Favorite roads
You know, in this country we have some of the finest motorcycling roads known to man. Depending on what part of the country you are from you may have heard of The Dragon, The devil's Backbone, The Strand, The Blue Ridge Parkway or, one of my personal favorites, The trip through the Great Smokey Mountains. But I've come to realize over the years that there really are more interesting roads around than I probably ever will know about. You know the ones I mean. The little "alphabet" highways and secondary roads that are off the beaten path that only connect small town to small town, many of which don't even show up on state maps. My own home field (Missouri) is loaded with them. Winding little asphalt threads that break off the main routes and twist through the hills, forests and sleepy little villages. One of the finest motorcycle roads in the U.S. is actually right out my back door. It is Missouri route 32 begining from US Route 63 in Licking, MO and running east to US Route 67 at Park Hills, MO south os St. Louis. That little route is about 80 miles of hills, sweeping turns, a few tight switch backs and beautiful scenery. The traffic is usually fairly light, especially if you can make the ride during the week, and picks up to moderate on the weekends during the summer. Lot's of good opportunities for passing when encountering that traffic though that are scattered between sections that are tight and challenging. Missouri Highway 32 has been listed as one of the top ten in the US by a couple of motorcycle mags in years past and we have had out of town tourers stop by Interstate Motorcycles and ask how to find it specifically. As a bonus there are plenty of great roads around 32 and lot's off appealing ways just to get you to it.
How 'bout you? Got any favorites you'd like to share?
2 Comments:
Hey Slam -- Howyadoin?
Greetings from a former "wish she was again" cyclist and a student of yours. I wanted to contribute to your blog...
My love of roads didn't stop when I went back to 4 wheels. Didn't even stop when I had to give up the sports car for the family car and then the road hog SUV. A good road, good tunes on the radio, and the beautiful creations of God work to calm my nerves no matter what I drive.
Missouri is a great place to drive. For the most part, you can plan a day or weekend trip anywhere in Missouri, find good roads, and interesting places to stop along the way. Since I became a mom 7 years ago, I've learned the technique of driving two hours and taking a 30 minute break to snack and play! Any road that makes my son car sick is a good road!
I drive to the Southeast often, since my folks live in Florida, and my favorite route takes me south from St. James on Hwy 68 to Salem and then south from there on Hwy 19 to Winona. These roads can be quite busy during the summer, but the car sick quotient is very high! Along the way, you can stop to visit the Dent county courthouse in Salem (cool architecture in a true old fashioned town square), Round Spring (nice picnicing, wading, hiking) and Eminence(fun restaurants and shopping, hillbilly style).
For a short, fast run to get your blood flowing, I take Hwy 68 south of St. James to YY. YY goes past Cook Station, which used to be a bustling railroad town. It is now nearly a ghost town. You can still see the big concrete holding tank behind the old Hotel/Mercantile where the steam trains filled their boilers. The river here is the Meramec when it is still a shallow spring feed creek. Also in Cook Station is the UMC Wurdack farm. Turning north from Cook Station, take M up to Hwy 8. Nice, curvy, hilly, almost deserted road through the woods. At Hwy 8, you can go back west to Meramec Springs Park and St. James, or go east to Steelville. Great way to spend an hour or two, depending on your speed and what stops you make.
Keep on biking Slam, and one of these days, one of those Brevas will be mine! Jello
Can't forget Hwy 17, Buckhorn to Houston. Great fun there also. Then there is Hwy 19, which I like to get on any where I can.
Hwy K is a great road, going down to Akers Ferry.
Plus you can take a ride on the ferry if you have the time.
Yes there are some great roads in the local area. Just south of the border are some also great roads for those who like to make it an all day ride. Those who don't like bugs or too much wind need not apply.
Maybe Slam needs to start Thursday night rides again?
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