Well, even though the Michigan winter has been unusually mild, it still hasn't been exactly bike weather. Luckily, I plan to go to the AMA Women's Conf in Athens, GA (June 30th -July 3rd) and so get to plan a trip!
I know I'll be closing in on great places to ride and plan to be there a few extra days to capitalize. But, I'd like to ask for some advice concerning the trip down from Detroit to Athens.
Does anyone have suggestions for a route down (minimum slab, but realistically, I need to not take more than 2 2- 1/2 days) ?
Also, I need to datamine the great Rides section. Nice trips posted here.
I can't give you any advise for any rides in Yankee-land but if you come down the WV, Virginia and NC mountains into the mountains of North Georgia on your way to Athens, you can't hardly go wrong with any backroad.
Without consulting a map for all road numbers, I would would suggest a WV route around Seneca Rocks and Barlow area, Highway 250 though Virginia, the area around Damascus, VA over to Boone, NC. Of course, the Blue Ridge Parkway. And in the Virginia/NC section of the Parkway, there are lots of roads connecting to it that will allow you to loop around and come back.
In the NC section of the Parkway, the area around Grandfather's mountain is spectacular with the Viaduct section (lots of car commericials filmed there) but I all recommend people also make time to take US 221 around this section also because it is so curvy!
Near the southern end of the Parkway, of course is Deal's Gap. I would stay away from that on a weekend but worth the trip. And in this area, it is a short hop to the great roads of N. Georgia around Dalonega (sp?).
I can give you some more specific roads in the Western NC area if you want. And even give you a tour, if you let me know when you will be in the area.
'02 in black - the real BMW color! (Now gone to a new home)
Vann - Lifer No. 295
Yeah, WOW is Women on Wheels. The AMA only holds these Women's Confs once in a while (last one was in 2002) so WOW put their annual gathering next to it figuring to get a great crowd.
Yes, a camera wil accompany me and get used. Will finally have to figure out how to post pics.
Can't wait really...
Hiker
Oh, it's not really closed to men, but you may have to have your woman sponsor you, I think. I haven't really checked.
And Doug, I looked at the Frappr site: no one near me, a few sort of on the route depending how I go.
I'm going to look up your routes on the map.
I would like to ride (slowly) Deal's Gap if for no other reason that I'm down there. And it'll be during the week, so maybe I won't die doing it.
Hiker, don't worry about being the slowest rider on Deal's Gap. You won't be. Lots of crusiers and hawgs poke through there. And the slowest guys of course, are the once who have to wait for the ambalance ride out! And lots of guys who think they are fast, get smoked by some of the crazies that ride there. Very skilled crazies, but crazies nevertheless.
You probably have one advantage over most of the people who crash there, less testosterone! On nice weekends, it's so thick at the Cross Roads of Time store, you can cut it with a knife!
'02 in black - the real BMW color! (Now gone to a new home)
Vann - Lifer No. 295
I went! There and back and some in between!
BRP, got on somewhere south of Bluefield and then down to Asheville.
Didn't do the Dragon after all but ran on 1310 (I think), a small road that connects up to Franklin. Lots of 15-25 mph turns on that thing too.
This was my first 'big' trip. Big problem. Hooked! Don't want to go to work. Want to plan next big trip. Want to ride the whole BRP....
Damn this motorcycling thing!
(You know, somewhere south on 77 (or was it 33?) we pulled over to the shoulder (friend lost her map pocket in the crosswind) and a guy stopped on the other side of the road to see if we needed help. I waved our thanks and sent him off. It was only a few moments later I realized he was on a silver R1150R! Wonder if that was a board member...?)
So glad you enjoyed your trip. Let me know when you're going to be near Bluefield again!! Were you here last Friday (July 7th)? Someone saw a black Roadster heading south and thought it was me. Black/red jacket and helmet?
Anyway, I've seen a Silver R around Weston, WV. That's near the intesection of I-79 and US 33. As for stopping to check on you, we're friendly like that here in the South.
Hiker - glad you had a good trip! As you discovered, there are lots of good roads besides the Dragon. Let me know if you make it this way again! I can direct you to some more!
'02 in black - the real BMW color! (Now gone to a new home)
Vann - Lifer No. 295
Hiker - pm me about this road you took out of Franklin. I have a guess which one it was but would like to know. And would not like everyone in cyberspace to know either!
'02 in black - the real BMW color! (Now gone to a new home)
Vann - Lifer No. 295
On a AAA state map it is marked 1310. We took it east towards Franklin from 129 I believe, near a river rafting place. It has a local name starting with a W (sorry) and you ride with Lake Nantahala on your right.
Vann, 1310 is Wayah Bald Road. Everybody knows about this road already down here. It comes out on 64 just southwest of Franklin and starts over at 19/74 just north of the 129 Robbinsville turn-off. It's known for having gravel strewn all over the turns when other roads are clean!:shock:
I know it ain't exactly a secret but you know, Deals Gap was virtually unknown except for NC and Tenn. riders 20 years ago, now look what has happened!
I do have some that are lesser known though!
Hiker, this look familiar? It is a fellow board member (Michael Chew) on that road!
And lots of guys who think they are fast, get smoked by some of the crazies that ride there. Very skilled crazies, but crazies nevertheless. 
On nice weekends, it's so thick at the Cross Roads of Time store, you can cut it with a knife!
