A motorcycle ride through the scenic Ocoee River Gorge in northeast Georgia takes you on a winding road with views of the lakes and the rushing river which cascades into it.
A series of dams control the flow on the river. During the daytime the dams increase the water released and the river rises allowing rafters and kayakers time to enjoy the whitewater rapids. When the floodgates open the boaters will ride along on the wave of water that pours down the canyon.
One of the best places to see this dramatic event is from a footbridge spanning the river above the Ocoee Whitewater Center where Olympic competitions were once held. we stopped one morning on our motorcycle travels to watch.
You’ll find the Ocoee River Gorge and the Whitewater Center on America Rides Maps –
How many times have you suffered through a GoPro video online that’s overwhelmed with loud and distracting wind noise? They are really hard to watch.
You can turn off the audio on your GoPro when recording or mute the audio from the captured video, but you really lose the feel for the experience, the sounds of the bike engine, the sense of movement, the atmosphere that makes for a good video. You’ve probably also enjoyed videos narrated from the bike while riding. Again, you can dub in narration later but you lose the spontaneity of the experience, the live response to what’s happening, and it sounds artificial.
Basic VLOGGING Gear with GoPro
The answer to these problems is a Vlogging setup. You need three main components – the camera, a microphone, a microphone adapter for the camera, and of course a variety of mounts to position the camera correctly on your helmet (how to do that will be covered in another article). The video quality of the newer GoPro cameras is quite an improvement over the earlier ones, I’m using a GoPro 7. You will need to remove the little door over the microphone / power sockets on the camera, it can be reinstalled later if the camera is needed for other uses. You don’t need a high quality microphone. I use very inexpensive Chinese flexible boom mics that come in packs of 3, 10, etc. It’s no big deal when I lose one or it succumbs to the environment, I carry spares and just pop on another. The rub is the microphone adapter for later model GoPros – you can’t plug a microphone directly into the camera. The adapter is big and unwieldy, they cost $50 or more, you don’t want one of those going missing.
Using Rubber Bands to Mount the Microphone Adapter
The crux of this article is how to deal with that bulky GoPro microphone adapter. Until recently the simplest solution I found was to use rubber bands to strap it to the back of the camera. While it works, it’s an awkward remedy.
GoPro Microphone Adapter mounted with rubber bands covers the rear touch screen
Mounted with rubber bands the adapter covers the view screen on the rear of the camera, you can’t see it. That makes it tough to insure the camera angle is correct or access the touchscreen camera functions. You can’t see if the camera is turned on. The rubber bands don’t last long out in the weather, they are prone to fail, hence I use two and replace them frequently. Rubber bands also look ugly and cheap.
Ulanzi V2 Vlogging Case for Gopro Cameras
Ulanzi V2 Vlogging Case for Gopro Cameras
The Ulanzi V2 Vlogging case for Gopro cameras solves this problem.
Standard GoPro case / Ulanzi Case
The Ulanzi case replaces your standard GoPro housing. There is a slot under the case for the microphone adapter, it slides in snug and secure. Pass the cable through and it is easy to plug it into the camera port. The other end of the slot is open so the microphone plugs right in.
Ulanzi GoPro case on the helmet
The Ulanzi case is taller due to the added adapter slot. In my case it raised the camera case away from the helmet which gives more more flexibility and range of movement for positioning the camera. This is a much cleaner, more secure, professional look.
Ulanzi Gopro Case rear view
The new case also brings the rear camera screen more into my line of sight which is helpful. There is a removable shoe atop the case for mounting a microphone or other accessories, I leave that home. The rear door of the Ulanzi case slides on with a simple click lock instead of the hinged door of the standard case.
I’m pretty happy with this Ulanzi V2 Gopro Case. I found it online from Walmart for about $15 though the link below has it listed on Amazon for $9.95. Ulanzi also makes the V3 housing which is aluminum and has more features for about $45. https://www.ulanzi.com/products/v2-protective-housing-case-ulanzi
2019 brings big changes to America Rides Maps motorcycle maps of the southern Appalachians – more area, more detail, and new maps!
The desire to expand the areas covered by America Rides Maps into the Allegheny Mountains of West Virginia required a lot more work than expected. Since the maps connect and overlap, existing maps needed to be updated. I took this opportunity to include the most current data available and employ new skills learned since the last updates improving the detail and readability of what we currently had.
When I began there were 13 pocket maps available. Now there are 16 motorcycle ride maps which cover the great motorcycle roads found in the southeast mountains. 5 existing maps were reworked and three new ones introduced. In addition, one of the two large format maps was completely overhauled in the process.
The first step was updating the 3 maps which cover Virginia – Map #1, Map #2, and Map #3. For each of these maps we spent weeks on the road riding the old routes and scouting new ones, updating the information from direct experience and observation, visiting the sights, staying in the hotels and lodges, exploring and recording the new roads.
Map #1 – Great Rides Near the Start of the Blue Ridge Parkway This map was expanded to cover a larger area including more of the border with West Virginia. The previous map cut off before it reached Marlinton, WV, it now extends further west. It also extends further south clipping more of Lynchburg. The old map did a good job covering the main roads, the new map focuses on including more of the smaller side roads which stem from them, we found a lot worth adding.
Map #2 The Roads Of Roanoke and Beyond Map #2 got a significant shift to the west. The previous version covered more area east of Roanoke but there were few good roads there. The good riding is west of Roanoke so the focus shifted. Map #2 now extends well across the Virginia border into West Virginia adding a lot of new roads in a really beautiful riding area. We have some new favorite rides and places to visit and stay thanks to these explorations.
Map #3 North Carolina / Virginia Border Rides Map #3 was quite a challenge. It was expanded to cover more area both in Virginia and North Carolina. It was enlarged to include Pilot Mountain State Park & Hanging Rock State Park, a large section of the Blue Ridge Parkway, and get in the full run of VA 16 – “The Back of the Dragon”. This is one of our favorite areas to ride in and it is better represented and easier to understand than it was on the previous two overlapping maps.
Once the Virginia maps were ready we moved on to the new West Virginia maps which overlap and connect to them on the border. Exploring West Virginia was a lot of work with a lot of rewards. I’ve not found such a variety of roads anywhere in the US. This first taste of it has us yearning to expand our coverage.
Map #10 West Virginia Border Rides – New River Area This new map covers the New River Gorge area and extends east to Snowshoe, West Virginia. The city of Beckley anchors the bottom left corner of the area shown. While compared to other maps there are not a lot of paved roads in large sections, more than 50 roads are featured and described and they are great rides. There are some outstanding scenic areas, lots of historic sights, and a handful of great little backroads for the adventurous rider to explore.
Map #11 West Virginia Border Rides – Coal Country The highlight of this map is the region southwest of Beckley, West Virginia, where you find yourself riding in historic coal country. Numerous roads extend back through the mountains to reach the mines, a few of which are right on the roadway. It also covers the New River area south of Beckley and the scenic roads which wind along broad rivers through historic towns. It picks up VA 16 at the Tazwell end of The Back of the Dragon which continues as a great curvy ride into the city. More than 100 roads are highlighted and described.
Next, it was time to update one of the big maps. Too much has changed over the last few years, the update was needed. The new maps looked so good I wanted to apply the new techniques so I rebuilt 100 Great Motorcycle Rides in the Smokies from scratch.
Premium Map 100 Great Motorcycle Rides in the Smoky Mountains is my best work and best selling map. It was last updated in 2017. Nothing is as comprehensive or as detailed as this motorcycle ride map of the areas surrounding Great Smoky Mountains National Park but I knew I could do it better and I did. I had to add the new “missing link” section fo the Tennessee Foothills Scenic Parkway which was still in limbo at the last printing. Several motorcycle friendly locations on the previous version had gone out of business and there were new ones to be added. I wanted to push the limits and expand the map to include some really great roads not covered on any other map. Mission accomplished.
With the big map done, I used the data to expand another one of the pocket maps –
Map #8 – The Best Motorcycle Rides Near Smoky Park – NORTH Once again I pushed to expand the map and add more roads. I also updated the points of interest and added a lot of new ones, several more waterfalls, motorcycle friendly stops, it’s a significant upgrade to this map of the area north of the park.
Finally, my attentions turn to the mountains of Northeast Georgia –
Map OR4 – The Best UNPAVED Roads in Northeast Georgia With 3 maps of the unpaved roads in the Smoky Mountains already completed, I set my sights on Northeast Georgia more than a year ago. Frustrated with the limitations of Forest Service maps of this rich off pavement riding area I knew I could do better. It took way too long to poke my wheels down every back road and trail I could find then sort them out, many adventures ensued. You won’t find a better dual sport map of this wonderful area.
Map #9 – The Best Rides in the North Georgia Mountains As I’d already built the base maps for the unpaved roads in NE Georgia, and discovered new stuff while exploring, it made sense to update the paved roads map as well. Expanded, more points of interest, more motorcycle friendly locations, etc. It really turned out nice.
I finished it all up as the winter weather arrived here in the Blue Ridge Mountains. With short days and freezing weather upon us I will now return to working on the digital versions of the maps and laying out the new explorations for the spring. It was a busy year. I hope the next one brings more road time. Don’t we all.
Posted by Wayne Busch, America Rides Maps
The desire to expand the areas covered by 
When I began there were 13 pocket maps available. Now there are 
Premium Map 
