Category Archives: Cities and Towns

Cities and towns in the Appalachian mountains

This Bike Nite Will Be Hard To Top!

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Photo – Bikes at the Mountaineer Restaurant / Riders Roost

Wow! Joanne at the Mountaineer / Riders Roost in Maggie Valley pulled out all the stops. What started as a social ride turned out more social than ride, but what a party! Only a handful of us enjoyed a fabulous cruise in the evening sunset on the Blue Ridge Parkwayjust up the hill. The action kept most at the restaurant.Photo – Bikers Always Welcome at The Mountaineer / Riders Roost

The handful of riders expected turned into a crowd of 50 or more. The place was full and lively. There was mountain music to liven things up. Some of the crew from Ghost Town in the Sky came down in full costume. Joanne had extra staff on hand to handle the crowd. Food, drink, music, entertainment, it was not surprising most stayed put.

We’re off to a good start. It’s going to be tough to top this show, and quite honestly, I’m happy just to make the rides. The timing is ideal. It’s cooling off, the sun is low and golden, the day traffic is gone, it’s a perfect time to be out for a spin.

Photo – Live Mountain Music Entertained The Crowd


It’s nice to be off to a great start. These Wednesday evening rides are open to all. I can’t promise we’ll always throw a party this good, but we’ve got some talented and resourceful people involved. If you’re in town or nearby please come by and get to know the people in Maggie Valley who really welcome and appreciate the motorcycle tourist as much as the local. We’ve got some special deals for you, discount cards to help your dollar go farther while your here, and information on the best rides in the area.

Photo – Happy Diners At The Mountaineer

Look for the flyers, ask at the visitors center, e-mail me, or visit All Roads Lead To Maggie.com to find out what’s happening each week. There is a group of people, growing and expanding, that are working overtime to insure you have the best affordable motorcyle vacation found anywhere. We’ve built all inclusive packages that include, meals, lodging, tours, discounts, entertainment at prices you won’t find elsewhere. It’s all possible because we are surrounded by hundreds and hundreds of miles of the best motorcyling roads found anywhere, more than you can see in one, two, even three trips. You never run out of great riding.

Every day is a motorcycle rally in Maggie Valley. The only thing missing are the noisy crowds. They’re too busy spending evenings on the porch in a rocking chair. Ride all day. Kick back in the evening. Now that’s a vacation.

Wayne@americaridesmaps.com

>> Go To America Rides Maps.com – http://americaridesmaps.com

Virginia Maps Are Coming

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Photo – Jackie enjoys the country roads of Virginia

You know the story – excuses, excuses. Where the heck are the Virginia maps? I’ve got them started. Two scouting trips have narrowed the focus. They are not going to be ready as soon as I’d wished, but that’s usually the way it goes. Business has been booming and it’s been difficult to get away. Lots of activity, particulalry related to Maggie Valley, North Carolina.

I do have a new map about to be released of the 5 most popular rides surrounding Maggie Valley. It was supposed to be a custom job, but you know, it’s turning out so nice I may just make it public. It includes Deals Gap and the Tail of the Dragon, Thunder Road, The Blue Ridge Parkway, Hot Springs, and the Devil’s Triangle. All of these rides are fairly well known. All of them are classics. Some take just a few hours, others are an all day excursion. It’s easily enough to give you a ride a day for a 5 day visit.

Unlike my other maps, this map is exclusive to just these 5 rides. None of the hundreds of miles of great surrounding roads are included. The usual mileage, gas stations, and a few of the most obvious points of interest are included, but to get the full detail and all the best surrounding roads you’ll need to get one of my normal detailed maps.

We’ll see how it goes. I like it so far. I’ll put it out for testing and review. Let’s see what others think and maybe, I’ll have a new map availabe within a week.

Sights From The Road – The Lynn Cove Viaduct

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The Lynn Cove Viaduct is located at milepost 304.6 on the Blue Ridge Parkway where it skirts Grandfather Mountain at an elevation of 4100 feet. It’s just outside the town of Banner Elk, NC. and not far from Boone, NC., convenient midway stopping points for a cruise down our nations longest National Park.

Completed in 1983, this was the last section of the Blue Ridge Parkway linking the northern parts through the highlands of Virginia with the southern section through the highest mountains in the east. Too long for a tunnel, the Lynn Cove Viaduct provides an elevated bridge across a section of mountain too steep, rocky, and unstable for a roadway. While it is one of the most photographed features of the parkway with it’s dramatic “S” curving platform, those photos you may come across are from a vantage point not easily reached from the road. Fact is, you may not recognize you crossed it while cruising along the parkway unless you’re looking for it and know where it’s found.

For a better view of it, exit the parkway and ride a few miles down NC 221, one of the best roads recommended on America Rides Maps NC008 – “Great Roads Near Boone, Banner Elk, and Blowing Rock“. Pass the entrance to Grandfather Mountain, continue through a few of the wonderful curves that skirt the mountain below the parkway and look for a turn with a large gravel pull out. That’s where I got this picture, good enough to be used as the cover photo for the map.

For too many travelers, this area around Boone, Banner Elk, and Blowing Rock is overlooked. It’s a great stopping off point to pass a night, and you can see a few of the attractions with short rides between the towns. My explorations discovered a wealth of great backroads in the area with rides that extend acorss the borders into Tennessee and Virgina, enough to make a stay of a few days a rewarding expereince. The map lays out three recommened rides, and tempts you with more roads waiting your discovery.

Wayne@americaridesmaps.com

>> Go to America Rides Maps.com – http://americaridesmaps.com/

Sights From The Road – Alligator Rock

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The jaws of Alligator Rock loom ominously over the roadway on NC 215 not far from Rosman, NC., near the point where NC 215 makes a brief intersection with US 64. Beleive it or not, it’s easy to miss Alligator rock as you zip beneath it – this section of road is very tight and twisty and your attention is more likely to be on the pavement, not the scenery above.

This view is from the north side and there is little to warn you it’s about to appear as you round the bend. If you are approaching from the south side, look for the stone entrance sign that tells you that you are entering the Pisgah National Forest. Alligator rock is on the next bend in the road.

NC 215 is full of spectacular sights and it’s long and twising climb up to the Blue Ridge Parkway then down again to approach Waynesville and Canton is one of my favorite rides. There are roadside waterfalls, some obvious, some hidden, inspiring long range views from the higher elevations, and some of the most fabulous serpentine motorcycle riding to be found in the mountains of North Carolina. This is another one of the great roads featured on America Rides Maps NC001 – The Best Roads South of Great Smoky Mountains National Park – EAST.

I’ve heard a rumor there is a possibility NC215 is going to be re-engineered sometime in the future. It would certainly be nice to see it get a fresh coat of pavement, there are sections that are really starting to show their age, particularly up high. Unfortuantely, it seems they may try to relax some of the curves a bit and Alligator Rock will be one of the casualties of the plan. I’m hoping the economy forces them to cut it back a bit and just freshen up the tarmac. Leave the curves just as they are, it’s close to perfection now.

Wayne@americaridesmaps.com

>> Go To America Rides Maps.com – http://americaridesmaps.com

Mountain Riding Tips #2

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Mastering the Curves – The Most Critical Factor

I’ve heard it said many times, “I’m not going to Deal’s Gap, that ‘Tail of the Dragon’ is too dangerous, I’m not experienced enough to handle the curves”. Truth be told, it takes more riding skill to navigate the crowded parking lot at the Deals Gap store than it does to ride the 318 curves in 11 miles that give the Dragon it’s toothy reputation.

The ability to carve through the curves on a motorcycle is a skill comprised of many complex factors. It takes experience. It takes practice. It takes familiarity and awareness of the capabilities and limitations of both the rider and the bike involved. Most of all it takes judgment. Of all the things that come into play, there is one critical factor that determines how everything else in a curve plays out – entry speed. Master that, and you master the curves.

So long as you come into a curve at a speed you’re comfortable with, lean angle, taking the correct line, throttle and brake control, weight shifting, all the other factors that can come into play are easy. So long as the speed is relaxed you will have ample room and time to adjust all the other factors and react to the unexpected. It is far better to hit a corner a little slow and accelerate through it than to come in too hot and fast, try to dump speed with the brakes, readjust your line, over-extend your lean, cross over the center line or worse.

Judging entry speed is the most important factor in riding the curves. The goal is to enter the curve at the speed that is optimal for your skills, maintain that speed through the apex of the turn, then accelerate out of the turn as the bike comes more upright.

It’s best to break the process of going through a curve up into parts so you focus on each of them independently. Judging the correct entry speed is the first step. Focus on it.

Evaluate the curve before you get to it estimating how tight it is and the speed at which you’ll feel comfortable handling it. Begin to adjust your speed with the brake or throttle before you start to tip the bike over for the lean. You should be done with braking before you begin the turn.

As you get closer to the curve scan the road and evaluate your entry point, the point at which you begin the line you plan to take through the curve. If your ideal spot has a pothole or a bump or there is loose gravel, you’ll need to change your line and adjust your speed even more. Be sure to give yourself time to make corrections not only for the hazards you see entering the curve, but in case something like loose gravel or a rock appears midway through it.

Position yourself so you can shift your weight quickly if needed. Get your feet on the pegs or floorboards and be aware if any movement of them will be needed to touch the brake. If you’re planning to shift your weight to the inside of the curve through the corner, go ahead and start before you get there. Be in a riding stance where you can adjust quickly if needed.

Once in the turn control the speed of the bike with the throttle. No throttle and the engine will continue to slow the bike. Steady throttle maintains your speed. Don’t get on the throttle until you have reached the apex and can see through the turn to know what’s around the bend.

Judging your entrance speed takes experience. The more you ride the curves, the better you will become a judging them. Even so you’ll occasionally get caught off guard, but if you always give yourself a margin for error, it will be there for you when you need it most. Remember to finish your braking before you get to the turn. Once you get this first step right, the ones that follow will come easy.

Wayne@americaridesmaps.com

>> Go To America Rides Maps.com – http://americaridesmaps.com/

Blue Ridge Parkway – Open May 15

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After a nearly two year closure due to landslides near the highest mountain in the east, Mt. Mitchell, the park service has announced the expected opening of this closed section of the Blue Ridge Parkway on May 15 (subject to change). This section is located about 30 miles north of Asheville, NC.

The Craggy Gardens Visitor Center at milepost 364 which never opened last year will reopen as will one lane of the parkway. Visitors can expect delays as the traffic will alternate using the one open lane.

Weather could impact the opening date, and is always a factor in closing sections of the parkway. Locally, the highest section of the Blue Ridge Parkway between Asheville and Cherokee continues to be closed for winter, though I expect it will open any day now. We’ve had a sustained period of warmer weather which should have allowed the ice to clear from the dozen or more tunnels that grace this rugged and beautiful southern portion of the road. It’s not so much the snow that’s a problem here, but the accumulation of ice which persists in the cool shade of the tunnels long after the days have warmed.

Barring any significant slides which need attention, the gates should be unlocked soon.

Wayne@americaridesmaps.com

>> Go to America Rides Maps.com – http://americaridesmaps.com

Paving – Great Smoky Mountains National Park

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The National Park Service is beginning an 18 month long project to repave 6.5 miles of Newfound Gap Road (US 441), the only road which crosses through Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The section to be repaved starts at the south boundary near Cherokee and climbs to the Collins Creek Picnic Area intersection. Last paved in 1983, the road is in sore need of attention.

Road closures on Newfound Gap Road are nothing new. Sections have required maintenance resulting in lane closures for years. It’s been a rare day when you can make an uninterrupted transit from Cherokee, NC to Gatlinburg, TN. While this is one of those “must do” rides to see the park, it’s never been one of my first choices for a days ride. If you’re not pausing for road maintenance, you’re crawling along behind some lumbering RV straining to make the climb or smoking his brakes on the way down. Considering the thousands of miles of fabulous empty mountain roads in the surrounding area I prefer to go elsewhere.

Still, to see the park you gotta do the ride. If you haven’t done it, it’s worth the time and effort. Fill up, pack a snack and some water, bring the camera, don’t have a deadline, and take the time to enjoy the views. There’s a reason it’s the most visited national park in the nation and it is the Park’s 75th anniversary this year.

Lane closures will be staggered to reduce the impact on traffic. The contractor may close up to four areas at a time with delays at each closure which may not exceed 10 minutes. The park has a toll free recording providing details on lane closures at (888) 355-1849.

If you haven’t done this ride, you should. It’s included in one of the four loop rides on America Rides Maps “Maggie Valley to Deals Gap and the Cherohala Skyway“. However, if you crave more deserted roads that not only give you wonderful scenery but a challenging ride, there are another 600 miles or so of routes on that map that will keep you carving through the curves and rolling along the back roads where RV’s, Grandpa, and van loads of kids never tread.