Rides

Monday -- Martin Luther King Day -- dawned warm for a change. The thermometer read 42 degrees at sunrise, a contrast to more than three weeks of subfreezing overnight lows.

Some ice remained on our driveway but rain Sunday changed most of the rock-hard frozen tundra into a muddy mix of gravel and dirt so I suited up, backed the Super Glide out of the garage and fired her up, confident that I could make it down the steep driveway.

I made it and turned onto Sandy Flats Road, finding a hard-surfaced secondary road covered with water, mud and debris from the sometimes-heavy rain that fell on Saturday night and Sunday. Water and mud coated the bike as I negotiated the one mile stretch to Poor Farm Road, another secondary road also dotted with water and mud.

By the time I made it to U.S. 211, the Glide and the lower legs of my chaps looked like I had been dirt-biking but I found the main highway mostly dry as I turned south and headed to Floyd to meet friends for breakfast.

After breakfast at the Blue Ridge Restaurant in Floyd, I grabbed a cup of coffee at Cafe del Sol and pondered a route for the day's ride. The conditions on the secondary roads pointed to only one riding strategy: Stay on primary roads: Too much water, mud and debris on the other byways.

I needed to run some errands in Christiansburg so I headed north on Virginia Rte. 8. Some wet spots on 8 as well but mostly dry pavement. The glide carved through the corners and I enjoyed the sun and the first ride in more than a month.

At Christiansburg, I turned south on U.S. 11 and headed for Radford -- a pleasant 12 mile stretch of three-lane road. Just outside of Radford, a stretch of road where the sun doesn't reach offered some challenges.

From Radford, I turned onto Rte. 114 for a ride back to Christiansburg. Took care of errands and headed back to Floyd as the sun began to set and temperatures started to fall. My driveway had melted some more and the slick mud offered a end-of-the-ride thrill as I gunned the Glide and sent mud flying at the left-hand turn at the top.

Hosed the Glide off and put her away for the night. With luck I'll get a couple of more rides in this week before the weather turns cold and wet -- again.

Unlike some who live in areas with winter climates, I ride year around. Riding in crisp, cold air is -- to me at least -- invigorating.

The temperature was 28 when I headed out the other morning for a ride down to North Carolina. The forecast predicted highs somewhere near 50 so it wouldn't be freezing for long. I don't use heated gear but choose to layer up with thermal long johns, heavy jeans, leather chaps, a wool vest over a sweatshirt and heavy denim shirt and two pairs of thermal socks. I top it off with a heavy leather Navy flight jacket and lined gauntlet gloves, a balacava and three-quarter hemet with full face shield.

The Super Glide doesn't have heated grips so the cold eventually gets to my finger tips but I just stop more often for coffee.

Fully layered, I headed down Virginia Rte. 8 and Woolwine Mountain. Once past Stuart, I turned right on Rte. 103 and headed towards Mt. Airy. By the time I hit Mt. Airy, the temperature was near 40 and I stopped to warm up with some coffee at the Blue Bird Restaurant on Main Street.

I headed back up U.S. 52 and Fancy Gap Mountain. At the top of the Mountain, gusty winds buffeted the bike as I turned north on the Blue Ridge Parkway for the ride back to Floyd County. At the Parkway's intersection with Va. Rte. 8, I stopped at Tuggles Gap Restaurant for more coffee and then rode the files miles into Floyd and a late lunch.

While sitting in the Floyd County Store having a bowl of warm chili and coffee, a tourist came in, looked at my leathers and said: "You're the idiot on the bike? Are you crazy."

"Yes," I said, "I'm the idiot on the bike but my mama drowned the dumb ones."

Been away from the fold for a while, wrapped up in an IRS audit of my business. It ended, fortunately, in my favor.

Still, I've put 16,500 miles on my '09 Harley Super Glide since buying it in February of this year. So much for those who claim Harley riders don't spend that much time on the road. I expect to hit 25,000 miles by the time the bike is a year old.

The temperature in the Blue Ridge Mountains is expected to top 50 today along with sun so I will be out on the twisties. My goal, as always, is to find unexplored roads and see where they lead. If I get lost, the Garmin Zumo 550 can always get me home.

More later.

Headed South out of Floyd County on a chilly November Saturday. Not sure where I wanted to go so I carved the twisties on U.S. 221 from Floyd to Willis and stopped for breakfast at Jim's Cafe.

After scrambled eggs and pork tenderloin, I topped off the tank and stayed on 221 South to Hillsville. Decision time at the stop light: Left of U.S. 52 and down Fancy Gap Mountain to Mt. Airy, NC, or stay on 221. Opted for 221 and headed for Galax and Independence where another decision awaited: U.S. 58 through Mt. Rogers to Damascus or stay on 221. Once again, 221 won out and I headed on to Boone, NC. The highway offers a lot of twists and turns as it leaves Virginia and enters North Carolina and the Super Glide carved them with glee.

Lots of traffic in Boone so I pondered another decision: Stay on 221 south to Blowing Rock or take U.S. 421 North.

I've been to Blowing Rock so I opted for 421 -- a road I've never traveled. Didn't have the foggiest idea where it would lead but soon after leaving Boone I found myself in Cherokee National Park (above) and a road with lots of hairpins, switchbacks and tight turns. After 10 miles of scraping pegs, the engine guard, the kickstand and a few other things on both sides of the bike, I hit a straightaway for a few miles and then 10 more miles of great winding road with turns galore. This road makes the Tail of the Dragon look like an Interstate. In fact, many of the mountain roads within an hour or two ride of Floyd are far more challenging than the stretch of road that runs from North Carolina to Tennessee and has gained so much undeserved fame.

Stopped in Mountain City, TN, for gas and some refreshment before continuing on U.S. 421 to Bristol, a city where State Street is the dividing line between Virginia and Tennessee.

After a bite for lunch, I turned north on U.S. 11 to Abingdon and then turned right on U.S. 58 for Damascus. Beyond that popular tourist town, the highway winds through Mt. Rogers nature preserve and, again, provides more challenging turns than the Dragon.

With the sun setting in my rear views, I hit the last stretch of U.S. 221 for the ride home.

A great day...and a great ride.

Been away from the bike (and this site) for too long. Finally got some riding time in on a Sunday, heading south out of Floyd on U.S. 221 towards North Carolina but veered off on U.S. 58 at Independence to ride across the mountains through the Mt. Rogers recreational area towards Damascus.

Ended up in Abingdon, home of Virginia's Barter Theater.  After a cup of coffee and some rest, turned the Super Glide back north and headed up U.S. 11 towards Chilhowie, Staunton and the New River Valley of Virginia.

Picked up Virginia Route 8 outside of Christiansburg and completed the circle back into Floyd.

A good day...and a good ride.