Catawba Meadows Park, Morganton, NC
September 18-20 (943 miles)
Thursday we met Omar at the Mobile Station on 74 in Leland. The Knobbies invite everyone to arrive a day early. Lunch somewhere in Gaston County at La Fiesta Grande on Black Dog Lane.
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| Early Arrival Thursday Afternoon |
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| Catawba Meadows Park |
We didn't camp this time, instead we stayed 3 miles away at the Morganton Days Inn on Interstate 40. Friday morning we did our own ride. First stop, Eurosport Asheville, then on to the Cradle of Forestry in Pisgah Forest on Highway 276. The Cradle of Forestry is a 6,500 acre Historic Site within the Pisgah National Forest, set aside by Congress to commemorate the beginning of forestry conservation in the United States. George Vanderbilt purchased the land for his Asheville Estate and after his death much of his property was deeded to the government for forest conservation. This is the first school of forestry in the United States.
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| Cradle of Forestry in America |
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| In the Museum - fire fighting helicopter simulator over a forest fire |
A German forester, Carl A. Schenck, was hired by Vanderbilt to manage the forest properties, restore the forest and start the first school of forestry.
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| Biltmore Campus Trail (1 mile) - First School of Forestry |
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| Dr. Schneck's Office |
Lunch at Pisgah Inn, a great ride on the Blue Ridge toward Morganton and back to the rally.
Saturday morning ride with the Knobbies to Mt. Mitchell with PO and Bobbie.
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| Museum of North Carolina Minerals Special Event - Revolutionary War Reinactment |
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| Ride to the Summit and then lunch at Mt. Mitchell State Park Restaurant |
After lunch, we rode the Blue Ridge from Mt. Mitchell to the 181 exit for Morganton.
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| Brown Mountain Overlook on 181 - first time to stop in the day. Last Knobbie rally a van took us here at night to see the Brown Mountain Lights. |
Back the rally site for dinner, DJ music and door prizes. Tony won a very nice t-shirt donated by Eurosport BMW. One of the Knobbies donated a lot of motorcycle clothing and I found a perfect pair of gloves to replace the ones I lost.
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| Fire inside hollowed out log |
Sunday ride home was a wonderful finish to 4 perfect weather days, great roads and scenery.
