Got back to North Carolina for a week off, arriving on a Saturday morning (October 3) and did get in a short ride around the area. Was a nice sunny day, and cool...for the first time in a long time wore a jacket and gloves. Nice to get out after a longer than usual period. I got in another ride a few days later but ended up dodging rain showers, and that was less than an hour. That is where I took this photo though of the bike and the store I came across at left. Short rides, but good ones (better short rides than no rides at all). A busy week, with a five day visit to Louisville, Ky to see family and friends, purchased a new car (2009 Nissan Versa), and went to the Panthers/Washington football game.
Was wild being back in Louisville. Kentucky and Indiana have no helmet laws, and saw a mix of people; some with helmets on, some without. South Carolina (except for Myrtle Beach, which has passed a helmet law to stop the bike rallies, currently being fought in the courts)does not either. I don't have a problem with people not wearing them, though I don't ride without one. Have a few friends who have taken serious injuries without a helmet on.
Watched Sons of Anarchy while on vacation, really like that show. It has taken some interesting twists and turns of late, also one of the most popular shows on cable. Speaking of motorcycle gangs, the Pagan Motorcycle Club has been in the news in Richmond, one of its members got killed in a police raid in the Richmond area, they had a big funeral in town (all that while I was gone).
Two new bikes have caught my eye, and will be looking at them when they hit the dealers. The first is the long awaited Honda 1200 Interceptor with the V-4 engine. It has a lot of interesting features. I also like the new Kawasaki Z-1000 which has had a major redesign. Interesting that the bike manufacturers even during this recession (or perhaps better put in spite of the recession) are putting out some very interesting motorcycles.
I am hoping in my next visit home to get a good mountain ride in, from being in the mountains (between Charlotte and Louisville is Tennessee) saw the leaves even at the highest elevations are just starting to turn. That though will soon change. Makes for some great rides in the fall of the year on the remarkable Blue Ridge Parkway, and I hope to be there soon!
Got up Monday October 26, 2009 to a cold and overcast day. What was going to be a five person ride, turned into a two person ride; Steve and I headed out on the bikes to Blowing Rock, NC. Due to the road construction on NC-321 (our favorite route) we got on NC-115 and then took NC-421 to Blowing Rock. Photo at left (indeed all of these) were taken at "Grandview Overlook" on the amazing Blue Ridge Parkway. We went with a forecast of WSOC Channel 9 that rain chances were zero, was ugly looking all day long, but they were dead on with the forecast, it was perfect. As for the cold (temps in the 50's all day) being from the great midwest I was dressed for it; thats the key to a successful fall/winter ride. 
We stopped at the Daniel Boone Inn for lunch, but was packed, so went back to Blowing Rock to The Canyons and ate (its right at the top of NC-321. It has great views and the prices were really great. Most mountain places to eat like to charge an arm and a leg, but they don't. I went by there on a previous visit, but did not eat, glad I got to this time...I will be back! Time was a factor this trip, so did not get to make a ride into downtown Blowing Rock itself, but did get out on the parkway. Colors were probably a bit past peak; not a lot of yellows, mostly some brown and red remaining, and a few bare trees too. One thing I like about weekday rides...light traffic.
We did see a few motorcycles (and some cars) but not the bumper to bumper weekend traffic. We also rode through Boone; another beautiful area. I was also very impressed (though a quick view) of ASU, looks like a fine school (and they normally have a kickass football team). Nice ride back to Concord, and got home near 5pm (we met up at 10am at the Texaco on Popular Tent Road). One bad deal, bike kickstand in the garage came up, and the bike went over. I caught it, but did a bit of damage to the floorboard bracket on the bike (luckily nothing else hit). Looks like Kawasaki saw that coming; looks easy to replace (though sure the price will give me pause). Still things happen, and could have been worse. Still rideable, but like to get that fixed. All else well, hope you all have safe rides; and bundle up guys!
