Riding the Red River Gorge: The Dragon Returns

 

The State of Appalachia, as some people call it, is an area that encompasses West Virginia, Eastern Kentucky, and East Tennessee.  This place is a motorcycle mecca.   There are more killer Motorcycle roads than a person could ride in a lifetime.  On this trip, we explore eastern-central Kentucky.  The Red River Gorge area.  We make our basecamp at 4 Guys RV Park where we have trailered the bikes. 

On our first full day in the area, we ride the Eye of the Dragon that wraps around the Gorge, mostly comprised of Kentucky SR 715. There is a neat one-lane tunnel that you use to get to the gorge area.  This road is filled with twists and turns, ascents and descents.  It is a very technical ride.  We stop at an old homestead during the ride, and  I say to myself, "I bet they wish they had motorcycles back in the day." 

After the Gorge, we ride down to Jackson to Ride the Red.  Highway 15 is a fast four-lane road with sweeping turns and fast straightaways.  In Jackson, we have a great lunch at Sazon Mexican Restaurant.  After lunch, we ride State Road 52 over to Beattyville.  Then back home to base camp.  A fantastic first day, with the second half filled with many twisties and fast sweeping turns.   

We ride the Beattyville loop and part of the River Dragon on our second full day. Great lunch at the Bob Cat Dinner, named after the Beattyville High School Mascot. It is a great burger and shakes place. Today was a repeat of day 1, with lots of technical roads.

On day 3, we decided to do something different and took a short ride to Natural Bridges State Park. Then took the sky lift (ski chair lift) to the top of the ridge where the Natural Bridge is located. These natural bridges are located all over the Cumberland Plateau and the Appalachian Mountains. This is the largest one we have ever seen. Neat rock passage to the bottom of the bridge.

It was our final day of riding.  The best day yet, we rode KY HWY 28, The River Dragon, down to Hazard.  Then KY HWY 30, The Hornets Nest, back to the Mountain Parkway. Again, these are excellent technical motorcycle roads with no traffic and some views that take your breath away.  On the way, we stop at the Log Cabin Cathedral, a large church built like a log cabin. Pretty impressive.

In Hazard, we had some, so, so barbecue.  It was not bad, but not great.  I'm a BBQ snob, with the ultimate standard of Jack's BBQ in Nashville. However, we have had BBQ in Texas that was just as good, and South Carolina BBQ is to die for, but in many ways, it is not authentic BBQ except for the pulled pork.

While in Kentucky, you will see this God Awful blue everywhere, it's the University of Kentucky colors, and the whole state has adopted it, sad to say. It's all good, though. It was a great week of riding its always sad when you have to leave, but it's another adventure under our belt and a great taste of the State of Appalachia.

Some Motorcycle Rides in Appalachia

Motorcycle Rallies: Why I Don't Participate

My take on the major motorcycle rallies Sturgis, Laconia, and Daytona.  Those who attend these rallies enjoy them; some go every year.  It's a hobby that really has nothing to do with riding a motorcycle.  Sure the bike plays an important part, but it really isn't the main reason why people go to Sturgis.  It is, for the most part, a big street party.   I started riding motorcycles when I was 10 years old first dirt bikes, then metric street bikes.  When I was younger, I used to say I'd never own a Harley.  There are better-performing motorcycles, no doubt. What those bikes are not is a piece of America.   

The Harley Davidson really is an American Flag on 2 wheels.  Eventually, I gave into the lore of the Harley Davidson motorcycle.  I've ridden these big V twin bikes across the United States a couple of times. You can't beat the comfort.  The deep-throated roar of that big V Twin is intoxicating.  There is a cultural connection you don't get with other motorcycles.  The dealerships are like clubhouses.   A place where everyone knows your name.   I have been to Sturgis it wasn't during a Rally.  I stopped primarily out of curiosity.  I understand why people would like to attend, but it's only a small part of the motorcycle world.  

Me personally, I don't like crowds. I've always been kind of a loner most of my life. So part of the reason I ride is to get away from everything and everyone.  It is the most incredible feeling in the world being on a motorcycle alone in the middle of Kansas on US Highway 36.  It's just you, the bike and blooming sunflower fields as far as the eye can see.  The motorcycle world is a diverse place. Everyone rides for their own reasons.  If you don't ride, you will never understand. 

Eggplant: A Trip Back to the Middle East

Growing up, we never had Eggplant.  Never really knew what it was. So when I saw it in the grocery store, produce section.  I said to myself, what the heck is that.  

My thoughts on Eggplant are this, it's an acquired taste.  I never had tasted Eggplant until I was in my 30's. Then, at a street cafe in Tel Aviv, Israel, they brought me an appetizer plate that included Baba Ganoush. Which is nothing more than Hummus with Eggplant instead of chickpeas.  

Eggplant is a staple in Greece, the middle east, and India.  In Germany, Greek restaurants are just like Mexican Restaurants; they are everywhere, and so are Moussaka and Eggplant.  I ordered Moussaka a few times, which is an upside-down greek casserole made with Eggplant.  It was delicious; my first thoughts were, man, look at what I have been missing. 

This was when I developed a taste for this exotic vegetable.  I have made Moussaka and eggplant lasagna.  Eggplant brings back memories of travel throughout the Middle East. There was that Eggplant salad on the hotel buffet in Kuwait City. In Afghanistan, our Indians that I worked with used it in many dishes.

This summer, we had a friend bring us over 10 eggplants.   When she brought these over, my first reaction was, what the heck am I going to do with all this Egg Plant.  Well, I wanted to let you know I figured it out. I'm going to use 3 small ones to make Baba Ganoush.  Baba is nothing more than Hummus made with Eggplant instead of chickpeas. So tomorrow it's eggplant lasagna.  I made two; one went into the freezer.