I love the Blue Ridge Parkway. Everything about it. The cool air, changing topography, hiking trails, wildlife, and of course, the motorcycling. For me, nothing beats riding the BRP. From the time Ruth and I did an End to End trip back in 2006 (we are now officially End to Enders, so called by the BRP Foundation), I have been in love with this National Park.
And so, with a free weekend on tap and the incessant heat here in the upstate, I decided to check out a new to me motorbike campground in NC. In order to spend as much time in the bigger latitudes and as little time in the heat as possible, I chose The Blue Ridge Parkway as my main ribbon of asphalt to get there. A total of 110 miles each way was ridden on the BRP, and it was heaven, with temps ranging from a low of 68 degrees to a high of 75, while Ruth and the quadripeds were sweltering in 95+ degree heat and humidity.
High Country Motorcycle Campground is in the middle of nowhere, really. Situated in the Yadkin Valley, Boone, NC is 20 miles north and Wilkesboro, NC is about 15 miles south. The road to get to and from the property is narrow, tight and twisty, lots of fun and absolutely beautiful surroundings. The pavement of this road literally ends 50 ft. beyond the campground entrance. Glad I didn't miss that turn!
The campground is large, and very, very beautiful. There is a wonderful fast running brook, lots of shade trees and a large, clean bath house. A rental house is available, cabins are being repaired and relocated. There are no amenities here such as food service. You eat and drink what you brung, so bring enough because it's a haul north or south to replenish supplies. I had a very comfortable stay. There were only three of us camping this weekend. The heat must have kept everyone in motels. Highly recommended.
Here are some pics from my trip: Blue Ridge Parkway
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| Changing into my hiking boots, this was a beautiful trail in the cool mountain air. |
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| Under the Lynn Cove Viaduct |
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| Another beautiful hike on a Parkway trail. |
Pics of High Country Motorcycle Campground:
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| Pavement ends just beyond! |
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| All by myself. Wonderful! |
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| The Lower Meadow camping area |
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| Cabins relocated and now being renovated. They used to sit around this now dried up lake............. |
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| Something happened upstream to dry out this lake. Cabins encircled this now dry lake bed. Must have been beautiful. |
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| Upper Meadow camping area |
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| Rental house in Upper Meadow |
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| Running brook right behind my tent site. Insomnia is non-existent here. |
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| Lower Meadow camping area. Shot taken from my tent site. Just beautiful. |
And finally:
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| A great book.......... |
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| A not surprisingly (given the name) great bottle of wine.......... |
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| and an idyllic setting. |
" Four wheels move the body........
Two wheels move the soul.
- Anonymous
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