Lake James and Mt Airy Ride

The last 2 days of riding have been great. After weeks of not getting to ride, I finally got to ride Big Red for about 500+ miles. Monday I met up with my brother-in-law at his home to ride around Lake James in NC. Slick and I had visited the lake on one trip but that was in the car (boring ride). Kevin lives closer to the lake so he lead the way and we rode around the outer edge of the lake. It was a nice day and the ride was great. However, there aren't too many good places to park to get a good photo or two. That didn't stop us. Below is a nice photo of the lake and Table Rock. The other photo is Kevin as my lookout for our get away. We are born outlaws!

Table Rock at Lake James

Yes, We Stopped! Call a Cop!

After riding around the lake, Kevin lead the way to route 268 toward Wilkesboro NC. That was a nice ride through the county. We actually rode for miles before seeing any vehicles. We rode through some old towns such as Roaring River, Knottville, Elkin and of course, Ronda. I know what you are saying, "I have never heard of those towns". Well, neither have I. The towns were very small and you could tell that many of the old mills and factories have come and gone. Nevertheless, the ride through those old towns was very nice and relaxing.

After a good nights rest after me riding for about 8 hours on Monday, Kevin and I headed out to Mount Airy NC. Mt Airy was place where Andy Griffith lived as a boy and is a popular tourist area for those that grew up watching the Andy Griffith Show and like to see the changing of the leaves in the mountain in the fall. The place really packs in the tourist for the Mayberry Days events that just happen to be going on at the end of this week. Many of the old actors from the show are no longer with us, but those that are still kicking usually show up. Andy Griffith actually showed up last year.

Kevin and I visited the major attractions like the Andy Griffith Museum. If you get a chance to visit there and liked the show, you need to go there. The cost is only $3.00. Of course no visit to Mount Airy is complete without visiting Snappy's Lunch for a heart stopping pork chop sandwich and a hair cut at Floyd's Barber Shop. I know, I don't have hair, but I can still get a few pictures of those with hair getting haircuts; including my good old biker buddy, Kevin. There are hundreds of photos on the wall of those that got there hair cut at Floyd's. We asked one barber there how many photos they had and she said there are probably over 35,000 photos.

Kevin's Snappy Pork Chopped Sandwich

Kevin's Haircut at Floyd's Barber Shop!

I also got a few other pictures that I thought were pretty cool.

Andy Griffith's Old Home

Popular Statue of Andy and Opie

Town Tours in Old Car From the Show

Downtown Mount Airy (AKA, Mayberry)

Floyd's Barber Shop...$8.00 Haircuts

Memories of Mayberry are Everywhere

Veteran's Memorial

So if you get a chance to visit Mount Airy or ride route 268, go for it. It was a great ride. The next trip will be Slick and I riding the southern end of the Blue Ridge Parkway this weekend. We plan to visit Asheville and Cherokee NC. More to come on that trip, so stay tuned.

Sky Cove Dropped My Bike Tour

This weekend we decided to take a trip with Big Red to the mountains of NC. Slick and I planned this trip with the intent of just taking Big Red and the trailer. Then we started thinking that if we were going to the mountains for the week we need to have an alternate mode of transportation besides the bike. So, Slick drove her car so we could haul more stuff for the weeks stay. We are glad we did, because we did not check out the ride to the top of the mountain and how bad that was going to be for me on Big Red. More on that later.

As we left home on Saturday morning the weather was great. The whole 5 hr trip to the mountains was great. There was little traffic on I-40 and I-74. We found our way to Bryson City. We checked in to the rental office for the cabin. We got our map and directions and off we went to the cabin where the real fun started. (Fun is not the correct word)

I followed Slick because she had the directions to the cabin. As we got to the base of the mountain, we then entered Sky Cove (that should tell you how high the cabin was). I followed Slick for about 2 minutes up the mountain. The road was a one lane road. The road was paved and did have a little gravel and some pot holes. The fun part started when I approached my first hair pen turn to the right (a steep up hill turn). I didn't swing out far enough or give the bike enough gas, so it fell over (drop #1). After picking up Big Red, I ventured on. It was a steep but no problems until I got to my drive way. The drive way was a long a gravel road. I had to make a hard right up hill on gravel. Not a good combination for me. I hate right turns up a steep hill, especially on gravel. So I dropped the bike again (drop #2).

After that drop and having to pick up the bike on a 45% hill. I decide to take the bike up further up the mountain so I could turn it around and enter the driveway in a straight direction. As I continued up the hill to turn it around, you guessed it, I dropped it again (drop #3). After picking up the bike for the 3rd time I was getting a little tuckered out. I finally got the bike to the driveway and parked it at the end of the driveway. Prior to getting the bike settled on the gravel driveway, I put the kickstand down. It sank in the driveway, so of course it fell over again (drop #4).

All-in-all, I dropped the bike 4 times on the trip (so far). I still have to go down the hill on Saturday. It is kind of funny. I have dropped the bike more times on this trip that I have dropped it the whole time I have had it. Oh well, I will drop it again, I'm sure. Many bikers drop their bikes but are too macho to attempt it.

Even though I did drop the bike we have had fun on the trip so far. We have taken a nice train ride through the Smokey Mountains on the Smokey Mountain Railroad, visited Fontana Dam and Fontana Village, and rode on highway 28 toward TN (very nice bike road). We plan to ride back to Fontana Village next year. From the village you have some really nice roads to ride and you are less than an hour from the "Tail of the Dragon". Highway 28 in very curvy and in great condition.

We have 3 more days before I attempt the trip down the mountain on Big Red. It should be a little easier for me to go down the mountain rather than going up the 45% grade hill. I did learn a valuable lesson from this trip. Always personally checkout the location of your lodging if you plan to take your bike on a trip high into the mountains. Also, take a look around at the bikes that are already on the mountain. There was NONE! That should have been my first hint, I was screwing up. Below is a link to some photos of you road at Sky Cove.

Sky Cove Road

I am really glad we did not stick to our original plan of only riding the bike and pulling the trailer. That would have been a real disaster.

Until next time and remember, don't be so busy making a living you forget to make a life.

Pappy