Biking the French Broad River Greenway | Asheville, NC

I expected to see tubing, paddle boards and canoes…I expected to see quirky, modern art…what I did not expect was to end up riding my bike on a classic, stock car race track from back-in-the-day. But that’s exactly what happened. On a bike trail trip, there’s a surprise around every corner. And maybe even a motor home…or a whole slew of ’em. Join me as I explore the French Broad River Greenway in Asheville, North Carolina on this edition of Joyful Trails.

I’m Scott. I explore, review and rate bike trails on this channel…and hopefully find a little joy in the journey. Thanks for watching!

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Thank you [Applause] I am on the road again this time in Asheville North Carolina now I expected to see tubing and canoeing and paddle boarding I expected to see quirky art what I did not expect is that I would end up riding my bike on the same race track that Richard Petty used to ride on

The Asheville Motor Speedway but that’s exactly what happened This is Asheville North Carolina it’s the county seat of Buncombe County North Carolina and it’s located at the Confluence of the French Broad and Swannanoa Rivers when you say Swannanoa I knew that you could it has a population of 94 589 liberals and sits on 45 square miles

Asheville is famous of course for being the side of the Biltmore House a huge tourist attraction and the largest privately owned house in the United States Asheville is also known for being woke and weird and they are not insulted by that at all they would consider that a compliment

When it comes to weirdness and wokeness they give Austin Texas a run for its money if you enjoy TED talks about stolen land and green dining and Democratic socialism and all that kind of stuff you will feel right at home in Asheville on the other hand if you just enjoy

Riding bike trails you can visit Asheville for just a day every now and then and then ask God to forgive you when you get back home they do have some cool buildings the snw cafeteria building is a great example of the art deco architecture that you’ll see a lot in Asheville another cool

Thing is that Bob Moog and his Moog synthesizers are honored and remembered at the moxium downtown I played some of Mr moog’s keyboards myself back in the day as these photos will attest I think synthesizers were the coolest instruments ever invented by man that is not even debatable don’t even don’t even

Try to change my mind on that And I think it’s a shame that synthesizers ever went out of style of course my clothing and haircut choices also went out of style so maybe I’m wrong about that as I walked around downtown Asheville I was like hey you know what would be good right about now a cookie

So I went into Mary’s Mountain cookies and I decided on a cookie sandwich called the white out y’all this thing was ridiculous I can highly recommend I highly recommend Mary’s Mountain cookies in Asheville famous people from Asheville include Harry Anderson from Night Court Grammy award-winning singer Roberta Flack and Moses himself Charlton Heston

But enough about Asheville we’ve got a trail to ride the French Broad River Greenway let’s go Wonder if there’s peace Are getting crazy and everything seems hazy there’s some place run away Run away run away run away Run away run away From away from away Speak much louder Billionaire I’m looking for so much more don’t leave me here searching that’s just what I’m longing for sounds are getting crazy and everything seems easy is there some place Run away run away run away run away run away run away run away [Applause] Run away run away from the place So I’ve been on the trail for a little while now and it might be time to take a snack break I’m trying something different this time it’s the honey Stinger waffle it says here it’s trusted by professional Collegiate and everyday athletes alike yeah that’s me I’m an Everyday Athlete I’m not even an

I’m not even an athlete it’s the fuel you need to push harder and go farther um let’s try it all right okay Honey’s doing your waffle I see you I see you So about this Trail it’s impossible to categorize it’s like four or five trails in one part of it is a typical Greenway that runs alongside the French Broad River with lots of views of people tubing canoeing rafting kayaking all of the things part of it is all about art

And when they say River Art District they are not kidding lots and lots of art with an Asheville Flair if you know what I mean part of it goes through traditional parks with old trees and picnic tables and little wooden bridges and even a dog park foreign at times it turns into a

Dedicated bike lane adjacent to a pedestrian walkway near some old industrial buildings and then it goes right smack dab through the middle of an RV park and no I’m not kidding I’m halfway expected Cousin Eddie and the whole family to come out and greet me you’ve heard of A River Runs Through It

Well a Greenway runs right through the middle of this RV Park and finally the most unusual thing was that they’ve taken the historic Asheville Motor Speedway which closed in the late 90s and they’ve turned it into a walking running and cycling track So I said thank you very much I don’t mind if I do and there I went riding my bike at the very track where guys like kale Yarborough banjo Matthews Ralph Earnhardt Fireball Roberts and Richard Petty all made Perpetual left turns on Friday nights for 40 years pretty cool huh No no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no thank you So why should you visit the French Broad River Greenway in Asheville North Carolina hey why not just know that the trail runs on both sides of the River East and West there’s not a lot of maps and wayfinding signs so just follow the trail the best you

Can and pick one of the bridges to cross over when you’re ready to explore the other side of the river four stars for the fbrg in Asheville NC [Applause] now if you’ll excuse me I have this really strange desire to reduce my carbon footprint burn my bra and pay some reparations Thank you thank you