Deal's Gap

[ducrider45]

You may drink all you want in private. Dry just means that they do not sell to the public in that county. Private clubs usualy can serve in a dry county.

[justinrhenry]

you can drive somewhere to drink, but you can't pick it up and take it back to drink in the safety of your own home.  makes a lot of sense to me.   

[LA]

GA 60 from Morganton to Dahlonega has been a speedtrap of late.  Georgia has a new Superspeeder (super revenue) law that allows them to levy much steeper fines and LEOs in the area have been using this new tool extensively.  A friend (Chris Golden of Atlanta...another Ducati pilot if any of you know him) recently got the trifecta of speeding (super speeding if you believe the officer...though he miraculously had no radar or other concrete evidence to present to Chris), passing on a double yellow (to which Chris admits....he passed a car that was going 20 mph on GA 60 northbound), and reckless driving (probably trumped up, as Chris says he wasn't going terribly fast, wasn't doing anything reckless, and immediately pulled over when he sighted blue lights), resulting in a trip to jail, the posting of bond, and having to bail his bike out of impound.  One Sheriff (not a deputy, but the HMFIC) has gone on record as saying he wants sportbikes out of his county.  I think we should oblige him, and take our money with us....even though I don't live in the area any more. 

There are lots of places to go in east Tennessee, western North Carolina, and northwestern South Carolina without setting a tire in Georgia.  I won't post any of them here, as I don't want the "good" roads in the area to become the next Deal's Gap (a road that used to be good but was ruined by publicity, followed by excessive squiditis/cruiseritis), but if you ask a few locals they'll usually spill a gem or two upon administration of the oath of secrecy. 

BTW, ruined or not, you should absolutely "get your card punched" at Deal's Gap....then imagine what it was like 25 years ago when there wasn't any traffic there.   

Take a word of friendly advice.  Stay clear of North Georgia.

Yea, I was about to post about that incident when I saw this Cloner post.  I was suppose to be there and if I had, I would have been there no make the beast with two backsin doubt I'd have been right in front or right behind Chris - he's somebody I can ride close on without worry.  Sorry I missed the weekend, but not the night in jail.  My bank account and insurance bill just can't stand the strain.  I've been considering giving this shit up after 40 years.  This sucks ass.

I've evaded several leo's in my area of "God's Country" lately and it's getting old - very old.  It's takin all the fun out of it.  No body love biking like I do.  It's not a sport - it's how I get around.

LA

[lazylightnin717]

Yea, I was about to post about that incident when I saw this Cloner post.  I was suppose to be there and if I had, I would have been there no make the beast with two backsin doubt I'd have been right in front or right behind Chris - he's somebody I can ride close on without worry.  Sorry I missed the weekend, but not the night in jail.  My bank account and insurance bill just can't stand the strain.  I've been considering giving this shit up after 40 years.  This sucks ass.

I've evaded several leo's in my area of "God's Country" lately and it's getting old - very old.  It's takin all the fun out of it.  No body love biking like I do.  It's not a sport - it's how I get around.

Don't give it up! Hopefully I won't have any bad experiences on my trip down there.


In other news: the shop didn't get my tire (supersport) so they put a Dunlop something or other on only to fins out that it had a slice and didn't hold pressure. So one of the shop owners ran to his house and picked up a supercorsa that he had used on the track for a day.

Now I get to shred with the supercorsa all weekend and get a brand new tire put on when I get back. Woot!

T-minus 5 hours until take off. Any last minute things I should check?

[lazylightnin717]

Hate when I do that^^^

[R0CKETMAN]

Hope you got some time in Thurs/friday. I live nearby and got almost 3" of rain at my house yesterday.

I am planning on doing a day trip there Wed 4-28 if anyone is interested.

Edit: I live in and ride on the NGAMTNS. I'd say LEO is no worse than say ten years ago. There are more riders, but with that there is less chance you are the one targeted. The flat on the south side of Blood mountain is notorious for road blocks and traps. I've heard, as was mentioned, that 60 N of Suches is getting attention. There's so much to ride up here!

Double Edit(so as not to detract more from OP Deals Gap trip) LEO was "thick as hair on a dogs back" yesterday4-25 on 129/Blood Mtn. GSP was partaking in the fun as well as SO. They got cranked up around noon just as the roads dried from the rain.

OP, be safe as I had a "moment" yesterday with a rogue rock. The heavy rains washed down a bunch of debris!

[Wonked]

I live in Atlanta and go up to North Georgia frequently. Nobody's mentioned it (maybe no one wants to admit it), but it's actually reasonably fun to go the speed limit in the mountains. Safer too.

$.02

[JustDucky]

Yes 60 N of Suches got quite a good amountof attention 3 weeks ago.  The LEO's basically had the road shut down.  They started early and were ticketing ALL day.  First ride of the morn I passed a sheriff hidden behind a barn when I was not even paying attention, luckily at the speed limit.  However, shortly up the road a car pulled over and waved me by (on a double yellow of course), mind you I was still at the speed limit and within the LEO's view.  I did second guess the action but thought it was common practice/courtesy.  After passing I carried on at the speed limit.  A mile or so later I noticed a black SUV (like the sheriff's) closing at an alarming rate.  I slowed further and was promptly pulled over. I was told I did fine when I passed them but no so much later.  They saw the motorist wave me by and asked "If he told me to rob a bank, would I?"  The guy actually wrote that statement on the ticket!  He then claimed he "paced me" at 60+.  I'm not sure how one paces while closing at 20-30 mph faster but ok....  The additional speeding ticket claimed 60 in 45 while passing the car.  We won't mention he was still parked when I passed the car.  Politeness will not get you any slack with these guys.  After the ticket I headed back the way I came and ran into an oncoming LEO who literally stopped in the middle of road to get a good radar lock. I saw them issuing tickets all day at the gas station in Suches.  They nabbed 12-15 classic porches at one point while I was filling up in the afternoon.

So be careful in that area.  Even if you are playing it at/closer to speed limit.  We are targeted - fair or not.
I made it up later for the false/exagerated claims in the morning.  Might as well earn my fine.

[RAT900]

Yes 60 N of Suches got quite a good amountof attention 3 weeks ago.  The LEO's basically had the road shut down.  They started early and were ticketing ALL day.  First ride of the morn I passed a sheriff hidden behind a barn when I was not even paying attention, luckily at the speed limit.  However, shortly up the road a car pulled over and waved me by (on a double yellow of course), mind you I was still at the speed limit and within the LEO's view.  I did second guess the action but thought it was common practice/courtesy.  After passing I carried on at the speed limit.  A mile or so later I noticed a black SUV (like the sheriff's) closing at an alarming rate.  I slowed further and was promptly pulled over. I was told I did fine when I passed them but no so much later.  They saw the motorist wave me by and asked "If he told me to rob a bank, would I?"  The guy actually wrote that statement on the ticket!  He then claimed he "paced me" at 60+.  I'm not sure how one paces while closing at 20-30 mph faster but ok....  The additional speeding ticket claimed 60 in 45 while passing the car.  We won't mention he was still parked when I passed the car.  Politeness will not get you any slack with these guys.  After the ticket I headed back the way I came and ran into an oncoming LEO who literally stopped in the middle of road to get a good radar lock. I saw them issuing tickets all day at the gas station in Suches.  They nabbed 12-15 classic porches at one point while I was filling up in the afternoon.

So be careful in that area.  Even if you are playing it at/closer to speed limit.  We are targeted - fair or not.
I made it up later for the false/exagerated claims in the morning.  Might as well earn my fine.

Unfortunately it appears the counties up by the Tenn/NC border are in bad economic shape since the housing market collapsed.

Fannin only had 2 things going for it...tourists going to Blue Ridge for the train ride and new housing sub-division starts....and they all ramped up their county projects and budgets thinking the boom would last forever.

So I guess they are going back to traditional sources of income...speed traps and moonshine. Don't expect any slack in the courts in Fannin.... the political machine up there is still in the pure "Old South" tradition.

Next door in Union County where I used to live had even less going for it as it was a true dry county....curious if it is the county sherriff's from Union (Suches proper is Union Cty) or Fannin that are doing all the citations and/or if the state is in on the action

[JustDucky]

Union Co. Sheriff's were the majority of the police presence in the area that I saw.  There was 1 State Trooper thrown in for good measure on Blood Mountain to supplement the 2 Union Sheriff's posted on that road.

[Cloner]

This is why you need to keep the truly decent roads that aren't yet popular "secret".  The more we tell folks that this is the best riding area in the country, the more LEOs will use us as a source of income.

I remember when you could ride all day in N. GA., W. N.C., and E. TN. and almost never see a car with blue lights.  When you did he'd just wave and move along, assuming that you might be spending money in his area and that you weren't endangering others. 

Throw that mentality away.  Now we're just sources of revenue.  Chalk this one up to population growth.  Back in the day you could ride like that because few people lived in those rural areas, so nobody complained.  Now suburban soccer Moms with cell phones call the Po-Po every time somebody looks at them funny.  We've been demonized in the local press and have become a "menace" in the eyes of some (even if we're acting responsibly and bringing revenues to local businesses).

It has always been better and safer to ride fast on a race track.  Maybe we've reached the point where we should ride fast ONLY on a race track?

In the words of N.W.A.,  make the beast with two backs the Police (especially when they behave like they have lately in North Georgia).

[JustDucky]

And that is the kick in the a$$.  My fastest riding is still done on the track.  But the great scenery and meeting people, both locals and from all over on widely varied mounts is hard to beat on the street.

If anybody wants to help me out with some "secret roads" in the south please shoot me a PM.  My lips are sealed.

[Popeye the Sailor]

Chalk this one up to population growth.  Back in the day you could ride like that because few people lived in those rural areas, so nobody complained.  Now suburban soccer Moms with cell phones call the Po-Po every time somebody looks at them funny.  We've been demonized in the local press and have become a "menace" in the eyes of some (even if we're acting responsibly and bringing revenues to local businesses).

I live in a rural area.


My experience with the bikers (and I knew this has always been a popular bike area before I bought) has been less than stellar. I don't mind the high speeds. I don't mind the noise.

I do mind the passing on the right. I do mind the leaning over the double yellow so I have to choose between swerving into a ditch or killing someone.
I do mind being tailgated-yes I'm going slower-there's nowhere to pull over-I will when I can. I do mind the regular accidents-somehow, people can't keep the rubber side down.

The only revenue they're bringing is to the local tow truck.

Menace? As far as I'm concerned yes. A good half of 'em are crossed up, undergeared, and riding too fast for conditions on unfamiliar roads, veering all over the place.
They bring it on themselves.

[lazylightnin717]

I am sure that you all are just dying to know how everything went...

It was ok. Nothing special.









 


I lied but I can't stand typing it all on my iPhone so hang tight until I can figure out why my computer screen is being a turd.

Also, if anyone wants to give me a job down there, I wouldn't mind relocating

[swampduc]

Also, if anyone wants to give me a job down there, I wouldn't mind relocating

Same thing I said when I was there last year.