Motorcycle Journeys Trip Logs

Tag: canada maritimes

  • Blue Ridge Parkway

    Days on the road: 3
    Day mileage: 200
    JF total mileage: 2653
    Gale total mileage: 1121
    States/Provinces: Tennessee, North Carolina

    We left Pigeon Forge around 9:00 and rode through Great Smoky Mountain National Park to Cherokee where we started the Blue Ridge Parkway. LOTS of curves, incredible scenery and views, many tunnels. Windy and cold in the mountains – that is NOT a complaint. We’re both so glad to be out of the heat.

    This first part of the Parkway is very mountainous so it was slow going. Now that we are out of the heat we can start camping and Julian Price Memorial Park had been recommended to us at the park ranger station – it’s absolutely gorgeous camping.

  • Hoping this is the last of the heat

    Days on the road: 2
    Day mileage: 450
    JF total mileage: 2453
    Gale total mileage: 921
    States/Provinces: Arkansas, Tennessee

    A 7:00 AM start but lots of stops due to nodding off from the heat. At almost every stop we have people talk to us and comment on our motorcycle trip and all the gear we’re carrying.

    Maintained 75 miles an hour almost all day and arrived in Pigeon Forge, TN around dinner time. Too much traffic, too touristy, too many hotels to try to pick from.

    Start of day

  • Day 1 – One bite at a time

    Days on road: 1
    Day mileage: 471
    JF total mileage: 2003
    Gale total mileage: 471
    States/Provinces: Texas, Arkansas

    One bite at a time – that’s how you eat an elephant. I would call a 12,000 mile trip an elephant (for me) and we had our first 471 mile course today with a couple side dishes added – a severe thunderstorm complete with mud bath and near 100 degree humid heat after the storm.

    We didn’t make it 30 minutes from the house before the storm let loose and we had to get off 121 and hide under the highway on Legacy Road until the storm let up enough for us to ride. Once on the road again I got a complete splash down with mud water when a vehicle blasted through a mud puddle next to me on 75 in McKinney. First time to be temporarily blinded while riding. Fortunately it was still pouring rain so the mud was quickly rinsed off my visor.

    We made to West Memphis, Arkansas as planned around 9:00 in the evening.

    R1200 GSA

    F650 GS

  • Jean-Francois on the road from California

    Jean-Francois is on schedule and on his way to Texas. He expects to arrive at my house in the Highland Village, Texas late Friday or Saturday.

    I guess this mean the trip has officially begun, although I’m expecting it to take a couple weeks once he arrives to purchase another motorcycle, and both of us organize and pack.