Guy Boutin's Motorcycle Touring and Travel Pages

Adventures in Sport Touring with the Honda ST 1100, 1300 and the BMW 1200RT

Exploring North America...One Road at a Time

                                  Tennessee

The Cherohala Skyway (2001)- Located on the Tennessee, North Carolina border this great road is void of traffic.  Consisting of long, sweeping curves, that make you lean so long, you feel like you are riding in a long circle.  The Skyway carves its way along the spine of Unicoi Range of the Appalachians.  You are treated to high elevation and scenic vistas.  The Skyway is 4th and 5th gear stuff as opposed to the 2nd and 3rd gear curves on The Gap just down the road.  The great thing about the Cherohala is the length-40 miles of uninterrupted riding.  Very rare in the East.

The Natchez Trace Parkway (2002)- The Trace is a unique road, located in Tennessee and Mississippi.  A smooth and open road with wide grassy shoulders.  It does not take a rider into high elevation, but will treat you to quiet pastoral farmland and valleys.  Because there is no traffic on the road, it is a excellent road to put your thinking cap on.  The Trace is not a challenging road, but the curves will keep you entertained.  I have only ridden the Trace from Nashville to Collingswood, 100 of the quietest miles a guy can ever ride.  Be cautious of the Rangers while on the Trace.

U.S. 129 (Deal's Gap) (2001)- I've been riding Deal's Gap for many years, but just added it to the favorite list in 2004.  Perhaps I could not appreciate it till I took it on with the 1300.  Not much I can add to the volumes that have already been transcribed.  The surface was repaved in 2003, and brothers this one smoooooooth piece of tarmac and one of the reasons this ride is so good.  The absence of crossroads and driveways are some of the great things about this famous road.  I thoroughly enjoyed my time there in 04.  The added atmosphere of the remodeled Circle of Time also adds to the flavor.