May 2019
Continuing the DBMC’s explorations of the Appalachian Mountain Range of the Easter United States, the Boonies rode along the Shenandoah, Blue Ridge and Smokey ridges, touching ten states and covering nearly 2,000 miles.
In the spring of 2018 we rode through the heart of coal country. The 2019 plan took us down the sunny side of the Appalachians, so to speak. From the Shenandoahs down through the Blue Ridge, up the western slope of the Smokies (including the amazing Dolly Land!), the territory is more rugged, the roads more challenging, but quality of life is easy and there are pockets of pronounced affluence.
Asheville is an upmarket town, attracting both retirees who shun Florida, and young professionals looking for a nicer pace than the big cities offer.
We spent several nights in very well-appointed cabins, where the hosts took good care of us and we chilled in comfort.
Some of the feeder roads off the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina tested our skills, and of course there’s the Cherohala Skyway – one of the great sweepers in America.
