A long rider will take advantage of any situation that may serve as an opportunity to get out on the bike…even if it’s a work trip. That’s exactly what this trip was.
I live in South Carolina now, and I had to go to Atlanta for a few days for BMW Motorrad training. It was late April and a perfect time to ride in the south! I decided to take the Moto Guzzi Norge for this trip. It was a memorable trip that took me down along the coast, then to Atlanta, and then through the Blue Ridge Mountains before working my way back to Charleston.
DAY 1
Atlanta from my house is just shy of 300 miles. But I don’t have to be there until tomorrow, so I’m taking the long way. My first stop was Beaufort, a beautiful South Carolina town along the coast. It’s a town I frequent on my motorcycle since it’s a nice ride and there’s plenty to see.
I fired up the Norge and pulled out of the driveway around 8 am. She rumbled beween my legs as I backed her out…slightly shaking from side to side in that typical Guzzi manner.
The weather was perfect. Spring in the south is about as perfect as it can get.
I backed the Guzzi out and headed south for Beaufort!
The ride to Beaufort was uneventful…I’ve done it many times and it usually takes me an hour and a half. The reason I enjoy going down there is Hunting Island State Park…it’s right on the coast and one of the finest parks in the state. I enjoy relaxing by the ocean and listening to the waves.
I sat here for a while…a great place to collect my thoughts.
I sat in solitude for about 30 minutes before getting up, brushing the sand off my ass, and headed back to the Guzzi.
I always feel better after just sitting in solitude like that. I fired up the Guzzi and headed west towards Atlanta. Some of the roads here are quite beautiful…especially in the spring.
A road along the coast near Beaufort.
I took the back roads all the way to Augusta before stopping for a late lunch at an Olive Garden. After filling up on pasta and breadsticks I filled the Guzzi up and hit the road again. My next stop was the hotel in Atlanta.
The Norge is a fine machine and a capable sport tourer. The only challenge I had on this trip was the heavy throttle and no cruise control. After 6hrs of riding my right hand was getting sore. I suppose I’m spoiled by having cruise control on my bikes, but it sure is nice when you’re pounding out the miles. That said, my ST1300 didn’t have cruise control and my hand never got sore…I could ride that bike all day without any issues.
I finally pulled into my hotel in Atlanta where I would stay for the next few nights.
DAY 2 thru DAY 5
The training was good…life is good anytime you get to tinker with motorcycles! Even though I was in the land of BMW, the training staff allowed me to park the Guzzi indoors when it rained during the day. Also, there was a small British restaurant near the hotel…I ate one of the largest and most delicious pork chops I’ve ever had. That pretty much sums up the training!
The BMW staff allowed the Guzzi to be parked indoors while it rained.
The delicious pork chop at the Manchester Arms Restaurant
We completed our training on the final day around 3pm. My goal tonight was to make it to Chattanooga, TN. I had a hotel reservation waiting for me so I fired up the Guzzi and hit the road without wasting time.
Traffic is always rough around Atlanta but it slowly eases as you get further away from the city.
I pulled into Chattanooga as the sun was setting. I ate at a BBQ joint that overlooked the city, then called it a night at the hotel. Despite the Atlanta traffic, it was a good day.
Enjoyed delicious BBQ while looking over Chattanooga
DAY 6
I was looking forward to this day. I was going to enjoy the Blue Ridge Mountains and my final destination was Hendersonville, NC. It’s less than 4hrs if I ride the straightest route there. I was planning on doubling that time by taking full advantage of the beautiful backroads found throughout the Appalachian mountains.
The morning was cool and misty…it’s why they call it the “smokies.” The riding here is top notch…no denying it. The scenery is stunning and the Guzzi is a blast on these roads!
The morning was misty…the reason this area is referred to as the Smokies
I worked my way northeast. Taking all of the backroads I could find. The riding was pristine and the weather was perfect. What more could a long rider ask for!
I took my time and stopped often for photos. Being a country boy I appreciate small farms, and there are a bunch of them here. I wish I could go back in time for a couple days to experience this area when these farms were thriving. Many have dried up and are now just relics.
If you’re ever in this area on a bike…slow down and enjoy the scenery. There’s so much to see. I’ll definitely be back!
Old dried up farms like this one are a common sight here
This one is still in service!
Plenty of historical sites like this…some have national significance and others like this one have a local impact
I rode until the early afternoon when I decided to break for lunch. I needed to rest my butt and my throttle hand. I also needed gas…the Norge is great on gas if you’re not hammering down on her. I was getting close to 50 mpg.
I stopped at a restaurant that served local fare…it was delicious! I walked around the restaurant area after eating to stretch my legs and get the blood flowing.
Delicious lunch stop somewhere near Asheville NC
I kept trucking along. The Guzzi feels spirited on twisty roads and it makes you beg for another curve! I found myself smiling a whole bunch on this ride. I’m so thankful for my many blessings!
Some of the attractions in this area are funny. For example, near Cherokee NC I stumbled upon “Santa’s Land Park & Zoo.” I love that kind of stuff.
There were quite a few folks there and I can only imagine what it would be like in December. I was reminded of my grandbaby and it made me miss her. I rolled past and kept working my way towards Hendersonville.
Santa’s Land near Cherokee
I kept turning on to random roads and just rode around the area. There really aren’t any bad roads here. However, there are some roads that turn into gravel, or just become very rough. It’s doable on a sport tourer or even a touring bike but not ideal. This is where an adventure bike would shine.
It was late afternoon and I was ready to call it a day. I started towards Hendersonville. My GPS said I was about 40 minutes away from the hotel.
On the way I saw an old-fashioned A&W drive-in. It reminded me of when I was a kid and my mom would bring me to A&W for a root beer float. I pulled in and enjoyed a float…it took me back in time for a bit.
Stopped for a root beer float…I felt as if I was traveling back in time
Once I finished my float I continued on to Hendersonville. I pulled in to the Hampton Inn just before 6pm. I was ready for a break. I unloaded the Guzzi by just grabbing the panniers like suitcases. I like that about the Norge…easy peasy. Once
I got settled I decided to grab a steak from a nearby Outback and filled up the Guzzi. Then I returned to the hotel and relaxed for the rest of the evening.
DAY 7
Today was the final day of my trip. I was only about 200 miles from home if I took the interstate. But again…that’s not how I roll. My plan was to take the back roads to Columbia where I would stop for breakfast. Then take the long way home.
The weather was perfect again and I got an early start. I fired up the Guzzi around 7am…the air temp gauge read 62. It would be in the 70s by the time I got home. I left Hendersonville and worked my way towards Columbia using backroads.
I rolled into Columbia just before 10. It was Saturday morning so the streets were quiet. I stopped by the park at the main bridge to stretch my legs.
The main bridge in beautiful Columbia, SC
I then walked around the down town area until I found a nice place to eat breakfast and enjoy a cup of coffee. I reflected on the trip and was already excited to get back to the mountains for my next trip!
This tiny restaurant in Columbia served an amazing breakfast and delicious coffee.
Once I completed my breakfast I filled up the Guzzi and I continued my way towards Charleston on the backroads.
I rode alongside Lake Marion, and even stopped to pay my respects at the gravesite of Francis Marion…aka the “Swamp Fox”. He was a big reason why we won the Revolutionary War.
Like many historical grave sites, getting there means you have to travel off the beaten path for a little while. Doc Holliday’s grave in Colorado is the same way. They were buried long before any of these roads existed.
The gravesite of Francis Marion. A beautiful tribute to a strong warrior
Finally, I resigned to the fact the my adventure was coming to a close. I headed home and reflected on the trip. I couldn’t wait to get back to those mountains!
All in all this was a great little trip…albeit a bit too short. I had no issues with the Guzzi on this trip!
The Guzzi wasn’t ready to end our journey…she always appears eager to hit the road
Sport Touring Cycle Adventures 