Today (07/31/14) was about making miles on asphalt from Charleston, South Carolina to Murphy, North Carolina according to Rule #1 – No Interstates Allowed. Pretty simple, right? Interstates are great for making time and have a place in our lives, except when it comes to motorcycle travel, at least when we have reasonable alternative routes available. Non-interstate travel paths also give us the flexibility to stop spontaneously for pictures, coffee, fuel, adding/deleting layers, and not getting trapped in traffic jams.
Given the centuries of history in the Southeast, we had a myriad of ways to get to our destination. So, with a little bit of effort, we were able to produce a non-interstate route with Garmin’s Basecamp software. This series of city streets, two lane country roads, and slightly larger state highways that wound through the South Carolina, Georgia, and North Carolina countryside.
Along the way, we found that Kendrick owned a couple of body shops in Augusta, Georgia and we met a true motoenthusiast, Jim Farmer, while grabbing coffee at Starbucks in North Augusta, South Carolina.
Of particular note is Georgia State Highway 76, winding its way through the heavily forested mountains of northern Georgia. Scott’s favorite town was Clayton, Georgia, which ironically are the first names of his maternal grandparents.
Again, the day was based on focused riding so we didn’t do too much touristing and by the time we reached Murphy, North Carolina we were ready for a good dinner, shower, and bed. Dinner at Rib Country reinforced why the south has such a great reputation for barbecue.
3gsriders 