There are over 4 million miles of road in the United States' highway system, most of which is just your standard A to B normal pavement. These roads are just a means to an end for most folks, a way to work, a way home, a way to a place to play. It's no different for those of us with 93 octane coursing through our veins. These normal roads are just a way to get to the fun stuff, to the good stuff.
A means to an end, indeed.
Some of these roads earn spots on on people's Bucket Lists. Roads that people detour hours out of the way to see, that offer amazing views, or technical riding, or both.
The Moki Dugway
The Blue Ridge Parkway
Skyline Drive
The Natchez Trace
The Pacific Coast Highway
Monument Valley
Alaska Highway
Million Dollar Highway
Angeles Crest Highway
Going to the Sun Road
Mulholland Drive
Beartooth and Chief Joseph Highways
There are dozens more: some locally known, most nationally known, some even internationally known. If you ask any motorcyclist or automotive enthusiast for a top ten, you'll likely never get the same answer.
But down there in this part of the South East, it's hard to find a bad road. This is the Blue Ridge Mountains, and the good roads are treacherous mountainside twists with steep drop-offs, no shoulders, and only light duty guardrails. High risk, but oh so worth the reward.
Today, we packed up our camp and headed north, into North Carolina, riding mile after mile of great roads. We eventually arrived in Robbinsville, NC, where we started up the Cherohala Skyway.
The Cherohala Skyway was completed in the fall of 1996 after being under construction for some thirty-four years. It is North Carolina's most expensive highway carrying a pricetag of $100,000,000. Winding up and over 5,400 foot mountains for 15 miles in North Carolina and descending another 21 miles into the deeply forested backcountry of Tennessee, the road crosses through the Cherokee and Nantahala National Forests.... thus the name "Chero...hala"
Beginning at Santeetlah Gap on the North Carolina side (at elevation 2660 feet), the road quickly twists and ascends to Santeetlah, earning the "Mile High" part of its nickname at an elevation of 5377 feet.
A means to an end, indeed.
Some of these roads earn spots on on people's Bucket Lists. Roads that people detour hours out of the way to see, that offer amazing views, or technical riding, or both.
The Moki Dugway
The Blue Ridge Parkway
Skyline Drive
The Natchez Trace
The Pacific Coast Highway
Monument Valley
Alaska Highway
Million Dollar Highway
Angeles Crest Highway
Going to the Sun Road
Mulholland Drive
Beartooth and Chief Joseph Highways
There are dozens more: some locally known, most nationally known, some even internationally known. If you ask any motorcyclist or automotive enthusiast for a top ten, you'll likely never get the same answer.
But down there in this part of the South East, it's hard to find a bad road. This is the Blue Ridge Mountains, and the good roads are treacherous mountainside twists with steep drop-offs, no shoulders, and only light duty guardrails. High risk, but oh so worth the reward.
Today, we packed up our camp and headed north, into North Carolina, riding mile after mile of great roads. We eventually arrived in Robbinsville, NC, where we started up the Cherohala Skyway.
The Cherohala Skyway was completed in the fall of 1996 after being under construction for some thirty-four years. It is North Carolina's most expensive highway carrying a pricetag of $100,000,000. Winding up and over 5,400 foot mountains for 15 miles in North Carolina and descending another 21 miles into the deeply forested backcountry of Tennessee, the road crosses through the Cherokee and Nantahala National Forests.... thus the name "Chero...hala"
Beginning at Santeetlah Gap on the North Carolina side (at elevation 2660 feet), the road quickly twists and ascends to Santeetlah, earning the "Mile High" part of its nickname at an elevation of 5377 feet.
It was a lot cooler up here than we'd expected. It was still in the 60's, but after being at lower elevations and in full mesh gear in 80 - 90 degree temperatures, it was almost chilly.
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| We love mountains! |
It's ridiculously beautiful up here. But, don't let that distract you.... There are skid marks on many of the curves; a warning of what can happen if you aren't paying attention, or are riding beyond your abilities. Sudden decreasing radius turns, obscured sight lines, and a false sense of bravado from sections of the Skyway that beg to be ridden faster than the 45MPH speed limit.
... this Snake's bite can be incredibly painful.
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| This was an $18,000 motorcycle. |
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| The view.... well, let's just say that I'll never get tired of looking out over stuff like this. |
With the end of the day approaching, we made our way over to Hunts Lodge Motorcycle Campground (www.huntslodge.com). The Hunts are great folks, and they are riders too, and it shows - everything here is set up specifically for riders. Free wi-fi, hot showers, free laundry machines, motorcycle odds and ends in the vending machine, free ice, coolers to borrow, gas and charcoal grills available, lots of nice grassy places to put up a tent, and a huge covered pavilion for relaxing, all for less than $14 a person.
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