The time has been set, the trip has been planned! We are headed east one more time. Maggie Valley, North Carolina to be exact. I rally the troops, Roadrunner, and “Happy Hour” answer the call. We had planned on leaving on a Wednesday, The “Happy Hours” bike is in the shop. Plan “B” . “Easy G” agrees to loan “Happy Hour” his bike. What a guy! “Easy G”, just had surgery on his shoulder, and couldn’t make the trip. “Happy Hour” had to drive from College Station to Ingram to pick up the bike. We met in Fredericksburg on Thursday to run to College Station. Make our normal ride down hwy 290 through Johnson City through Austin. Touch base with “Cannon Ball’ in Bastrop, Make the normal stop at the American Legion.
Travel to College Station for the evening. Stop at the Angry Elephant, a great bar and grill. Have a snack and a few refreshments. Move on to the “Happy Hours” pad. After a good night’s rest, pull out around 8:30 am, and head down hwy 30 towards Huntsville. Connect hwy 190 at Huntsville and run to Livingston on through Jasper. The Louisiana Border is in sight! At Leesville, catch hwy 28 to Alexandria, right on into Natchez, Mississippi. At this point, we connect to the “Natchez Trace”. This road runs from Natchez all the way to Nashville. Almost no stops on this road. The trees stretch across the road in many spots. Can”t be in a hurry on this road. Lots”s of wildlife, turkeys, deer, etc. No billboards or gas stations on this road. If you need gas, may have to travel a little distance from the main road. The speed limit is 50 on the “Trace”, You know us, we push the limit a bit!
Our plan was to make Tupelo, Mississippi for the evening. A few stops and a few downpours have slowed us down. Nightfall is catching up with us. Dark catches up with us at Kosciusko, Mississippi. Mexican food and margaritas are in order. First things first, Get a motel next door to the restaurant, very convenient. Have food and drinks and settle in for the night. The next morning, jump off the “Trace”, Try to run more east to catch north Georgia. Turn on hwy 12 towards Columbus, Travel up this road approx. 20 miles, We roll into Sturgis, wow can’t be! I see no bikes. OK, that’s right we are in Mississippi not South Dakota! We zig and zag across Mississippi up into north Georgia. We hit a lot of the highlighted roads, a lot of “S’ turns, and steeped graded roads. Not good for a person with bad shoulders. All good, got to run with the pack! Make it to Helen Georgia for the evening. What a neat town, has the Alps attitude! Secure a room, and survey the town! Walking distance from the hotel. Great restaurant up the street with a band. Enjoyed music until 10. Back to the room for some rest.
Next morning head north up towards hwy 64, connect into southern Tennessee. travel through Brevard and Hendersonville. Connect hwy 26 to Spartanburg hard left to Cow Pens, South Carolina, Home of the Carolina Boys. Jimmy, Bruce, Tom, and Dennis, are all awaiting our arrival. With their ladies of course. With the Texas flag waving, quite welcoming! We settle in around the pool for some fresh peaches and some cold Shiner Bock later.
Jimmy throws some steaks on the grill. Good South Carolina hospitality! Next day, time to go to Maggie Valley, Home of the “Wheels thru Time Motorcycle Museum” one of the best around.
We take the back roads, towards Asheville, North Carolina, Maggie Valley is on hwy 19, about 25 miles west of Asheville. So much to see at this museum. Tons of old bikes, from the early 1900”s to more current, I think most of them do run! A day of looking does not do this place justice! After hours of looking, it’s time to quench the thirst. Grill is located right up the street. Have a bite to eat and check into a motel up the block.
We relax on the front porch of the motel for a while, that peach crown is so good! The next day the Dragons Tail ride is in sight. 318 curves in 11 miles, a lot of head-snapping. We stop at Deals Gap, the start or the finish of the Dragon. Pick up a few pins and shirts. I” ve have done this ride several times, does”t impress me! But every rider should do it at least once. There is a Harley store at the end for more buying opportunities. We continue on this path to Maryville. Blue Ridge Harley, We meet up with Bret. A friend from Florida. He rides with the crew back toward Deals Gap. Hwy 74 runs thru Nantahal National Forest. What a ride, better than the Dragon Tail if you ask me! 3 miles out of Deals Gap is the resort called Tapoco. Secure a cabin, There is a restaurant on the river. Beautiful setting. Great atmosphere, great food. Bret departs back to Maryville. We party on! No end in sight! Settle into the cabin, hot tub on the back deck. Not bad, I got the hide-a-bed, not the most comfortable. Much better than a tent!
Next morning Carolina Boys head home. Back to the three stooges! We head north, Zig and Zaging to a route called the “Rattlesnake Ride” or route. They think this ride is better than the Dragon! Lot of 10 and 15-mile curves. Bearing on north we happen onto “Rocky Top Tennessee” and Found a local pub with $2 beer. Didn”t know if we would ever leave! We had planned on running to Boone in western North Carolina, But time is creeping up on us. I had planned on running to Maker’s Mark Distillery. It’s in the middle of Kentucky. We change directions and head north and east. Going thru London, Somerset, and Danville. Stop at Danville for the evening. The restaurant next to the hotel is always good. More Mexican food, a pitcher of margaritas. Always a good way to finish the day.
Next morning, the final leg to Makers Mark. Thank God for a GPS, you would never find this place. Talking about a pig trail! Single-lane road! We arrive, in a beautiful setting, and we are a little early for the first tour. That’s unusual, We are never early! Do the tour, most interesting. Do a few samples at the end. Buy a hand-dipped bottle for my girl back in San Marcos, her birthday is coming up! Makers Mark has been owned by the same family since the late forties. Everything is distilled on the same campus. 100 percent USA.
Time to push toward Texas! We connect I 69 over by Leitchfield and travel southwest. Travel down thru Muhlenberg County across the Green River where paradise lay! John Prine wrote a great song about the area. Making good time down 69, until Roadrunner and “Happy Hour” pull over. I thought they were putting on their rain suit. I roll for a few miles and pull over and wait, no calls! Wait for a bit, roll on leave a message, and meet them on Beal Street in Memphis. I ride and ride, no sign of them. Finally a message, “Happy Hour” dropped his phone, at 75 mph. No luck finding it. I arrive at Beal Street, Secure parking close to the venue. Survey the area, and locate a good bar with a good band. Beal Street is a party area, Good Blues music, and good BBQ.
Roadrunner and Happy Hour finally arrive. They have secured a hotel within a few blocks of downtown. Time to lay back and enjoy. Great band at a place called the Tap Room. Enjoyed this for a while. Time to try some Memphis BBQ. The place across the street is supposed to be good. We did the sampler plate, chicken, ribs, brisket, sausage, beans, french fries the works. all good, I think Texas is better! Back across the street for more music, Great evening of fun. I retrieve my bike and ride to the hotel, the other stooges walk! The next morning, “Happy Hour” needs a phone! He heads to a phone store. We kill time and drink more coffee.
Turns out, Sun Records is right up the street. The birthplace of Rock and Roll! Elvis got his start here as well as Johnny Cash and many others. We check out the studio, pretty impressive. “Happy Hour” arrives with his new phone. Time to head west, we are getting a late start, almost 12 noon. Head out on I-40, loop Little Rock, continue on I-40, and exit at Arkadelphia. Gas stop and rest stop, the heat is brutal. Find a good bar with a|c, always a plus. After our thirst is quenched, time to roll on. Texarkana is in our sights, Texas state line welcome stop. We pull in and say our departing words. “Happy Hour” is heading south on hwy 59, back to Aggie Land, Roadrunner and I are continuing to Dallas. Long hot drive to Dallas, Roadrunner splits off in Dallas.
I continue thru Dallas at 100 degrees at 8 pm, Miss my turn and continue to Ft. Worth. Only 40 miles out of the way. Roll into Cleburne around 9 pm. Been a long hot day. Grab a motel room and hit the rack. The next day connects with relatives at Brazos Point, 20 miles west of Cleburne. After a quick visit head down thru Meridian and Cransville Gap. The gap is the home of the “Horney Toad’ Saloon. Made a quick stop at the bar. I continue south to Hamilton where I catch hwy 281. Cut off towards Goldthwaithe. On the home stretch now!
LLano and Fredericksburg, Home again. Great trip no breaks, 3200 miles’ Always good to see that home gate. Welcoming animals and of course the wife! Like I always say, live life to the hilt, never know when it may be your last trip!
RIDE FREE, RIDE OFTEN,
DAD
