Silver Jack Inn & LectroLux Cafe and Bar

This page will discuss my personal trips with recommendations regarding MUST rides, food stops, great cycle shops, and an occasion MUST MISS (crummy food, roads, etc.)

15 state trip 12/10 - 1/25, 2012 -MT, UT, NM, TX, AL, MS, MI, FL, TN, NC, SC, GA, OK, AK, CO

Barny, my partner's  CycleDog, in Key West Jan 2012

MUST ride - Deal's Gap (The Dragon's Tail) on the NC/TN border. 318 turns in 11 miles, way technical. Do this in off season as there are fewer cars/trucks/cycles out. If you need a bike repair see John at Mtn Motors, Robbinsville, NC. friendly, skilled. Get through rural NC on Rt 182-pastoral, good roads.

REPAIRS: In Fallston, NC get repairs at COOL CYCLE ask for Marcus. Engaging, friendly, helpfull, reasonable. In Sarasota, FL needing repairs it's HAPS Cycle-hapscycle.com-(friendly, expert, resonable prices) and be sure to see the mcycle museum). In Mena, AK Hog Country

RIDES - NC Outter Banks-great coastal ride, stay in Buxton or funky Ocracoke. MUST see is the Wright Brothers Monument and be sure to stay for the lecture about the Wright brothers first flight-inspiring!

Big Bend Natl Park, TX, ride Ore Road-a tough one-on a dual sport or dirt bike. 

Arches Natl Park- do the 2 Windows ride after 3pm for best sun exposure. If you hike up, take the primitive trail back to the parking-super walk.

Canyon Lands Nat’l Park – take the road to Grand View and be sure to get off the bikes and walk the 1 mile rim trail. What a view.

STAYS - Key West Hotel-The Palms Hotel (820 White Street)  early 19th C building, great Key atmosphere and a steal in Key West.  Moab UT Redstone Inn, cheap, clean, nice rooms

EATS

First of all bring your own coffee, 1/2&1/2, butter, cheese (American cheese is not cheese...) when traveling rural US. Many "country cooking" places are moving to whipped spreads (no butter), fake creamer. Sad especially when country cooking meant the real mccoy.

Marathon TX - Guzzi's Pizza

Roadside BBQ Stands-usually better than formal restaurants.

HobNob Cafe-Sarasota-relic of the 50s updated. Near HAPS motorcycles

Skyline cafe in Mena AK

Burger World (funky road stand, huge hand-pressed burger) in Helena AK-huge, tasty burger for $3.50!!!

 Attractions- Without saying, The Everglades (great airboat ride with Native American crew at Osceola Panthers), do the Mangrove boat tour sponsored by the Natl Park at Everglades City, ride the Tamiami Trail and stop at Clyde Butcher's photography studio, see manatees at Blue Springs State Park N of Orlando.