That is the first word that comes to my mind when thinking about how long ago it has been that I have not updated and written a new blog of our trips. I definitely will not be able to give everyone any advice and ideas on restaurants and new roads as it has been a long time and I might not remember any of it. But I will try my best.
What will be exciting is that I have two blogs to write of rides in 2016. And 3 more in 2017.
The year 2017 was to me over as fast is it started, it was a very busy and somewhat stressful year for Jeannie and I, but I still have two smaller and one larger trip to blog about. 2017 is also the year Jeannie took her mom to Europe for 2 weeks, something her mother always wanted to do, and it was a dream come true for her. And I would not dare go on a long ride without my wife and riding partner so my rides were all local.
Now! now! enough! with excuses as to why I have not written in so long, lets get started.
My brother called me about a month (or was it a day) before the 2016 Labor Day weekend and told me he wanted to ride for a few days, but he wanted to head "up to the mountains where is cooler" and I quote. So without any doubt in my mind I thought lets take a two lane ride, and squeeze in some BRP (Blue Ridge Parkway) you all know how I love that road, up to Boone, NC. Why not? temps will be lower, elevations are high, and the roads are the best in the area, and we have a connection with Boone I sort of like, my niece, my brother's oldest, graduate from Appalachian State, so we love it up there. Homecoming for us!!
The route was planned so that we take one way up and a different way down, try to not repeat many roads and squeeze in all the great ones while at it, some roads we took because we went the wrong way, most times those are the best, some roads we took because others were closed or too busy, at the end we met with some of my friends down in Bryson City, NC and rode other great roads before coming home. So the decision was made, no BRP on the way up, we reserve it to ride from Boone NC to Cherokee NC on the way back. So below is the map of our way up, which was absolutely awesome.
Bikes are ready to go!
The route chosen for the way up to Boone was mostly on GA-400 North, GA 115 East through Cleveland GA and Clarksville GA than US 23 north to Dillard GA, than US 64 heading east from Highlands NC, and passing through the beautiful towns of Cashiers, Brevard and Hendersonville, NC 9 took us north from Bat Cave/Chimney Rock area all the until we met US 70/I40 in Old Fort. If you have not had a chance to ride that stretch of NC 9, do it! it will not regret.
In Brevard NC we took a small detour and headed north on US 276 up to Looking Glass Falls and that was a very nice detour.
This was our first stop after leaving the house where we arrived at the Dillard's House for breakfast, unfortunately we were 30 minutes late for breakfast and an hour too early for lunch. When going up there you have to keep in mind that they have a 1 1/2 hour break between when breakfast time is over and lunch begins, but it was a nice stop nonetheless, we love the Dillard's house regardless of what meal. We ended up stopping for a stroll and some food in Highlands NC.
Dillard's House Stop.
Highlands Stop. Who are these two guys checking phones as usual.
Well with our bellies full of some good Highlands BBQ Company brisket and ribs, it is with sadness that I write this now in 2018 and inform you all that this restaurant is permanently closed which is a shame as they had great service and very good food. But for us it was time to get some miles under us and head east towards Bat Cave/Chimney Rock area where we would take NC 9 north.
But wait, before you get to that area, you pass the North Carolina Apple Orchard country, and there is no way that you wont stop and get some super cold Apple Cider and some nice apples for later. I love this area, and it would take a whole blog to write about experiences Jeannie and I have had here in these orchards.
But wait! Before I forget, remember the little detour we took to see the Looking Glass Falls, you all thought I forgot about it huh? Nope here are some pictures of the visit, awesome place, if you go during the summer months, take towels and your swimming gear, the water has a great temperature.
Hey who's that guy down there on the blue shirt looking lost!, he might jump in the water because this was the middle of the day and we were hot!.
Now this part will be important and interesting to the motorcycle guys reading this post. While heading up on NC 9 it comes to a place where you have a split on the road, stay left and you are on NC 9, stay to the right and you end up on Old Fort Road, County Road 2791 than County Road 1103, its name eventually change to Bat Cave Road, it ends in Old Fort NC right on I-40 and sort of merges with US 70 inside town. Well this was the BEST wrong turn we took on this trip, because Old Fort/Bat Cave Road was absolutely awesome to ride, and it brought us further northeast as well as saved us from having to get on I-40 for a few miles had we stayed on NC 9 and ended up in Black Mountain.
US 70 took us further northeast until we merge with US 221 directly north to Linville Falls. Every time I come through here, it is towards the end of the day, with Boone NC soon approaching with a hot shower and a nice meal waiting for us, so we never stop. But I truly advise everyone to stop and check out Linville Falls, from the parking lot you can take a picture of the falls, but apparently the hike down to the bottom is worth it. We will someday make a point of stopping here with enough time for both. In the mean time you can explore and find out more about the area in this website:
Linville Falls
From here we looped around a bit on NC 183, than on NC 181, back on US 221 and eventually on to NC 105 which takes you directly to Boone approaching the city from the southwest.
We stayed right off of NC 105 at the Comfort Suites, this is our second stay in this hotel, we had a little issue after checking in and heading to our room, our AC unit was not cooling, and because this was Labor Day weekend there were no hotels anywhere else, but I will raise my hat to the Hotel, we stayed in the room, we showered, we changed, we headed out for a wonderful dinner right next door to the Hotel and when we returned a maintenance person had come by, swapped the entire unit, and our room was nice and cool, the only thing was a 12 inch round water spot next to the AC with water, probably from the condensation of the unit that was removed, otherwise it was new, fully operational and NICE AND COLD!. Kudos to the Hotel I will stay there again.
So about dinner, since we were all tired from a long day riding, we did not wanted to get back on the bikes to go eat, downtown Boone with all of its bars and eateries is about 1.2 miles away, which Jeannie and I have walked the distance and its quite nice, but we all decided to stay right there, next door is a Italian restaurant that I highly recommend called Casa Rustica, click on the link and check them out yourself.
THE WAY BACK!
Well the way back was easy, Boone NC to Cherokee NC on the BRP, Blue Ridge Parkway, this is Jeannie and I favorite road and we can't have enough of it, specially when we are showing it off to friends and family, it was Labor Day weekend and it was pretty busy as we approached Asheville NC, and from there all the way to Cherokee was pretty busy, but we made the best of it. When we reached Little Switzerland we had to do the famous Diamond Back loop before hoping on the BRP again, check out these links for info:
NC 226A and NC 226A - The Diamond Back
Little Switzerland
Our Wonderful riding companions, my brother Franklin and his wife Suzan, always two-up on his trusty Yamaha Super Tenere.
We were a bit scared that day, the rain clouds were all around us, but it never rained, the clouds kept the sun at bay, and the day cool.
We stopped at Craggy Gardens on the BRP which is right before Asheville NC , I love stopping here the views are beautiful, I tell Jeannie all the time that I don't mean to sound morbid, but I will end my days on this earth in these North Carolina Mountains, I just love it up here.
Here is a nice picture of the gang, this was all on me testing my new selfie stick, yes I bought one, its even Bluetooth.
Our ride back into Cherokee was as I said early busy, we stopped in a few more overlooks and the weather got nicer, the plan was to stay in Cherokee for the night, where my wife can have her Casino Fix, and try to teach my sister-in-law the tricks, while Franklin and I just sat around the bar, he tried in vain to make me like Bloody Mary's (barrrfff!) and I tried to convince him that an BMW R1200GS Adventure was a better bike for him and Suzan over his Yamaha Super Tenere, and off course I failed, but while at it we downed some drinks enough to gasp at the bill, which was still smaller than the one the wives were racking up on the slot machines..... LOL!
The next morning we met some of my friends in Bryson City for a ride up to the Dragon, then down home at the usual roads. The group got bigger, 5 bikes now, but we rode on to the Dragon. It was busy but OK when we all went up. The day was nice, the ride was nice, the company was even better.
I can't wait to write about our other adventures of 2016 and the ones for 2017 where the Bastos brother's (and significant others off course) meet again for an awesome ride in the great state of Pennsylvania. There was even a river boat crossing on this one! Stay Tuned!
I end this with a few pictures of that day. Till next time folks.......... Charleston SC is coming!
