Above the clouds

Posted on March 9, 2026 by Editor

The weather forecast was for heavy fog when I left the cabin at 6:50 for an early morning appointment at the VA CBOC in Franklin, North Carolina.

The route from Murphy takes you through a section of the Nantahala National Forest where it straddles Clay and Macon counties, and across some of the highest mountains in our region — though I should add we have nothing like you’ll find in the Black Mountain Range that stretches out northwest of Asheville and on into Tennessee.

Above the fog in Macon County, North Carolina.

There you’ll find Kuwohi, Mount Mitchell, Mount Craig and others that top 6,000 feet.

But the 5,000 and near-5,000 footers I crossed this morning was enough to get me above the clouds — if, as I do, you consider fog to be just another name for a cloud, albeit without a pilot’s license.

I shot this photo at the only scenic pull-off on my route, roughly 11 miles west of Franklin along U.S. 64 where drivers can stop at an overlook that offers views of the vast valley winding river-like between the rugged mountains of the Nantahala forest.

Clouds of fog snuggled thickly below us, squirming here and there as if sunrise was waking them from a deep sleep.

From the pull-off you slide down a long, curvy stretch of highway that drops at a 7 percent grade and takes you to the outskirts of Franklin, the county seat for Macon County.

And once I got to the VA, I found out I didn’t have an appointment after all, though somehow I was sure I did. But, nope, the friendly staff assured me, my appointment wasn’t until March 26.

Properly chagrined, I headed back the way I had come.

Can you see that rear tire? It’s pretty slick. (As with most of my images, clicking on the photo will provide you an expanded view.)

Back in Murphy I stopped at my favorite coffee shop, the Rare Bird Emporium, and sat outside at one of their tables contemplating my rear tire. You almost certainly can’t tell it from the photo here, but she’s growing pretty bald.

I’ve been keeping a wary eye on her for weeks now.

I’m hoping to make it roughly another 1,000 miles before taking it in to have both the rear and front tires replaced — though I grow more doubtful every time I look at it.

But if I can wait, I’ll be able to have my 20,000-mile service at the same time as the shop replaces the tires. And, yes, that’s a lot of miles for a two-year-old bike. And most of those came in my first year, largely due to my trip out to South Dakota’s Black Hills and into Wyoming, Montana, etc.

In fact, I bought and had the current rear tire installed in Sturgis, South Dakota, during that trip. The tire I replaced wasn’t nearly as worn as the current one, though the current one has fewer miles.

I’m unsure why the current tire has worn so, but I suspect hard(er) riding.

New Year’s Day, 2026

Posted on January 1, 2026 by Editor

Tennessee Street at the Cherokee County Museum and courthouse, Murphy, North Carolina.

New Year’s Day, 2026, started out as cold as an Alabama step-momma, but by 11:30 the sun had warmed things up enough to let Sweet Marie out of the stables and saddle her up for a ride.

I think the highest the thermometer climbed was 53, and a moderate breeze tempered even that. But they don’t allow sissies in this corner of the state, so there you go. Gotta do what you gotta do.

Downtown Murphy, North Carolina, was slightly less lively than a morgue, but pretty in a way under winter’s slanted sunlight. I saw only three other bikers on my ride.

Out on the highway, the State Patrol wasn’t being shy about pulling over misbehaving drivers. Myself, I was behaving.

Sun’s out. Motorcycle too!

Posted on December 20, 2025 by Editor

Panther Top fire tower, Nantahala National Forest, Cherokee County, North Carolina

December 20, 2025 — Five days before Christmas and I was far from the only motorcyclist enjoying the sunshine on a December day that saw temperatures climb into the mid 50s.

Panther Top Mountain, a slight peak of some 2,000 feet, often draws a few folks on nice days, and today was no different. The U.S. Forest Service fire tower is the primary draw.

The Forest Service built the lookout tower atop the mountain in the 1940’s, and though its use as a lookout tower for fires ended about a decade back, the agency still keeps the summit free of trees. Today it’s left for hiker and sightseers to enjoy the views from the wraparound deck surrounding the enclosed tower. But even the tower is open to visitors for a select few days each year.

To the north and west are mountain ranges bordering North Carolina and Tennessee, including the Great Smoky Range, while to the south and east are the countless wooded

Harley-Davidson Lowrider, 2023 edition.

peaks of northern Georgia and the rest of the Nantahala National Forest.

As for my bike ride, the Harley was as flawless as it has been for the past 18,000 miles, the reliable Lowrider ran without a hitch.

It’s great to live in an area of the country that seldom allows a full winter month go by without offering up one or two — or more — near perfect, almost picture-perfect days for a motorbike ride around the many beautiful mountain roads in the region.

Thank our All-Father, Odin, for small favors, I reckon.

Maryland shore sunrise

Posted on December 3, 2025 by Editor

SUNRISE FISHING

Thunderstorms had departed our region of the East Coast leaving clear skies for Wednesday’s sunrise.

But only a handful of cars were in the lot for the celestial show at the Ocean City, Maryland, inlet.

More’s the pity for them.

Of course, truth be told, even Hazel was more interested in the sea birds than the sunrise. She kept a wary eye on a noisy flock as she did her business in a ragged strip of seaweed and leaves at the edge of the sand along the municipal parking lot — largely empty this time of year.