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
West Virginia
Monster quest: Exploring the mountains and mysteries of West Virginia
The wall of mountains loomed before me as I headed west on U.S. 33 across the wide Shenandoah Valley. Soon I’d twist my way over them into West Virginia, that mysterious land with epic motorcycle roads and legends about other-worldly creatures. I’m on a pilgrimage to see a town steeped in UFO lore, but mostly I’ve traveled here just to ride the seemingly endless two-lane … [Read more...] about Monster quest: Exploring the mountains and mysteries of West Virginia
“Head of the Dragon” motorcycle ride in McDowell County, West Virginia
The “Head of the Dragon” joins Back of the Dragon, Claw of the Dragon, and Tail of the Dragon to complete the Body of the Dragon motorcycle rides series in Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia. The ride consists of 91 miles of McDowell County two lane country roads. You will be riding: Route 52, Route 80, Route 83, Route 16, and Route 161. Your ride … [Read more...] about “Head of the Dragon” motorcycle ride in McDowell County, West Virginia
Two roads diverged: West Virginia
Next to the small steel bridge spanning the Elk River in Webster Springs, West Virginia, I pulled over to wrestle with Robert Frost’s famous dilemma. The GPS unit insisted on turning north while my paper map tantalized me with an easterly dotted-green line, which symbolizes a scenic roadway. Both would get me to where I wanted to go. Being one traveler with the intent of … [Read more...] about Two roads diverged: West Virginia
Rediscovering bloody Matewan: The Back of the Dragon leads back into history
I took my Honda NC750X on one of my favorite routes from my home in Blacksburg, Virginia, sampling the roads, valleys and mountains that make my area such a motorcycling mecca. Westward from the dramatic Narrows of the New River, I rode the sweeping turns of scenic Route 61 to Rocky Gap and then Tazewell, northern terminus of the section of Route 16 now known as the Back of the … [Read more...] about Rediscovering bloody Matewan: The Back of the Dragon leads back into history
