If you up the pace to 100 km/h, the ride takes on the allure of an endurance race over a never ending set of medium speed corners, every one slightly different from the last one, which adds a large dose of the unknown to the whole experience. The engine and brakes get worked over pretty hard, while the rider must use every ounce of concentration to maintain the rhythm and avoid mistakes – hard, enjoyable work for some.


At night, white-tailed deer, possums, foxes, bears and other creatures invade the roadside. During my first 120 km on June 24, I covered a part of the trip after sunset, and saw dozens of deer munching away on the side of the road. Annoying? No, terrifying! I ended up using the horn on every bend, and I could see that the deer could at least hear me!

At the end of June, traffic was light and the police low profile. I detected a measure of respect between Parkway users, with motorists often moving to the side to let the bikes get by. You can legally overtake often enough to not suffer too long behind the cages, except for a sigh-posted 30-km stretch north of Asheville, North Carolina. The Parkway is also used by local traffic near a few major urban areas, whith the negative impact we know at peak hours.

I think the best way to experience the Parkway is to take two or even three days to drive it, enough to complete each section once in tourist mode, to drink in the view and the natural beauty, and then a second time in a more “riding pleasure” frame of mind.

The Blue Ridge Parkway is truly one of the most beautiful drives I’ve ever had the chance to ride.






Photo Credit : Luc Brière