May 3, 2008: We meet below the Greenville watershed on old Hwy. 25 north of Greenville, SC on a chilly spring morning for my first ride with the group to Clayton, Georgia. I'm still doing the break-in thing, so I'm looking forward to the twisty roads of northern Georgia where I can have fun while holding the speed down. I hit 600 miles on this ride, 2 days after getting the Ninja. That's Al's blue WeeStrom 650 and Karens Yamaha 600 - the best looking bike that I've ever seen. There is also a Beemer in the group, and a Triumph Speed Triple, but I don't remember what the other bikes were.

May 3, 2008. A quick stop at the beginning of the twisty road into Clayton, Georgia. The fun is about to begin!

May 3, 2008. Later in the day, we stop for a break along Hwy. 28 south of Highlands, NC. It was a good ride and after passing through Highlands, we cut further north to Sylva and then up through Pinhook Valley to Hwy. 276, then back south through Rosman along the East Fork of the French Broad River to home. Got a lot of miles out of the way on my break-in.

My 'slow ride' - I have put nearly as many miles on it as I had on the Ninja when I sold it. This was shot at the DuPont State Forest near my home. The Forest has a little over 100 miles of trails and traffic-free dirt roads for riding and hiking, along with dozens of waterfalls.

July 3, 2008: Here is a favorite stop on my rides heading west towards Franklin - it's the waterfalls/cascades in the Cullasaja Gorge between Highlands and Franklin on Hwy. 64. It's packed on weekends with folks cooling off in the pools and daredevils jumping from the cliffs beside the deep pool at the bottom of the cascades.

July 3, 2008: Look closely at the cliff where the jumpers are lined up for their plunge into the pool below. Way above them is a large log lying across the slope where the really adventurous take their leaps of faith. It's a long way down and they have to get a good horizontal leap to get out past the ledges below. All in good fun!

A long way down! This leap started from the log behind the fellow's head. I've seen several enthusiastic leapers get the breath knocked out of them after slamming into the pool below.

July 3, 2008: This is a twisty section of Hwy. 64 below the falls in Cullasaja Gorge. I was on my way to Tennessee, via the Wayah Road and the Dragon.

Gotta take time for one of the gut-filling burgers at Deals Gap before heading on across the Dragon to see some friends in Maryville, TN. I'd driven by the Gap for years while hiking and backpacking in the Great Smokies, but never had any idea of how danged good the food was in the little restaurant. It's also a great place to sit around and jawbone with other riders about their favorite rides. As for the Dragon itself - it's fun, but when you live in the western NC region, it's just one more curvy road, and it's a lot more crowded than most.

On most summer weekends, the parking lot at the Gap is packed with riders and their bikes. A lot of sports car groups also show up for rides across the Dragon and the nearby Cherohala Skyway (a much better ride, IMHO.)

A revival of an old classic American ride, this Indian oozes style. Not a cruiser buff, but damn, that's sweet!

Oct. 25, 2008: Heading out for a chilly morning's ride to Hot Springs, via the Parkway, Banardsville, the Big Laurel Road and then Hwy. 209 on home. This was taken at the Vance birthplace north of Asheville. I crossed over the mountains in the background to drop down into Barnardsville - that's a great ride in its own right.

Oct. 25, 2008: I may be wrong, but I have the feeling that the original Vance birthplace might have been a wee bit simpler in design.

Oct. 25, 2008: One of the old cabins at the Vance birthplace. Fall colors were near their peak this weekend, making the chilly morning ride well worth the discomfort.

This is a peaceful scene west of Banardsville, NC.

Oct. 25, 2008: Looking back towards Banardsville (just a little ways up the road) towards the Black Range of mountains on the horizon.

Oct. 25, 2008: Whenever I'm in the Banardsville, NC area, I make it a point to take a quick ride up the Sugar Fork road. It's a dead-ender and only a couple of miles long, but it has some terrific rural scenery along the way.

Oct. 25, 2008: Looking back up-valley towards Banardsville and the Black Range which includes Mt. Mitchell.

Here is a shot of the same field from earlier in the season (May 26, 2008), still beautiful, but without the clear skies of autumn.

Oct. 25, 2008: A small mountain farm on the Sugar Fork road near Banardsville.

Oct. 25, 2008: Fall colors by the Sugar Fork road.

Oct. 25, 2008: Old wall on the Sugar Fork road.

Oct. 25, 2008: I 've got shots of this peaceful mountain valley in all season and I like them all. It's good country.

Oct. 25, 2008: An old homestead on the Sugar Fork road near the top of the valley.

Nov. 11, 2008: The view from Mt. Olive, looking southeast towards Tryon Peak on the NC/SC line. Mt. Olive is 'in my backyard' and is a favorite ride when time is lacking. Living here is like being a kid in a candy store!

Jan. 31, 2009: The new ride. We meet at the intersection of Hwy. 11 and Hwy. 276 in South Carolina on a chilly winter morning for a trip to Clayton, Georgia, via some twisty mountain byways. It's 28 degrees, but new bike fever keeps me warm - with my 4 layers of insulation and and the Frog Togs rainsuit to stop the wind. It's a good combo, but a little restrictive.

January 31, 2008: Tallulah Gorge near Clayton, Georgia. See the metal tower that Al is posing by? That is the tower that the Great Wallenda used to anchor the cables for a tightrope walk across the Tallulah Gorge.

Jeff looks out over the Tallulah Gorge - the Great Wallenda walked from the tower on this side of the canyon to the side opposite of where Jeff is standing - pretty danged impressive, IMHO!

No ride is complete until you stop for grub at someplace special. When I head to the foothills of North Carolina and South Carolina south of where I live, it seems that I inevitably end up at Side Street Pizza in Tryon - one of my favorite watering holes. Fantastic pizza, beer in mugs covered in a thick layer of ice and a friendly staff. Cheers!