … [Read more...] about Bath County Virginia: Where the deer and the gentry play
