The New And Improved Unofficial R65 Forum V2
Technical Discussion => Ride Reports and Event Reviews => Topic started by: dewjantim on September 29, 2007, 06:36:51 AM
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Just got back from a four day trip to the BRP and Deals Gap. Left on Tuesday morning and returned Friday night. Started with 8 riders and ended up with 11. Picked up a couple of friends who met us down there and met a photographer doing a video on the BRP and Deals Gap, who also joined us for a couple of days. Weather was excellent with only a few sprinkles on the way to the gap. Stayed at the High Country Campground on Tuesday night. We rented the bunkhouse and had a blast. Brent (the owner) fixed us all a big breakfast the next morning with fruit, coffee, juice, eggs, bacon, sausage, ham, and fried potatoes. Just the ticket for a long days ride. After a good day on the parkway, stopping at Little Switzerland for lunch, our troupe rode into Maggie Valley. Stayed at the Abby Inn which is half way down the mountain. Nice clean rooms, $21 each, and a cat named Tiger who visits your room from time to time. They even provide towels to wipe the bikes down in the morning. Wednesday started with a trip to the Wheels Through Time Motorcycle Museum. I just can't say enough good things about Dale's place. Hundreds of motorcycles, memorabilia, and a knowledgeable staff who keep things interesting. Even saw Willie G. Davidson (he IS a dick ;D) while we were there. Back up the mountain onto the BRP. Love those cool mornings riding in the mountains. Cherokee was the next destination. Stayed at the Best Western there. The staff were real good to us and the waitresses were a hoot. Food was good also (great steaks, hand cut and cooked to order). After check-in we had lunch and headed to the gap. RT 28 was closed part way due to a truck accident. The policeman at the detour told us a short cut over to RT 129 (Deals Gap). Ended up on a road over the mountains which was covered in Chip-and-seal, a combination of gravel and something which makes it stick together. Kind of a combination of pavement and gravel road. Small pea gravels in every curve, really hell to ride on, even for an experienced rider. The Gap wasn't very busy (middle of the week) but there were two cops patrolling it. We split up into several groups of 2 or 3 and rode the dragon. Several of us met a semi who was, of course, all over the road being in his lane and ours two or three times per curve. One of our guys (K75) overheated his rear brake and locked up the rear tire. After cooling down and some judicious bleeding it was back to normal. He was the only DNF in our group. This time I did slay that dragon at a blazing 30 MPH, up 3 mph from the last time. Friday arrived bright and early with a long trip home ahead of us. Up RT 19 to RT 23 all the way to Ashland Ky. Had a great time with a really good bunch of guys. We all got along real well and had a great time.......Dew.
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That sounds like fun, but what would it be like without the traffic? Nothing to do but narrow your entire focus down to your sight line and crank that throttle.... I hope I don't get carried away. I wouldn't be the first.
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Sounds like a really great trip, Dew !
Someday I hope to get down and ride those roads, preferably when there isn't much traffic
(if that ever happens) !
Even just tooling around along the Blue Ridge is nice at the right time of year, though I've never had the fortune to
be on a bike when I've been there.. :(