Ride With Norman Reedus – Appalachia: Blue Ridge Parkway

By starrymag | June 28, 2016

By: Jennifer Vintzileos

 

Last week, we were treated to a fun little jaunt through Nevada to Death Valley with Balthazar Getty. This week, Norman takes the ride back to the East Coast. He heads to his current “The Walking Dead” stomping grounds in Georgia to the iconic Blue Ridge Parkway.

 

As a treat, we also learn a little more about Norman’s first time on a motorcycle at 13 years old, where he was riding his friend’s YZ-80 (Yamaha) and landed in the hospital after attempting to do a wheelie. Of course, when he was better, he got on again, attempted a wheelie again and went right back to the hospital. The whole “falling off the bike, get right back on” adage proves true since Norman is still riding today so let’s get into this week’s episode!

 

Pre-Ride:

 

Starting in Atlanta, Georgia, Norman starts the journey by heading over to Brother Moto in East Atlanta to meet up with Jason Paul Michaels, Founder and Owner of Standard Motorcycle Company. This is a motorcycle co-op, custom shop and education center. For this ride, Jason is riding a red Motus MST as Norman is outfitted with a Confederate X132 Hellcat Speedster.

 

Deciding to check out Brother Moto before getting on the road, Norman  and Jason go inside and ogle over the Yamahas and BMW bikes throughout the shop. And, in typical Reedus fashion, they also chat with a group of women who are part of the riding club Lady Fingers.

 

Day 1:

 

When Norman and Jason do get on the road, their first destination is Apex Cycle Shop. It is a well-kept secret for vintage BMW and Ducati repairs located at the foothills of the mountains in Ellijay, Georgia. Run by husband/wife team Rachel and Wes Burden, their expertise in BMW’s and Ducati’s has afforded them quite the name in vintage bike repair and restoration. Rachel then shares with Norman and Jason about her family’s history with bikes, how even her grandparents were big into riding. For Rachel and Wes, there’s a story with older bikes, a soul.

 

Later, Norman and Jason join Rachel and Wes on a short ride for some fried pies at Walker’s Fried Pies & Barbeque. As a bonus, the guys get to choose two bikes from Apex to ride to the eatery. Jason gets to ride a 1954 BMW R51/3 while Norman chooses a 1954 BMW R69S. As they nosh on freshly made treats, Norman talks about a bit of his “The Walking Dead” experiences, including when the cast sits down with the writers for the upcoming season. And, of course, the only question he has every season is whether or not Daryl gets to ride a motorcycle.

 

Parting ways with Rachel and Wes, the guys continue their ride over Fontana Dam, built during WWII to help create the energy to build airplanes during wartime. From there, the boys reach their first night destination: The Dragon and Deals Gap Motorcycle Resort. Their night is complete with mini-bike races and spending time with several other riders and motorcycle enthusiasts.

 

Day 2:

 

The next morning, both Norman and Jason switch bikes with one another and head out on a 70-mile ride towards the Blue Ridge Parkway. Along the way, the two men stop in Cherokee, North Carolina. There, Norman finds himself posing with a giant Cherokee statue at Indian Ink Tattoo Shop and enjoying some good-old Southern cooking at Granny’s Kitchen.

 

Back on the road, Jason tells Norman about a place called Freedom Biker Church, where Pastor Bulldog has an affinity for all things motorcycles and Jesus. And so, Norman and Jason stop for a little bit of spiritual socializing and Port-A-Potty races with the congregation.

 

After church, their next stop includes a ride to Howling Moon Distillery for some moonshine and a tour of the facilities. Chivous Downey and Cody Bradford, the founders of Howling Moon, take Norman and Jason through their process to create authentic moonshine, including bringing them into the potent “mash room” and introducing them to members of the Bradford family, who shared their own stories about running moonshine. As the guys get ready to leave, they are gifted with some moonshine for the road.

 

Final Destination:

 

Norman and Jason finally make their way to their final stop on the ride, A Broken Spoke Motorcycle Shop in Asheville, North Carolina. A Broken Spoke is a place for riders to bring in their bikes and fix them up, decked out with shelves and shelves of spare parts. Jason is in his element in the shop, even exuding a child-like giddiness over a specific seat.

 

At A Broken Spoke, Norman reflects on the ride itself, finding that from every shop and rider that they met, there’s a sense of community and brotherhood. It doesn’t matter where you go, as they’re all spokes of the same wheel. They all share the free spirit that comes with a ride.

 

Later, as Norman and Jason stop for some ice cream where they take the advice of Rachel and Wes and decide to go check out Cherohala Skyway on their ride back. Another awesome adventure for the books!

 

Come back next week as Norman is joined by New York artist Jake Lamagno for a ride through Texas, from Austin to San Antonio. And as an added bonus for you horror fans, Robert Rodriguez!

 

Check out the links below for people and places mentioned in this week’s show:

Brother Moto: www.brothermoto.com 

Standard Motorcycle Company: www.standardmotorcycleco.com 

Apex Cycle Shop: www.apexcycleshop.com

Deals Gap Motorcycle Resort: www.dealsgap.com

Indian Ink Tattoo Shop: www.indianinknc.com

Granny’s Kitchen: www.grannyskitchencherokee.com

Freedom Biker Church: www.freedombikerchurch.com

Howling Moon Distillery: www.howlingmoonshine.com