Wheels Through Time, The Museum That Runs

Originally we were planning on going to the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum in Birmingham, Alabama (as suggested by Aunt Anne from Athens) but we just couldn't fit it in. Looks like a great place to visit and a good reason for another trip.

However, when visiting with Dan and Marian McConnell (Virginia friends) they told us about Wheels Through Time, the museum that runs in Maggie Valley, North Carolina. This museum is dedicated to cars, motorcycles; all kinds, all makes, lots of models and all the motorcycles still run. It was a quick ride from Asheville.

We were overwhelmed by the collection of vintage motorcycles. But the best part about Wheels Through Time was meeting the owner, Dale Walksler.





He is extraordinarily nice and loves what he does. He spends time with all of his guests and was genuinely excited to hear our story. He told us that the best part of his job is meeting people like us. He gets energy from the spirit and enthusiasm that we bring to the museum. We observed him visiting with everyone who stopped him. He rode a vintage cycle in the parking lot and stopped again to check out our bikes and just visit with us. He made us feel like we were the only people visiting his museum. We left there energized and even more excited about our journey.


















The "frost" photo was taken in Utah. Dale & friends rode vintage motorcycles to our Utah National Parks and to Bonneville Salt Flats. Again another piece of Utah on our journey.


























Randy was happy to pose next to the original wild one, Marlon Brando. He loves Marlon, the movie and his bike license is "YLD1" and he even has The Wild One tattooed on his back. Not just a little tattoo, his whole back. You can't imagine how shocked I was when he did this. I knew he was getting a tattoo, I just didn't know how big it was going to be. But you know Randy, go big or go home and that's what he did with this tattoo. But lucky me, I fall asleep every night with both Randy and Marlon. Not many girls can say they do this.





I loved the gallery dedicated to "The Girls" a photographic history of Women in Motorcycling. It was inspriational for me to see women who rode when women shouldn't be doing it. These women were amazing and paved the way for all women riders today. I left the Museum a little more confident about being a biker chick.















Dale does a TV show called "What's in the Barn" and the second season debuts on June 11. We've never seen it and now we'll be right in front of our TV watching and reliving the wonderful experience we had in Maggie Valley.








Another place we can't wait to go back to! Thanks to Dale for a memorable visit!