DAY 8 SUNDAY JUNE 9

After breakfast several riders decided to check tire pressures, oil levels etc. before heading out for the day. When he looked at his back tire Al discovered that the great pot hole incident of 2013 had taken a large chunk out of his rear tire making the bike unsafe to ride at speed. We quickly went to the front desk and let them know that we were staying another night as there are no motorcycle tire shops open anywhere in the state on Sunday.


Once arrangements were made we had to decide what to do with our day and when you’re on a three week motorcycle ride the only thing to do on a day off is go for a motorcycle ride. We took off with a vague idea after looking at the green dots (scenic) on the map and headed for Tennessee.

Walkin’ to the south out of Roanoke
I caught a trucker out of Philly had a nice long toke
But he’s a heading west from the Cumberland gap
To Johnson City, Tennessee
And I gotta get a move on before the sun
I hear my baby calling my name and I know that she’s the only one
And if I died in Raleigh at least I will die free
So rock me momma like a wagon wheel
Rock me momma any way you feel
Hey momma rock me
Rock me momma like the wind and the rain
Rock me momma like a south bound train
Hey momma rock me

Dylan/Secor
An hour or so down the road found us in Johnson City TN filling up with gas and deciding where to head next. JB lead us over to Bristol and we rode by Bristol Motor Speedway then turned onto US 421 toward Mountain City and lunch. Route 421 turned out to be a great motorcycle road with lots of bikes enjoying the great Sunday weather. At one point we passed a small bar with 75 to 100 bikes in the parking lot, had a great lunch at a small restaurant in Mountain City. Leaving lunch we soon ran into a downpour but it didn’t last long and we were back on our way to Banner Elk NC for night two.

The local people we have met in North Carolina have all been very friendly with a slower, friendlier speech and a easy listening accent exuding friendship. The area we are in is an upscale recreation area of beautiful homes, hiking trails, biking, fishing, and skiing. However, if you look long enough in any state you find that person or persons that typify the stereotypes of the area. We pulled over to take off rain coats at a one pump gas/store/food building that hadn’t seen maintenance in years.

While we were standing there I was approached by an unshaven, torn t-shirt, two tooth wonder that wanted to talk. I’m always willing to talk to a local regardless of social status because you can always learn some interesting local fact, except in this case. After he walked away I asked Bruce why these guys always seek me out and he replied “don’t you have a mirror in your hotel room”, I think we may send Bruce home tomorrow.

Checked google for route 421 http://www.421thesnake.com/index.html and found out it’s 33 miles of great curves. Unlike the Dragon this road has lots of cross streets and driveways. Including a guy weed eating in a dangerous spot on a curve fun watching his eyes get big as we headed at him.