Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/715680
20 UCW AUGUST 17-23, 2016 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM AUGUST 20 • NAM KNIGHTS COOKOUT at Fort Bragg Harley-Davidson. Find out more at www.fortbraggharley.com. AUGUST 27 * WINGMEN MC ANNUAL LUPUS POKER RUN at Fort Bragg Harley Davidson. $10 per rider. Registration at noon. First bike out at 1 p.m. Last bike in 5 p.m. Best hand/ Worst hand prizes. Food, auction, 50/50 raffle. Proceeds benefit the Fayetteville Lupus Foundation. Call 723-2129 for more information. SEPTEMBER 3 • HOG COOKOUT at Fort Bragg Harley-Davidson.Find out more at www.fortbraggharley.com. SEPTEMBER 9 • BIKERS FOR BIKDERS FOUNDATION 6TH ANNUAL MUSIC FEST RALLY at Vander Civic Association. Friday, gates open 5 p.m. Saturday, gates open from 10 a.m. Bands, vendors, bike rattle, art auction. Find out more at www. bikersforbikersfoundation.com. PATRIOT GUARD RIDERS The Patriot Guard Riders is a diverse group of patriots from every state that come together to honor fallen soldiers at funeral services across the country. Visit www.patriotguard. org for more information about the group. 4624 BRAGG BLVD. COLDEST DRINKS IN TOWN! This year, the U.S. National Park Service celebrates 100 years of service. The National Park Service was created on Aug. 25, 1916, by Congress through the National Park Service Organic Act and is an agency of the United States Department of the Interior. Over the years, I have discovered that motorcycling and national parks go hand-in-hand. They make learning, site-seeing fun and are an all-in-all great destination. The NPS was created in 1916, to provide management of Yosemite. At that time, neither the state nor the federal government wanted to manage that land. Because that land crosses multiple states, it was determined that the federal government should take ownership. On Aug. 25, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed a bill that mandated the agency "to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and wildlife therein, and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such a manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations." A few years ago, I discovered that NPS has an NPS Passport at their gift shops. Just like entering a new country, the NPS will stamp your passport when you visit the parks. Over the years, I have hopped on my bike and taken trips just to get my passport stamped. Even today, I somehow get a little excited when I see that ink on my papers. North Carolina is rich in history and beautiful terrain. North Carolina is also home to 10 national parks. These parks are the Appalachian Trail, the Blue Ridge Parkway, the National Heritage Area, which is part of the Blue Ridge in Fletcher N.C., Cape Hatteras at Nags Head, Cape Lookout at Harkers Island, Carl Sandburg's Home at Flat Rock, Fort Raleigh at Manteo, the Great Smoky Mountains, Guilford Courthouse at Greensboro, the Cultural Heritage Corridor: Gullah/Geechee, The National Battlefield at Moores Creek (easy drive from Fayetteville), Trail of Tears and the National Memorial for the Wright Brothers at Kill Devil Hills. Cherokee, N.C., is a great place to start a national park ride. Here, you will find the entrance to the Great Smoky Mountain Park, which is the most visited park in America and the end (or entrance if you are heading north) of the Blue Ridge. To me, the Blue Ridge Parkway is one of the finest roads ever built. The scenery, fresh air, low traffic and all around beauty are perfect for any motorcyclist. I have also realized that those 469 miles are probably one of the last great roads built in America. Most roads and highways built today are built for speed and safety. I will admit, that some roads make no sense to me, but I have learned that if you follow that road long enough, you will find a house, a business, a congressman at one end and a bank and taxpayer at the other end. There are plenty of National Park Apps for your smartphone that give details about the park, directions and hours. I hope you will get out there and enjoy this great state and country and all of the beauty that it has to offer. If there is a topic that you would like to discuss you can contact me at motorcycle4fun@aol.com. RIDE SAFE! N.C. National Parks by JIM JONES JIM JONES, Motorcycle Enthusiast, Contributing Writer. COMMENTS? Editor@ upandcomingweekly.com. 910.484.6200 The Blue Ridge Parkway is one of many beautiful roads in N.C. Now online! Flip our pages for news, views art and entertainment! www.upandcomingweekly.com Call and ask one of our marketing representatives to help you grow your business. 484-6200