Semi Wild Hogs Spring Fling

     Here is a recipe "for a real great time".  Take three good old (longtime-not old) friends with bikes, add tents and sleeping bags, some trail mix, and head south for two weeks. We had a few rules:  avoid major cities; take rural roads; camp out as much as possible and "cowboy up" when it rains.

Semi Wild Hogs-Eastern Shore and the Outer Banks, Cape Hatteras

     By traveling down the Delaware-Maryland Peninsula to the Outer Banks, Baltimore and DC can be avoided.  We camped next to the bay and watched the crab boats pass by our tents.  Camping is the greatest!  I would rather camp than stay in a motel.  I know what you are thinking-YUK!  If you have never sat around a campfire on a star filled night and listened to the peepers (frogs) and "hootie" owls-then you .............
       On Cape Hatteras we camped near the shore.  They make sleep tapes of ocean waves-it's better first hand!

Nascar Garages-Moorsville, NC

     If you are a motorhead, a place you must see -the Nascar Garages-where the cars are built and maintained. They are unbelievable.  I was in awe of the beautiful buildings. landscaping, car haulers, shop areas, tools, etc and they are all free. All the big teams have large viewing areas along with hugh gift shops.  They even sell wrecked body parts.  Check out the $700 price tag.

Steele Rubber

     One of my favorite TV programs is "How It's Made".  We were driving outside Denver North Carolina and I saw a large complex of buildings with a sign-STEELE. They make quality rubber reproduction parts for old cars and street rods.  I have used their product on my own cars and they are excellent.  We stopped in and Ben gave us a first class tour-very impressive.

Semi Wild Hogs -The Biltmore

      We love extremes.  It;s fun to visit and dine at a state's finest restaurant and then search for it's smallest mom and pop cafe.  Last year we visited the Greenbriar in West Virginia-then searched two days to find the smallest.  In North Carolina we visited the Biltmore-the largest home in the USA

Semi Wild Hogs-Hills of Tennessee

    From Ashville we rode many hours into the hills of Tennessee.  We spent a wet night camping in a national forest-far away from any stores or restaurants- it was a trail mix dinner.  The next day we struck gold-arriving at Cooper General Store about 30 miles south of the Kentucky Border. We were hungry and had come to the right place.  Kathy the owner and cook greeted us along with the local regulars.  I ordered a small portion of her home made biscuits and gravy-wow-almost orgasmic (how I do go on) .  I had some fun with the local guys-I told them I was collecting funds for Hillary Clinton's run for the presidency.  They hesitated for a moment-then we all roared laughing.

Semi Wild Hogs- Titanic Museum-Pigeon Forge, Tenn.

    I like old things-cars, houses, etc. and especially history.  If you get in the Pigeon Forge area, stop in and visit the Titanic Museum-it is fantastic.  The guy that put it together actually "dove" on the real wreck-collecting data and artifacts.  The museum was one of the highlights of the trip.  They spent a million dollars reproducing the grand staircase. They even have a "real" frozen  iceberg protruding from the starboard side.

Semi Wild Hogs-Burkesville, Kentucky

     Our final destination was a motorcycle rally in Burkesville, Ky.  About 300 riders camp, eat, go on guided rides, and generally have a good time.  I asked about "local color" and they said to stop at Newby's  Motorcycle Garage.  It was great- I even went back the next day.  I love characters and talking to Newby  (gray hat) and Doc was a Hoot.  Their  lady friend was even more of a Hoot-check out the tats-especially   the family tree on her back. 

    Two weeks and 2500 miles later, we arrived home-wet, " odoriferous " and filled with wonderful memories-another Semi Wild Hogs Trip!!!