Blues, Blue Ridge & BBQ – Guided Motorcycle Tour

Depart the UK on your chosen scheduled flight to New Orleans, Lousiana. Upon arrival, independently make your way to your hotel, where you spend the first night of your adventure.

Today you pick up your bike from the New Orleans EagleRider depot and ride out to explore the Antebellum Plantations and gardens, soaking in the landscape and cultural history of this special region. Tonight is your welcome dinner, celebrating the beginning of the magical journey you are about to make.

Today you begin your journey by riding out of New Orleans by way of the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway – at 28 miles, it is the longest bridge over water in the world. From there you spend the day riding the backroads of Mississippi, experience the first towns along the Blues Trail. Tonight you explore the great blues town of Natchez on the Banks of the Mississippi.

Today you continue to immerse yourself in the history of the Mississippi Blues. There are tonnes of Blue Trail Markers to hit today, as well as some incredibly preserved Juke Joints, such as Po’ Mokeys in Marigold. You’ll explore parts of the Natchez Trace and ride through plantations of cotton. The food, well that goes without saying –  it’s a menu of soul food, BBQ and sweet tea. There is a stop at the ‘Crossroads’ where Robert Johnson sold his soul to the devil. Your evening includes cold drinks and live blues.

Today is all about exploring Memphis. Music lovers around the world know Beale Street, a national historic landmark which showcases the impact Memphis has had on blues and jazz. Legends such as Louis Armstrong, Muddy Waters, Memphis Minnie and most notably B.B.King, all helped develop the style known as Memphis Blues. One of the City’s most important Rock and Roll icons is Sun Studio, Which discovered the talents of Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry lee Lewis and Roy Orbison. It is just a short ride from Clarkesville so you will have plenty of time to explore this amazing city.

From Memphis you head out of Tennessee and into Alabama where you’ll have time to explore the famous city of Muscle Shoals. Since the 1960’s, the city has been known for its music – developing the ‘Muscle Shoals Sound’ as local recording studios (including FAME Studios in the late 1950’s and Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in 1969) produced hit records that shaped the way of popular music. Tonight you spend along the shores of the mighty Tennessee River in the lively music and arts district.

Today you head north into the Appalachian foothills of Tennessee for a beautiful day riding along the winding and historic Natchez Trace Parkway. You’ll also make a stop st the Jack Daniels distillery for lunch and a guided tour of this famous site. Tonight you arrive in the Country Music Capital of the World – Nashville.

The Capital of Country Music throws its doors open to you today to explore. You have a free day to seek out some of its museums and icons such as the Grand Ole Opry and Country Music Hall of Fame.

Today you head towards the Appalachians and the Tail of the Dragon. Because you are staying in the nearby town of Townsend tonight, you’ll be able to ride up the 318 curves in 11 miles to Deals Gap and then turn around and come back down. Make sure that none of the fairings on your bike get nailed to the Tree of Shame! The last few miles of this day will stay with you forever.

This is your free day to explore as far and as wide as you would like. Out the back door is the Great Smokey Mountains National Park where twisty roads dominate. You could also head back and do some more laps of the Tail of the Dragon, explore the Native American history in the town of Cherokee or just enjoy a leisurely day by the river. Tonight you will enjoy a riverside BBQ.

Today you begin your journey on the Natchez Trace Parkway. And what a day, with endless views out across North Carolina and the perfectly surfaced parkway known as one of America’s greatest and most famous roads. Tonight is spent in the charming mountain town of Blowing Rock, offering boutique shops and brew pubs.

Your journey along the Blue Ridge continues as you drop into the music and history of the mountain people of this region, exploring places such as the Blue Ridge Mountain Centre and Mabry Mill. Next, you head into the last state – Virginia – where you spend the night in the historic Hotel Roanoke.

Your last day riding on the Blue Ridge will be leisurely with plenty of time to stop and explore. Speeds are slow but the views are spectacular with your biggest issue being the amount of wildlife along the road. Wild pigs and bears have been seen. Your hotel for the night is right on the edge of the parkway in rural Virginia.

Today you head towards the national capital of Washington, DC, but before you turn your bike in you will spend your morning cruising along the famous Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park. Next, get ready for a wonderful farewell dinner in the heart of DC.

Depending on your flight time, you may have a couple of hours for some final sightseeing in Washington, DC, or may even want to add some extra nights to your stay. If not, make your own way to the airport and check in for your flight back to the UK.