2009: September 27 - October 2.
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: We begin our tour in Asheville, North Carolina, named as the best Southern town by Outside magazine for its multitude of available outdoor activities. We meet at 3:30pm for a rental bike fitting, 5:30pm for an orientation and 6:30pm for dinner at the Richmond Hill Inn. This 19th century hilltop mansion has been restored beyond its former glory. You can walk among its Victorian gardens or on the paths through the adjacent wooded acres. Or if you’re a fan of the novelist Thomas Wolfe, you can choose to visit his boyhood home in downtown Asheville instead. 0 miles.
Day 2: Our first day of biking brings a little of everything. We’ll explore the hills surrounding Asheville, bike along the French Broad River and visit the sleepy town of Marshall for lunch. We’ll overnight at the retreat center Bend of Ivy Lodge cradled in the Blue Ridge Mountains on the Ivy River. Take a dip in the swimming pond or walk a trail to the river. You may want to find a hidden, quiet place to contemplate tomorrow’s challenge. 45 miles.
Day 3: Today’s ride is the most demanding of the week, but don’t let that scare you off. Our van is always available to take you over the hardest sections, including “The Wall” which is a walker for most bicyclists. We’ll bike through the college town of Mars Hill and beside the scenic Toe River. And you’ll be rewarded with some breathtaking views along the way. We’ll recuperate at the beautifully peaceful Celo Inn for our overnight. 45 or 71 miles.
Day 4: We start our day by cycling along a road that parallels both the Toe River and the Black Mountains. The tallest of these mountains, Mt. Mitchell stands at 6684’ and is the highest peak east of the Mississippi. Then we’ll bike a portion of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Be sure to pull over into the many overlooks for some fantastic vistas. We’ll stop in Little Switzerland for lunch and then it’s on to Bakersville for our overnight. For dinner, we’ll visit the Penland School of Crafts and learn how the faculty at this beautiful facility teach others to enrich their lives through craft. 43 miles.
Day 5: Our ride to a picnic lunch is mostly flat and exceptionally scenic as we bike along Cane River and through Reems Creek Valley today. We’re even treated with a descent down the same “Wall” that we met earlier in the week. Then it’s on to Weaverville, just a short distance from the bustling Asheville, but a world away in terms of its small-town, friendly atmosphere. 58 miles.
Day 6: Our last day of cycling takes us through some more quiet, winding roads through the Pisgah National Forest back to our starting inn. After a final picnic lunch, we’ll say our good-byes to the Blue Ridge. We’ll shuttle everyone needing to get back to the airport by 2:00pm. 25 miles.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price Includes:
- 5 nights lodging
- 5 breakfasts
- 3 picnic and sack lunches
- 4 dinners, snacks
- van support
- cue sheets and trained guides
Price Excludes:
- Single Upgrade: $550
- Rental Bike: $175
Also see tour packages in:
USA
North Carolina
Outdoor: Land Rambler
Bicycle Touring
Women Tours
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