Winter Solstice 2006: Riding the Mountains of WNC

My new employer kindly allowed me to leave work early at 2:30 on Thursday December 21. After some final packing I hit the road on my bike shortly after 3 PM EST. The ride started off just brisk and dry but rain began to fall as I approached Orangeburg. I quickly donned my rain suit in the rain on the side of I-26. The rest of the ride would prove to be both wet and cold. As I entered North Carolina and began the ascending the Saluda grade the temperature strangely seemed warmer and fog and mist blanketed the highway. I really enjoy this part of I-26 as if feels like a high-speed rollercoaster on my motorcycle. I entered Asheville in the rain at the moment of Winter Solstice. I easily found the Asheville Pizza and Brewing Company for a cold stout brew to welcome the return of light.

After a toasting the Solstice with a few appropriately handcrafted brews I decided to explore downtown Asheville and enjoy the comfortable wet weather. Temperatures were well above freezing yet still cool in brisk windy way. The Mellow Mushroom and Barley’s Taproom both seemed quite dead so rode to a new location nearby that a fellow traveler had shared with me a month earlier. The new stop turned out also be owned by the Asheville Brewing Company; they had the same great beer but many vintage photographs of Asheville and her colorful history.

Finally as midnight approached I began my ride to the cove and the thrilling descent down the steep mountain. During this ride from start to finish I was reminded that one’s safety rests solely within one’s own hands; many cage drivers violated the two second rule constantly requiring me to readjust speed to recover my cushion of space. However with care, patience, and forethought I was able to avoid any close calls. Upon entering the quiet cove I was greeted with quite light show in the field of some of my childhood friends. I like to refer to the sight as “Santa Land;” I’m not sure if the effort was to provide landing lights for Santa or to spotlight his reindeer!

Friday greeted me with more rain and colder temperatures. The mercury was safely above freezing but not by much. Not one to waste the day I awoke early for a ride to Asheville but before I could leave my father, step-mother, and nieces stopped by for a short visit. They had been visiting the Biltmore Estate the previous day. For some odd reason they were not surprised I was preparing for another wet ride. Afterwards I took a very wet and cold forty mile ride to the Grove Arcade in downtown Asheville. I did enjoy a large hot coffee but my gloves never dried. I took several photos of the interesting terra cotta and architectural details of this art deco jewel. However outdoor photos of the Grove Arcade and nearby buildings of historical significance will have to wait for a future sunny day.

As late afternoon and evening approached I warmed my wet gloves on strip heaters in one of the arcade’s antechambers prior to my next ride. My next adventure would be the Asheville Brews Cruise. Mark Lyons the owner took a group of 11 to Highland Brewing Company, French Broad Brewing Company, and finally Asheville Pizza and Brewing Company. The tour of local breweries was fun and educational the first stop alone at Highland Brewing Company was worth the cost of the tour. Read more and view photos from the Brews Cruise in the product review section. The rain stopped late Friday night but the roads remained wet until morning.

Saturday morning came with blue skies and a few clouds. The game plan was a ride to Graveyard Fields to see waterfalls. While the ride down the Blue Ridge Parkway was pleasant and enjoyable the Parkway was closed just beyond the Highway 276 junction a mere five miles form my destination. Since visiting Graveyard Fields was impossible a ride east on 276 to Looking Glass Falls became the backup plan. Riding through Pisgah Forest is always nice even in the winter. I was just a little surprised by the crowds at Looking Glass Falls in December.

Saturday evening several old pals dropped by or rode up to share some fun and moonshine. Sunday was a sunny but lazy day. Monday on Christmas the rain returned but a trip to Poinsett Bridge was made despite the rain.

Tuesday the trek home began with a side trip to Lake Lure to drop off some ABATE of SC newsletters at Heavenly Hoggs and Margaritagrille. After the Lake Lure detour I headed towards Spartanburg and Lake Bowen. I stopped at Fatman’s and the Lake Bowen Country Club to drop off more newsletters. The Spartanburg area lacks a strong ABATE presence despite a large population of bikers. If you live in the area consider stopping by one of these establishments to get a newsletter. Fatman’s has fit young brunette and while she looks hardly at day over 21 she has the prettiest doe eyes; she works the dayshift. While these locations occasionally have copies of the ABATE of SC newsletter the only sure way to get a copy of each month’s newsletter is to join ABATE.

Finally I headed towards the coast but stopped in Columbia to visit the Flying Saucer and work out the final details of our opening lobby day on Tuesday January 9, 2006. I have been assured they will be well staffed to accommodate our midday crowd. Make your plans now to attend the opening lobby day.