STinner
Retired
Can anyone comment on the Country Road in Virginia? sounds like a real fine place to ride if you like bluegrass and mountain music.
thanks
dave
thanks
dave
Rt. 58 the crooked road virginia
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scootac
Will Ride for Food
I haven't ridden it,,, but seeing some of the area it travels,,,,and if you like that music/culture,,, I'd think it would make for a great riding experience!
Let us know when/if you do it!
Let us know when/if you do it!
58 is a fantastic road. One of my favorites....especially Mouth of Wilson to Damascus. The entire area is great for riding.
DixieFlyer
Terry Melton
+1!! I love this stretch of road.....twisty, scenic, and the few times I've been on it traffic has been extremely light. Couple of great places to camp or hike especially in the fall. Grayson Highlands State Park and the Beartree Recreation Area has a nice campground with secluded tent sites and clean shower/bath facilities just a few miles east of Damascus. A couple of years ago my brother & I rode up the Blue Ridge Pkway and headed west near Boone, NC over to Mouth of Wilson, VA. Spent the night @ Beartree Campground and then continued on Hwy 58 over to the Cumberland Gap Park. The portion of Hwy 58 west of I-81 is not as scenic, but some nice sweeping turns near Gateway City. Enjoy this road, you won't be disappointed.
Rgds,
Terry
Uncle Phil
Site Supporter
58 is a nice piece of pavement to ride on!
Yep...nice little road to ride. I just rode it two weeks ago.
mike
mike
A note about 58... it is indeed a nice road... my favorite hangout is Willville (will be up there for the second time this year for the 10th anniversary celebration... August 19-21). If you take 58 out of Meadows of Dan heading to Hillsville, when you get to Laurel Fork, turn right onto Dugspur Rd and follow until it ends into 100, turn right and go about a mile until you see a gas station on the left... that is Indian Valley Road... a 16 mile roller coaster... been on it many of times. Fun stuff... also, get to Paint Bank and 311. Great roads in Virginia!
scootac
Will Ride for Food
And from Paint Bank,,, take 311 south towards Catawba,,, where you can dine family style here,,,,http://home.jps.net/~kevind/thehomeplace/:eat2:
311 takes no back seat to The Dragon!
Once I was just following the GPS on small roads trying to get from Crandon VA (VA 42 - what a road!) back down to Willville with the intent to go through Pulaski on 11 but I think I turned off 42 onto 738 to 100 and ended up taking 100 down to 221 then Dugspur Rd to 58. That was a serendipitous afternoon of roads. Almost none better.
STark1050
Garry Franklin
I've ridden 58 and liked it, we were on our way east. We just got back from a ride that we took from Tazwell Va. N. on 16. I was impressed to say the least. We stayed on 16 to Duck W. Va. where we headed S. thru to N. Ca. Just about any road is a good STroad in that part of the world.
--Garry--
--Garry--
bikemike
Y'all,
I am intimately familiar with The Crooked Road, Virginia's Heritage Music Trail. In fact, I wrote a book about it, just released! It's called Harmonic Highways: Motorcycling Virginia's Crooked Road and it is the story of my exploration of The Crooked Road on Mae, my 1981 Honda CBX. Please check it out on my website at www.bikemike.name (or http://bikemike.squarespace.com/).
One reader wrote me recently and said, "I have finished your book which is wonderful--one of the great reads for me in recent years. It brought the musical heritage of SW Virginia alive for me in a way nothing ever has. It connected many threads and evoked so many emotions and much nostalgia." Another said, "Harmonic Highways is a gem. You are a master storyteller. I know several people who write books, including some excellent polished works, but few people have the knack of storytelling the way you do."
I would be happy to answer any questions about the road, the area, the culture, or the people. When you come, plan to stay awhile and see why people from around the world come to hear the music that locals take for granted.
Michael
I am intimately familiar with The Crooked Road, Virginia's Heritage Music Trail. In fact, I wrote a book about it, just released! It's called Harmonic Highways: Motorcycling Virginia's Crooked Road and it is the story of my exploration of The Crooked Road on Mae, my 1981 Honda CBX. Please check it out on my website at www.bikemike.name (or http://bikemike.squarespace.com/).
One reader wrote me recently and said, "I have finished your book which is wonderful--one of the great reads for me in recent years. It brought the musical heritage of SW Virginia alive for me in a way nothing ever has. It connected many threads and evoked so many emotions and much nostalgia." Another said, "Harmonic Highways is a gem. You are a master storyteller. I know several people who write books, including some excellent polished works, but few people have the knack of storytelling the way you do."
I would be happy to answer any questions about the road, the area, the culture, or the people. When you come, plan to stay awhile and see why people from around the world come to hear the music that locals take for granted.
Michael
I agree with everybody...fun road.
OP
OP
STinner
Retired
well this will be great! a run on 311 will definitely be a go. thanks for all the great reviews. i will be travelling west to east planning to take in a chesepeake bridge/tunnel crossover and make a big turn-around up through gettysburg and back home to cleveland. some time in late august. taking a 4 day weekend. will share all pics and videos.
dave
dave
Dave, be sure to stop and eat at the Swinging Bridge Restaurant in Paint Bank on 311... the food is really good:
http://www.theswingingbridge.com/
scootac
Will Ride for Food
OP
OP
STinner
Retired
well looks like i just might have to try both........
:
the swinging bridge looks too clean for me though-will i have to shower to get in
so many roads......................
dave
:the swinging bridge looks too clean for me though-will i have to shower to get in
so many roads......................
dave
bikemike
Y'all,
My vote is for the Swinging Bridge. A once "lost town," Paint Bank was resuscitated by a wealthy couple from New Jersey with ties to the area. They restored the store, built the restaurant adjacent to it (the Swinging Bridge), turned the depot into a B&B, restored the water mill, and bought a farm that raises bison. The manager is a friend of mine, Mikell Ellison, who is delightful. They love motorcycles (and have designated parking) and the food is reasonable and wonderful. Tell Mikell I sent you!
Michael
My vote is for the Swinging Bridge. A once "lost town," Paint Bank was resuscitated by a wealthy couple from New Jersey with ties to the area. They restored the store, built the restaurant adjacent to it (the Swinging Bridge), turned the depot into a B&B, restored the water mill, and bought a farm that raises bison. The manager is a friend of mine, Mikell Ellison, who is delightful. They love motorcycles (and have designated parking) and the food is reasonable and wonderful. Tell Mikell I sent you!
Michael
I hope to eat a late lunch there next Thursday on the way to the BMWMOA Rally. I have been on 311 a couple of times before but coming from White Sulphur Springs and headed south.