Harrah's Cherokee Casino

Steven has the poker bug, so we headed out this morning to Harrah's Cherokee Casino. We had a beautiful blue sky full of white billowy clouds and the 50-mile ride there through Soco Gap and US Hwy 19 is so delightful.

Heading to Cherokee Casino

Rooms at the casino were sold out, so we stayed at the Days Inn right across the street.

Outside the casino. "Hurry up and take your photo."

Beautifully landscaped casino.

Craggy Pinnacle

Freezing cold on the Parkway North this morning. Still the view looking from the Craggy Pinnacle Overlook was spectacular.

Paint Fork Road

Ge and Dana behind us

Beautiful Saturday morning, riding with friends through Weaverville, just north of Asheville, on one of my favorites, Paint Fork Road.

Just a stunning ride through green terrain, curves, creeks, and stunning rural scenery.

Rows of Tobacco crop

So much to see and breathe in. Great ride, great friends.

"One of the secrets of a happy life is continuous small treats." —Iris Murdoch

And as we were totally immersed with our ride, our Harley just stopped. Dead. A rather dull thud at the climax of our concerto.

Ge's family helped us get started again. Our voltage regulator needed to be changed. We ended up replacing the battery and that got us home.

Steven changing the battery

Riding and Hiking

We now want to ride, then hike.

On a simple gorgeous, perfect dawn morning, we rode north on the Parkway to Craggy Gardens to hike.

It was so beautiful, I did not pay close enough attention to what I was doing, tripped and fell on this rock...

Pain... a quick 45-minute ride back home, then to the emergency room. After x-rays, I escaped with nothing broken and only 11 stitches on my left knee.

Lesson? Pay attention to what you're doing.

Riding the Fog

Sweet Sunday. Up early again, we rode toward Lake Lure awash with fog...

Shooting into the sun

"The only joy in the world is to begin." 

~ Cesare Pavese

We move quickly of course, but I am able to balance my camera and shoot into the sun, through the fog. How lucky I am to be able to do this. The wind, the wet fog, are exhilarating. My lungs are full of excitement. Lucky, I am so lucky.

Hwy 74, heading to Hickory Nut Gorge

I never really know what the camera will capture. But I keep clicking the shutter, and sometimes, I am given a gift...

Speed and creativity

On Top of the World

This guy is cherished and lives on top of the world.

"It is only possible to live happily ever after on a daily basis." 

~ Margaret Bonanno

In motion...

12 Bones Smokehouse, Arden

Early morning ride. Clear, bright blue sky. 

We stopped at 12 Bones Smokehouse in Arden for lunch. The line to order snaked out of the door, but we were happy to wait in the beautiful sun.  An auto repair garage turned BBQ haven, 12 Bones serves the best slow smoked ribs. Period.

Fun on the Parkway

Steven liked this shot, just after the Pisgah Inn, heading south

Beautiful afternoon on the parkway. The sky popped with rich color and clouds. We feel playful and good. After over a week, we just got the bike back from the $hop after replacing the back tire and the drive belt.

Tunnel Vision

Going through the tunnel, suspending a moment in time. I like how the display panel lights up red and the light blends into everything. Life moves quickly. I enjoy experimenting with the camera.

I said looking at him, "love so deep it fills the sky."

I rested in the grass on my stomach, shooting pictures. I soaked in the view and captured Steven walking about with the setting sun behind him. Not a bad shot. I do love the grass thistles that need trimming. Look at how pretty they are in the light.

Celebrate Life!

Then Steven took this photo of me, which I like a lot and used as my new Twitter avatar.

Wonderlust

Pausing with my iPad atop Mt. Mitchell

We are always looking for uncharted territory, new roads, new adventures. We are curious, anxious to learn and see. Or we are trying to recapture past experiences with renewed wonderlust. We live a charmed life on this Harley.

The joy is in exploration. Gear up and breathe in the surroundings. We have this love affair going with fresh air and Mother Nature. We glow. We are alive.

"Curiosity about life in all of its aspects, I think, 

is still the secret of great creative people."

~ Leo Burnett

Riding with the light of dawn

Rhododendron and Love

Lunch Break Feast

We rose with the dawn and rode north on the Parkway to escape the record high heat temperatures. Nice cool ride.

We stopped for lunch near Mt. Mitchell where the rhododendron bloomed like love. All fragrant, succulent, and sticky beautiful. Surrounded in pink and white, it is like being in another world.

 (Yes, I remembered to pack my tripod this time.)

Rhododendron and Love on the Parkway

Looking UP

Pure love. Pure peace. All this beauty energizes creativity. The green is rebirth and possibilities.

Road Glide resting in Green

"And I love that you are the last person I want to talk to before I go to sleep at night."
~ Nora Ephron

Love how the tree rises above Steven here

We headed home just as the traffic started rolling in...

Ge

Our friend Ge, on vacation, surprised us today by showing up at our house with his brand new Harley Sportster. Here he is looking great -- happy and ready to ride...

"Four wheels move the body. Two wheels move the soul."

Dolly's Ice Cream

Dolly's Dairy Bar & Gift Shop, Brevard, North Carolina

Sometimes life just gives you perfect days to savor and celebrate. We seem to find a lot of these days when we head out on the Harley. Lately our trips have been short,  spontaneous... and sweet...

Caring for our diabetic dog, Kolohe, has kept us close to home and put a stop to our overnight trips this year. But we still manage to get on the road for day trips and there is still so much to experience.

We took an unplanned evening ride on the Harley, riding our usual trek up NC 151 to the parkway past Mt. Pisgah. The colors of the late day sun were spectacular and we had the road to ourselves.

Gravel drive, so I get off for Steven to park.

Yum!

We ended up eating delicious ice cream at Dolly's Dairy Bar & Gift Shop, located just off Highway 276 in Brevard.

Chocolate for me. Black walnut for Steven. The creamy home-made treat was the perfect dessert for our delightful ride.

"Forget art. Put your trust in Ice Cream." 

~Charles Baxter, The Feast of Love

Erwin, Tennessee

Riding behind Wayne and Dana. 

Beautiful sunny day, blue skies and fluffy clouds. Perfect day to be on the road, heading to Erwin, Tennessee.

Dana Behind Us

That's my over-the-shoulder shot. Not bad, huh?

Lunch at Maple Grove

Hot sun. We stop for lunch. Home cooking, lots of food, at Erwin's Maple Grove.

Sun

Mt. Mitchell

Here I am at Mt. Mitchell

The Harley and my camera and iPad have opened the world up to me in ways I never thought possible. Endless vistas and open heart. Creativity. New ideas. Richness. Fullness.

Standing On Top of the World

No words, all feeling.

Blue Ridge Parkway, North

Incredible sunlight!

Fog and light and breath-taking beauty around every corner. We are heading north on the Parkway toward Mt. Mitchell. This is near the Bull Creek Valley Overlook, just south of Craggy Gardens. This entire area was drenched in fog, mist, and surreal light.

Pond Road, Asheville

Pond Road, Just off Sardis Road

Willow bathed in sunlight

Another early morning start, we left the house at 7:30.

Everything looks like magic. The light streams this time of day with golden surreal beauty...

We are heading for Mt. Mitchell off the Blue Ridge Parkway...

Sweetwater, Tennessee

Unloading the Bike

We spent the night at our old standby Days Inn in Sweetwater. It is inexpensive, right off Hwy 68, and nice. Great, familiar location after riding Cherohala Skyway or the Dragon.

Black-Eyed Susans Out Front

Riding the Blue Sky

Tellico Plains, Tennessee

Stopping for Lunch in Tellico Plains

 We stopped at the Tellicafe for our traditional (Post-Cherohala Skyway run) bowl of Green Tomato Soup, made with country ham and sunshine.

Cherohala Skyway

Needed  Shellaclava on Cherohala Skyway

The sky was bluer than blue. It was cold because of the brisk wind, but we were happy with the beautiful weather and sweeping curves of the Cherohala Skyway.

Haw Knob, Elevation 5,472 Feet

Here we are at the top of the Skyway, 5,500 feet up.

Tennessee View

Once you hit the top, it's a fast ride downhill to Tennesse's Tellico Plains. The ride and views are spectacular.

The Skyway was completed in the Fall of 1996 after 34 years of construction. There are 15 miles in North Carolina and 21 miles in Tennessee.