Deal's Gap

[R0CKETMAN]

Report!

[the_Journeyman]

I wish I had seen this!  I live just a couple hours from Deal's Gap.  I'd have headed that way and helped with routes & such from the slide. 

JM

[lazylightnin717]

Pics or it didn't happen right?

[lazylightnin717]

I will try to keep this short...

We arrived friday afternoon in Pigeon Forge where we had rented a small cabin off the main strip. Not exactly the place that I was expecting to stay in but it worked nonetheless and we were where we wanted to be. In true fashion we dumped our stuff on the floor and unloaded our motley crue of bikes off we went. I was a little uneasy as my radiator fans haven't worked since I bought the bike and we were sitting in traffic in warm Tennesse weather. Once we found our way out of the sea of cars, we headed straight towards the tail. Immediately, I could tell that the roads were so much better than here in PA. Nicely paved and not one single straight away. I was ok with that because I had a nice sticky supercorsa to push me through even though it definitely could handle way more than I was willing to give it.

Up and into the hills and over the foothills parkway we went. A rather generous road with no turns to catch you off guard. It rises and it falls and there were barely any other vehicles to boot. Really nice overlooks but mainly just a damn good road to be on and get warmed up. Once we got to the end I see signs for 129 and get all kinds of giddy. Make a left and BAM..... road closed. Curses ensue.

The man standing there waiting for us hopeless idiots kindly said that it was in fact closed from the TN side. He told us that it was open from 8 to 8 and that there were two cops patrolling at all times. He said that they showed no mercy and that we wouldn't be able to make it to the other side in time as it would take 2 and a half hours to get to the NC side. We turned around and headed back for the night.

[lazylightnin717]

Saturday was nice in the morning although we knew that it was supposed to storm real big time at some point. We didn't care. We struck out and found a few other nice roads around the area and started off towards the dragon...only to run into rain. We pulled over and found some shelter hoping that it was going to pass over. We waited for a smooth hour and with no luck said make the beast with two backs it and road on. Not sure what mountains we crossed over but I do know that we rode through solid rain, fog, and yucky all the way to Cherokee where we stopped to chat it up with the locals. They informed us that the weather was only going to get worse. Curses ensued.

Gassed up and went back once more through rain and fog. We were soaked through and through by the time we got back to the cabin which at that point looked like heaven. You better believe that we cranked up the fire, dried out and then ate ridiculous burittos along with well needed cold ones.

Get up sunday for attempt #3. I didn't care anymore. I was getting there no matter what it took. We headed back the way we went sat. and this time couldn't have asked for a more perfect day. It really is absolutely beautiful riding through those mountains. We smoked through Cherokee waving to the good lady that gave us free coffee the day before and kept on truckin. I could tell that we were getting near and one we saw the sign that said "US 129 OPEN" we all dropped a gear and really gave it hell only to end up stopping because I really had to go.

[the_Journeyman]

Bummer on the holdups on getting to the gap.  You got some great roads in though.  The mountains with all the rain & fog that dropped you into Cherokee is 441.  You also got to hit NC28 on your way to the Gap.  That is getting to be known as "The Hellbender" it seems.  It's mostly sweepers unto you pass the Fontana dam and then it tightens up and is a riot all the way to US129 ~

JM

[lazylightnin717]

The roads were considerably well paved with much less tourists around this area. I believe that we took 28 in and for a moment I thought we were on the tail. We arrived and took a slower run through to scope things out. I was in disbelief at how amazing this road was. I hadn't been on anything like this with my bike and found that it took a considerable amount of concentration and energy to pass through. I must admit that I scared myself a few times although it helped me learn more and more how willing that bike is to delight me. It is a very confidence inspiring motorcycle and once I had been through a few times, I showed no mercy. We ate, ran through a few more times, and then said farewell. I couldn't have been happier with 129. It really was all that and more than what I expected it to be.

I'm getting tired of typing now and you are probably tired of reading so I will cut this short. But not without suggesting the Cherhala skyway back to Pigeon Forge. What a road! It passes up and over the mountains and opens up in front of you as you see it weave it's way down only to make it's way back up again. Long sweeping turns and beautiful scenery make this road a must. I saw another Monster, not sure if it was anybody on here. Definitely a pearl white S4RS with red frame and what looked like a ridinghouse CF belly pan. Sounded quite nice! Cheers to you whoever you were.

On the way back to Amish country, we decided to make this an annual thing. There are quite a few other good roads that we were on that I chose not to include or can't remember the names of but I found that if you ride in pretty much any direction you are bound to have fun.  

[the_Journeyman]

There are TONS of roads all around Deal's Gap area in both TN and NC.  Take a look at some of my ride pics on here.  There are hundreds of miles of incredible roads around ~

JM

[lazylightnin717]

There are TONS of roads all around Deal's Gap area in both TN and NC.  Take a look at some of my ride pics on here.  There are hundreds of miles of incredible roads around ~

JM

I will be hunting you down next time 

[the_Journeyman]

I will be hunting you down next time 

Do, even if I'm working & unable to ride, I can point you to some local roads that are worth visiting 

JM

[KnightofNi]

Do, even if I'm working & unable to ride, I can point you to some local roads that are worth visiting 

JM

9 days....

[the_Journeyman]

Excellent!

JM

[lazylightnin717]

9 days....

Good deal! Let us know how it went

[lethe]

9 days....

7 the way I see it. I'm counting just even riding the bike to work and then to your place after as the beginning. 

[KnightofNi]

7 the way I see it. I'm counting just even riding the bike to work and then to your place after as the beginning. 

hahaha
i'm all giddy.

i can't wait to hit the road.
i jsut feel bad for the polish posse. they aren't used to distance.