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
Virginia
Rally ’round a train trip: Amtrak eases cross-country to the BMW MOA Rally
It’s day six near Lorton, Virginia, and I find myself sitting in plush travel comfort. I am barely aware of the ear worm rattling in my brain. It is an old Memphis style blues song, “Mystery Train” written by Junior Parker and made popular by The Band in 1976. The earworm keeps repeating, “The train I ride 16 coaches long. Well, that long black train carries my baby home.” My … [Read more...] about Rally ’round a train trip: Amtrak eases cross-country to the BMW MOA Rally
Following dreams in Virginia’s Craig and Giles counties
We weren’t 30 minutes into our ride before the first deer tried to kill me. She jumped over the fence on the left side of Virginia Route 42, which slowed her down before she bolted across the highway in front of me, otherwise we may have collided. Nick, my riding partner for the day, watched it all from the perch of his Harley Road Glide. He asked me later if my little Honda … [Read more...] about Following dreams in Virginia’s Craig and Giles counties
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
Virginia’s Alleghany Highlands: Far off the beaten path, but not too far
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
