East Coast NT Round Up (9/29 - 10/2 / 2011)

[schwartz]

Ok gents I have been doing some research and I am going to select the dates to Sept 29th - Oct 2nd. Having Thurs Sept 29th as a travel to date and Sunday Oct 2nd being a travel home day. I have however been exploring the area around the Blue Ridge Parkway...and here is what I was thinking. Instead of meeting up in Asheville, meeting up the Friday morning in Cherokee, NC at the start of the Blue Ridge Parkway and then having this ride below the first day. Followed by a night in Boone, NC where we would all meet up on Friday night.

--> RSVP Here <--

Fridays Ride is 184miles and approx. travel time 5hours and 25min.

Maps for Fridays Ride here:
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Saturdays ride would continue on the Blue Ridge Parkway ending up in Roanoke, VA

Saturday's Ride is 181miles and approx. travel time 5hours and 18min.

Maps for Saturday's Ride here:
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Saturday Night we would all meet up for another night.

Sunday would be a Travel home day


If you plan on attending please reply on the last page and put your name down I will update this list in the OP as time goes on.

Hotel/Motels havent been picked yet, nor has a meet up spot for all of us. I did try to choose cities with many hotels/motels to choose from.

 

[elizilla]

I'm thinking it's easier to find each other and actually be together, in small places with small numbers of choices. There are a number of hamlets just off the BRP that have a small motel or two and a restaurant or two. You're in charge so do what you like, but don't think you have to find a million choices every night, for our small group.

 

[lcseds]

I might suggest for Thursday night, one of the pretty neat motels in Maggie Valley. Those that arrive early on Thursday can visit the Wheels through Time motorcycle museum there. The ride from Maggie Valley to the BRP start in Cherokee is ~45 minutes. I will be there Thursday and will meet where ever Friday morn, but will probably stay in Maggie Valley Thursday night. I prefer it over the accommodations I have found in Cherokee. Just my two cents.

 

[Riding4Fun]

Make sure you stop in at Centralia Pa when you are near Asheville....it's an abandon town due to the coal fires under it.

 

[elizilla]

Centralia Pennsylvania is the town with the mine fires, but it's a good long day's ride between there and Asheville NC.

 

[schwartz]

Hey all, I recently found out that I have mandatory training during the week leading up to this event, so as a result my boss canceled my scheduled vacation. I wouldn't be able to get down there till the event was ending so sadly I cannot go to my own event. I still plan on taking a trip, just not sure when at this point.

 

[maupen]

What about the other guys and girls ( Elzilla?)? Still a go? Or you're cancelling the meet-up? I have a friend coming from Costa Rica, he bought the air ticket a couple of weeks ago, let me know because we have to rethink our trip if nobody is showing up there..

 

[lcseds]

My mother just came out of the hospital and is very frail at this point. I hope I'm still on but have to change my status to "maybe".

 

[nccmpig]

I think there are three confirmed and six maybes. I am one of the maybe's and hope to be able to go if I can get someone to cover me in the office.

Jim

 

[maupen]

Seems like the Round Up is dead after Scwhartz cancelled.. we have only 4 confirmed, CJT, Elzilla and myself with a guest, but Elzilla and CJT didn't posted here time ago. I'm still a go with my friend, but I have to start planning the trip, and if nobody will be there, I should change the itinerary. Pls, let me know if some "Maybe's" change to "Yes" and if the "Yes" are for real..

 

[nccmpig]

I just changed my RSVP from maybe to yes. Hope it is still on. I don't know much about the territory but maybe we can look at something a little different. Roanoke is a little far for me to get back on Sunday. If no changes I am still there.

Jim

 

[maupen]

Jim, I'm still going with my friend, maybe we can discuss a route change, where are you? Pls, send me a PM and we can discuss it by email or phone..

 

[pcrimm]

I'm still interested and may have a friend able to come as well - give me till next week to confirm. I love that area and am thinking about staying at the Blue ridge Motorcycle campground Thursday night (right below Maggie valley)

 

[nccmpig]

There is no one coordinating so I guess someone needs to find a location for us to meet. Maupen, his friend and I are going and coming up (Coral Springs & Orlando) from Florida. We are unfamiliar with the territory so if someone can give us a suggestion or others who may still be going let us know where they plan on staying maybe we can get this thing back on track. When Maupen gets back in town on Saturday we plan on finalizing the route. Given so advice from a member, we think it might be better to stay at a central location like Deals Gap and ride the highways and parkways. Maybe go west one day and east the next. I am looking forward to the trip.

Jim

 

[Nomad]

Jim,
I wrote Maupen directly, so my comments may be redundant to you. I wrote directly because I’m new to the forum and didn’t want to step on anyone’s toes – especially when a member took the initiative to plan a ride. But, considering the original plan has been scrapped, I’ll offer a few comments for others that are considering the ride.

Firstly, the Blue Ridge Parkway is a fairly long, tiring ride. The lower part is very scenic, but becomes less so as one rides north. If you get caught behind an RV, there is little opportunity to pass and it seems RV’ers seldom use pull-outs to let others pass. And, ultimately the original ride ends far from the beginning point – a generally poor model for meet-ups. A “hub” model allows riders to arrive at different times, yet enables them to meet-up with other riders at day’s end, should they miss the start.

Some riders are critical of Deal’s Gap because of the crowded road, law enforcement, danger, etc. However, if you’ve never ridden the Tail of the Dragon, it is absolutely worth a trip. It is consistently rated as one of the top rides in the US. While the Dragon is a “must ride,” once you’ve “been there, done that,” the real draw is the mix of riders and bikes you’ll see at Deal’s Gap. On a busy weekend you‘ll typically see 100-200 bikes: everything from vintage bikes to the latest crotch rocket and blinged-out Harley. You’ll see riders from Canada and across the country (as well as local riders) – all these guys (and gals) are in a good mood and enjoy discussing riding and bikes. You’ll see “old farts,” like me and young kids who think they’re God’s gift to motorcycling. It’s not uncommon to see crashed bikes hauled-out, but it’s not the road, it’s how they are being ridden. Most of the “crashed” riders are resilient young guys that wear scraped leathers as a badge of honor. I’m well past that stage, but I still enjoy watching the circus. In recent years the place has become a little less wild, probably because of increased law enforcement, but it’s still fun.

Deal’s Gap is generally a destination ride but could serve as a loop ride if you locate the hub elsewhere. The Deal’s Gap Resort offers camping, motel, restaurant, T-shirt shop, and gas station. Most rooms have two bunk beds, so four riders can split a room, reducing the cost. The rooms are Spartan, but clean. The restaurant fare is pretty basic, but the breakfasts and burgers are good and reasonably priced. Nearby Fontana Village offers more upscale accommodations and is also popular with large riding groups. If you want a quiet evening the Tuskegee Motel (Hwy 28) is a favorite with older riders – others stay at the Phillips Motel in Robbinsville. There is also a more modern motel in Robbinsville. The Huddle House Restaurant in Robbinsville offers good food and covered motorcycle parking.

If you ride the Dragon, make sure you check-out www. Killboy.com for photos of your ride. Also make sure to ride nearby Cherohala Skyway -- it is actually a better, but less famous ride than the Dragon. Hwy 28 is another great ride, as are most roads in the area. Deal’s Gap sells a motorcycle map that shows many of the local rides. Or, you can bring your own map and mark the routes from the map that is posted on the wall. Also be sure to check-out Cheoah Dam which was filmed in the movie “The Fugitive.”

The Nantahala Outdoor Center is a well-known whitewater and hiking destination which also offers accommodations and food (as well as a scenic ride). Bryson City has several good restaurants and a brewery. The brewery is not yet a brew pub, but their brew is available at a nearby restaurant. There is a casino in Cherokee (where you pick-up the Blue Ridge Parkway) and you can ride Hwy 441 over the mountain to Gatlinburg (if you want a crowd). Most routes between Deal’s Gap and the towns of Cashiers, Franklin, or Highlands (or adjacent areas in North Georgia), offer great riding. If you head that way, take a pic at Bridal Veil Falls on US 64 near Highlands.

The above suggestions notwithstanding, if you decide to ride the original route (BRP), you’ll have a good time. But, take time to plan your overnight stop – I ended-up tired and wet in Blowing Rock and found the rooms rather expensive.

Craig

 

[Phil Tarman]

+ 1 to everything Craig says! I love Deal's Gap, but the Cherahola Skyway is even better. There are hardly any bad rides in the area. We had a Concours Owners Group National Rally at Fontana Village in 2008 and it was a great location with good food right there and lots more not too far away.

 

[nccmpig]

He sent your email to me and some of my suggestions were off of your email. I am looking now for a place to meet up at Deal's Gap and then take the ride on the Chherahola Skyway and the Dragon and whatever the group wants to do. Thanks for all of your help. I am new at this so I will try to get the info out, hopefully today. Thanks again and I hope to meet up with you someday.



Jim

 

[pcrimm]

I'm in ... Confused, but I'm in

I'm in charlotte NC area so it would be easy to meet the Florida crowd on your way up.

I like to take real roads to the blue ridge pkwy. So I plan on getting there minus any interstates.
Maggie valley / Cherokee is~ 3.5 hours through some pretty nice main streets along the way.

I'm also real flexible on the routes and camping vs rooms.
Paul

 

[nccmpig]

Maupen his friend and I are staying at a cabin campground called offthedeepinn. The website is offthedeepinn.com. Its about 8 miles from Fontana Village on 28. I don't know where a central point we can meet on either Thursday night or Friday in the AM. If you know a good location we can meet there.

Jim

 

[maupen]

Hi gents! after some research and with the INCREDIBLE help of Craig (thank you Nomad! ), we decided to mark our meeting point at "Deal's Gap Motorcycle Resort 17548 Tapoco Road, Robbinsville, NC 28771", because it's an intermediate point from guys riding North-South too..

Our idea is to wait for some folks (cjt, pcrimm) and some maybes ( Dave, Herbie, bikecyclerBen, lcseds, BobAgain ) between 8AM to Noon, Friday 30, watching bikes, talking with the experienced guys and then ride the dragon together ( and wait for the Killboy picture! ).

Later, at dinner, we can decide where to ride Saturday, maybe we can count with some guy with more experience in the neighborhood!!

We're looking forward to meet other NT riders, hopeful, some maybes can do it!