FALL TRIP 2025- BACK TO THE BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY

 “…it’s about the journey, not the destination…”

Gary leaving on their hike with his back pack at
Craggy Gardens just north of Asheville on the BRP.

        Gary and Curtis decided to combine hiking and motorcycling by riding up to the BRP and then north, through Asheville on the BRP up to Craggy Gardens. While they were hiking I would find a place to read and have a cigar. It dawned as yet another beautiful day. It promised to be the coldest day of the trip. We’ll see.

The reason people love coming up on the BRP is one amazing view after another .

        We got bundled up and headed north towards Brevard. We stopped at a Marathon gas station and filled our bikes up for the day’s ride. After that north on US 64 to US 276 just outside of Brevard and then up to the BRP. US 276 hits the BRP just about 3 miles south of the Pisgah Inn. From there north riding one of the best motorcycle roads I’ve ever been on. 

When we got to Craggy Gardens it was very busy with people enjoying the terrific view.

        The traffic picked up as we rode through Asheville. While it is a limited road many locals use it to get from one side of town to the other, as well as simply having a pic nic or going for a hike. The advantage of course is there are no traffic lights and dramatically less traffic then there is on the surface streets in Ashville. 

While it was absolutely beautiful at Craggy Gardens, the altitude and a breeze made it chilly

        The ride up to Craggy Gardens was slowed due to the number of people enjoying the day and the destination. On arrival the parking lot was full, with several cars waiting hoping a parking spot would open up. An advantage of motorcycles is that they are much smaller than cars ( well my Spyder is at least SOME WHAT smaller than a car! ). I found a place where the bikes would be out of the way. Gary and Curtis put on their hiking shoes and got their back packs ready for the hike. As soon as they started off I got back on the Spyder and rode back down the BRP a ways to find a good place to set up to read.

A wonderful spot to enjoy the view, sit in the sun, and read.

        I rode back down the BRP about 3 miles and found a terrific over look. I set up my chair, got a cigar and a soda out and settled in to relax for a while. I’m not sure how much later my phone rang with a call from Curtis. He had gotten back to the bikes, while Gary had gone on farther and would be back in a bit. I packed up my chair and rode back to the parking lot to wait for Gary.

Curtis’ photo of a wild turkey who held a woman hostage in her car.

        When Gary got back we packed up and headed back down the BRP retracing our route from earlier in the day to the cabin. It had gotten a little chillier so we decided to stop and put on some more gear. We pulled into an over look and found that a wild turkey had trapped a woman inside her car refusing to let the lady to leave. Courageously Curtis approached defending the young woman from the turkey. Protected as he was in his riding gear and helmet he managed to get the aggressive bird to move so the lady could depart the combat zone. I think Curtis deserves a medal for his brave exploits! After this we continued on to the cabin, stopping at the Walmart near Brevard for supplies. Arriving at our destination we parked the bikes, Curtis prepared a fantastic meal, and then we settled in to watch a movie. Tomorrow back up on the BRP, this time heading south towards its terminus in the Great Smokey Mountains National Park. 

Table set we’re ready to sit down to a fantastic feast. Thank you Curtis!