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BIKES: Back To The Beginning On Hunley’s Ducati Darmah
Written by: Neale Bayly   
06/08/2009
Charlotte, NC
 
The Blue Ridge Parkway provides great scenic views from several locations. (Photo: Neale Bayly) ยป More Photos

Leaving Charlotte on a hot, humid day, we took our first stop in the small town of Cherryville after about an hour on the road. Here we poked our noses through the windows of a small transport museum, and Craig fielded a few questions I had about the Darmah. Feeling very alien after my usual diet of UJM test bikes, it certainly felt more comfortable as we made our way up to Little Switzerland for lunch after putting on some 130 miles without incident. As we climbed the last few miles, the road really began to tighten and the Darmah required a lot more work to make the tighter turns, but I wasn’t surprised.

Climbing away from lunch into cooler air, we made for the Blue Ridge Parkway. Craig is a racer at heart and only did this to indulge me as the heavily enforced 45 mph limits drive him crazy. He also knows better roads where you can run a good pace without inviting trouble. For me this was one of the best places for the Darmah though. The slower pace and more deliberate nature of the open corners highlighted the bike’s strengths, and it felt more natural swinging through the beautifully smooth turns. Some miles
along the Parkway, we stopped for a chat with an old timer who had worked his days with the prison service, and he had an extremely rare twinkle in his eye as Craig dug a few historical facts out of him.

Dropping off the Parkway we found the heat again, and pulling over for some shade in the forgotten town of Plum Tree, along the Toe River, we learned US19E was the main Florida to Ohio road in years gone by. Apparently, Henry Ford and Harry Firestone met here for tea many moons ago, and sitting on a porch swing watching the Kudzu taking over, we learned the old mine building is still in business assembling Mica board. Feeling the need for an afternoon nap coming on, we jumped up and got quickly back in the saddle before hitting the road again.


See the Trip Photos

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