Travelbite
  • Home
  • About
  • Destinations
    • Africa
    • Asia
    • Caribbean
    • Central America
    • Europe
    • North America
    • North Asia
    • South Asia
    • UK
  • Holiday Ideas
    • Food around the world
    • Photography
    • Usual family Destinations
    • Things to do with Kids
  • Travel Deals
  • Travel News
    • Editors blog
    • Travel Blogs
    • Product Reviews
  • Holiday essentials
    • Airport hotels
    • Airport parking
    • Travel Insurance
  • Travel Tips
    • Featured
    • Travel Hacks
  • Contact Us

Travelbite

Banner
  • Home
  • About
  • Destinations
    • Africa
    • Asia
    • Caribbean
    • Central America
    • Europe
    • North America
    • North Asia
    • South Asia
    • UK
  • Holiday Ideas
    • Food around the world
    • Photography
    • Usual family Destinations
    • Things to do with Kids
  • Travel Deals
  • Travel News
    • Editors blog
    • Travel Blogs
    • Product Reviews
  • Holiday essentials
    • Airport hotels
    • Airport parking
    • Travel Insurance
  • Travel Tips
    • Featured
    • Travel Hacks
  • Contact Us
Uncategorized

Pete Johnson Manchester bike trip travel bog: Pete will visit all 33 Manchesters in the US and Canada | Travelbite.co.uk

written by admin March 19, 2016

Travel blog: Manchester, Kentucky via the Dragon’s Tail

Sunday, 11 September 2011 12:00 AM

Follow Pete's amazing journey

Follow Pete's amazing journey

Follow Pete Johnson's biking journey as he visits all 33 Manchesters in the US and Canada as part of the Bennetts Biking Dream 80th anniversary campaign.

I apologise in advance for tonight’s brief blog, but man – what a gruelling couple of days! I’ve covered 351 miles and in a word, it’s been ‘scorchio’! The average temperature has been 83°F, with a high spot of 109°F (!!) and I’m feeling pretty exhausted. I’ve spent 11 hours on the bike today and my sat nav has got me lost around a dozen times today – maybe it doesn’t like the heat either!

Anyway, I’ve reached Boone in the Appalachian Mountains, and I’m off to bed before I collapse – good night all!

From Boone to Harwood Country
This morning I took the Blue Ridge Parkway from Boone and I have to say, it had some of the most stunning views and best riding that I’ve experienced on this trip. The surface is great, the bends are sensational and every corner offers a beautiful new vista.

I was climbing higher and higher, eventually up to 3,500ft, but the peaks were still towering above me. The sat nav didn’t enjoy it quite as much as I did though – it was determined to make me take the fastest route and kept giving some very odd directions!

It was another warm day, but as I approached Waynesville, Haywood County, I noticed it getting darker and cooler and thunderclouds started to gather. I hit the first hotel I saw and booked in – a good decision, as within 20 minutes it was coming down with a vengeance. There was thunder, lightning and heavy wind and rain!

Tomorrow I hit the dragon’s trail, but this is definitely an area I’d return to! I have to say, I am really loving my Bennetts Biker Dream right now!

Manchester, Kentucky via the Dragon’s Tail…
Well, today I covered a pretty impressive 381 bends in just 11 miles! That is some one seriously twisty route! The road I’ve been on is called the Dragon’s Tail (you can probably guess where it got its moniker) and it’s 4,500ft up a mountain.
It’s part of a secret bikers’ paradise in the USA which we know little about in the UK. There are a lot of really special roads up in the Appalachian Mountains, but the Dragon’s Tail is truly one of the best. It’s a route which features on the ‘bucket list’ (ie: a list of things you wish to accomplish before you die) for many a biker and I met many different guys on many different cycles today, all of whom were here for the same thing.

The area is just brilliant, the roads are mind-boggling, the people friendly, and the experience is life changing. If there are better roads out there, I certainly haven’t ridden on them yet.

PS – made it to Manchester, Kentucky!

A rest in Rookwood, Kentucky
I get to have a rest again today, after arriving in Rockwood, Kentucky.

It’s another hot day, with temperatures in the 90s and I had a pretty eventful evening yesterday! I tried to check in at the first hotel I found, but unfortunately, it was full. Or it was, until a man known as Jonny One stepped in. Jonny is the boss of a group of men working just down the road, on the construction of a coal power station and he insisted that he and his team could provide me with a bed. The guys have all been posted here for a month and are now well settled in. After some discussion, it was decided Jonny One would bunk with someone else on the team and I’d have his room. What an absolute gentleman – friendly and helpful beyond anything I’ve encountered on my trip so far.

We had a great evening by the hotel pool, joined by Jonny Two, who is a tobacco chewing Liberace lookalike, Jeff, and a few other guests. We all shared a BBQ of steak and salad. 

One thing about Kentucky – many of the towns are dry. Not a drop of alcohol to be bought. The guys make a 40-mile round trip to stock up on Miller, buying ten 32-can packs at a time to get round the problem. As they say – this corner of Kentucky is a little damp.

Despite having a great time, I’m a little homesick for my family and my dogs today.

En route to Manchester, Tennessee

Just a brief update today. I set off nice and early this morning, accompanied by a nice cooling mist. It started off a warm 72°F but was soon up to 80°F and peaked at a pretty toasty 94°F. I’m en route to Manchester, Tennessee now, after a drive along Route 27, via Burnside, Kentucky.

A very productive day, as I covered 314 miles. Tomorrow I’m aiming to tick two Manchesters in two different locations off my list!

Visit www.bennettsbikerdreams.co.uk for more information.

Follow us @travelbite or 'like' our facebook page to keep up to date with Pete's trip.

Tags:

  • adventure holidays
  • biking holidays
  • canada
  • united states
Comments

Related stories

Pete Johnson keeps us updated on his adventures

Travel blog: Manchester, Kentucky via the Jack Daniels distillery

Manchester born and bred biker Pete Johnson is completing their dream trip of visiting all 33 Manchesters in the United States and Canada. We’re bringing you regular updates from his trip…

Pete will visit all 33 Manchesters in the US and Canada

Travel blog: Manchester, Newhampshire

Follow Pete Johnson's biking journey as he visits all 33 Manchesters in the US and Canada as part of the Bennetts Biking Dream 80th anniversary campaign.

Pete is reaching the end of his journey (photo: Thinkstock)

Travel blog: homeward bound!

Manchester born and bred biker Pete Johnson is completing their dream trip of visiting all 33 Manchesters in the United States and Canada.

Pete will visit all 33 Manchesters in the US and Canada

Travel blog: Manchester-by-the-sea

Follow Pete Johnson's biking journeyas he visits all 33 Manchesters in the US and Canada as part of the Bennetts Biking Dream 80th anniversary campaign.

0 comment
1
Facebook Twitter Google + Pinterest
admin

previous post
Invitation to Tuscany
next post
Tour New England and learn US history in the 'birthplace of America'

You may also like

Top three luxury hotels in Dubai

Articles tagged with: galleries-in-jersey

Articles tagged with: bahamas

Summer travel deal in Tirol, Austria | Travelbite

Visit the Pyramids on holiday in Egypt

Holiday ideas: Off the beaten track in Florida in St Petersburg Clearwater | Travelbite

Luxury The Grosvenor House Apartments open in London | TravelBite

Articles tagged with: cruises-in-2013

Caribbean Cruises

Take a South American adventure in Costa Rica

Advertisement

  • Corporate Investigations Services Private Investigator east sussex Matrimonial Investigations hampshire Surveillance services kent
  • Corporate Investigations Services london Private Investigator surrey Matrimonial Investigations west sussex Surveillance services brighton

Popular Posts

  • A Guide to Your First Trip Abroad with Friends

    July 21, 2016
  • Travel blogs: first-hand travel experiences from around the world

    March 19, 2016
  • Book Peru tours and visit the colonial city of Arequipa

    May 17, 2016
  • Airport parking – convenience vs cost

    May 17, 2016
  • The up-and-coming countries in the world worth visiting

    June 6, 2016

Advertisement

Travel Deals

  • What is the best day to book a flight? Tips to score that cheap flight

  • How many air miles does it take to get a free flight to America?

  • There are a lot of travel blogs and websites

  • The travel deals on the most significant

  • The latest travel news on the most significant developments

Partners

privatedetective salford privatedetective stockport privatedetective wigan privateinvestigator ashton-under-lyne

 

Recent Posts

  • UK Holiday Boom Set For 2021

    February 22, 2021
  • Tips for learning a new language

    February 11, 2021
  • Must See Destinations in Tokyo

    January 20, 2021
  • Staycation Popularity Shows Positive Signs for the Motorhome Industry

    January 11, 2021
  • 5 Indoor Activities to Try this Winter

    December 14, 2020

Advertisement

  • Brazilian-Kampers-125x125.png
  • VW-T-125x125.png
  • tour-du-mount.jpg
  • security-services.jpg
  • manchester-removals.png
  • pi.png

Keep in touch

Facebook Twitter Google +

About Me

Travelbite.co.uk provides easy to find, useful information on destinations all over the world, so if you’re planning a holiday we can give you lots of ideas, tips, news and inspiration.

Popular Posts

  • A Guide to Your First Trip Abroad with Friends

  • Travel blogs: first-hand travel experiences from around the world

Keep in touch

Facebook Twitter Google + Instagram Pinterest
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Write For Us
  • Contact Us
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap
  • Useful Links

@2016 - Copyright Travelbite.co.uk


Back To Top