Saturday morning I rode up to Boonville, NC to attend the Starmount High School Marching Band Ride. Weather in Charlotte, NC was perfect when I started out at 8am, mid 70s and little cloudy with slight chance of rain forecasted for later in the afternoon. What a perfect day to ride and support local marching band.
The event planners did a great job arranging the event. From multiple registration tent, the food vendor, t-shirts, to the stage with live band, they were ready to 200 or more bikers. Unfortunately all the BMWers were in GA rally and all the Harely riders were in Cherokee. Perhaps it was the late start (11:30am for 2 hour ride) or being advertised as a ride and not a “poker run”, but sadly, only a about 20 riders showed up.
There were a couple of sportbike riders
One CANAM Spider
And of course, a great looking blue BMW R1200RT.
We briefly road on I-77. I had to keep throttle low waiting for Harley riders to thump-thump their way up to 70mph on the on ramp. The group ride followed clean and curve roads as it wrapped around Stone Mountain State Park. Riding out of the mountains I gave the Harley riders plenty of space as they rode their brakes. I guess engine braking is just not something those thumpers like to do, overheating brake more their style.
Only incident came when one Harely riders tried to park on hill at the first cigarette break and dropped his bike. Not being a smoker, I would have preferred to ride. Got to admire their skill, not everyone can ride through the mountains on a bike while smoking a cigarette. Menthol is just not my idea of clean fresh mountain air.
I didn’t have time to check out Bobby’s recommendation and swing by “Brushy Mountain Road” or “Linneys Mill Road”, but these are on my “bucket list” of NC roads.
http://www.motorcycleroads.us/roads/nc_bmr.html
Keep Riding
Chris Skor (Skorlinski)
