RESERVE
YOUR SPOT
(click
here)
Tour
Highlights:
Hiking, paddling,
and miles of rolling hills seemingly made just
for cyclists!
2008 dates
June 22 - 26, 2008
July 6 - 10, 2008
*
July 13 - 17, 2008
Aug. 24 - 28, 2008 *
Additional dates available for groups of 6 or more. Call us for more information.
Dates in GREEN have limited space remaining. Please
call a.s.a.p. if interested.
* Dates with an asterisk have a
guest enrolled who would like to be match with a roommate.
Please call for details.
2008 Tour Price:
$1,200 - 1,300
Discount
Details, Click Here!
Bike rental: $100.
Single occupancy room
supplement: $300.
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Exhilarating
road biking, exquisite dining, and spectacular mountain scenery await
you in the remote northwest corner of North Carolina. You'll bike
the famous Blue Ridge Parkway with its majestic views of the surrounding
mountains. Also leave the main routes behind as
we guide you on little known back roads with picturesque Christmas Tree
farms and trickling mountain streams. Along the way, you will step
back in time with visits to old-time country stores. Take time off
the bike to hike to a gushing mountain waterfall and paddle the
leisurely currents of the oldest river in America. Revel in low
humidity and mild temperatures and pamper yourself with a private
in-room Jacuzzi to rejuvenate yourself for the next day!
 Day
1: We meet in the
village of Blowing Rock at the historic Maple Lodge Bed and Breakfast in
the heart of the village. Arrive
early to take full advantage of the many activities available. A
welcome kit will be waiting on you at the inn. Included in this
kit are maps to area hiking trails as well as an optional bike route for
those who arrive early. We gather in the afternoon for
a brief bike fitting and meeting on bike safety while we enjoy getting to
know each other over hors d’eourves.
Afterwards, we will enjoy a fine meal at the highly regarded Crippen's
Restaurant, reviews of which you may read here.
Day
2: We
start the next morning with one of Maple Lodge's incomparable breakfasts prior to cycling south toward the peaks of Grandfather
Mountain. Biking south on a road that
follows the old Yonahlossee Trail, we approach and then skirt
Grandfather Mountain. After
a catered picnic lunch, we hike to a nearby overlook to observe
famous Linville Falls.
An optional bike route returning to the inn awaits those who wish to
climb over the shoulder of Grandfather Mountain. On this route, we
climb to approximately 4300 feet elevation and cross the famed Linn Cove
Viaduct which offers spectacular vistas. A thrilling descent takes
us down to the final climb of the day back to downtown Blowing
Rock. (Lookout for Kilwin's Ice Cream shop ahead on the
left.) The evening is yours to enjoy exploring the charm of Blowing
Rock "on your own", or you may opt to join your guides for a
casual dinner.
Day
3: Today, we bike the rural backroads and valley routes following another
old  stagecoach trail.
During the morning, we visit historic Mast General Store and pass through wooded mountain gaps dotted with Christmas tree farms and
grazing livestock. By lunch we make our way to historic Todd for a glimpse
into another "old time" general store of early 1900's North
Carolina. After our picnic lunch, we'll pedal along beside the gentle currents of the New River
for one of the few flat parts of the tour. We make our
way in the late afternoon to River House nestled in Grassy Creek, NC.
Late afternoon is yours to relax on the porch or take a quick
swim in the river prior to gathering in the evening. You may opt
for a massage from a highly acclaimed local massage therapist.
Find yourself a rocking chair on the front porch and enjoy
hors d'eourves and cocktails as the fireflies get into action along the riverbank.
After a gourmet dinner in the River House dining room, you may want to
walk up to the ridge top behind the farm for a view of the night sky,
free of light pollution.
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Day 4
finds us biking through tiny mountain
communities on county back roads before returning briefly to the famous Blue
Ridge Parkway. The rolling hills and scenic terrain of this
morning's ride are breathtaking. After our lunch on the banks of the New
River, we have the option of taking a break from the bike to "Canoe the New"
for a leisurely river trip through the New River Valley. We do have bike
routes available for those who wish to continue biking in the
afternoon. At the end of the day, River House provides yet another
spectacular meal as we commemorate our last evening together.
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Day
5: After an elegant early
breakfast at River House, our final day finds
us biking the Blue Ridge Parkway south. This is the most
challenging and exhilarating segment yet. Climbs and descents are
the order of the day. You will definitely feel
a sense of accomplishment after logging these beautiful miles.
(Parkway overlooks do give you a good excuse for frequent rest
breaks.) We'll take the Parkway all the
way to Blowing Rock for a
final catered lunch and hot showers at Maple Lodge.
"I
have been on three tours with a well-known company but this one easily
outdid them all! I had a great time, all of the guests were interesting
and fun and Greg and Anne are the best!"
-- Tom, Nolensville, TN
Lodging:
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Nights
1-2: Maple Lodge Bed
& Breakfast, Blowing Rock, NC.
You
will feel welcome at this historic inn nestled in the heart of
the village of Blowing Rock. Special touches like the beautiful
flower garden and diverse breakfast menu make your stay a Maple Lodge
comfortable. You'll be walking distance to everything: shops,
restaurants, and most importantly: ice cream!
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Nights
3-4: River
House,
Grassy Creek, NC. On the
site of an old farm overlooking the New River, guest rooms have been
created out of the old farm buildings. Each room reflects the
rustic farm setting, while offering a Jacuzzi hot tub, which you
will enjoy after a long bike ride. Gayle
Winston’s years of innkeeping experience are complemented by the
wonderful restaurant she runs onsite. You'll soon understand why
people regularly drive long distances for a sampling of River House
cuisine.
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Cycling:
This one is appropriate for intermediate or advanced bicyclists.
We recommend modern road bikes,
preferably with triple chainrings or large rear cogs. All biking
is on asphalt roads except for a few very short sections of packed
gravel. Our routes bypass the most challenging climbs in the area,
but there are very few flat sections. Distance options each day range from 30 to 60 miles, with optional side routes available to add
on miles. Terrain is a mix of rolling hills and strenuous
climbs. Traffic is minimal, thanks to our route and timing
selection. Our overall tour route is designed to minimize
shuttling--the longest van shuttle is 15 minutes if you bike all of the
base miles. The scenery is exceptional, including beautiful
dairy farms, Christmas tree farms, and the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Excellent
route-finding! You did a great job mapping out great rides! -- Bruce,
Cambridge, MA
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Getting to the Tour Start (Blowing
Rock, NC):
Airports:
Tri-Cities Airport (TRI) in Johnson City, TN is approximately 1-1/4 hours
away. www.triflight.com
Service is provided by American Connection, Delta Connection Carriers (ASA and Comair), U.S. Airways Express and Northwest Airlink.
Non-stop destinations are: Atlanta, Cincinnati, Charlotte, Memphis, Nashville, and Pittsburgh
Piedmont Triad International Airport (GSO)
in Greensboro is approximately 2-1/2 hours away. It is served by most
major airlines. www.flyfrompti.com
Charlotte/Douglas Airport (CLT) is
approximately 2-1/2 hours away. It is served by most major
airlines. www.charmeck.org/Departments/Airport/
Ground Transportation:
Several car rental agencies are available at each airport. Carolina Tailwinds also offers a complementary ground shuttle to/from the tour
if you fly in
and out of GSO (Greensboro). Call us for more details on ground
transportation options.
Airport Services of the High
Country, Blowing Rock, NC: Shuttle
service offered between Charlotte
or Tri-Cities Airports and Blowing Rock. $100/car, 1-4 passengers. Call
Rusty to arrange in advance. 828-295-7779
Driving: Blowing Rock is
91 miles from Charlotte, NC, 184 miles from Durham, NC, and 303 miles
from Atlanta, GA.
Timing: Arrival time of
the first day of the tour is flexible. Try to arrive in Blowing Rock no later than 5
p.m., or 4 p.m. if you are renting a bike from us. Departure time from
Blowing Rock on the last day is between 1-2 p.m..
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Call 888.251.3206
(or 336.794.1054) or click here to make your
reservation today!
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