Fall Friday Ride
Sometimes you don't need a big destination or an elaborate motorcycle trip to have a great day on two wheels. A nice Friday with good weather is more than enough reason to pull the cover off the Harley-Davidson Road King, fire it up, and go for a ride.
That's exactly what I decided to do on a recent Friday. I had a few stops planned for the day, but the real goal was simply to get out and put some miles on the Road King. And, as usual, I wasn't interested in taking the shortest route anywhere.
Hitting the Road
The weather was just about perfect for a motorcycle ride. It was one of those Fridays when you look outside and immediately start thinking about where you could ride. The Road King was ready to go, so I climbed on, fired it up, and headed out.
My first destination was Hinson's Drive-In, where I planned to stop for lunch. But getting there was only part of the fun. Instead of taking the quickest route, I decided to take the long way. That's one of the things I enjoy most about riding a motorcycle. A trip that might take 30 minutes in the car can turn into an afternoon adventure when you're on a bike.
I took the back roads, enjoyed the scenery, and let the Road King stretch its legs. There was no reason to rush. I had nowhere I needed to be at a particular time, so I could simply enjoy the ride.
Lunch at Hinson's Drive-In
Eventually, I made my way to Hinson's Drive-In.
Hinson's was the perfect first stop for the ride. It was nice to park the Road King, grab some lunch, and take a break. There is something about stopping at a classic drive-in while riding a motorcycle that just seems right. It's a much different experience than stopping at a fast-food restaurant along a major highway.
Lunch gave me a chance to relax for a while before getting back on the bike. Of course, I wasn't finished riding.
Meeting Up at The Hill Bar and Grill
After lunch, I continued the ride and headed toward The Hill Bar and Grill. I was meeting a friend there, so this was the next scheduled stop for the afternoon.
The Hill Bar and Grill turned out to be a good place to meet up, relax, and catch up for a while. This was my first time there. I had passed by the place on numerous occasions but kept forgetting to actually stop by.
My friend ordered lunch. The atmosphere here is really nice and there is PLENTY of parking. We sat and chatted for a while, had a beverage or two and just enjoyed catching up.
Finishing the Afternoon at 105 Cigar
From The Hill, we eventually made our way to 105 Cigar in Matthews. This was going to be the final stop of the afternoon.
105 Cigar was a great place to finish the afternoon. We picked up a cigar and decided to sit outside to enjoy the weather and also people watch. It was nice to sit back and relax for a while before heading home.
But there was still one more ride left.
Taking the Long Way Home
When it was finally time to leave 105 Cigar, I could have simply pointed the Road King toward home and taken the most direct route. That would have been the sensible thing to do.
But what's the fun in that?
Instead, I took the long way home. The afternoon was still nice, the Road King was running great, and I wasn't in a hurry. So I added some extra miles to the ride and enjoyed the back roads on the way home.
Eventually, I made it back home, bringing a very enjoyable Friday ride to an end.
Just a Good Day on the Road King
This wasn't a huge motorcycle adventure. There were no multi-day trips, mountain roads, or hundreds of miles to cover. It was simply a nice Friday ride on my Harley-Davidson Road King.
I took the long way to Hinson's Drive-In for lunch, met up with a friend at The Hill Bar and Grill, finished the afternoon at 105 Cigar in Matthews, and then took the long way home.
Sometimes those are the best motorcycle days.
For me, that's exactly what this Friday turned into—a good meal, good friends, a few stops, and plenty of miles on the Road King.