Starting Point: Virginia Beach Farthest Destination: Tail of the Dragon, Tennessee States Crossed: Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee Total Distance: about 1,362 miles (2,190 km) GPS Route:View on Google Maps
Our beautiful beasts
Map of the ride
Day 1: Heat, Disasters, and Downpours
Today, our first day on the road to Tail of the Dragon, turned into an epic I’ll remember forever—or at least until my soaking wet boots dry out!
I, Ezio, on my trusty Harley Electra Glide Ultra Limited, and my Turkish riding buddy Gokhan, on his Honda Shadow 750 (which felt more like a pack mule today), left Virginia Beach with a gloriously late start. It was 2 PM and the heat was unbearable, with the asphalt practically melting beneath our tires. At nearly 40 degrees Celsius, we were already walking works of sweaty art.
The real show began when we noticed that Gokhan’s overloaded bike had a bag of tent stakes swinging dangerously like a rodeo rattle. We stopped for gas and to reorganize his wobbly load, and right then, in the most inconvenient moment, Gokhan slipped on an oil patch and crashed his poor Shadow. Luckily, not a scratch—he was fine, the bike was fine. Just his pride took a hit. We spent a good 15 minutes picking up the bike and reloading everything.
After this stellar start, the ride turned surprisingly smooth for a while. We enjoyed the scenery and the peace of not losing any more gear. But calm, as they say, is just the lull before the storm.
While desperately searching for a campground for the night, the sky opened up and we were caught in an apocalyptic downpour. We rode almost 10 miles through torrential rain, our bikes splashing and us blinded by water. When we finally found a hotel and ran inside, we were soaked through, dripping from helmet to boots. It felt like we had just climbed out of a river.
Now we're at the hotel, drying our clothes and soggy souls. What a way to start a trip! If day one was like this, who knows what tomorrow will bring. One thing’s for sure: it won’t be boring!
Ezio and Gokhan before the trip
Happy Gokhan
Thirsty bikes
Gas is cheap or not?
Tomorrow is not raining
Hopeless drying session
Like above
Day 2: Between Biblical Floods and Two-Wheel Heaven
The night at the Days Inn was a drying marathon: Gokhan and I stood with hairdryers in hand, hoping to restore dignity to our soaked clothes. Cranking up the heat? That just turned the room into a sauna without results.
By 9 AM, after checking every weather app on earth, we rolled out under a threatening sky. A few miles in, and like clockwork, the rain started again. Gokhan, with soggy gloves and a soggy mood, refused to put on his rain suit. Minutes later, a real downpour forced him to surrender.
Once dressed like astronauts, we hit the legendary US 58: a dream road for bikers, all twists and turns between the blue mountains. Pure poetry on two wheels.
After 150 miles, we stopped for fuel and phone calls. The sun peeked out. Hungry, we pulled into a random Mexican restaurant in the middle of nowhere. Surprise: it was amazing! We toasted the blue sky with Mexican Coca-Cola and water.
Later, a little mishap: the bolt on my bottle holder had come loose. As I dismounted, my pants snagged on the GoPro and I fell flat on my back in front of everyone. A kind man offered his toolbox and helped me fix it. Problem solved!
Then the GPS decided to lead us down a muddy, washed-out dirt road blocked by a landslide. The supposed campground? Nowhere to be found. After a few failed tries, we found AC Campground: a quiet paradise with deer and a babbling stream.
Almost ready to go
Rain is not a problem with our rain gears .. maybe
Few hairs
Committed
Sun and maybe muscle
Beautiful lake
Handsome guy
Beautiful bike and tents
We pray, we honor the fallen
Going up!
Wake up!
Heroes
Heroes too
Happy deer
Same as above
Confortable morning
Day 3: Explosions, Mountains, and a Sad Goodbye
The day started with a mission: find my lost Garmin Virb action cam from the day before. A few miles in, a strange smell grew stronger. At the gas station: there it was, melted and smoking, jammed against the exhaust pipe. When I touched the battery, it exploded! Farewell, my filming partner.
Despite the loss, the ride was spectacular. The Blue Ridge Mountains offered jaw-dropping views. Lunch was at a burger joint with a solid veggie burger (for me) and a dusty Wild West vibe.
The pace slowed: Gokhan rode like a meditating turtle. After three hours nonstop, he gave me a scolding. But we’re two very different riders, and we’re learning.
Later, we passed a long line of police cars. It was a funeral procession for a fallen officer. Quiet. Respectful. Moving.
We arrived at the campground near Tail of the Dragon and set up our tent in silence. Exhausted. Tomorrow, the real adventure begins.
Humid
Foggish
Happy
Almost at the Tail
Beautiful lake
Same
NC or Tennessee
Yeah
Yeah 2
Tired
My Moka friend
Day 4: The Dragon Sleeps, but Fate Doesn’t
The night at Deals Gap Motorcycle Resort was unforgettable, mostly thanks to a biker from Minnesota who dominated the conversation. His Road King Harley was stuffed into a trailer full of camping gear, and he regaled us with every motorcycle story imaginable. His only other hobby, he said, was attending Christian music festivals in Minnesota. He showed us thousands of dollars in Harley gadgets and shiny chrome—but not a single tooth in his mouth. We figured women weren’t really part of his universe.
We woke to humidity and the roar of engines climbing the Dragon. Pumped, we geared up for the ride. But just before we started, Gokhan began waving at an American guy—his rear tire was flat. And it was July 4th, America’s biggest holiday!
We had no tools, and his bike had an inner tube. Every mechanic was closed. We even considered leaving the bike behind. Then came Jeff, the same guy who saw the flat. He offered to take the bike in his pickup to his mechanic friend an hour away. That guy agreed to fix it, holiday or not. Unreal. The bike was fixed by noon. Jeff refused payment. Gokhan invited him to Turkey!
Re-energized, we tackled the legendary Tail of the Dragon: pure adrenaline and curves. Then lunch at the resort and off toward Paint Creek Corridor, where wild camping awaited. Another adventure had just begun!
Our saviour
The trailer
The 4th of July mechanic
Start or end of the Dragon
Deals gap
Dragons
Mountains
Dragons again
Gokhan
Ezio
Hands suntanned
Primitive camping
as above
So cool
So fat
Transparent
Chair
Relax
Resting time
Windows
Day 5: From Paradise to Potholes, and the Long Ride Home
We woke up in our primitive campsite, a magical forest of waterfalls, clear streams, and giant trees. We weren’t alone: Marcy, a peaceful woman tending her fire, and a group of hippies who spent the night smoking cannabis and moving their junky car around for no clear reason.
Gokhan and I jumped in the stream. The water was crystal clear—we could see fish. Yes, we even drank it. Thankfully, no side effects. Just a few bug bites.
Quick pack-up, a selfie with Marcy, and we hit the road. The GPS promised 6 hours and 47 minutes. We did over 10. The roads through Tennessee and North Carolina were among the most beautiful I’ve ever ridden. Sadly, a patchy stretch "Italian-style" made my beloved thermos holder snap off the handlebars. A shame in that heat!
Lunch was at a truly authentic Mexican taqueria. I had a veggie quesadilla; Gokhan, just two tiny tacos. Then, more riding. After countless hours, we reached Buffalo Campground in Virginia. Fully booked.
Options? Expensive hotel... or push through home. We chose home. We rode with headlights on, finishing the final miles in the dark. We reached Virginia Beach at 9:30 PM, completely exhausted but happy.
Five days. 1,362 miles. Endless memories. Tomorrow, it’s back to the office.
Still moka
Leaving the park
same
Marcy
Gas again
Still me with Decathlon 2 dollar hat .. very good for sweat
📍 Ride Summary – Shenandoah Trip, July 18–19, 2025 Total distance: 543 mi Total time: 1 day 9h 17m Moving time: 12h 37m Stopped time: 20h 40m Average speed: 16.3 mph Average moving speed: 43.0 mph Max speed: 105 mph 😱 Max elevation: 3,711 ft Min elevation: -33 ft Total ascent: 21,574 ft Total descent: 21,587 ft Area covered: 6,611 square miles 📌 Interactive Map: Click here to view the route Preparing, Riding, Writing: the eternal dilemma of a Motor Therapist I’ve never quite figured out which part I love most: planning a motorcycle trip, riding it… or writing about it on this blog. I always get lost between maps, dreams, and curves, as if they were the holy trinity of motor therapy. Planning is always exciting. I spend days arguing with Google Maps, ChatGPT, Gemini, and even myself. All in search of that perfect road , the most wrapping bend , the feeling of remoteness … or...
📍 Dati del Viaggio – Ride Shenandoah, 18-19 Luglio 2025 Distanza totale: 543 mi Tempo totale: 1 giorno 9h 17m Tempo in movimento: 12h 37m Tempo in sosta: 20h 40m Velocità media: 16.3 mph Velocità media in movimento: 43.0 mph Velocità massima: 105 mph 😱 Quota massima: 3.711 ft Quota minima: -33 ft Salita totale: 21.574 ft Discesa totale: 21.587 ft Area percorsa: 6.611 miglia quadrate 📌 Mappa Interattiva: Clicca qui per visualizzare il percorso English Preparare, Partire, Raccontare: l’eterno dilemma del Mototerapista Non ho mai capito quale sia la parte che mi piace di più: preparare un viaggio in moto, viverlo … o raccontarlo qui sul mio blog. Ogni volta mi perdo tra mappe, sogni e curve, come se fossero le tre fasi della mototerapia perfetta. La fase della preparazione è sempre eccitante. Passo giorni a litigare con Google Maps, ChatGPT, Gemini e pure con me stesso. Tutto pe...
Comments
Post a Comment