These Bikes Are Made For Riding...

Originally Published in Southeastern Rider Magazine, June 2018

…and that’s just what we’ll do. Someday we’re going to ride these bikes to go and buy some shoes.

With apologies to Nancy Sinatra, I’m pulling the cat right out of the bag, and letting you know this ride was to a shoe store. For nearly all of us, it’s not really about the destination, it’s all about the route. Funny thing, my riding partner is the one with the shoe fetish, but I wasn’t leading the ride, just happy to follow along.

Our Full trip, including a first leg to Richfield to meet Terry and Kina,
our road captains for the day.
Map Image complements for Microsoft's Street & Trips.

Kasey, my shoe loving riding partner, and I started out late in the morning on Sunday. The sky was dotted with fair weather clouds, backgrounded by Carolina Blue Skies. We made our way through Stanfield on Highway 200, going north. Locust, our former home town, is adjacent to Stanfield. Locust has been the one of the two towns to see more growth, mostly because it’s split by Highway 24/27. 

We turn right, heading east on the highway for a short time. After passing an elementary school, we change lanes, and slow to make a turn across traffic onto Coley Store Road. You don’t leave the highway too far behind in the mirrors before the homes slowly dissappear, and the wide open spaces, populated with crops and cattle, are the most popular sites. The road gently rolls up and down as much as it does left and right. The pastures look bare from the cattle stripping the grass clean. The water in ponds mirror the blue sky as if a ripple hasn’t occurred in years.

At Bethel Church, we continue heading north. The fields and homes are stretched even further apart. A jog to the right on Mission Church, and another left on Millingport keeps us meandering our way to Richfield. We were meeting T-Bo and his wife and riding partner, Kina, who would lead us to the footwear outlet.

Millingport Road would lead us right into Richfield, but not before we pass through the road’s namesake. Millingport is not any kind of metropolis, a gas station, and of course, a North Carolina Chruch pretty much make the town. We made our way along the ribbon of pavement, eventually arriving in Richfield. After a fill up, we found a parking space where we thought we would be well seen.

It must have worked. After a woman rider pulled into to fill up, she made her way over to us, inquiring if we were the people she was looking to meet up. We were not, but we engaged in a great conversation until our riding partners, and then her riding mate for the day showed up.

The four bikes, in two pair sets, rode away from town. I issued the other pair a business card for our Rocky River Cruiser Club, but felt it might be like some many others I have met, and I wouldn’t see the pair of lady riders ever again. Not sure what direction they headed, but T-Bo lead us east on NC Highway 49 North.

Even though we were on State Highway, the ride was enjoyable as it’s one of my favorite easy drives in the area. The Uwharrie National Forest stretches north to kiss the roadway just as you cross the Yadkin River. There is a pull off to take a scenic view. Kasey and I have stopped here several times for pictures. Forty-nine takes us all the way to Ashboro, also known as Zoo City. The North Carolina Zoo is here, and despite numerous visits to this town in the two and half years we have lived here, we have still not visited, or even driven past the attraction.

Speaking of driving around, we did just that as T-Bo and his co-pilot got a little lost on the way through town. Eventually, we emerged in the business district, and made our way to the shoe store, and a nearby parking lot.

The store wasn’t as big as I pictured. You see, when I was a kid, and I needed shoes, we went to the place called Bargain Bobs. I have no idea if that was the real name, and as far as location, all I know is that it is some where in Central Indiana. We all milled around the footwear facility, sometimes by ourselves, and other times as a group. Long shopping experience short, I was the only one to buy a pair of shoes. I have needed some new sneakers for a while and found a pair that fit, and were very bouncy.

Upon our exit, we noticed that a furniture outlet was located in the back half of the building, so we decided to check that out also. Once again, we made our way through the warehouse’s maze of offerings. We did find a table that we liked, but the price was too high for a used piece of furniture.

The damn view from the Bridge Ferry Crossing. This was taken on a previous
ride through the area.

With this second location behind us, we were all shopped out, and ready for some more time behind bars. State Road 49 would also be our return route. However, on our return trip, our Road Captain veered us onto State Road 47, and through the town of Denton, North Carolina. The road changes name to town’s name, as we head west across the countryside. Eventually, we make a crossing back over the Yadkin River. The Bridge Ferry Road Crossing features a damn to the north. I have passed across here a couple times, and even captured the picturesque scene.

Another water crossing appears, and the popularity of the crossing is evident by the stores, eateries, and boat launches. The Yadkin actually spills off to the side of one of its banks and creates High Rock Lake here. We bear to the right, and pull into a parking lot. We all stepped inside for a bathroom break, and to grab some refreshments to enjoy at one of the picnic tables outside. Kasey and I had once taken in slices of pie at the café across the street.

When we returned to the bikes, I noticed some separation on the back tire of my VTX. I ride darkside, and have been on this Good Year Triple Tread car tire for all of 60,000 miles. I knew I was due, but curiosity was getting to me on just how long the tire would last. Looks like a gentle ride home, then some time to pull that back wheel off and get it changed out.

Speaking of the ride home, we returned back across the waterway, then turned south on Wyatt’s Grove Church Road. While the landscape, close to the river, is a little flatter, the road still weaves back and forth. We arrive on US 52, south of Rockwell, where to our surprise, we pass the two women riders we met before, going the opposite direction. I guess I have to admit to my error, we did see them again. 

US 52 led us passed Messinheimer, and back into Richfield. T-Bo and Kina would part ways with us here, and head back home. Kasey and I decided to take the least amount of curves home, and headed south on US 52 through New London and into Albemarle. We pick up Highway 24/27 here, and then made our way west back into Locust. 

Looks like I’m not the only one that was in need of a new sole, as The Black Pearl would be garaged until new rubber could be placed on it rear hub. More shoe shopping for me, I guess.

Rodney Myers is a Rider, a Writer, and Video Storyteller. He started riding around age 5. He made up stories before he knew how to write, and was fortunate enough to attend a high school that had a television station.

To read more of my motorcycle stories, you can check out my Motorcycle Blog at:

www.Blogspot.RodneysMCBlog.com