Biker Rags

DAY RIDE TO BRISTOL- VIRGINIA AND TENNESSEE

Jeff is ready to ride.
Jeff is ready to ride.

On Wednesday, June 10, 2015- we took a Day Ride. Our destination was The Birthplace of Country Music Museum in Bristol, Virginia.

Jeff kicks off our day in this short video:

It was a beautiful morning as we left our home in North Knoxville at 9:15am. We rode north on Broadway, taking 33 through Maynardville and then to Tazewell. In Tazewell, we took 25E north.

We stopped briefly to fuel up and eat a quick snack, then rode through Harrogate and into Virginia where we rode east on 58.

Highway 58 going into Virginia.
Highway 58 as we get into Virginia.

58 is a beautiful road. It starts out as a four lane road, then narrows down to a two lane road.

At an overlook in Virginia just above Pennington Gap.
At an overlook in Virginia just above Duffield, VA.

As we head into Bristol, just above Kingsport, highway 58 turns into a twisty two lane road that rides up into the mountains and then right into Bristol, Virginia.

On 58 heading into Brisol, VA. Almost there.
On 58 heading into Brisol, VA. Almost there.

Once in Bristol, we rode straight to The Birthplace of Country Music Museum. The museum opened in August of 2014.

The Birthplace of Country Music Museum in Bristol, VA.
The Birthplace of Country Music Museum in Bristol, VA.

Once inside the museum, we were greeted by a super friendly staff. They told us the layout of the museum, we paid our entry fee ($13.00 per person) and off we went.

A beautiful contemporary interior.
A beautiful contemporary interior.

First we checked out an installation donated by the Smithsonian in the Special Exhibits Gallery. This exhibit featured early country roots, bluegrass, and blues.

The Diddley Bow- an early musical instrument. Cool!
The Diddley Bow- an early musical instrument. Cool!

We then watched a short, nicely done video in the upper theater. We learned the history of the Bristol sessions in 1927 and how this era set the stage for most of the recorded country music at the time. After the video, the doors opened to the rest of the museum.

A wall commemorating the Bristol Sessions.
A wall commemorating the Bristol Sessions.
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Pamo listens to an early music recording.
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Jeff loves reading about the history.
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Be sure to sign the large marker board when you visit.

After spending about an hour and a half inside the museum, we then walked across the street to the beautiful Cumberland Square Park opposite the museum.

Pamo takes the stage with a life size sculpture.
Pamo takes the stage with a life size sculpture.
The Cumberland Square Park is a Veteran's Memorial.
The Cumberland Square Park is also a Veteran’s War Memorial.

After spending a short time enjoying the park, we rode a few blocks over to the world famous Burger Bar restaurant.

Burger Bar in downtown Bristol.
Burger Bar in downtown Bristol.

Legend has it that this may be the last place Hank Williams was seen alive. No one knows for sure, but it’s a great story.

We're ready to eat!
We’re ready to eat!
We ordered custom burgers, fries, and onion rings. DELICIOUS!!!!
We ordered burgers, fries, and onion rings. DELICIOUS!!!! They make ’em any way you want ’em!
The staff at the Burger Bar is super friendly. A very cool place! We highly recommend it.
The staff at the Burger Bar is super friendly. A very cool place! We highly recommend it.

We didn’t have room for dessert, so we packed up and rode a few miles south.

Historical marker in downtown Bristol, near the Bristol sign.
Historical marker in downtown Bristol, near the Bristol sign.
And here is the famous Bristol sign that separates Virginia and Tennessee.
And here is the famous Bristol sign that separates Virginia and Tennessee.
A beautifully reconditioned railroad station just below the Bristol sign.
A beautifully reconditioned railroad station just below the Bristol sign.

After admiring the sign, we headed south looking for 11W.

Jeff checks the map. We're heading toward 11W.
Jeff checks the map.

The map indicated that 394 would intersect with 11W so we continued on. And we were so glad we did because we got to see the Bristol Motor Speedway.

Bristol Motor Speedway- 4th largest sports venue in America. Holds 160,000 people! (That's about 60,000 more than Neyland Stadium.)
Bristol Motor Speedway- 4th largest sports venue in America. Holds 160,000 people! (That’s about 60,000 more than Neyland Stadium.)
And don't forget the Bristol Motor Drag Way.
And don’t forget the Bristol Motor Drag Way.

After gawking for a few minutes, we continued on to 11W. We rode south through Kingsport where we stopped once again for fuel.

We then rode through Rogersville.

The view from 11W.
The view from 11W.
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Hi Pamo.

We stopped in Mooresburg to get a cool drink and shoot a couple of short videos (just for fun).

Cherry Ice. Yum!
Cherry Ice. Yum!

After our short break, we continued on 11W. When we got to Rutledge, we stopped to see a replica of Andrew Johnson’s Tailor Shop.

Placard tells the story about the tailor shop in Rutledge.
Placard tells the story about the tailor shop in Rutledge.
There's Jeff sitting on the bench next to the tailor shop. The building is a replica of the original shop.
Jeff sits on the bench next to the tailor shop. The building is a replica of the original shop.

We then got back on 11W and road the remaining trip back into Knoxville. It was fun to see all the commemorative signs declaring 11W part of the First State Road that runs from Memphis to Bristol. You can see the T-DOT map HERE.

We got back home at 7:15pm and our total ride was 280 miles. What a great day!

We wrap up the ride in this video:

You can view our entire list of DAY RIDES by CLICKING HERE.