Member Contributer SamW Posted October 28, 2011 Member Contributer Share Posted October 28, 2011 My buddy and I decided to take a fall trip on the BRP this year, he has been riding a while, but never had a good bike for a road trip, so this spring he rescued my '91 VFR from another friend who let it sit too long and get it serviced and has been riding it around his house, in the mean time I picked up a wrecked '95 VFR that sat a few years and fixed it up and back on the road. So we decided to meet in Cherokee, NC at the start of the Blue Ridge Parkway on a Tuesday evening and see how far we could ride before the weather sent us home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ancon Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 Man you guys down there are killing me! It's getting too cold to ride up here (not to mention that we have about 2 roads that bend in Central Indiana) and you guys in TN/NC keep blabbing about "this trip we took after work through the BRP" or "me and a buddy met to run the Dragon a few times over lunch" or "I took a quick trip through the Cherohala on my way to work" or....C'mon man, it takes me 9 months of begging and good, husband behavior to build up the points to make a trip down there in the summer, and you guys go on and on about your awesome, twisty roads and scenery like it's just another day. Well, I've had it! I'm done. Anyone know a good forum on 'leaf raking' or 'snow blowing'? And isn't it about time for our Australian friends to start chiming in with, "man I wanted to ride today, but it's just too hot out there"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Conedodger Posted October 28, 2011 Member Contributer Share Posted October 28, 2011 Well, I've had it! I'm done. Anyone know a good forum on 'leaf raking' or 'snow blowing'? Ha! Love this reply...I was thinking it too. BTW...It was 28 degrees when I road to work today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer SamW Posted October 28, 2011 Author Member Contributer Share Posted October 28, 2011 Well, I've had it! I'm done. Anyone know a good forum on 'leaf raking' or 'snow blowing'? Well, I got the leaves done on Sunday, cut down a few trees on Monday and chopped them up so I could have some firewood for the winter, so start a thread on that and I will join in!!! Until then, here are a few updates and more pictures! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer SamW Posted October 28, 2011 Author Member Contributer Share Posted October 28, 2011 Tuesday I headed out about 10:30 and tried to take as many back roads as I could, took 81 down towards NC, then hopped on 19W a little while, it was the old route to Asheville before I-26, great road, sort of twisty to begin with, then it followed the river through some valleys. It dumped me back on I-26 North of Asheville and then I-40, only to jump off on highway 151 and took it down to the BRP. I took that all the way into Cherokee, got there about 4:00. It was a nice day, about mid 70's in Cherokee, but cooler on the parkway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer SamW Posted October 28, 2011 Author Member Contributer Share Posted October 28, 2011 Wednesday morning we got on the road about 10:00 and got right on the parkway. It was mid 40's but warmed up quickly. traffic was not too bad, we would get stuck behind various cruisers and Buick's, but we would also get stretches of 30-40 miles with no in front of us or behind us. We did a lot of the over looks and major site seeing points. Stopped in Asheville for lunch, then did the Mt. Mitchell (highest point east of the Mississippi) hike. We sort of lost track of time and distance and did not realize how far we were from our hotel for the night, we upped the pace but did not make it to the hotel until after 8:00pm, and when we first got off the parkway at dusk, had two deer jump the road in front of us and third stopped to stare at me while my buddy asked why I was stopping on the middle of the road. Other than the dark ride down mountain roads, it was a great day on the parkway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer SamW Posted October 28, 2011 Author Member Contributer Share Posted October 28, 2011 Thursday started off with good weather, we made it as far as Mabry Mill before the clouds and wind moved in, we jumped off the parkway and decided to take back roads back towards my house. Once we got on Hwy 58 things cleared back up, but we knew the rain was headed our way, and I did not want to ride between Independence, VA and Damascus, VA on Hwy 58 in the rain, it is very tight and twisty and the last time I was on it, there was a good amount gravel in the turns, mix in rain and leaves and it would not be fun. About the time we got the really twisty section, the rain drops started appearing on my visor and once again we were in a rush to cover some ground. We made it to Damascus right as rain started picking up, so we were able to get the rain gear on and cover the saddle bags for the last hour and a half of the trip. My buddy is hanging out today at my house and will head back to GA tomorrow since it is mid 40's and raining today. It was a good trip, I think we will turn this into an annual trip, just pick different times of the year to go, maybe June next year... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smoothsailin Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 Well...like others who've already chimed in I'm also jealous. I've been hoping to make a similar trip along the length of the BRP since early September, but so far I haven't managed to get more than a 3-day weekend off from work. Before the boss walked in my office this morning to say he needs this and that asap, I was hoping to take off next week for the trip. So much for that.... Although I'm not a gambling man by nature, right now the multi-million $$ powerball lottery is looking awfully tempting. Of course, I realize there's next-to-no chance I would win, but I also realize there's absolutely no chance of winning unless I pay to play. Maybe it's my time.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SEBSPEED Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 Nice pics, thanks for sharing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpcincy Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 Great pics! Thanks for sharing with those of us less fortunate this time of year My best friend and I have turned Skyline Drive and the BRP into an annual adventure and I look forward to it more than kids do Christmas. Cincinnati -> Front Royal, VA -> Skyline + BRP to Cherokee, then tool around some of the great roads in TN/NC before heading home. It really doesn't get much better on two wheels. Did you guys see much in the way of construction this time of year? The last two times we've come through (July both years) there were multiple stretches stripped and quite a few overlooks that were closed. If you've never done it, you're truly missing a spectacular trip; I highly recommend it. So much to see, pristine pavement, and fairly limited traffic (most times depending on the day). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer SamW Posted October 29, 2011 Author Member Contributer Share Posted October 29, 2011 Did you guys see much in the way of construction this time of year? The last two times we've come through (July both years) there were multiple stretches stripped and quite a few overlooks that were closed. There was one detour near the VA/NC border, but other than that there was not much, maybe a few one lane spots, but nothing really comes to mind, but we also did not make it as far north as Roanoke, so we might have missed some farther north. I did see a patch of snow in the grass of a shady area the first day, so that maybe the last BRP trip for me this year... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nsr250 Posted October 31, 2011 Share Posted October 31, 2011 And I'd be Sam's friend that went on the BRP with him last week. Had a fantastic time even though the weather turned sour on us. Sam didn't get to experience the worst of it though. I got stuck riding through about 10 miles of snow on I-26 at the TN/NC line. Fun stuff. I think next year we'll ride a few weeks earlier and try to avoid the worst of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpcincy Posted October 31, 2011 Share Posted October 31, 2011 That's good, maybe they're finishing up. I still get a kick out of the escort vehicles that you have to wait for down there. Up here they just toss us to the wind and hope we figure out how to navigate a construction area, lol. The weather on top of the BRP is a trip in itself. We hit it in July this year and left Cincy at about 92 degrees on Wednesday. Thursday was beautiful as we made it down to Hillsville (IIRC). Friday, as we neared the southern end of the BRP, we spent the entire day in 40 degree rain and wicked dense fog. That was interesting to say the least. Heading home on Saturday through the Skyway and surrounding awesomeness, it was back to mid-80's and full sun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 31, 2011 Share Posted October 31, 2011 My brother and I did this ride a few years back. Went from Cherokee, NC up into VA and then slabbed back. I highly suggest it for anyone this time of year!!! Just take you patience, camera, and some warm clothes......and ENJOY the scenery. Don't expect to do much "spirited" riding on the BRP, save it for the Dragon, Cherohala, and other roads. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Chuckster Posted October 31, 2011 Member Contributer Share Posted October 31, 2011 That looks like a great time! Thanks for sharing the pics. One of my goals next year is to ride the BRP all the way up to it's ending in Virginia. I have a brother that lives in Centreville, VA and it would be a great excuse to ride it up and back! Chuck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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