Spruce Pine and the Blue Ridge Parkway

One of my favorite places to ride is the Blue Ridge Parkway (BRP). It is a wonderful motorcycle road that extends about 469 miles from the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia to the Great Smoky Mountains at Cherokee, NC. I must admit that most of my favorite parts lie in the NC stretch of the road. Virginia does have some beautiful places, however.

One of the areas that I visit often is around Spruce Pine, NC. Accommodations are not plentiful, but there are a couple of campgrounds, mom and pop motels, and a couple of B&Bs.

The location is a great starting point for exploring the area's roads and byways, not to mention the BRP. To the northeast is Boone, Blowing Rock and the northern stretches of the BRP.

Our group in the parking lot at Mt. Mitchell in '06

To the northwest is Roan Mountain, TN and some really great motorcycling roads around such places as Buladean, Loafers Glory, and Bandana.

If one wishes to explore the BRP to the south of Spruce Pine, he will come upon Mt. Mitchell, the highest point at 6684 feet east of the Mississippi River.

Then there is Craggy Gardens and the Folk Art Center just outside Asheville at mile post 382.

Unpacking at Mt. Mitchell '06

To the north, above Boone, are the Jeffersons, and on NC 16 N is the community of Shatley Springs. Here one will find a wonderful restaurant that serves family style meals at a very reasonable cost. On the grounds is live music while you wait in line. It is very popular. Arrive early.

Some of my favorite off road rides intersect with the BRP and are maintained by the Forest Service. Some run along rivers and are public access roads to primitive campgrounds. These are unimproved roads, subject to natural changes due to weather, and are usually not heavily traveled by the general public. That is sometimes a liability, but also offers the traveler an opportunity to experience undisturbed activity.

Group photo with Grandfather Mtn. in background '06

Some of the roads that I enjoyed on my trip in the Spring of '06 included the aforementioned Mt. Mitchell, NC 80, the Town Mountain Road in Asheville, which connects the BRP with downtown Asheville. US 19 W to Erwin, TN, NC 297 and NC 226 are all excellent roads for the motorcyclist to ride again and again.

Later I will post about some other trips and roads that I have "discovered" and enjoy riding.