SheepOfBlue

So I am plotting a Blue Ridge Parkway trip. It is a bit long for a weekend but I could do 250 to the head on Friday then 620 for the BRP all the way to Front Royal on Saturday this is the part that is a bit out of range. Then 650 home on the slab but that is not that big a deal.

Anyone ridden the BRP and have recommendations on places to stay that will make me less paranoid about the bike? Either somewhere near Front Royal or near the north end as I might take a Monday off also...


EDIT: Review starts at #20

__________________
A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way

Baketech

I've always stayed in spots well off the Parkway, except for a night in the Pisgah Inn. It was actually pretty cool, but a bit $$ for a bike trip...

Front Royal is not to be missed, but I recommend running it in the other direction, early in the morning for full effect. Have you considered reversing your trip... ie slabbing up to Front Royal and then Skyway/Parkway home?

Somewhat related classic comedy genius located here:
America The Beautiful: Harper's Ferry WV - Honda Motorcycles - FireBlades.org

__________________
"Ten times more charming than that Arnold on Green Acres..."

SheepOfBlue

Thanks Baketech I will check that. Logistically reversing it "might" work. I had not for two reasons. One is that I would be slabbing when I was the most worn out. The second being that I could leave work Friday and get to Cherokee by nightfall thus a reasonably clean start.

I will have to check into Front Royal as I considered that area a get the heck away zone . To many folks when I get near DC. I did go up that end one time when I was working in DC to the Deer Patch but cannot remember Front Royal at all.... I will be checking your thread

__________________
A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way

Baketech

Good point...


I think that's an accurate description, but the scenery passing through makes it worth tolerating the frappe for a bit...

__________________
"Ten times more charming than that Arnold on Green Acres..."

HondaGalToo

Hmmm, I need a good road trip. When are you planning on being there? Not that I have much more vacation time...

__________________
“I want to stand as close to the edge as I can without going over. Out on the edge you see all the kinds of things you can't see from the center.”
~Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.

SheepOfBlue

I actually wanted to do this for a while. I have ridden parts of the south and in a car parts of Skyline. This would match nicely with my ride of the Natchez Trace end to end (until they added a couple of miles ) So I was on AOL with CBR929RE and plotting using Garmin Bobcat to see the miles.

It seemed possible so the next stage was plotting places to sleep etc. If I do it this summer it will likely be in August so it is warm (lots of it is at altitude) or very early September at the latest. Not sure yet but I will post up and/or PM you as things gel. As far as vacation time I would be at the top on Sunday at the latest if I go north. Still have to plot some based on Baketech's idea though as I might be able to go slab further on Friday then hit the top mid day on Saturday then head down on Saturday and finish Sunday....

Still plotting

__________________
A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way

oldgoat

You'll never do 620 miles on the Blue ridge parkway in one day. the speed limit is 45 MPh and that will be hard to keep. The road is nothing but twisties all the way. You need aleast two days to cover the blue rige IMO. Plus you'll want to stop and look at the awesome views.

SheepOfBlue

All true but insanity does go to the bone at my house Of course I am leaning toward leaving work on Friday and getting to Cherokee. Ride the BRB up into VA somewhere and stop. Make the rest on Sunday and loop back part way. Take Monday off and run on in to the house getting in at a nice hour.

Think maybe the last weekend of August or so

__________________
A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way

oldgoat

Sounds good. i guess you know to take warm gear, it gets cold at 5000- 6000 ft. Blue Ridge into Asheville is beatiful !! I do the run from Greenvilee ,Sc a couple times a month. i go up 276 over Ceasars Head ,down to Brevard, take 276 north through Pisgah to The BRP into Asheville. have fun. Leave lots of time though for site seeing.

SheepOfBlue

Any idea on bike friendly hotels in VA? I wish I could find something like those around the gap as I would sleep better knowing the RR was safe.

COLD yep but that is also why August is a good month to go

__________________
A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way

slickwill

Having spent 9 years living at nearly 5000 feet (and countless hours well above that) I find the weather just right, I consider it HOT at the low elevations, not cold at the high one.

An Alabama sheep though might want to take his wool suit.

__________________
If it has wheels, I've crashed it, and some things that don't skis, snowmobile, card board box, giant tube, sentra, dirtbike, lawn tractor, grandmas bread tray, kayak, canoe, raft, bicycle, waterskis, tobaggan, horse, ATV, Now my CBR (women)

ND4SPD

From Greenville? You know that practically makes us neighbors(again)? Glad to see you back!

__________________
"This is your life - are you who you want to be?"
Learn all you need to know about Mac OS X

SheepOfBlue

Getting close to reservations...

Thinking leave work Friday and ride to Cherokee, NC 4.5 hours.
Saturday ride up to marker 170 detour to Woolwine (can't resist) and stay at Rocky Knob Cabins if possible. 300ish miles should be easy.
Sunday continue to Front Royal not sure on the hotel yet. I get miles at about 270ish more.
Monday get up real early and zip up I81 to get WV, Mass and PA to add to my state list. Then uturn and home. I have to check the time cost of heading up to get states still... Ride home is 12ish hours probably.
August 22-25 is looking VERY likely

__________________
A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way

SheepOfBlue

Looking bleak If Fay can hook out to see maybe.... But right now I am holding off on reservations as probably half would be in rain or heavy rain

__________________
A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way

SheepOfBlue

New route is making things look drier (except maybe coming home which is fine)

__________________
A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way

SheepOfBlue

More on Tuesday evening...

__________________
A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way

ND4SPD

Ride safe SoB.

__________________
"This is your life - are you who you want to be?"
Learn all you need to know about Mac OS X

SheepOfBlue

1700+ miles and I am back.... more when I get fed and dried off...

Attached Thumbnails

 

__________________
A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way

CBR929RE

that bitch.

post up some pics as I know you took many.

__________________
if you can't fix it with duct tape, you haven't used enough.

SheepOfBlue

First I will give away the punch lines:
Bad luck runs in 3's















THIS TRIP ROCKED

__________________
A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way

BizJetGuy

You tease.

__________________
"Ix-nay on the Illbilly-hay"

SheepOfBlue

So I skipped lunch and headed out an hour early from work. The bike was mostly loaded and ready to go. The trip over has an ETA of 3 hours but I loose an hour due to clock shift.

Pretty uneventful I head out US72 to I24 and into Chattanooga missing rush hour nicely. Then up I75 to the Cleveland exit (20) across US74 (and US64) to US411. At TN310 I head east which turns into TN39 nothing exotic but a bit rolling and winding. At TN315 I pull a hard right back down a hill and go a tiny distance to the Cherohala Motorcycle Resort the first nights destination.

Sorry no elevation maps as I lost all my tracks from the first two days

__________________
A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way

SheepOfBlue

The Cherohala Motorcycle Resort is cool and I give it 4 hooves up. I actually talked to the owner when they were building it before it even opened. The night I stayed he was not there but his wife was and both are super people that ride. I had the place almost to myself with just a fellow and his son camping there (talked to them in the AM and he was nice and his kid cool, he liked the CBR )

My cabin was a single bed though you can get twin beds also. Nothing exotic but comfy and in the middle of great riding. The lack of TV and internet was kind of relaxing. No heat but they are closed in the winter and cabins get AC. The AC could have been a touch stronger but it was enough and even in the heat it should lessen the whining of yankees. The shower are single bathroom setups and very campy but clean with towels provided in your cabin. One down is the cabin could use a bigger porch and/or a kickstand pad rather than dirt. Also the cabin road is a bit loose but you could park up top on the cement.

If you where in a group the gazebo would be a great get together area.

I would return for sure.

Attached Thumbnails

         

         

 

__________________
A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way

SheepOfBlue

More later. Sorry about the slow post but this was a longer than average graze and the house is a mess chores to do, bills to pay and lots to sift through and do.

__________________
A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way