LIVING LIFE LARGE ON 2 WHEELS IN APPALACHIA

I rode again yesterday. Here's the route:


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Starting out I took the fastest way to get to roads I've never been on before. I don't want to waste time on roads I've seen a lot of. So I blasted my way up I-26 to US-23 and Webber City. I'm riding with the clouds now. Don't ya just marvel at the sight of clouds lisping around a mountain top?

Once at Duffield, I stop for gas at a favorite stop of mine on the corner of US-23 and US-421. Gas up and head across the mountains on US-421. It deviates from the usual route I take up this way. Funny, I never realized US-421 didn't continue in a straight line. It took an hard right and went north. I've got a new road under my belt now folks. Check it out!

The further north I rode, (once in Kentucky) the deeper I got into coal country. It's beautiful here, and I'm so very happy I decided to ride North today. I saw very few motorcycles, cars, trucks or other types of vehicles to ruin this day!

I stopped in the town of Hyden, KY to ask for directions. The guy I asked was looking after his little grand daughter. I stepped across the street to take a photo of the "Main Street" of this little town and caught "grandpa" trying to set the little barefood girl on my very hot Sporty. I'm so very glad she was too scared to let him do it. She would have burned herself on my bike!

Moving on from there using KY-80 to get to Hazard, Kentucky, I found myself on a very nice twisty road cutting east across the southern corner of the state. Lovely road with mobile homes cutting into the sides of mountains and some scary looking folk who live in the rural edges of KY State Road 80.

I did arrive safely to my destination: Hazard, Kentucky. Here is a photo of their modern courthouse, and a slight history lesson about the area.

Next I wanted to visit the Mother Goose House. I went up this road, and down that one. I headed up the mountain side and around the neighborhoods circulating around the town on small one lane neighborhood one way roads. No can find the Mother Goose House. I am hungry. It's after 12 PM. Lunch time and I will ask someone in the restaurant to direct me. I stopped at Long John Silver's for lunch. The folk there were friendly and hospitable. The food was ok...it is after all fast food. I wanted to stop at a diner type of establishment. I found 2 of them in the town. Both closed down and empty. I guess the poor economy don't exclude the folk who work in the mines. I did get the information for the Mother Goose house.

As I'm riding through town, I spy this wall. I enjoy the textures and the colors of this wall. As you might guess, there was another building here torn away and destroyed, leaving the building we see now intact but with the vestiges of the building that stood next door!

I'm gonna stop here and leave the rest of the photos and story for another day this week. But hey...there is one more photo to show ya. I love my Sportster.

BROKEN PANES: WEATHERED RIDES

In late February, I left my home for another ride into North Carolina. Once more I decided to point the wheel and my nose toward Maggie Valley and the object of my affection: Wheels Through Time. I wanted to ride a route there I've never been on. That's getting tougher daily. But I did manage to find ONE road that I'd never been on before. OK. So it wasn't the most direct route there, who cares? In order to care about that, I'd have to care more about the destination than the ride. You know, that just ain't never gonna happen. THE RIDE IS WHAT I'M ALL ABOUT!


View Wheels Through Time less Direct Route in a larger map

I formally decide to start the ride on Flag Pond Road where it meets with TN-352. There is an old store front (now empty) where I like to stop. I love it's lines, the weathered boards, and now it appears someone has kicked in the door. I didn't take the time to investigate. But I will.



I begin to ascend the mountain. Up we go: the Lil Girl and I. We lean and twist through the bends in the road until we reach the top of the little mountain. This is where the state line is and the road now has a new designation: NC-212. I've taken several photos along this route, and it seems to be, the very same time of year. I need to be a little less predictable I think. Before too long, I come across NC-208, where you will find this Historic Marker denoting the massacre of 13 men and boys suspected of "UNIONISM". Sad marker indeed.



I must admit I love NC-208. This road is not very long, but it's edged by a powerful gushing river on one side, and stone outcroppings on the other. The river has been cutting it's way down the mountain side for a very long time and the boulders it crashes through make a fine playground for the river otters who make their home in this region. I stopped to watch the water pound it's way through a path of boulders when I sighted this little feller. I wish I had a better lens to capture him with!


The otter is on the rocks

I love this rest stop. While not very far into the ride, it is still a place that refreshes the lost and weary soul.



In a few short miles, I must leave NC-208 and join with US-70. This takes me into the very cool town of Hot Springs NC. This town enjoys visitors whose interests vary widely. There are hikers from the AP Trail, bikers who are traveling US-70 Scenic Route over the mountain, rafters and kayak paddlers plying the French Broad River. It's a nice rustic town. Good food, bars, and other business can be found here. But I am getting off topic. I stop only for fuel here before I continue onto NC-209. The twistiest part of the ride. It's one of those roads whose sharp hair pins, raising rocky outcrops, and sharp drop offs into steep and seemingly bottomless chasms offer excitement, wonder and beauty.


Sheer rock faces along the route of NC-209.


Deep drop offs into chasms offer excitement


The Twists of NC-209

This little cabin has sat here for a long time without any sign of life to it. This time coming through, I have noticed someone is trying to "improve" the road to the cabin. Could that possibly mean the cabin will soon be occupied?



A few more miles down the road, I see NC-63. I've been wanting to come this way for some time now. It's a road I've never taken and leads ya back to Asheville. I don't take the road all the way back to Asheville. I ride quite a few miles until I see Newfound Road. I decide to see where that goes. It was also a good choice. YIKES...I'm ahead of myself! Look at some of the great shots I found here on NC-63!


Broken Panes


Weathered Boards

Now, tell me. Do you really ever try to identify how a barn was slapped together? I love barns. Some of them were literally slapped together with poles and rough hewn lumber. While others, like this barn, had to really take some thought in order to show this kind of tapestry design on it's sides. Texture. Sometimes a photo is about texture.



Look at the route of NC-63! It's a squiggly line, up and down mountains heading south east. As I was coming down from a mountain, I saw this view. I thought my "Lil Girl" would look great here. She does!


The View off NC-63.

From here it's a matter of catching Newfound Road south to US-19 and into Maggie Valley. I made my way into the wonderful Museum "Wheels Thought Time". Took about 10 shots before my battery quit on me. STUPID...I forgot to charge it before I left. But here is more of Wheels Through Time for ya!


Buy your tickets for this Knucklehead at the Wheels Through Time website.


I love the natural patina of the bikes


1942 Military XA model. Harley Davidson.

If life gets any better than this....


A simple reward of life