KawasiMoto sits wet but ready to ride as the storm finally moves away from Chimney Rock, roaring east past Lake Lure to smash into the Hickory region with high wind and torrential rain. I decide to head back up Hickory Nut Gorge, towards sunlight and warm weather.

There are several handy picnic spots that you pass as you climb (or descend) the entrance road to the Park.

One of several hairpin turns that grace the entrance road - this was once a favorite viewing spot for the sports car hill climb event.

After leaving the Park, I headed west on Hwy. 74, climbing up and out of Hickory Nut Gorge, and passing over the mountain into the Fairview region. This is a historical marker by the highway that tells the story of General William J. Palmer, a Quaker who gained the Medal of Honor for his service for the Union during the Civil War.

Leaving the storm behind, I end up miles to the west, near my home, on Pinnacle Mountain as the sun sinks low in the sky.

Cool place - it's hard to find open land this well cared for in the mountains today.

This was one of those days that you hope won't come to an end. After the passing of the storms, the air was clear, warm and dry for the remainder of the day. Everything was clean and fresh - pure mountain medicine!

Horses relaxing in the late afternoon sun near the DuPont State Forest.

And that's when I noticed this - only 5,200 miles and the front tire is nearly shot. I've been spending a lot of tme exploring the dirt roads that web the western mountains of North Carolina and the gravel is taking its toll. Gotta go easy on it for the rest of the weekend and get the new Distanzias mounted on Monday.

(Monday morning - got the Distanzia on the front of KawasiMoto!)

It's dinner time though, so I ride on into Brevard for a sunset dinner at El Chapalas - a favorite stop when I'm in the mood for Tex Mex and cold beer.

Uh, ya know, it feels sort of weird, strange even, to have a marimba band play for you when you're eating alone. Hey, they were enthusiastic though. One of the guitarists only knew one chord and played it over and over, regardless of whatever song they happened to be doing at the moment. They were very loud, very off-key, and funny as hell. I loved it! It reminded me of my buddie's garage band back in the late 60s.

It was a good way to end a long day, with good food, ice cold Dos Equis, and some, uh, music... Rock On!

For more information about the new Chimney Rock State Park, go here.