Boone, NC Memorial weekend ride

[wncbmw]

I managed to join board members MikeCam (Mike) and machew01 (Michael) on part of their weekend ride in the Boone, NC area. They were camping at the Boone KOA, site of a BMW rally every year. I left work after lunch and made it to campsite around 4:00 finding MikeCam already there. The site was actually pretty nice.

http://h2oman.smugmug.com/gallery/560738

Even provided an Aerostich post!

http://h2oman.smugmug.com/gallery/560738/1/23342255

machew01 joined us shortly and after a short ride into town for dinner, we returned to spend the evening telling lies. Met a young man at the campground on the 19th day of a cross country trip on a Triumph 600 and he joined us old farts for the evening.

The next day we rode on a great road which shall not be named, on the way to Mountain City for breakfast. It is a fun road with nice scenery. Thank you Michael for sharing the road and I will do the same, just not on cyberspace.

http://h2oman.smugmug.com/gallery/560738/1/23342256

Then on to U.S. 421, a locally famous twisty road heading to Shady Valley, TN. It started raining as soon as we hit the good stuff, but Michael did some drive by stuff for me to take pictures.

http://h2oman.smugmug.com/gallery/560738/1/23342260
http://h2oman.smugmug.com/gallery/560738/1/23342262
http://h2oman.smugmug.com/gallery/560738/1/23342264

Then on to Shady Valley, where we were supposed to meet fellow board member DSKYZD (Brian) but got a message he couldn't join us. You would expect lots of riders on this weekend but the rain kept them away I guess. We took a break to decide which way to go.

http://h2oman.smugmug.com/gallery/560738/1/23342268

The store in the distance usually has a crowd of riders on good days. Not today.

http://h2oman.smugmug.com/gallery/560738/1/23342270

Like true BMW riders, we decided to ride on in the rain on Highway 91 to Elizabethton and on over Roan Mountain. Things looked a little better at Carver's Gap on Roan Mountain, at the NC and Tenn. state line.

http://h2oman.smugmug.com/gallery/560738/2/23342272

This is also a crossing point of the Appalachian Trail.

http://h2oman.smugmug.com/gallery/560738/2/23342277

On through Bakersville and Spruce Pine to lunch with a view.

http://h2oman.smugmug.com/gallery/560738/2/23342284

Good view in both directions also.

http://h2oman.smugmug.com/gallery/560738/2/23342296

Michael and Mike on the deck.

http://h2oman.smugmug.com/gallery/560738/2/23342286

And a group shot, thankfully with most facial features obscured by shadow.

http://h2oman.smugmug.com/gallery/560738/2/23342292

Then we parted, in the sunshine! I headed home and they headed back to the campground. Maybe they will chime in after a while with some more comments or pictures.

Good to ride with these guys again and enjoyed the company.

Here is the link to the entire gallery of pictures, including some not linked to above.

http://h2oman.smugmug.com/gallery/560738/1

[Vann's Alias]

Vann,

Thanks for posting. Sunday was dry and clear at Shady Valley. Michael probably has better descriptive details.

I got us lost after lunch!

[DJ Downunder]

Great post and great pics...thanks....I liked this pic...nice!

DJ

[wncbmw]

"I got us lost after lunch!"

Getting lost means you probably found some good roads!

Hey DJ, its pictures of the R are like shooting a super model - hard to take a bad one!

[DSKYZD]

I'm regretting not meeting up with you guys. My weekend was crappy from Friday through Sunday. Yesterday was relaxing as I at least got to wash my bike.

It looks like you had a loads of fun. Maybe next time....


DSKYZD