The middle of nowhere - SV650.org

BanannaMan · 04-06-10, 04:27 AM

Got away for a few days last weekend for a much needed break from work and some overdue riding time.
Same old place... The small village of Little Switzerland, North Carolina and surrounding area is slowly becoming my home away from home.
The only thing there is a few hotels and the "downtown" area (see pics) but if you want to get away from the rest of the world, this is the place. Great roads , great views, great people.

Bike at hotel

This year they were celebrating the village's 100th aniversary.
Like most small towns and villages in this area, 100 years is very old.
Most did not survive that long.
And like most, prior to a hundred years ago there was nothing here.
You lot are lucky to live in a land so rich with history.

Interestingly, for all the swiss flags and waitresses in swiss outfits and such that they carry on. ..No one here is Swiss.
The view here supposedly reminded the original landowner of the view from somewhere he had stayed in Switzerland and that's how it got the name.

Like the rest of this area in North Carolina, almost everyone here is of Scottish decent.

Little Switzerland downtown

Bike and overflow parking at the post office across the street.
A curvy still looks good in any crowd.

Approaching the top of Grandfather Mountain (5,946 ft) on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

BanannaMan · 04-06-10, 04:33 AM

If you look in the center of this pic you can see the bridge on the other side of the mountain where you will soon be.

Grandfather Mountain from the south

BanannaMan · 04-06-10, 04:53 AM

Bikes passing through Wildacres Tunnel.
There are 25 tunnels on the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina.

At speed you'd swear that sign reads Wildar5e Tunnel. LOL

Clouds look odd here.

Troubled skies over a small town in the valley

Almost ghostly bits of clouds break off and head off down the mountain and settle like fog in the valley.

breaking off

and on down the mountain

BanannaMan · 04-06-10, 05:05 AM

Near the top of Mount Mitchell (6684 ft.)

Mountain views

Bikes in the carpark near the top of Mt. Mitchell.
(and NO , I wasn't riding with them)

Weather can change quickly here

BanannaMan · 04-06-10, 05:14 AM

Postcard pic

Nice roads in the lower elevations as well.

(I've really got to get that **** light fixed)

This looked like a lovely spot to stop and take a break and get a pic of the bike.

I've heard people say they had a house on the lake but this is the first one I've seen that was really ...on the lake!

The parkway

Final view

It's nearly five miles via road to reach the section seen just to the right of center here decending the mountain.

pookie · 04-06-10, 06:35 AM

Great views. I feels I'm almost there.. I want to get out and about but all roads in essex are flat

STRAMASHER · 04-06-10, 06:58 AM

Great pics again BM.

Re-enforcing my view of how vast and varied you have it over that side of the pond. Beautiful. And, gawd, smooooth tarmac!

You have to travel far to get into the mountains?

_Stretchie_ · 04-06-10, 08:29 AM

Cool. That looks liek a great place to have a nice ride out to

Geodude · 04-06-10, 09:06 AM

Looks fantastic and no potholes

Luckypants · 04-06-10, 09:10 AM

I really think I need to start planning a trip over there! Looks awesome!

04-06-10, 04:27 AM	#1
BanannaMan Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Appalachia Posts: 419	The middle of nowhere Got away for a few days last weekend for a much needed break from work and some overdue riding time. Same old place... The small village of Little Switzerland, North Carolina and surrounding area is slowly becoming my home away from home. The only thing there is a few hotels and the "downtown" area (see pics) but if you want to get away from the rest of the world, this is the place. Great roads , great views, great people. Bike at hotel This year they were celebrating the village's 100th aniversary. Like most small towns and villages in this area, 100 years is very old. Most did not survive that long. And like most, prior to a hundred years ago there was nothing here. You lot are lucky to live in a land so rich with history. Interestingly, for all the swiss flags and waitresses in swiss outfits and such that they carry on. ..No one here is Swiss. The view here supposedly reminded the original landowner of the view from somewhere he had stayed in Switzerland and that's how it got the name. Like the rest of this area in North Carolina, almost everyone here is of Scottish decent. Little Switzerland downtown Bike and overflow parking at the post office across the street. A curvy still looks good in any crowd. Approaching the top of Grandfather Mountain (5,946 ft) on the Blue Ridge Parkway. __________________ ...Bill *"The Mountains are calling and I must go"* Last edited by BanannaMan; 04-06-10 at 05:18 AM.

04-06-10, 04:33 AM	#2
BanannaMan Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Appalachia Posts: 419	Re: The middle of nowhere If you look in the center of this pic you can see the bridge on the other side of the mountain where you will soon be. Grandfather Mountain from the south __________________ ...Bill *"The Mountains are calling and I must go"* Last edited by BanannaMan; 04-06-10 at 05:19 AM.

04-06-10, 04:53 AM	#3
BanannaMan Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Appalachia Posts: 419	Re: The middle of nowhere Bikes passing through Wildacres Tunnel. There are 25 tunnels on the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina. At speed you'd swear that sign reads Wildar5e Tunnel. LOL Clouds look odd here. Troubled skies over a small town in the valley Almost ghostly bits of clouds break off and head off down the mountain and settle like fog in the valley. breaking off and on down the mountain __________________ ...Bill *"The Mountains are calling and I must go"*

04-06-10, 05:05 AM	#4
BanannaMan Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Appalachia Posts: 419	Re: The middle of nowhere Near the top of Mount Mitchell (6684 ft.) Mountain views Bikes in the carpark near the top of Mt. Mitchell. (and NO , I wasn't riding with them) Weather can change quickly here __________________ ...Bill *"The Mountains are calling and I must go"* Last edited by BanannaMan; 04-06-10 at 05:26 AM.

04-06-10, 05:14 AM	#5
BanannaMan Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Appalachia Posts: 419	Re: The middle of nowhere Postcard pic Nice roads in the lower elevations as well. (I've really got to get that ** light fixed) This looked like a lovely spot to stop and take a break and get a pic of the bike. I've heard people say they had a house on the lake but this is the first one I've seen that was really ...on the lake! The parkway Final view It's nearly five miles via road to reach the section seen just to the right of center here decending the mountain. __________________ ...Bill "The Mountains are calling and I must go"** Last edited by BanannaMan; 04-06-10 at 05:28 AM.

04-06-10, 06:35 AM	#6
pookie Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Essex Posts: 938	Re: The middle of nowhere Great views. I feels I'm almost there.. I want to get out and about but all roads in essex are flat __________________ "an unedifying exercise in postmodern, operatic grunge" Was - 2000 Candy blue sv650s -2003 Sonic silver sv1000s Gone - 2007 Wildfire Orange Ninja zx6r Now - 2010 Triton blue sv650s -Back to the future Last edited by pookie; 04-06-10 at 06:42 AM.

04-06-10, 06:58 AM	#7
STRAMASHER Member Mega Poster Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Sunny Glasgow Posts: 1,715	Re: The middle of nowhere Great pics again BM. Re-enforcing my view of how vast and varied you have it over that side of the pond. Beautiful. And, gawd, smooooth tarmac! You have to travel far to get into the mountains?

04-06-10, 08:29 AM	#8
_Stretchie_ Large Member Mega Poster Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Minsterworth, Gloucester Posts: 2,353	Re: The middle of nowhere Cool. That looks liek a great place to have a nice ride out to __________________ How to amuze an idiot: Look right-> <-Look Left

04-06-10, 09:06 AM	#9
Geodude Member Mega Poster Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Durham Posts: 2,675	Re: The middle of nowhere Looks fantastic and no potholes __________________ Black naked 1999 sv650 which im trying to keep happy Custom paintwork *Saragon Customs* Spray painting *Electrical fault finding guide* and *Regulator rectifier test* Only a biker knows why a dog sticks his head out of a car window.

04-06-10, 09:10 AM	#10
Luckypants Moderator Mega Poster Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Nr Ruthin Posts: 7,079	Re: The middle of nowhere I really think I need to start planning a trip over there! Looks awesome! __________________ "Your Viffer sounds like it is raising hell! Spot on." - Witchery 17/4/08 Snow Plough Appreciation Society - Member #3

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