The Adventures of Bob & Linda: Blue Ridge Parkway, October 17, 2011

Today was the kind of day that can truly be classed as an "adventure." It started out well, with temperatures in Asheville around 44, with the promise of mid-70's. We took it easy, and had a light breakfast at the Best Western. Linda took this from outside our room as I was cleaning the bikes. This couple was from Massachusetts, with their ultimate goal of California. They were doing between 130 and 200 miles a day, and enjoying every minute of it.

I've said it before -- most bikers are good people, like all of us. It's the 1% of them that give motorcycles a bad name.

We checked out and hit the road around 10, headed west to Maggie Valley, where we turned onto the Blue Ridge Parkway. Our goal was to ride the Parkway to Highway 276, then down towards Greenville, and the Hampton in Travelers Rest.

I have to say, the Blue Ridge Parkway on a motorcycle gives you an incredible view of some of the most beautiful scenery you could ever hope to see. And we were blessed with perfect weather: mild temperatures, clear blue skies. While the speed limit throughout the parkway is 45, everyone went at their most comfortable speed, as the road twisted and turned up and down the mountains, with the majestic view around every corner.

One of the disconcerting things is that there are damn few guardrails along the edge, and the drop-off could be 50 to 200 feet down. We passed a few recent rockslides as well, but none that blocked the road. There are a couple of tunnels that turn in the middle, leaving you in the dark for a bit before the other opening becomes visible.

It's a fun ride, at first. Up and down the mountains, gliding around curves (not as bad as Lake Lure, and not as fast, either). We stopped at several overlooks, and at the Information Center, We did about 40 miles of it, and after a while, it just got to be work.

We pulled off at Highway 276, and stopped at a rest area to check the maps. When we started up again, the Garmin directed us to the National Forest Road, and we took it. It turned out to be a single lane crushed rock road, 14 miles long! There was no safe place to turn around for over 5 miles, and we just kept going, around switchbacks and turns, up and down the mountain, at about 20 miles an hour. For much of the ride, I could look to my right, and right down the cliff. Needless to say, it took a lot of concentration to keep from freaking out!

We had to stop at one point, and move a large branch from the road. It took about an hour, and when we came out we were about 30 miles from the hotel. I guess it was kind of a shortcut, but I'm gonna have a word with Garmin and the State of North Carolina. Whose dumb idea was to identify this trail as a "road?!"

All in all, we traveled about 135 miles today, and it took over six hours. I'm glad that we took the trip (although I would happily have passed up the National Park Road), I'm proud of myself, and especially proud of Linda -- she bought a Blue Ridge Parkway pin for her vest at the Info Center, and truly earned it!

Tomorrow we leave northwest South Carolina for home, and it looks like it will be just ahead of the rains that are due in on Wednesday. It was truly an adventure to remember!