Southbound

[nicrosato]

This being the summer of my 65th birthday, I've decided it's time I took my '01 Monster on a bit of an extended trip. I will be going from Long Island to the Atlanta area to visit my daughter and her family. A friend of mine from Ithaca (he's a kid- only 53) is coming along. The basic plan is to do the Skyline Drive and Blue Ridge Parkway and, of course, the Tail of the Dragon. We're aiming for the last week in June.

I began serious preparation by reading through the "El Matador's and Desmolu's Most Excellent Adventure" thread from last year. However, I am open to any tips and suggestions. For the most part, given the creaking ages involved, we will eschew camping and opt for hot showers and motel beds.

The one thing I cannot promise is a series of posts as well-written and entertaining as El Matador's and Desmolu's.

[lwszabo]

you coming through Charlotte?

[JBubble]

Instead of going through Charlotte, go through the Blueridge like you mentioned. Hit up the Hellbender (28) as well. There's a ton of good roads along the Blueridge, maybe hit up Journeyman on the board? He lives near Asheville and knows a ton of back roads through there.

[the_Journeyman]

What JBubble said!  I can toss some routes around the BRP.  28 all the way from Deals Gap to its termination in SC is great.  TONS TONS TONS of great roads to work with as you wind south from the southern end of the BRP ~

JM

[nicrosato]

Thanks for the ideas. My one concern about the BRP is the lack of gas stations. Monsters do not have a long range.

[JBubble]

Thanks for the ideas. My one concern about the BRP is the lack of gas stations. Monsters do not have a long range.

I wouldn't do the parkway alot, it can get slow with sight seers and such. Hit it for a little bit, then hop off and hit the local roads. I'd use google maps to plan it a little to make sure you're around gas but I never had any problem when I lived around there. JM is a good resource, make sure you talk to him.

[R0CKETMAN]

I'm sure you thought of this, but I'd put a super nice alarm on your bike. Tends to slow down those gremlin bike thieves we have down here. There's tons of really cool NGAMTNS riding here. Google six gap century and give the bike route a try. 

[the_Journeyman]

Thanks for the ideas. My one concern about the BRP is the lack of gas stations. Monsters do not have a long range.

Range can be managed, but as JBubble said, it does get clogged with sight seers.  There are lots of routes that give you all the fun of the parkway without the tourist slow-down.  You might even encounter some really interesting small towns on those roads too.  They just don't usually have nice overlooks.  Granted if you're hitting the parkway for the views & scenery, and don't mind traffic slowing you on occasion it is a nice ride.  There are lots of towns where you can drop off the parkway for a couple miles for gas and return.  For instance, if you gas up in Asheville which has plenty of gas near the parkway, you can make it to Cherokee, where a left turn will find you less than five miles from a gas station. 

JM

[Chucko9-696]

Skyline drive and the Blue ridge parkway are beautiful. I worked in Elkton Va. I built the new Coors brewery. Beautiful part of the country. [moto]

[mapman]

As noted above, hit skyline and the BRP but just for the view. They are slow and clogged at that time of year with old folks going slow. Speed limit for the most part is 35 and a lot of the people up from Florida obey the law. As you know the Monster was not meant for such foolishness. Get up early and hit them in the morning before the tourists are out. It is almost impossible not to hit good roads in southern VA and western NC so take a map and go exploring. The dragon is good and everyone needs to do it once. Cherahola skyway in TN is almost as much fun and a lot faster.

[nicrosato]

Good info. Thanks.

OK- some considerations. I mentioned gas stations. I liked JM's idea of not riding the BRP end to end. I do like small towns and out-of-way places. Also, I'm diabetic and really do try to eat 5 or 6 small meals a day, so it's good to find interesting places to eat.

I need to look at a map.

[lwszabo]

you coming through Charlotte?

OK I guess not! well ride safe, have a good trip!!

[nicrosato]

I have friends there, but my thinking is that it would take an extra day to route through Charlotte. I may consider it for the return trip. Still thinking things out.

[nicrosato]

I've established this part of the plan: I will be meeting my buddy late morning-noon, in or around Harrisburg, PA. Any suggestions on a good lunch place there?

Also, any suggestions on the next few legs? First would be from Harrisburg to the beginning of the Sklyline Drive. Next would be from the end of the Skyline Dr to the Asheville area. Finally, it will be Ashville-Tail of the Dragon-Cumming, GA.

[pitbull]

I've established this part of the plan: I will be meeting my buddy late morning-noon, in or around Harrisburg, PA. Any suggestions on a good lunch place there?

Also, any suggestions on the next few legs? First would be from Harrisburg to the beginning of the Sklyline Drive. Next would be from the end of the Skyline Dr to the Asheville area. Finally, it will be Ashville-Tail of the Dragon-Cumming, GA.

between Ashville and Cherokee is the highest elevation point along the BRP or skyline drive with some fantastic overlooks, if I'm not mistaken, so I would consider riding that part and maybe sacrifice some of the BRP or skyline drive north of Ashville.

As much as the BRP and skyline drive are beautiful rides, I think it's better to ride them in spring or late fall, before or after much of the foliage is in. I found much of the views are obsured in the summer months due to the full foliage. I also agree that riding the roads just off the BRP is much more interesting trip with little towns and villages to  see.