Hi {{contact.first_name}},
November is one of the best months to ride the Grand Strand. The summer traffic is long gone, hurricane season is winding down, and the days are dry, mild and clear, with plenty of afternoons in the 60s and 70s. The clocks went back on Sunday, November 1, so the sun goes down early and the evenings turn cool. Start late morning, take the long way, and plan to be home before dark.
Ride of the Month: The Brunswick Islands to Southport
Quiet island towns, marsh views and a river port at the mouth of the Cape Fear
Head north on US-17 past Little River and cross into North Carolina, then pick up NC-179 toward the Brunswick Islands. The road runs through marsh and maritime forest past Sunset Beach and Ocean Isle Beach, two small, low-key beach towns that are nearly empty in November. NC-179 brings you into Shallotte, where you rejoin US-17 north to Supply.
In Supply, take NC-211 southeast to Southport, an old river town at the mouth of the Cape Fear with a quiet waterfront and big live oaks. Grab lunch on the water and head home the way you came. One thing to remember: North Carolina requires a helmet for every rider and passenger, so bring yours for this trip even if you ride without one at home. Fuel up before you leave Little River.
Short on time? Run SC-90 from North Myrtle Beach toward Conway, a quiet two-lane through the pines and farm country behind the beaches. On Veterans Day, Wednesday, November 11, thank the veterans in your riding group. A lot of this community was built by them.
Late-Fall Safety: South Carolina Coast Edition
November on the coast is prime riding, and it still brings deer, cool mornings and short days.
- The rut is still on inland. Head off the coast into the Horry and Georgetown back roads and the deer are moving at dawn and dusk, which now lines up with the ride home. Slow down near fields and tree lines, cover your brakes, and never swerve across the center line.
- You are riding home in the dark. With the time change, the evening commute is now after sunset. Drivers on Kings Highway and the 17 Bypass are not looking for a single headlight. Run your lights, wear something reflective, and leave extra room at intersections.
- Damp mornings, pine straw and sand. Cool nights leave dew and patchy fog in the low spots along the rivers and marsh, and pine straw in the shaded corners gets slick when it is wet. The wind still pushes sand across US-17 and Ocean Boulevard, so slow down for the drifts.
- Thanksgiving week traffic. Thanksgiving is Thursday, November 26. The Wednesday night before is one of the worst nights of the year for drunk driving. If you ride that week, go early in the day and stay off the road that night.
Know Your South Carolina Law
- Fault gets split, and there is a cutoff. South Carolina uses modified comparative negligence. Your recovery goes down by your share of the blame, and if you are found 51 percent or more at fault, you recover nothing. Insurers often try to push blame onto riders, so how the crash is documented matters.
- Helmets are required only under 21. South Carolina requires helmets only for riders and passengers under 21. Adults can legally ride without one, but insurers may still argue your injuries would have been less with a helmet, so gear up.
- The minimums are modest, so check your UM. South Carolina requires 25/50/25 in liability coverage and requires uninsured motorist coverage. With so many uninsured and out-of-state drivers on the Strand, UM and UIM coverage is what protects you.
- You have three years. South Carolina generally gives you three years from the crash to file an injury claim, with shorter deadlines and notice rules when a government entity is involved. Do not wait.
Ride Nation Grand Strand
November is when the locals get the Strand back. Share your favorite off-season runs, warn other riders about sand, deer and road work, and post the photos from your best fall ride, from Southport to Georgetown. Tag us in your photos. This is your scene, run by riders who ride these roads.
Final Weeks for the $20,000 BikeWin Giveaway
You are already entered for a chance at 20,000 dollars toward any motorcycle you want, and the winner is drawn December 10. That is only a few weeks away. Know a riding buddy who has not entered yet? Entry is free, so send them the link before it closes.
Enter the giveaway
A driver who never saw your headlight in the early dark on the 17 Bypass. A deer on a back road outside Conway. A holiday visitor turning left across your lane on Kings Highway. If you ever go down on the Grand Strand, one slice of blame can cut your claim, so you want a lawyer who rides these roads and fights the fault game hard.