First Ride of 2026 and First After Surgery!

 

The sheep in Tennessee country were curious when I stopped by

 

This may be a lot later than most riders in the southern states of North America, but I went on my first motorcycle ride in 2026 and the first after my aortic heart valve replacement.  Wow, it felt great!

In August 2025 my family doctor heard a heart murmur.  No other doctor had every mentioned hearing a murmur so it was new development.  A echocardiogram was ordered.  Two weeks later the doc is telling me I have stenosis in my aortic valve (stenosis is narrowing and stiffening of the valve) which is not good.  

A trip to Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee for more tests and consultation took place.  We were told I had a bicuspid valve, which is a birth defect, instead of a normal tricuspid valve and it would eventually fail.  A replacement was needed.

October 22 at 5:30am I checked in for a mini aortic heart valve replacement and later that day I awoke with a new bovine heart valve.  Recovery was slow at first but in the last six weeks I have progressed well and have gained endurance and strength.  So it was time for a ride!

A sunny day and an old country church made for my first 2026 ride photo stop

Fun ahead!  No straight roads on this ride

 

February 2, 2026 was sunny and temperatures rose to the upper 40's.  I geared up for a short ride after the longest period without riding since I first started riding motorcycles in March of 2004.  I headed to a nearby road that I enjoy and I could not stop smiling.  The Indian operated like it should and I enjoyed the curves with confidence.

Although it was a short jaunt, by design, it made me feel good about my recovery and now I am looking forward to more days that are warmer and hopefully dry.  Today has been warmer, but rainy.

Short ride but a good one for the first after heart valve replacement surgery

I plan to get some more miles ridden before the end of March in preperation for a trip to the Texas Hill Country.  Some friends and I will be heading to the Texas Hill Country for four days of riding and then two days attending the MotoGP races at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin.  Of course we will ride the Three Twisted Sisters while in the Hill Country, eat Texas BBQ and some Tex-Mex!

It was great to be back on the motorcycle after 3+ months and I am so blessed the surgery and recovery has been successful.  I am also so blessed to have a wonderful, knowledgeable and caring wife to help me through it all, as well as supportive and prayerful children, family and friends.  Thank you all!

Ride carefully and prayerfully!    

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"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." - Proverbs 3:5-6 

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Bob's Cafe - Ethridge, Tennessee

When out riding a good hamburger for lunch is hard to beat and I have been known to plan routes to coincide lunch with a good burger joint.  One of my all time favorite restaurant for a burger is Burger Land in Paris, Texas and is the benchmark for great burgers.  Recently, after a fun time at a local gun range, my son and I decided a hamburger and fries sounded good.  I had seen and heard about Bob's Cafe in Ethridge, TN.  We headed that direction and were hoping we would not be disappointed. 

Bob's Cafe sits on the west side of US 43 adjacent to the Amish Welcome Center & Wagon Tours.  Which if you have time riding around the large Amish community is very interesting and shopping at the Amish market is fun.  Note - the Amish market and Amish family businesses are closed on Sundays.

Signs at the end of Amish driveways states what is made and sold by that family

A traditional Amish home with a white farm house and a red barn.

 The Amish community in Ethridge is a thriving and productive community.  It is fun to ride or drive around and see the farms and the products made and sold by each family.  After lunch my son and I visited a couple of families that built cedar chests as I was searching for my wife's birthday gift.  The next week I ending up buying a four level bird house from one family and a cedar chest for my wife's birthday from a different family.  The protocol is to drive up the the house and someone will come and you ask to see the cedar chests (or whatever it is you are looking for that they sell).  The people were very friendly and helpful.  Take cash as they do not accept checks or credit cards.

Bob's Cafe is easy to spot from US-43

Bob's has plenty of parking and a simple country style front porch.  As we entered we received a friendly and warm welcome before being seated promptly.  Tables are spaced with plenty of room and the decor is country, welcoming and comfortable.

Country decor and comfortable seating

The menu had several great options so we considered some of the options but Richard and I were craving a good country hamburger.  Of course we were able to individually customize our burger.

There are plenty of good options at Bob's Cafe.

As we waited for lunch we enjoyed the laid-back atmosphere.  I noticed some motorcycle related signs on the walls and that piqued my interest.  I went to wash my hands before eating and notice even more motorcycle related items and a China cabinet turned trophy case that caught my eye.

In the cabinet/trophy case there was a motorcycle helmet and two simple trophies with a motorcycle  on each one.  As I read the trophies I was impressed.  Each one was from the Bonneville Motorcycle Speed Trials! 

500CC and 2000CC land speed records

The trophies were engraved with the following:

Bonneville Speedweek            Bonneville Speedweek

2006                                         2006

Aug 12 - 18th                                Aug 12 - 18th  

Record                                         Record

#6211B                                         #609B

Goldwing Lyon Bobbi              Goldwing Lyon Bobbi

500cc / MPS-VBF                  2000cc / M - BG

69.427 MPH                           129.629 MPH

I asked if Bobbi was around, but she was not.  Bob's Cafe is named after Bobbi and she is there sometimes.  I hope to get to meet her and visit with her on one of my next visits.  

Back to lunch - The burgers and fries arrived in a timely manner and were made just as we ordered.  The meat was fresh and seasoned well, but not over seasoned.  The "fixin's" were also fresh and tasty.  Richard added bacon and he said it was good bacon (as though there is bad bacon :) ).  

 

The traditional hamburger and fries tasted great and satisfied our hankering.  We both enjoyed the food and the atmosphere.  I will be returning to Bob's Cafe.  If you find yourself near Ethridge, TN and its time for lunch or dinner give Bob's a try, I believe you will be happy with your meal.

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* I have personally ordered from and/or visited these businesses and based on my experiences I recommend this company.  I have an affiliate relationship with the businesses, which means if you follow this link and purchase, I will receive a small commission and will get to ride more!
 

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Best Tennessee Motorcycle Roads!

 

After almost 61 years I have moved from Texas and now a home owner and resident in Pulaski, Tennessee..  Born to lifetime Texans on a 163 acre Texas farm I never had a serious plan to move out of state.  But love and life has me excited about our move to Tennessee.  With the intertwining history of the two states I found a lot of positive similarities between Texans and Tennesseans; the friendliness, helpfulness, the wave when vehicles pass on rural roads, the independent spirit and the love for freedom.  

The rolling hills, rivers and historic sites are all around Pulaski and Tennessee in general.  Northwest Alabama is just 20 minutes from the house, the Natchez Trace is about 45 minutes away and the foothills of the Smoky Mountains can be reached in 2 hours or so.

2017 BTH tour - riding the Tail of The Dragon.  VFR1200 was a fun bike - wrap by NovoWorks

As I begin planning future motorcycle routes I find myself getting excited about the rolling hills, the running streams and rivers, the Smoky Mountains, the historic sites, the twisty roads and the light traffic.  I also love finding the "out of the way" eateries. I am looking forward to planning, organizing and enjoying another Beat The Heat tour.  I am excited to return to many of the places I have ridden before and visiting many new places.

 

BTH group enjoyed riding The Rattler

 

All of the possibilities of great riding prompted me to reminisce about past rides, trips and tours involving riding in Tennessee and/or west North Carolina.  I reviewed previous blog posts about some of those rides and smiled.  Check out reports from previous Tennessee trips and/or rides.  

Leave me a comment with suggestions of roads, sites and/or restaurants I need to riding in the upcoming months.

One of my favorite roads - Wayah Road i.e. CO road 1399

Tail of the Dragon - of course! 

Cumberland Gap and Pinnacle Point

Cherohala Skyway

Wheels Through Time Museum

The Rattler  

Check out the Motorcycles Facts, Trivia and History page

Ride carefully and prayerfully!    

 Top Five Oz Videos

  

Connect and follow Biker Oz on the following:

        

Ordinary Biker Oz YouTube Channel has video reviews and more

Christian Motorcyclists Association

Come Ride With Us 

Please visit the following great companies:

THE ESSENTIALS FOR MODERATE SELF-IMPROVEMENT

 

Awesome gear for every rider!

* I have personally ordered from and/or visited these businesses and based on my experiences I recommend this company.  I have an affiliate relationship with the businesses, which means if you follow this link and purchase, I will receive a small commission and will get to ride more!
 

Feedback on these businesses is appreciated.  You may comment below.

 

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." - Proverbs 3:5-6 

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Scenic Roads #1 - #5

This is part 2 of 2 about my choice of the top ten scenic roads I have ridden.

Part 1 of 2 - Scenic Roads #6 - #10 post        video

As stated in part 1 - "Scenic Roads" are roads with great views and/or wildlife viewing opportunities.  These views are worth slowing down for and/or parking the bike to enjoy the surroundings for a moment.  Some of the "roads" I have chosen are really combinations of roads fitting together as one ride/route.

5) Tennesse 165/ North Carolina 143 a.k.a. Cherohala Skyway  - Map -  43 miles.  The Cherohala Skyway runs from Tellico Plains, TN (860 feet) to the Santeetiah Gap (2,660 feet) north of Robbinsville, NC.  The Santeetiah Overlook is the highest overlook of the Skyway at 5,390 feet.  The Skyway has a great combination of twisties and sweeping curves.  There are numerous overlooks along the road, each provides an awesome view of the Smoky Mountains. The Skyway runs though the Cherokee and Nantahala National Forests and very little signs of civilization are seen, other the road and the vehicles on it.

Cherohala Skyway on the NC side

4) Yellowstone National Park roads - Map - 310 miles of paved road.  The roads in Yellowstone National Park provides the most diverse and unique scenery of any road I have traveled and of course home of the world famous Old Faithful.  The park roads run through Lamar Valley, known as America's Serengeti because the amount of wildlife in the valley (the valley is home to bison, elk, wolves, and has the highest concentration of grizzly bears) and Hayden Valley, also home to a large amount of wildlife. Eagle Peak (11,358 ft - highest peak in YNP) and Mt. Washburn (10,219 ft) are two of the many awesome mountains in the park.  Geysers, waterfalls, rivers, canyons, valleys, mountains, wildlife, wildflowers are all park of the experience as you ride through the park. The 45 mph speed limits and "bison jams" (everyone stops when they see wildlife) means there is not any knee dragging or floorboard scraping, but the views are great!

 Lower Falls in the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is spectacular

 

I really struggled on the order of the top 3 on my list.  I kept switch them back and forth.  I finally just had to make a decision - here it goes.

3) Colorado 550 a.k.a. Million Dollar Highway - Map - 70 miles.  The official Million Dollar Highway is the 25 miles between Ouray and Silverton, but most people refer to the entire stretch from Durango to Ouray as the Million Dollar Highway.  The road transverses (south to north) Coal Bank Pass (10,640 ft), Molass Pass (10,910 ft), and Red Mountain Pass (11,018 ft).  CO 550 cuts through the Uncompahgre and San Juan National Forests and runs along the Animas River on the southern end.  With steep cliffs, high road grades, narrow lanes, hairpin turns, sweeping curves, and a lack of guardrails caution and care is vital.  The mountain peaks are plentiful and high.  There are 13 mountains over 14,000 ft in the area.  The historic towns of Ouray, Silverton, and Durango have a lot to offer including the famous Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad.  The views are breathtaking, so pull over and enjoy, there is not a lot of "forgiveness" on these mountain roads.

Million Dollar views and curves on CO 550

2) US 212 (Montana and Wyoming) a.k.a. The Beartooth Highway - Map - 67 miles (Red Lodge, MT - Cooke City, MT).  Beartooth Highway crosses the Beartooth Mountains from Montana to Wyoming back to Montana with about 34 miles in Wyoming.  Passing through parts of Shoshone National Forest and Custer National Forest the road zig zags up the mountain to the 10,947 foot Beartooth Pass and spectacular vistas.  Some of the switchbacks are really sharp, but quite enjoyable.  Near the pass the road levels off on a plateau offering views for miles (on a clear day)!  Numerous lakes can be seen from the road including Beartooth Lake at 9,000 ft.  Bear, wolf, mountain goat, and various species of birds have been seen in the area.  A great place to stop for refreshments is the Top of the World Store and Resort.  Enjoy a cold drink from the porch at 9,400 ft and soak in the view.

Oz leading the group on Beartooth Highway - July 2010

 

1) US 34 Colorado a.k.a. Trail Ridge Road (TRR) through Rocky Mountain National Park - Interactive Map - 64 miles (including Bear Lake Road and Moraine Ave).  The combination of wildlife and views propelled Trail Ridge Road to the #1 spot.  The amount of wildlife I have seen while traveling this road exceeds all others.  Bighorn Sheep, elk, dear, coyote, and fox are common.  Not as common is moose, but my son and I have seen three moose northeast of Grand Lake in the Kawuneeche Vallwy on two different occasions.  TRR ascends above timberline to an altitude of 12,183 feet giving US 34 the distinction of being the highest continuous highway in America.  TRR crosses the Continental Divide at Milner Pass (10,759 ft).  TRR passes the Alpine Visitor Center which sits at 11,796 ft and has a restaurant, snack bar, gift shop, and restrooms, it is a great place to take a break and enjoy the surroundings. TRR overlooks west of Milner Pass provide views of the Colorado River Headwaters, Mount Ida (12,880 ft) and Kawuneeche Valley.

The sights are too numerous to mention all of them.  This road is well traveled, but well worth the time.  I think you find all 10 Scenic Roads great rides and you will take a lot of photos.

Link to video of Scenic Roads #1 - #5

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Great routes for the Fall

The following is a guest post with some great ideas.

3 Great Routes in the USA for Autumn Riding

In the United States, the fall season is one of the most-loved times of the year. The air is beginning to chill, but the sun is still golden with warmth during the day. The leaves paint the landscape with vibrancy, and for motorcycle lovers, the open road is the place to be. Temperatures and weather conditions are perfect for riding, and interstates are often free of congestion, as school is back in session.

 Bright Autumn colors (photo from www.wikimediacommons.org)

This year, find some time to take your bike out for a peaceful ride through the countryside or down one of these three routes, which often boast the best in autumn leaf colors and natural landscapes.

Interstate 93

New England is one of the best places in the United States for fall foliage, and I-93 is a great road to take to see the best of what the region has to offer. The interstate’s southern-most point is in Canton, Massachusetts, near Boston, and its northern-most point is near St. Johnsbury, Vermont. For most of its length, the interstate indirectly parallels U.S. Route 3, so if you feel like veering off the path and getting into more rural territory, you have that option. With a path that runs through Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont, I-93 also goes through the White Mountain National Forest and is just a short drive from Mount Washington in New Hampshire.

U.S.Route 23/Interstate 26

Beginning in Ashland, Kentucky, U.S. Route 23 winds south through the Appalachian hills of the eastern part of the state. Once in Tennessee, you’ll veer off onto Interstate 26, which will take you through the thick of the Cherokee National Forest and the boundaries of the Great Smoky Mountains. Keep traveling southeast through the hills of North Carolina, and you will have followed nearly the same route of many of America’s frontiersmen. This route is one of the best, yet least talked about, for fall colors and natural landscapes. There are also plenty of two-road rural roads to exit off and on to throughout the trip. Just be sure to bring along a map or GPS to find connections back onto the interstate. 

 Smoky Mountains near Tennessee/North Carolina state line

(photo by Motor Oz during 2011 summer trip)

The Scenic Byways of Yellowstone National Park

Fall in Yellowstone is quite different from the northeast and southeast parts of the country. Foliage is sparse, but the natural landscape as a whole is breathtaking. To get the most out of your Yellowstone experience, book a room at a lodge and plan to take a few days to complete all of the park’s scenic byways. Road options to travel include U.S. Route 191 (which links to Big Sky, Montana from the north and Grand Teton from the south), U.S. Route 212 (which runs northeast through Cooke City, Montana and Red Lodge, Montana) and U.S. Route 14 (which connects to Cody, Wyoming), among smaller routes in the center of the park.

 US 212 a.k.a. Beartooth Highway

(photo by Motor Oz during summer 2010 trip)

Stacy Holmes is a freelance blogger for www.MotorcycleInsurance.com. She’s been a motorcycle enthusiast since childhood and loves to write about purchasing and maintaining a bike and having fun on the open road. Please leave your comments or questions for Stacy below!

Cherohala Skyway - A Must Ride Scenic Byway

Tellico Plains is known to bikers because it is the western gateway to the Cherohala Skyway, "A drive above the clouds."  The national scenic byway was opened and dedicated in 1996 and is well deserving of it's designation and the small Charles Hall Museum in Tellico Plains is also a well deserved destination.

The skyway is a favorite of motorcyclists and non-motorcyclists alike.  In Tennessee the skyway is TN 165 and North Carolina labels it NC 143.  At the eastern end of the skyway is Robbinsville it connects to US 129 a.k.a. The Tail of the Dragon.  The skyway passes through the Cherokee National Forest and at times through clouds, much like the day we headed home during our July 2011 trip.

View from an overlook on the skyway

 

The 43 mile two-lane byway is well maintained with numerous scenic pullouts/overlooks as well as access to the Indian Boundary Lake Recreation Area.  Elevation ranges from 930 ft above sea level to at the Tellico Plains River in Tennessee to 5390 ft at Haw Knob on the NC/TN state line.

Indian Boundary Lake - just off the Cherohala Skyway

View of the Smoky Mountains from the Cherohala Skyway

Sweeping curves, tight switchbacks, great elevation change, and renowned scenic views make the Cherohala Skyway a bikers road.  The long sweeping curves allows continuous acceleration with a hard lean into the curve providing for a big grin as you exit the curve and prepare for the next one.

Sweeping curves = big grins

Shortly after leaving Tellico Plains there is a good series of tight curves and elevation change.  In the middle portion of the Skyway there are more of the sweeping curves and longer straightaways.  As the skyway nears Santeetiah Lake there are more of the tighter curves and the road descends form the higher elevations.

The one of the many curves on the Skyway 

The skyway twists and turns around the southern end of the Santeetiah Lake providing great views and more opportunities to drag floorboards (if you are on a cruiser - the FJR loved the road and ate up the curves).  The skyway intersects the famous US 129 just 5 miles west of Robbinsville, NC and 16 miles east of Deals Gap store and the Tail of the Dragon.

We had a great time riding the Cherohala Skyway on the way to Robbinsville.  We enjoyed it so much we rode it again as we headed home from our trip.  This road will not disappoint a biker regardless of the speed one wants to ride.  One can ride it nice and slow to enjoy all the views or at a crisp pace smiling on every turn.  This is a great American scenic byway with great destinations at both ends.

Ride carefully and prayerfully!    

 Top Five Oz Videos

  

Connect and follow Biker Oz on the following:

        

Ordinary Biker Oz YouTube Channel has video reviews and more

Christian Motorcyclists Association

Come Ride With Us 

Please visit the following great companies:

THE ESSENTIALS FOR MODERATE SELF-IMPROVEMENT

 

Awesome gear for every rider!

* I have personally ordered from and/or visited these businesses and based on my experiences I recommend this company.  I have an affiliate relationship with the businesses, which means if you follow this link and purchase, I will receive a small commission and will get to ride more!
 

Feedback on these businesses is appreciated.  You may comment below.

 

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." - Proverbs 3:5-6 

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