Texas Saddlebags

A hot, sultry summer day in the flatlands of North Carolina, me and my biker buddy thought it was time to plan a road trip the weekend. Not wanting to spend too much time to get there, but definitely wanting a change of scenery and escape the stifling summer heat, we decided to check the area Grandfather Mountain in North Carolina Blue Ridge Mountain Range, about half past one drive from the house in Mooresville NC

This Friday, we took off two hours early, packed our bags and jumped on our section of pigs from 77 to I-40, destination Banner Elk, North Carolina. We turned off the Interstate in Morganton in the foothills, and after some cruising through the small Mayberry like town, we soon found ourselves leaning into curves, Table Rock and spent many landscapes of mountains, the summer heat already melting. Sometimes stuck behind a local, never in a hurry to move, we quickly found a passing lane, and accelerate our path.

We got about 105 in Linville and we knew we were almost there. Cruise in the next 7 miles in the shadow of Grandfather Mountain, we arrived at Tynecastle stone buildings, turned left down the valley past and Sugar Mountain in the town of Banner Elk. We had reservations at the Inn Bed & Breakfast Banner Elk, then we turned right at the traffic light and were soon checking in.

Be the cocktail hour, we stretched our legs with a nice cool walk to town and visited a few bars, then crossed the street and walked to the stone walls were we had an excellent steak dinner.

Saturday was to be one day cruise to the area. After a hearty breakfast at the hostel, we saddled and proceeded to Linville Falls, we were stuck with the Blue Ridge Parkway. Heading north to Blowing Rock, Blue Ridge Parkway is wedged full of winding roads and mountain views, one of the best ways to visit the mountains of North Carolina.

Shortly after hitting the walk we came across the Linn Cove Viaduct. An engineering marvel, the bridge is a raised deck around Grandfather Mountain for about eight miles, and some of the most beautiful mountain views on the promenade. Designed to blend in, the bridge is a good example of Mother Nature and man made coexist. We stopped to take a hike on the trail that passes under the Linn Cove viaduct to get a better view of a really impressive architecture.

Julian Price Park was the next step of the walk, with a primitive campground and a beautiful lake which offers excellent trout fishing. The park extends over 4,000 hectares and has 25 miles of hiking trails. An amphitheater, playgrounds, picnic, canoe rentals and to Julian Price an excellent place to spend the day. We spent a couple of hours, then went to Blowing Rock.

We exited the Blue Ridge Parkway at Moses Cone Memorial Park, taken from the craft center, and moved to Blowing Rock for lunch. On the way back we took the road to Boone, the home of Appalachian State University, and turned up 105 Back to Banner Elk.

Back at the hostel, there was plenty of light left so we took a short break, jumped back on our bikes and headed for the mountain Valle Crucis. Very fun close winding mountain road with an average really saw the summit, the descent of the mountain had great views of the mountains we passed farms, retirement, horse farms, and some as small bed and lunches in his own little hidden in the mountain recesses.

Valle Crucis is a very rural community, its platform is the mast general store were we stopped to see at a glance. Mast's family has a strong presence here of two stores and mast Inn, one of the best and most hostels bed and breakfast in AR.