Departed for Maggie Valley North Carolina with friends Rick, Madonna and Ken Saturday June 1, 2024. Travelled the 219 to the Holiday Inn Express Somerset a 665 km ride. Stopped in Ridgeway P.A for a bite to eat at the Brew Bank Brewing Company. All enjoyed the home made root beer.
June 2, 2024Departed 8:00am from the Holiday Inn Express. The forecast was rain so we put our rain gear on riding in and out of the rain going through the mountains on Route 219. We saw beautiful scenery from the thick forests to panoramic valley views. Arrived in Lewisburg around 3:30 and checked in at the Holiday Inn Express.
June 3, 2024
We started our ride in the fog when we left Lewisburg at 8:00am. Continuing on Route 219 through West Virginia and Tennessee. Stopped in Bristol TN for a bite to eat. After doing the 219 all headed to the Back of the Dragon from Tazewell. What a great ride full of twists and turns up and over the mountains. Arrived at Maggie Valley Best Western at 4:00pm when to our surprise friends from our place in Florida were staying at the hotel. Gus and Chrys had arrived the day prior.
June 4, 2024
Started our day with the sun rising over the mountains. Took route 276 through Pisgah National Park. We stopped at the Looking Glass Falls and walked around. We rode to the Village of Chimney Rock then to the Chimney Rock National Park. At the top we had a spectacular view of Lake Lure and the surrounding mountains. Lake Lure is where they filmed Dirty Dancing. We departed riding through the Blue Ridge Mountain stopping at the highest elevation 6053 ft for a photo shoot. Then on to Dillsboro to see the bus used in the movie the fugitive.
Coming off the Parkway and made our way to Sylva. We saw the bus from the train wreck scene from the movie The Fugitive. We also saw some old railway cars from the Smokey Mountain Railroad. Then back to Maggie Valley for pizza at the Brick House Burgers & Pizza
June 5, 2024
Taking Route 19 through Cherokee and Bryson City we took the 74 to Route 129 Robbinsville for The Tail of the Dragon.
Once at the Tail of the Dragon we bought lots of keepsakes and took several pictures.
Riding the Dragon U.S. Route 129 leaving Deals Gapand 318 curves in 11 miles we were at U.S 19 Dragon Harley Davidson. We stopped for some more patches and t-shirts as we will be getting a Harley Davidson soon. We fuelled at Buc-ee's and continued on to Maggie Valley going through two tunnels. Then the ladies went for a swim.
Kris and I departed at 7:35am for Bristol TN to do the 421 Snake. Wearing our rain gear as it was pouring the entire day. When we left the Best Western we met Gus & Chrys who were leaving for home. We separated on the 40 continued for about 110km. When Kris and I pulled off the 26 to fuel we couldn't stop laughing as Chris and Gus were at the same gas station. We said our goodbyes again and continued to the Snake.
At Bristol we went on Route 421. Just as the 4 lane highway went down to two lanes the rain started again. We did the Snake in the rain with a greasy road. 489 curves later we were at the Country Store. We stopped for photos, t-shirts and patches for Kristina. Then we did the Snake again back to Bristol.
Back at the Best Western we were sitting outside when a herd of Elk strolled through.
June 7, 2024
We started for home at 7:30am after saying goodbye to our friends. Beautiful ride up through Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. It was very windy and at 20C it felt cold. We missed all the rain and stayed dry. 662 miles (1065km) later we arrived at our hotel in Bradford P.A.
June 8, 2024
Last leg of the journey home. We were back on the bike at 7:30am and it was only 10C. Cool but dry. We were in New York State after only a few minutes on Route 219. Windy all day again. The weather warmed up to 22C closer to home. We crossed the border at 9:30am and were home at 11:40am. Beautiful Road Trip with great roads, friends and excellent food.
