A Day on the Road

Winston-Salem

Brrrrr...my alarm clock is ringing. Half asleep I blink at my watch. What! seven o’clock already? Right, we planned a motorcycle trip—Christa, my wife, Gerald, our friend, and me. This tour will be a little trip in the surrounding area of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. A few minutes later I hear the noisy growl of Gerald’s Ducati Monster. “Hopefully we’ll have no complaints from our neighbors,” I say to Gerald, but he laughs, starts his bike, pulls his helmet on and rolls from the driveway.

We fall in behind, Christa on her apple-green Triumph Speed Triple and I on my Triumph Tiger. On the I-40 Business Route, we pass through Winston-Salem and then take Route 52 north towards Mount Airy. I think this interstate is pretty boring, but Gerald promises to show us beautiful back roads. Where are these famous roads? Oops...a right turn in King awakes me rudely from my thoughts, and I have trouble making the curve.

King is a nice old village where you can feel the southeast spirit. I love spots like King and I’m glad that Gerald stops for a moment so I can soak up all the impressions. This old brick building against the deep blue sky looks really gorgeous. A couple of little stores line the Main Street and people are beginning to open their shops. Christa would like to look inside, but Gerald lets us know we have a long trip ahead. So we follow him. He is our tour guide, after all, so we follow him. No questions asked!

King, Rural Hall and Germantown—all these small towns have their own personal charm. In Germantown we turn left onto Route 8 north. The countryside is lovely with rolling hills, tobacco fields and a lot of nice, charming homes. Now we dance on our bikes because the road offers us a few perfect curves. Yeah, that’s riding a bike! Now we are in the rhythm and it’s fun. Nobody can stop us. In my mind I hear, “I’m Free!” and I remember The Who.

After the village of Danbury, Gerald takes a really sharp left turn onto the road towards Hanging Rock State Park. It’s a dead-end road, but the curves are worth it. Unfortunately, the park ranger allows only 25mph. Such a shame! But a few moments later, I discover why. Squirrels, raccoons, even a deer, and lots of annoying tourists are on the road. At the top we take a short break and Gerald tells us about this state park.

On the road again we pass the Virginia State line and the town of Stuart. Now the road starts to become really challenging. Sharp curves, gravel and little bumps even on the best line demand your complete concentration. Christa and I spur our Triumphs while Gerald and his Duc struggle to keep us under control. After 20 miles the magic is over and we reach Tuggel’s Gap. “Break time,” calls Gerald through his helmet. This place is very popular for bikers, and so we are not alone. We have a lot to talk about, especially the eye-catching European bikes, the Harleys and the Japanese crotch rockets. Everybody is the next world champion, has paid the highest speeding tickets and so on. But we laugh and have fun, which is always very important for a nice ride. Bikers are one big family.
After a while we turn onto the Blue Ridge Parkway south. A beautiful ride with many highlights. This Parkway is perfect for a wonderful ride, it´s like a dream. The asphalt grips well, the curves are in a good rhythm and the countryside is breathtaking. After 14 miles we cross highway 58, another nice spot for a rest. Coffee time!

Back on the road we follow the parkway for 7 miles before we turn onto Route 614 towards Ararat and Mount Airy. This is a very small road, curvy, with a lot of loose gravel, the kind of challenge my Tiger and I like. Mount Airy is another typical Tar Heel town that you must stop and see.

We’re running late, realized Gerald, so we take 52 back to Winston-Salem, to see the other highlight: Pilot Mountain. Seventeen miles past Mount Airy, we leave the interstate and ride straight up to the top of this mountain. The tires are warm, so we have a good grip. It’s exhilarating to ride these tremendous curves and scratch the asphalt with the footrests. Left, right, left, right and so on...a perfect ride at the end of our tour.

After this wonderful day we sit on our porch and enjoy a couple of refreshing cold drinks. This drink of course is amber-colored with foam on top.

FACTS AND INFORMATION
In General
Winston-Salem is an old and historic town located in the middle of the Piedmont area in North Carolina. In the past Winston-Salem was the capital of the cigarette industry (R. J. Reynolds) and also dominated by the Hanes family. The area around WS is perfect for rides twelve months a year.

Ways to go there
Winston-Salem is located on I-40, a main route between east and west coast. To arrive by plane at the Piedmont International Airport in Greensboro would be the best choice. A good alternative is the Douglas International Airport in Charlotte.

Climate
Because of the mild climate you are able to ride your motorcycle all year through.

Board & Lodging
Winston-Salem offers you a lot of hotels, motels and bed and breakfast houses. Normally accommodations are no problem except in April, during the world’s biggest furniture market in nearby High Point.

Money and prices
If you compare Winston-Salem with other spots in North Carolina, the prices are very reasonable. For overnights you pay between $65 and $95 in hotels and motels. Bed and breakfast houses start around $95.

Roads & Biking
In the surrounding region the back roads are pretty nice and you always meet local bikers who know about other great roads in this area. A big advantage is that Winston-Salem is only 30 to 40 minutes away from the Blue Ridge Parkway.

If you have any troubles with your bike a good address to remember is Forsyth Motosports on University Parkway, Phone (336) 767-2020.

Books & Maps
There is a perfect visitor guide of Winston-Salem you can order from the Winston-Salem Visitor Center (please consult the information below).
The best map is the North Carolina and Tennessee Atlas & Gazetter of Delorme.

Addresses & Phone Numbers
Winston-Salem Visitor Center,
Phone (336) 777-3796 or (800) 331-7018
www.visitwinstonsalem.com
info@wscvb.com