We know you've got Travel Tales of your own! Whether or not you had a great experience on your last ride or adventure, chances are something was learned by somebody. Here's the place you can let your fellow bikers have a laugh on you, or with you! Remember, more of the same things happen to more people than you realize.

Daytona Bike Week

It has finally arrived!!!

I had the good fortune to attend Daytona Bike Week '09. The weather was perfect for the official start to the 2009 riding season.

 

Luckily avid motorcyclists haven’t gotten word there is a recession. The streets were filled with people from everywhere at one of the biggest motorcycle events in the U.S.  We saw all types of motorcycles and all types of people riding them. No one really cares who you are or what type of ride you have, all that matters is that you share the experience and the road.

 

While in Daytona we visited a lot of the vendors who were there to showcase equipment for your bike and accessories to make your ride more comfortable and safe. One of the things that caught our eye is the Nolan helmet with the Bluetooth built in the helmet. That is at the top of my wish list.

 

One of our rides took us by the ocean on A1A. That is one of my favorite things to do when visiting Daytona. There is nothing better than being on that bike with the ocean waves crashing on the shore as you ride along chasing the setting sun.

 

Ride safe and ride often.

Karen

 

Love Joy Road and Cruso Road can be found at the intersection of Highways 215 and 76, in Canton, North Carolina. We happened upon this road early on a Tuesday afternoon, so traffic in and around the town was minimal. Everybody but us was at work! Well, considering that this was reasearch for the site, we were at work too. You'll want to turn left on 215 to experience this ride.

This road was just made for motorcycling. Running alongside of us was a great creek that eventually widened out to a respectably sized lake. It was amazing how quickly the seven or eight foot creek became a large body of water. As we gained elevation, all reminders of civilization totally left us. I've been on many mountain roads in the past where there are some traces of development, but as we ascended 215, the only thing remotely civilized was the road itself.

Speaking of the road, curves were everywhere! And not just the usual switch-back after switch-back. 215 was full of a variety of sweeping curves, tight angles, and switch-backs. The vegetation along many of these was so close at the top of the tree line, that you could imagine in a few weeks that riding it would be like being inside of a living green tunnel. Huge rhododendrons were everywhere, and most of them were taller than I've ever seen anywhere in nature.

Towards the apex of the mountain, we hopped off the bike and wandered to the edge of a good sized parking area. The silence was just incredible. You could actually hear the river talking to itself far below, and at the same time, hear the water coming out of the rockface to the right of the highway. The view, of course, was a good ole Smoky Mountain view...looking across it made me feel like there really wasn't anything other than trees, hills, rocks and wildlife for miles and miles around. We really were alone up there....we had been passed by maybe four or five other vehicles.

Coming back down the mountain, the curves got a little more plentiful and a little tighter. Signs of civilization began to appear, but they were still few and far between. The sights were still beautiful, and the river reappeared on the right. The total length of the ride was 35 miles. While there were fewer stopping points along the way, there was the large lot near the top that was located at a good place for stopping. This ride was something I'd like to do again, once the rhododendrons, dogwoods, and other vegetation begins to bloom. Not too long and not too short, the Love Joy Road/Cruso Road was a great way to spend an afternoon.