Day 3 (7-11-15 - Mayberry)

We started our beautiful day with fresh baked blueberry pound cake for breakfast this morning at Parkview Lodge. Shortly after we left, it turned into a cold, overcast, morning. I was glad that I had rain pants handy to put over my short pants.

We ate lunch at Station's Restaurant, a great motorcycle resort with good food and a good band. We went to Crossroads Harley Davidson in Wilkesboro, North Carolina to get a shirt.

We decided to get off the Blue Ridge and take a tour of Mayberry and are staying at the Best Western at Mt. Airy.  We will head out again tomorrow for the last 200 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway.  It has been an awesome 224 miles today.

Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/jtyachWB5V9P9M6FA

Day 2 (July 10, 2015 - Murphy, NC to Linville Falls, NC)

It was a lot better weather and scenery today than yesterday,  actually it was kinda cool.  We rode 226 miles today.  We are at mile marker 315 on the Blue Ridge parkway.  We are staying at Parkview Lodge in Linville Falls, North Carolina.  We finished a great ride with a great steak dinner at Louise's Famous Rock House Restaurant right up the hill from our room.

Everyone here is excited about the Highland Games this weekend at Grandfather Mountain. I don't think we will make it.  We are ready for some more beautiful scenery and another long ride tomorrow.



Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/CFCCC6nEpDYEFwxZ6

Day 1 (7-9-15 - Heading to the Blue Ridge Parkway & Skyline Drive)

We rode Amber, (our Harley), from Brandon, Mississippi to Murphy, North Carolina, took us about 9 hours.  We traveled a long, HOT, 488 miles. We will head to the Blue Ridge Parkway tomorrow and continue the journey.


Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/StcRUd8cMYGfat3DA

Day 5 (9-22-14 - Headed to The Rez)

We waited for the fog to lift before leaving Murphy, NC. this morning.  Then the sun came out and it was a gorgeous day.  Perfect weather for a motorcycle ride.  We kept our jackets on until we got to Gadsden, Al.

We enjoyed the scenic route that  Amber's GPS took us on.  Then we got on I 59 southbound.  We had no plans and decided to keep riding until we saw something that we wanted to do. We shut it down 9 hours later when we got to the Rez.  Fernykat was happy to see us.

We rode 495 miles today.  We rode 1500 miles this trip. Can't wait until our next trip.

                                                                      Rez Sunset

Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/JR42SB9N3fbVZbFX8

9/21/2014 (Ride to Murphy, NC.)

                                                            The view from Clingman's Dome

We left Townsend, Tn. with jackets on this morning.  The further up the mountain we rode, the happier we were to have on jackets.

The bear scat in Tn is not nearly as big as the bear scat in Alaska.  Lauren said he never saw a bear in the Smoky's. I was sure glad that he didn't see a bear today as we walked up the trail.

We took some foggy pictures at Clingman's Dome and headed down the trail. Been there and done that.  Wouldn't mind doing it again, when we have sunshine.

The shirt I bought yesterday at the Tail of the Dragon didn't fit.  We had to go back and exchange. 2 shirts later, and a hat, (for Lauren), we are content.

We stopped halfway between Clingman's Dome and The Tail of the Dragon, and ate  left over steak and chili cheese fritos.  Don't get much better than that.

We traveled 182 miles today and had some really good pizza delivered at the Best Western Hotel in Murphy, NC.

We will head south tomorrow.

Amber has given the McLaurin's another fabulous day!

                                                                 
                                                                  After the ride....

Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/Y3ASXeZ5xagyz5gFA

9-20-14 (Day 3 Twisties)

We woke up to the sound of motorcycles cranking up  at 6 o'clock this morning.  By the time we went to eat breakfast at 8, Amber was the only motorcycle in the parking lot.  All the other motorcycles headed to Waterloo, we headed to the Cherohala Skyway.

We packed up the leftover fajitas from last night and had the best Mexican food on the Skyway.

We rode 229 miles today and are staying in Townsend, Tn. tonight.  We strolled across the road from the hotel and ate at Trailhead Steak and Trout House.  It is very rare that the I order a steak well done and it is done right the first time.  Delicious!!

We are going to Clingman's Dome tomorrow then start heading toward home.

Dang we are having fun!!

Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/e88tLqsTYfhWXiRN7

9-19-14 (Day 2 Chattanooga. Bound)

We had a great breakfast at the Coldwater Inn, then took "Amber" across the street for her 1000 mile service.  The folks at the dealership were as nice as the people at the hotel.  We plan to go back and see them again.

We checked out of the hotel and headed to Waterloo.  We walked around the vender area, bought some T shirts, and went to the Trail of Tears River Walk.  It was pretty awesome to see my good friend, Robin Bowman's name, along with several members of  her family's names on the bricks.

After riding for 2 1/2 hours Lauren finally stopped for gas.  His goal was to get through Huntsville before the 5 o'clock traffic.  I took plenty of pictures to distract myself from the bumper to bumper traffic, riding 60 miles an hour.  I sure am glad we missed the 5 o'clock traffic,

We finally made it to the other side,  WHEW!!  Nice and relaxing, then we see a rainbow.  And then we feel the rain. Hmm, rainbow means rain.

We rode 233 miles today.  We found a hotel near I 24, walked over to the El Toril Mexican Restaurant and had awesome fajitas for dinner. The parking lot is full of motorcycles gathering here for the Trail of Tears ride tomorrow morning.  We are going the opposite way to the Smoky Mountain National Park.

Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/enzqCMRDcVYaefDL8