Itinerary:
Day 1, Friday, March 28:
Arrival in Charlotte. Participants will make their own arrangements for travel to Charlotte. Carolina Tailwinds will provide a van shuttle late afternoon from Charlotte to Winston-Salem where the tour will begin on Saturday. Dinner will be provided at a fine dining establishment in Winston-Salem, during which we will have an orientation meeting. Lodging for evening will be Brookstown Inn, in downtown Winston Salem.
Day 2, Saturday, March 29:
We meet Winston-Salem by 9:30 a.m. After a brief meeting on bike safety and a short shuttle out of city traffic, we begin biking the more rural setting of the Yadkin River Valley. The day includes a catered lunch at the first of the two wineries we’ll visit. Each facility has a unique personality, reflecting the style and tastes of its owners. The wineries range in scale from small "mom and pop" vineyards operating in old farm houses to large operations with modern facilities. Each vineyard owner contributes a different perspective on the arts of viticulture and winemaking during our visits. After learning the basics of wine making, we will shuttle back to the inn in time for its wine and cheese reception. Afterwards, dinner is “on-your-own,” with numerous options available within walking distance.
Day 3, Sunday, March 30:
After breakfast, we shuttle out for our second day of biking in the Yadkin River Valley. We'll visit historic Rockford, now virtually a ghost town, except for its general store, which seems stuck in time. We make time again to tour the local wineries and vineyards along our route, stopping for a picnic lunch prior to returning to the inn in late afternoon. A catered dinner will be provided this evening.
Day 4, Monday, March 31:
We will bike away from Winston-Salem, heading southwest toward Charlotte. We will spend the night in the charming town of Salisbury, NC. Time and schedule permitting, there will be an optional visit to the NC Transportation Museum. We will enjoy a dinner of famous North Carolina barbecue together. Lodging will be at the Salisbury Holiday Inn.
Day 5, Tuesday, April 1:
Our last day together will find us bicycling to Charlotte. Lunch will be provided along the way. The tentative plan is to bike to the Raintree Country Club to join other convention attendees participating in the Celebratory Golf Tournament. Showers and a reception will be available at the end of the ride., which will conclude the bike tour. A shuttle will be provided from Raintree to various hotels.
Cycling:
The terrain on this tour is primarily rolling hills, with very few challenging climbs along the way. Route distances will be approximately 40-50 miles daily, with optional mileage add-ons. Flexible mileage is possible thanks to the support van. Should you tire or wish a shuttle ahead, simply hop in the van to catch a quick ride to the next stop along the way! Local cyclists treasure the country roads of the Yadkin River Valley. Rolling terrain with a backdrop of carefully tended fields of tobacco, corn, and grapes provides a setting that is rewarding and pleasurable. You'll quickly see why this area is one of the best-kept bicycling secrets in North Carolina. Although North Carolina has long grown the world’s finest tobacco, changing times and legislative pressures have led local farmers to turn to wine grapes as an alternate crop. Grape growing and wine making have grown rapidly, with the latest count showing 350 vineyards and 61 wineries in North Carolina. The grapes cultivated in the Yadkin River Valley are typically European varietals, with chardonnay and cabernet grown as well. The Yadkin River Valley was named an American Viticultural Area (AVA) in December of 2002, the first AVA in North Carolina.
Rental Bikes:
Carolina Tailwinds has both hybrid and road bikes available on a first-come, first-serve basis. The charge is $100 per bike. You may bring your own saddle and/or pedals for us to install on a rental bike.
About Carolina Tailwinds:
The tour will be fully planned and supported by Carolina Tailwinds (www.carolinatailwinds.com), a bicycle vacation tour operator based in Winston-Salem, NC.
Contact:
Contact Paul Dybala pdybala@audiologyonline.com for more details on this event.