The Clinch Mountain Ride

Gate City, Virginia

On Fathers day we took off and headed down Gate City Hwy ( Hwy 421 ) and rode to the town of Gate City for breakfast. This was our first ride using radios and headsets and they turned out to be so much easier communicating with one another from bike to bike versus hand signals. We were able to discuss our next stop, warn about gravel on the road, check our speed limits ( I sometimes miss the speed limit signs ) and tell each other about real nice scenery off in one direction or another. It makes motorcycling seem like your in the car talking to one another pointing out different things versus not being able to share those same things while on a bike and having no radio. I have to make some adjustments and remount our talk buttons on the handlebars but overall the radios are a real nice addition to our rides.

The ride itself is a winding one that travels in and around the foothills of Clinch Mountain. This area also has a great deal of history to it as this is the same area where the Carter family is from. For those who are wondering who the Carters are, they were the most influential group in Country Music and were the first ( along with Jimmy Rodgers ) country music stars. The Carter Family Fold is still sitting at the base of Clinch Mountain in Hiltons, VA and is still in operation today hosting weekly concerts. Besides traditional country music, Appalachian dancing is also a hit on the dance floor, otherwise known as " clogging ".

The highway has an excellent blacktop surface so it makes motorcycling fun and enjoyable. The scenery is just amazing. The road winds through heavily wooded sections that form darkened areas on the road which makes it appear as if your going through a tunnel. On both sides of you there are tall trees and mountain rock faced walls which block out the sun and light. A mile or two down the road you pop back into daylight and a valley opens up with mountain views in the background. The hills roll all through these areas next to Clinch Mountain and many of them form what locals call            " hollers ". The temperature changes are quite fun to experience as you ride out of the blazing sun and into a shaded / wooded area that is darkened by mountain walls and trees. The temperature differences can be quite astounding actually as you go from hot to cool in seconds. 

To enjoy this scenery you need to set a somewhat slow pace on a motorcycle so you can take more time to look out and enjoy the area and the scenery. It is also very wise to take it slow through some of the tight turns as gravel gets kicked out onto the pavement by cars making it treacherous on a bike. The curves also are mainly blind so you have no idea what's around the corner.

We really enjoyed our ride through the mountains and stopped off at a local Mom and Pop cafe for breakfast. The food was simple down home style cooking ( biscuits & gravy with salt pork ham ). I do believe they served up authentic real southern gravy which is loaded with lard. :) It was fun listening to the locals in the restaurant  talk among themselves discussing everything from the weather to the lives of the residents there. You also get to hear some different accents in these regions that are located way off the beaten path and back into the Mountains. I grew up in a Southern family and even these people I have to really listen to in order to catch all the terms and words spoken. Southern mountain people speak with a very heavy southern accent and drawl and if they are fast talkers, you better be paying attention as its difficult to catch all the phrases.

Coming back we detoured and cut our ride short by going through Kingsport and riding home on HWY 11 E. I was just too tired to ride the mountains and the many tight curves on the way back. Below you will find a few pictures of our ride and we will be adding more later when we return to this area for another ride in the very near future. I want to go back and get some photos of the Carter Family Fold and the small mountain town of Hilton. I am sure it will become one of our favorite roads to cruise as it has so much to offer. Enjoy the pics.

 Clinch Mountain Ride

Just one of many views of the Clinch Mountains A shot of Mojo looking out at the mountains while taking a breather
One of numerous blind curves. Mojo & Matilda sit and rest in front of an old remote country store
Another view out towards a peak of the Clinch Mountains Look closely at the reflection in the window. I thought it was an incredible shot that Ally took that displayed the past with the present.
Matilda sits in front of the old store waiting to go A shooter taking a picture of another shooter.
Another blind curve. They really make you wonder as you approach, what is on the other side. A Map of the Gate City area.