Horsehead
Slow Pokin' the Southeast
A few years back when I owned a couple of different motorcycles, I enjoyed keeping an online log of my various travels all in one place so I could go back and reminisce on my adventures. I figure now is as good a time as any to continue the record...
Since I bought my ST1100 I have ridden a thousand or so miles around my home on semi-weekly trips. This past week, my wife and children visited her best friend from college in Canton Georgia. I had to work the first half of the week, so they left on Monday and I was slated to join them later on. Little did we know that a cyber attack would affect the fuel supply of the entire southeast... fortunately she made it down before things got crazy. But by the time I was finished with work on Thursday, things were dicey at best. I decided to risk it in order not to sit at home by myself during the vacation days I had allotted for the trip, and so I set out, having filled up my tank with fuel I'd set aside a couple of months prior to run the generator when an ice storm was in the forecast. Thankfully the ST11 doesn't crave the higher octane premium fuel of some other modern bikes and it didn't so much as hiccup on the way there. I was able to find fuel about half way and fill up, although I could have made it a lot further, I didn't want to push my luck...
On the return trip, I decided to take the scenic route through the mountains of Western North Carolina. I departed Georgia at about 10am. My first stop took me through Murphy and then Andrews, NC, and then through the Nantahala River Gorge. I was a white water rafting guide on the Nantahala river when I was in college, and it's always a great time riding along those icy waters. I'd been riding for a couple of hours, so I stopped for a moment at the base of the gorge at the Nantahala Outdoor Center, the NOC. When I was in college and working for a competing rafting company, we not so lovingly referred to the NOC as the Nazis On Commission, as their employees behaved as if they owned the river and the world owed them favor... But alas, that was a long time ago, and the NOC proved their ability to adapt and keep up with expanding interests, whereas the company I worked for is no longer there at all...
From There I set my course for the highest peak East of the Mississippi -- Mount Mitchell, NC, via the Blue Ridge Parkway. I have a sort of habit... Anytime I'm in the vicinity, I make it a point to get to the top of Mt Mitchell. It's been years since I've been on two wheels, so I had forgotten just how frustrating the Parkway can be. Let me tell you... Stuck behind a little sedan going 10-15 miles per hour UNDER the speed limit is maddening when there are so many curves ahead... I tried to remain patient and wait for passing lanes and scenic over looks for all the cars to get out of my way so I could get about my business of properly enjoying the twisties. I ate my lunch at the top of the mountain, at the lookout. The elevation here is 6684 feet. Not very impressive by Western standards, but something to take note of this far East...
After enjoying a break on the mountain top, it was time to head home. I very much enjoyed the trip from Mt Mitchell back to I-40 via US 80. If you've never ridden HWY 80 from Marion to the Parkway, you need to. Apparently the road has a reputation. It's known as "The Devil's Whip". Just google it. It's a great ride, but be on your toes, as there are some tight switchbacks and the steep elevation change adds a different set of challenges to your average curvy road...
Afterwards it was unfortunately all Highway towards home... I hit a serious slow down due to road construction just past Mocksville... After waiting for what felt like forever for things to get going, I decided to exit the interstate in favor of the back roads.
I made it home, after almost 9 hours (including stops) on the road and over 400 miles on the road. I don't deny it was a long day...
Rather than pausing for fast food, I stopped at the grocery store for some dinner supplies along the way. My wife and kids are still in Georgia, and will be on their way home tomorrow. But since I'm by myself, a good meal was in order... Reverse seared ribeye, potatoes, onion, and zucchini were on the menu, along with a tall pour of scotch and a good smoke.
Glad to be home... Some things about the trip to reflect on... Some things I would definitely do differently and some mods to the bike I'd like to make... But all in all it was a great day and I'm very happy to have the opportunity to be back on two wheels.
Until next time, thanks for reading!
Since I bought my ST1100 I have ridden a thousand or so miles around my home on semi-weekly trips. This past week, my wife and children visited her best friend from college in Canton Georgia. I had to work the first half of the week, so they left on Monday and I was slated to join them later on. Little did we know that a cyber attack would affect the fuel supply of the entire southeast... fortunately she made it down before things got crazy. But by the time I was finished with work on Thursday, things were dicey at best. I decided to risk it in order not to sit at home by myself during the vacation days I had allotted for the trip, and so I set out, having filled up my tank with fuel I'd set aside a couple of months prior to run the generator when an ice storm was in the forecast. Thankfully the ST11 doesn't crave the higher octane premium fuel of some other modern bikes and it didn't so much as hiccup on the way there. I was able to find fuel about half way and fill up, although I could have made it a lot further, I didn't want to push my luck...
On the return trip, I decided to take the scenic route through the mountains of Western North Carolina. I departed Georgia at about 10am. My first stop took me through Murphy and then Andrews, NC, and then through the Nantahala River Gorge. I was a white water rafting guide on the Nantahala river when I was in college, and it's always a great time riding along those icy waters. I'd been riding for a couple of hours, so I stopped for a moment at the base of the gorge at the Nantahala Outdoor Center, the NOC. When I was in college and working for a competing rafting company, we not so lovingly referred to the NOC as the Nazis On Commission, as their employees behaved as if they owned the river and the world owed them favor... But alas, that was a long time ago, and the NOC proved their ability to adapt and keep up with expanding interests, whereas the company I worked for is no longer there at all...
From There I set my course for the highest peak East of the Mississippi -- Mount Mitchell, NC, via the Blue Ridge Parkway. I have a sort of habit... Anytime I'm in the vicinity, I make it a point to get to the top of Mt Mitchell. It's been years since I've been on two wheels, so I had forgotten just how frustrating the Parkway can be. Let me tell you... Stuck behind a little sedan going 10-15 miles per hour UNDER the speed limit is maddening when there are so many curves ahead... I tried to remain patient and wait for passing lanes and scenic over looks for all the cars to get out of my way so I could get about my business of properly enjoying the twisties. I ate my lunch at the top of the mountain, at the lookout. The elevation here is 6684 feet. Not very impressive by Western standards, but something to take note of this far East...
After enjoying a break on the mountain top, it was time to head home. I very much enjoyed the trip from Mt Mitchell back to I-40 via US 80. If you've never ridden HWY 80 from Marion to the Parkway, you need to. Apparently the road has a reputation. It's known as "The Devil's Whip". Just google it. It's a great ride, but be on your toes, as there are some tight switchbacks and the steep elevation change adds a different set of challenges to your average curvy road...
Afterwards it was unfortunately all Highway towards home... I hit a serious slow down due to road construction just past Mocksville... After waiting for what felt like forever for things to get going, I decided to exit the interstate in favor of the back roads.
I made it home, after almost 9 hours (including stops) on the road and over 400 miles on the road. I don't deny it was a long day...
Rather than pausing for fast food, I stopped at the grocery store for some dinner supplies along the way. My wife and kids are still in Georgia, and will be on their way home tomorrow. But since I'm by myself, a good meal was in order... Reverse seared ribeye, potatoes, onion, and zucchini were on the menu, along with a tall pour of scotch and a good smoke.
Glad to be home... Some things about the trip to reflect on... Some things I would definitely do differently and some mods to the bike I'd like to make... But all in all it was a great day and I'm very happy to have the opportunity to be back on two wheels.
Until next time, thanks for reading!
