February 1st, 2013, 01:20 PM | #1 |
Biker
Name: Steve
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Join Date: Nov 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 Ninja 250 SE Posts: 723
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NYC to Smokey Mountains - A Friends Ride Report
From a riding buddy, Carlo–NYCSBR. Great guy! I'm planning my trip to the Dragon and East Coast Ninja Rally, and will extensively borrow from his routes Anyhow, for those that want to join me along the way to the East Coast Ninja Rally, let me know if you want to meet up with me. This is not the exact route I would be taking, but close enough to it. The report is from 2012, Enjoy!
Many of you have been there already, but the roads were so incredibly beautiful that I have to share my rides with you since everyone should go there at least once in her life. Day 1 - Wednesday, June 27th: NYC to Waynesboro, VA; 390.5 miles http://goo.gl/maps/dHqD5 First things first, I transmogrified my CR into a mule and equipped her with a medium AirHawk and a GoCruise Throttle Control, the two best purchases I’ve ever made. All decked out, I left at 3 pm just in time to get stuck in the Holland Tunnel traffic; I lost two pounds just sweating my way to New Jersey. Thereafter, it was a very speedy ride on I-78 through New Jersey and then on I-81 through Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia and the northern part of Virginia. I reached Waynesboro, VA well into the night. No preliminary reading on long-distance riding had prepared me to the sheer number of bugs that come out at night in the more rural parts of the United States. At some point I just had to stop at a gas station to clean the visor from what I can only define as dead bug gunk. Day 2 - Thursday, June 28th: Waynesboro, VA to Fontana Dam, NC via Blue Ridge Parkway & Tail of the Dragon; 423.9 miles http://goo.gl/maps/n6YUQ I left Waynesboro at 7:30 am, reached the beginning of the Blue Ridge Parkway and rode it for about 30 miles. After a quick refuel in Vesuvius, VA, I got back on I-81 making my way south through Virginia until I eventually reached Tennessee. Tellingly, the further south I got, the friendlier and chattier people became. Toward the southernmost part of Virginal and into Tennessee you don’t see that many New York license plates (in fact, I saw none), so the simple fact of seeing the bike with her cargo prompted people to come over and ask about the ride, New York, my destination etc. etc. Everyone was very friendly and complimentary. There must be an ancestral, genetic link between the throaty sound of a motorcycle engine and one’s pleasure receptors. Some people lose it as they age, others don’t. Once in Knoxville, I turned on Route 129 going toward Deals Gap; I worked my way through The Tail of the Dragon at a very conservative 35 mph (having been made totally paranoid by the stories about the strict enforcement of the speed limit). Alas, just as I got into the nice twisties, I met a patrol car with more speed monitoring equipment and antennas than the space shuttle, which further dampened my spirit. I strutted my form in front of every photographer, although there’s not so much you can do when you take a turn at 20 mph because you’re looking at the speedometer instead of the road (see comment about this in my Day 3 summary) and reached the famous Deals Gap Motorcycle Resort at 4:00 pm. Day 3 - Friday, June 29th: Moonshiner 28 custom loop, Cherohala Highway and Tail of the Dragon; 316.1 miles http://goo.gl/maps/PdyU After a quick breakfast, I left at 8:00 am for my Moonshiner 28 custom loop. This is, by far, the best motorcycle ride I’ve ever had. The Tail of the Dragon my a**; there, the speed limit is 35 mph and it is strictly enforced. Try instead the twisties on Route 28, where the speed limit is 55 mph (it’s like you’re being taunted to prove your skills). Someone more skilled than I am could achieve that speed; I contented myself with working on my chicken strips. The Franklin to Highland stretch has the best views. It runs along the river and passes by the beautiful Bridal Veil Falls. The Highland to South Carolina stretch is just unbelievable; downhill on the way over; uphill on the way back. Nice constant radius turns, some wide, some tight, very grippy tarmac. I was just going and going with the flow and I stopped when I noticed that having left North Carolina and crossed into Georgia I somehow crossed into South Carolina. 3 states in less than 20 miles. I could have kept going, but I actually turned around and did the same road uphill. An incredible adrenaline rush.
Link to original page on YouTube.
Link to original page on YouTube. |
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February 1st, 2013, 03:29 PM | #2 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Whodat
Location: Ware Is.,MA
Join Date: Jan 2009 Motorcycle(s): I pass the wind! Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Mar '13, Jun '14
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A few suggestions;
Take a bridge out of NY. The fumes in the tunnels can kill you if you're in traffic. Before Harrisburg cut down and ride 283 then the PA pike to 15 and run 15 down by Gettysburg to Frederick then backroads to Front Royal. Stay in Front Royal if you have to stop. It's a beautiful town right at the beginning of Skyline Drive. Skyline turns into the Blue Ridge. The Blue Ridge runs through Ashville which is another great place to stop. From Ashville to the Dragon there are numerous gorgeous roads to ride.
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If everything seems under control; you're just not going fast enough! |
1 out of 1 members found this post helpful. |
February 6th, 2013, 10:18 AM | #3 |
One Loyal Fox
Name: Rahul
Location: Mechanicsburg, PA
Join Date: Apr 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2012 Ninja 250R (RIP), 2011 ZX-6R Posts: 869
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if i can get some vacation time..!!
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My riding blog! Check it out if you are bored!aninjaridingpandabear.blogspot.com RIP Alex 8.10.12 |
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