On my way to Lebanon, TN from SC via southern OH and KY for the 2019 BMWMOA Nationals. Just had to drop by Mammoth Cave NP, KY for a couple of days of some nice camping. This is a beautiful place, with cave exploration opportunities. I highly recommend taking one or more of the parks cave tours.
Had to get away for a few days and took my BMW S1000XR up to the Great Smokey Mountain National Park. Stayed at Cades Cove campground for 3 nights. For the first time in about 30 years, I got on a bicycle and rode the entire length of the Cades Cove Loop.
Rented the bike from the campground. Lots of fun. Somewhat unsteady the first few minutes 🙂
Somewhere on the Parkway
Somewhere on the Parkway
Cheoah Dam, where Harrison Ford jumped off in “The Fugitive”
Cades Cove Loop. Early in the morning. No cars 😀
Had to ride up to Boone, NC for the yearly BMW Boone rally. If felt good to get out of the South Carolina heat and humidity. Getting up in elevation makes a big difference with the temps dropping from 95 to 75 degrees.
The rally is held at the Boone KOA campground, which is actually very nice. We rode up Thursday 8/9 and stayed until Sunday 8/12.
Went riding on Friday (all NC country roads and twisties). Sorry, no pictures. Saturday was off-day, and relaxed at the site. Went back home Sunday.
Rode up to Meadows Of Dan, southern Virginia for a few days to escape the heat and humidity of the swamps of South Carolina. Decided to stay at Willeville motorcycle camp, where we had been before.
Decided to make a roundtrip up through Route 16 “Back Of The Dragon”. It didn’t disappoint. Terrific motorcycle road with nice scenery and curves.
Continued in to Tazewell, VA for lunch before continuing into Burke’s Garden aka “Gods Thumbprint”. Stopped at “Matti’s Place” for ice cream before we headed down VA614 (another pearl of a windy country road), then hitting I-77 for a quick return to camp.
Lois and I took a short trip to the NC mountains. Stayed at Ironhorse during the Motorcycles of Charlotte Rally, and went out on a few roads we know well. Among them was the NC 129, also called the Tail Of The Dragon. With 318 corners in an 11 mile stretch, it definitely gives you a lot of fun and exciting riding. Lois on her Can Am Spyder RT, and myself on the BMW S1000XR. Haven’t had this bike too long, and took it on the first trip to the mountains. It didn’t disappoint. Phenomenal performance bike, with insane power, agility and technology. Love it.
