Roanoke is an interesting city
with a lot of railroad history. After the Civil War, it was a centre for three major railways that hauled coal through the area and into the rest of the eastern United States.
Day 2 – Monday June 10 We started out on the Blue Ridge Parkway exactly where we left off in 2012. If you’ve never driven the parkway or you’re not familiar with it, it’s a beautiful ride through the mountains connecting Shenandoah National Park and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. While the speed limit is only 45 mph (you can push it a little), you can enjoy the outstanding scenery and recreational opportunities that make the Blue Ridge Parkway one of the most popular motorcycle roads in North America. During the day we rode in and out
of the rain, stopping along the away at many of the scenic lookouts to enjoy the view and read the plaques that explained the area. We pulled off in Ashville after riding 485 kilometers. We stayed in downtown Ashville at the Holiday Inn and enjoyed a little time at the bar, talking about the day’s ride and learning more about the area with some of the local residents.
Day 3 – June 11 We got back on the Blue Ridge at Ashville. This section of the parkway is twisty with some tight turns and good sweepers. We got off the parkway at Hwy 276 for a gas stop due to a malfunctioning fuel gauge on John’s bike. We headed to the town of Brevard − a 17 mile trip down the mountain and one of the best motorcycle roads I have ever ridden. The road along the river was very
twisty again, and made up of switch backs. Along the way we could see people swimming, fishing, tubing, and enjoying the river. In a way, we were happy that the gas gauge was acting up, because we never would have gone to Brevard or experienced this road if it had been working properly. Back from Brevard, we continued
along the parkway and stopped at the highest elevation of the route, at 6053 feet above sea level. The last 30 or so miles are quite a ride, coming down from 6000 ft. to 2000 ft., with some very tight turns. The road is in good shape, but you need to be on your game, because there is no shoulder and, in some cases, no run-off area. The tunnels can be very
interesting when you enter into a dark cave from bright sunshine with a dark shield or sunglasses on. It’s a good
thing they have reflective tape or paint so you can see where you’re going. In the longer tunnels, this is all you can see until your eyes adjust to the light. Some of the tunnels actually turn,
so you’re leaning into a turn in the dark with only reflective markings on the road and walls of the tunnel to set your bearings. This section of the parkway is the most scenic, with the highest elevations. In some areas, the road is actually suspended along the edge of the mountain. If you want to learn more about
The Blue Ridge Parkway and its history, check out the many sites online. I highly recommend riding the parkway, even though it might feel a little slow at times. We left the Blue Ridge Parkway
and rode up Hwy 441 through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Once again, it was a nice road, with an amazing canopy of trees over the road into Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
Day 4 – June 12 This was the day we were all looking forward to. We were going to finally ride The Tail of the Dragon: 318 turns in 11 miles. We had read about it and watched videos of the Dragon for years. Today continued on page 66
www.bounder.ca
BOUNDER MAGAZINE 29
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