Saturday Ride in Western NC!

[the_Journeyman]

Pics:

Top of Dogget:






Local Favorite:




Just off the Blue Ridge Parkway:


Video isn't as shaky this time.

West side of Dogget
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The local favorite, headed down from about halfway:
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Headed up from the bottom (sorry, but it does exceed the 4-minute ADD limit.  It's twisties all the way though.
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Heading down from the Parkway - Pavement is pretty rough.
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[Curmudgeon]

Interesting. Where in NC? Looks exactly like this spot in VA. The road east down the mountain is a wrist-breaker too. http://binged.it/GNNMx3

[gOoIe B]

Awesome!  Can't wait to make it out to the mountains again this year!   

[the_Journeyman]

Where?  I'm in the county that borders NC.  All of these were taken in counties that border TN.  I'm that far west in NC!

JM

[Vindingo]

I'm surprised by how little foliage you guys have, flowers are blooming everywhere around here (NJ). 

[Curmudgeon]

I'm surprised by how little foliage you guys have, flowers are blooming everywhere around here (NJ).

He's @ 3,000' - 4,000'+ around there in NC.

Lots of blooms at 200' for 2+ weeks in VA. Even High Point in NJ is ~ 1,800' and the top of my rather high mountain where I used to live in Warren Co. off I-80 was only 1,050..., but d*mn high for NJ! 

[the_Journeyman]

Yea, Most of the video was 3500+ elevation.  The BRP through there is probably around 4000-4500.  Trees are just now budding mostly.

Curmudgeon - I see the BRP in that link, and I'm actually near the south end of it.  I was West of Asheville on the section of Parkway I connected two of the roads with.

I have a parkway vid too, but because the corner of the speedometer is visible, I'd be telling on myself...

JM

[Curmudgeon]

The spot I sent on my link looks exactly the same as your snap, right down to the bridge. If I dropped you there, you'd be pretty lost.  At least there's a good brewery at the bottom of the mountain with the best BBQ sandwich I've found so far in VA.

My favorite part of the BRP is from Boone to Mt. Pisgah. You are near Cherokee? In the 80's and 90's did the BRP from top to bottom and back on 4 vacations. May is my preferred time because the flowers are in full bloom and the trailers and campers have mostly not arrived yet. How are the Rangers down at your end these days? I see maybe one in 75 miles up here and they weren't an issue. Never gave it much thought in the past but that's a Federal ticket if you got more than a warning. NOT a municipal traffic court! 

Unfortunately I have to ride 70 miles to get out to the BRP but I shouldn't complain. And as pretty as it is up here, the road surface has suffered in the past 3 - 4 years. The VA roads around it and getting there are well-maintained though and quite entertaining. Pure gas available out there too!  Just without the stunning views of the Shenandoah Valley from 3.500'.

[the_Journeyman]

Yes, I'm about 30 minutes from Cherokee.  I went past the Pisgah Inn on this ride in fact.  From my house, there are two BRP access points within 10 minutes (Soco Gap & Balsam Gap), and two more within about 25 minutes (US276 where the pic was taken, and NC215). 

I LOVE the southern section of the BRP.

JM

[Desmo Demon]

Pics:

I recognize all of those pics.    My driveway is 52 miles from the BRP and 215. Usually if I'm only going to be out for a couple of hours, I just make a run to the BRP and back home.

[BastrdHK]

Hey Journeyman, Desmo Demon....if you guys make it up to HWY 209 towards Hot Springs let me know and I will have a cup of coffee/tea waiting for you.  I am finishing up winter maintenance on the bike and should be riding next week.

I leave this cabin May 1st, so would love to meet some DMFers in the area before that date.

 

[Desmo Demon]

Hey Journeyman, Desmo Demon....if you guys make it up to HWY 209 towards Hot Springs let me know and I will have a cup of coffee/tea waiting for you. 

My wife and I tend to go up that way quite often, as it is part of what we call our "Hot Springs Loop", which is a 350+ mile day ride. We won't be doing it anytime soon, though. Two Saturdays my wife had a woman make a left turn in front of her. I'll be dealing with her rehab/doctors/insurance/lawyer/etc and our 7-yr old first grader.

[Cloner]

I hate you.

Cloner
Originally from Hickory, NC
Now in ABQ, NM.....a looooooooooong way from excellent roads like those.

[BastrdHK]

My wife and I tend to go up that way quite often, as it is part of what we call our "Hot Springs Loop", which is a 350+ mile day ride. We won't be doing it anytime soon, though. Two Saturdays my wife had a woman make a left turn in front of her. I'll be dealing with her rehab/doctors/insurance/lawyer/etc and our 7-yr old first grader.

Incredibly sorry to hear that DD, please extend my concern and well wishes to her!  She doesn't happen to ride blue Ninja 250 does she?  I only ask b/c I saw a dark monster and female on a blue Ninja come by the cabin twice a couple of weeks ago.

My wife, rides as well and I worry about her like I have never experienced with myself or others when riding.

[EvilSteve]

Thanks for posting, good stuff.

My wife just started riding too, it's a little stressful but she's very good and level headed so I shouldn't worry as much as I do. Hope yours makes a full and speedy recovery DD.