Travels with Stella! In Appalachia

[RTrider03]

I just joined this website and WOW! the pictures here were a great way to start. Traveling and photos are my favorite thing. GREAT job!! Thanks for sharing. Looking forward to getting to know some new folks.

[Dr. Strangelove]

Sorry about the mishap, but I think that the gas station was called "Country Boy" something or other.

Thanks; could've been. A Country Boy ran it. I almost didn't pull in because the pump island I stopped at was out of order and then the other one had an error message on the display. Pulling away I went down. The owner, aka Country Boy, came out to help as did a neighbor, as did a driver I had just blasted by. Turned out the Country Boy had a sister that lived in Folsom, La and worked in Covington, La, which is where I practice. Nice people. You can't just buy the brake hand lever and others won't work. The OEM price is $105 and at beemerboneyard $65

the pics of the streams from US 58? I think that touchton and I stopped in one of those spots back in August.

Yes, 58, all of those pictures of the streams and the fences and cows were on that road. Stunning.

As the shadows lengthened I thought I would make it to Black Mountain, NC. I did but time estimates were way wrong. Backroad traveling take time and in this area takes serious time. Thought I would hop on the BRP since it seemed to go my way. It did and it didn't. Because of the season it was closed at Mount Mitchell and I exited onto NC80, a wonderfully twisty road that would probably be MUCH more appreciated with daylight. In the pitch dark, never leaving 2nd, it was still fun (and cold), but I just knew some fauna awaited my front wheel. Maybe the scream of second without the muffler "alerted" them to my presence so I did not see deer, bear, woodchuck, beaver, mountain lion, or any other traffic. Very fun road in a Deal's Gap kind of way but longer.





It became VERY dark. Which brings up a question.

Does anyone use a tinted visor for their trips? It's great in the daytime and no one plans to ride at night (usually), but if you get caught out at night...

Anyway, I stayed in Black Mountain that night, had coffee the next morning with wncbmw--good seeing you Vann and then left Micky Dee's for the pleasures of hwy 9















and a sgin of the times at a coffee shop/restaurant where I tried to have lunch



No trip to North Carolina is complete without a stop at the BP in Sapphire



and



Unfortunately these were not available in toddler sizes as I considered them the perfect gifts for my 4 nearly three-year-old grandchildren.

28 south of Highlands was great and I wound up inadvertently in South Carolina on 76. I took it to 180 and then 60. Great roads. I was looking for Two Wheels Only, but somehow it eluded me and I wound up in Blueridge, Georgia, a forgettable town.



yes, that is a sofa on the front "porch," and across the highway was this



The next morning I continued south along some pastoral settings in Alabama, through towns like Opelika and Troy and Tuskeegee, eventually winding up in Navarre Beach, Fl, for a couple of days to unwind, before heading home





So, that's that until the next time. It was a fun trip, though hard because of the weather or the sometimes conditions of the roads. I got to eat at Bob Evans twice andwas very glad I did NOT bring the camping stuff as the first week would have been miserable camping and the equipment would have only been something else to carry.

I thank everyone who gave me such great recs on the roads and it was fun meeting up with y'all as conditions permitted.

Ride safely

John

[Dr. Strangelove]

Thanks, RTRider and welcome to the best board in the whole world for all things r1150r.

It is maintained by selfless mods who work to keep it as good as it is. Please do consider becoming a real member, read "one who has paid the tuition" for all of the valuable lessons and advice this board makes available.

John

[iowabeakster]

Yet, another superlative ride report...

...however that might be.

Thank you, John.

[Buckster]

Thanks for sharing...awesome report and pictures. I do ride at night with a lightly tinted shield most of the time. I have been riding to and from work and it is well lit MOST of the way for my 1/2 hour commute. This time of year it is the clear shield....too many deer out.
I would go with a clear shield on a trip just because of being on unfamiliar roads. I always bring it on a trip...just in case.

[wncbmw]

John - glad you liked the roads I suggested! Fortunately, around here, even wrong turns end up being fun! Nice report! Come back and do 80 in the daylight!

[Sunbeemer]

Does anyone use a tinted visor for their trips? It's great in the daytime and no one plans to ride at night (usually), but if you get caught out at night...

Yes and no...I use a Nolan with a flip down sun visor, which here in Florida is very useful. Before that I used a KBC with a strip of window tinting across the top of the faceshield for a "sun visor" .

I was looking for Two Wheels Only, but somehow it eluded me and I wound up in Blueridge, Georgia, a forgettable town.

I stayed at TWO on my return from the National in TN, and other than the Copperhead that tried to share our campfire, it was a memorable place (well, that was memorable too, but not much fun. At least, I still had my boots on!). You must've turned right at the intersection of 180 (WolfPen Gap Road) and 60 and missed seeing it to your left down in the hollow on the other side of the road. It's a red barn-like buildng with a garage out front, but it's not well marked I'll grant you! When I pulled in I still wasn't sure I was there... Great folks there and everything works on the honor system...gotta love it

[taosports]

Great post John! Your photographic skills are impressive.

[fj_pastor]

Thank you very much John.

Very inspiring ride