Sandy, thank you so much for sending me all of those old TWO WHEEL TALE posts.. thank you so much for saving them. I found an old story that happens to be one of my most favorite rides so below is the story ...enjoy!!!! DON’T MESS WITH THE DRAGON FOR YOU ARE CRUNCHY AND TASTE GOOD WITH KETCHUP THE FOLLOWING STORY WAS WRITTEN A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AFTER A VERY JAM PACKED WEEKEND TO W. VA.
Dear Family and Friends,
We have done some nutty things but this past weekend tops our adventures
Round trip we logged 1340 miles.
Our trip began Thursday evening at 5:45 pm . We loaded up the bike and headed out Destination Knoxville Tn. The ride was fairly calm and sweet.. The Traffic was decent but not too intense and we arrived safe and sound around 10 pm.
Friday we met up with some friends who came from Nashville.. and we had a hearty breakfast at Cracker Barrel. WE pushed out of Knoxville around 9 30 or so and believe it or not we headed to WEST VIRGINIA.. I still find that hard to believe that in less than 3 days we pulled off a ride like that.
This was our first time traveling with a group of people for a long ride. One of the lessons we learned was that there are those that love motorcycles and those that love motorcycling. We were soon to learn the difference.
There are things you do in life because you are provided with a rewarding challenge This was one of those moments. As we cruised through Bristol, making our way to Virginia.. the rolling hills and deep cut outs of the freeway through ebbed mountain became richer and deeper as the day wore on.. our time was mostly spent on the Highway and where most highways are dull and repetitive.. As you make your way through Virginia and West Virginia it seems as if the Mountains just yearn to share their stories. Traversing our way through 2 tiled tunnels through the sturdy mountains was so wonderful.. I had actually forgotten just how cool that was… to think the amount of labor and craftsmanship that went into making those tunnels.. pretty amazing if you ask me.. The day trickled on and the scenery provided more and more treats.. We ended up making an early day of it.. We settled in for a nice evening at the Pipestem Lodge in West Virginia.. IT was here that lessons became more apparent that those that ride do so for many vast reasons. It is important to ride with those that share your passion .. A journey such as we took needs that passion to make it successful.. Steve and I loved riding up to Pipestem and seeing the deer along the road side. This was our second trip here. WE loved settling into the Lodge having dinner and probably the highlight of the evening was sitting outside and gazing at the patchwork quilt of a star lit night. For we seemed so close to the billions of tiny little lights.. I do not think I have ever seen a sky so lovely.. Steve and I and one of the other couples we were with enjoyed this view.. I have a feeling out of the whole group that night we were the only ones in the back lawn appreciating God’s light show I kept waiting for a shooting star but the cool night air eventually chased me inside.. That too was one of those rare moments that the journey spilled forth .. like a secret gift…
The next day.. Saturday.. we packed up and headed deeper into West Virginia.. WE visited the New River Gorge.. just as beautiful as the last time we saw it.. the awesome bridge .. the busy waters below.. what a highlight to the day.
I can go on and on about the beauty of the landscape yet the most striking thing you see as you weave in and out of these mountain side towns is a poor economy … trailers barely standing .. rickety old homes with purple shutters… battered old shacks mingle with clapboard houses… and tiny spurts of wealth through out the mountainside .. As I said earlier TWO WHEEL TALES… describing this place the last time we visited.. One thing that strikes me funny is that no matter how beaten up the residence there was a satellite dish perched on every roof or poled in every yard. By whatever means possible… A local friend of mine here in Birmingham, who was originally from W. Va. Said those sat. dishes have become the state banner.. These true to the bone Appalachian folk are a different breed. They know tough winters, they know how to get by.. they know how to survive.. Several times I said to Steve who am I to comment on how poor these folks are for perhaps to them .. they are the wealthiest ones out there… they have what they need .. and that’s what is the most fundamental of things… knowing what you need and having it. Not what you want.. but what you NEED.
I have to take you back through our journey.. and not just the tiny towns we saw I have to take you back on those mountain roads that twisted like the most crisp ribbon through out the highlands. I have to share with you the smell of clean air laced with the sweetness of the latest blossom I simply must share with you the water falls.. and majestic mountainsides filled to over flowing with lush greenery and just a hint of fall colors. The roads in that part of the country never cease to amaze me. They twist and turn and curve and glide so snuggly in the belly of the mountains.. they wind up in to the cool air of the higher peaks.. These roads near Covington and beyond and back.. never never let you down.. they take talent and skill to master and the patience to know that your reward lies in the journey not the destination. These are not just flowery words.. they are indeed words to live by.. APPRECIATE WHERE YOU ARE AT… don’t live for where you are going.. Know that when you take a journey like this as a motorcyclist.. this is not about the next meal or gas stop.. this is not about a chain place to eat.. or something loaded with what one THINKS is needed… when in reality Moments like these are solely about the ride.. and discovering what is really important… that is what makes a motorcyclist true to his destination.. his journey…. The whole story is in the ride.
We eventually split from part of the group .. their choice.. and with the other couple mentioned ealier we kept on traversing some beautiful and breathless byways.. Eventually as the sun came to rest in the sky .. we too saw the need to wind down for the day.. we made our way back to Abbingdon Va a small town near Bristol and slept very well .. a twelve hour day in the saddle does that to you…
Sunday morning we had a quick breakfast and headed on back down the Tennessee highway through GA. Back into Al. Sweet home that it is.. West Virginia will always be on my mind .. looking forward to taking a more extended visit there soon.. SO much to see so many roads to explore…
BY the way the very first lines in my post regarding the DRAGON ( DON’T MESS WITH THE DRAGON’S BUSINESS FOR YOU ARE CRUNCHY AND TASTE GOOD WITH KETCHUP) is referring to a bumper sticker we saw in West Virginia … I LOVED IT!!!!!. For you see in GA. There is a road called Deals Gap .. and it’s nick name is the DRAGON it is a road that has taken down many seasoned riders.. yet it is a road that every rider always loves to challenge again and again and conquer again and again.. while in W. VA. nearly every road for us was the DRAGON and we conquered them all.. safe sound… and back home…
UNTIL NEXT TIME…
HAPPY TRAILS
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