Smoky Mountains Motorcycles Heaven!

[The A-man]

Offroad is being modest. We started the day on hiway 80 (the Devil's whip), did the Parkway up to Mt. Mitchell, then back to Little Switzerland. By the time we got to the Diamondback (hwy 226A), he was in the lead, and I could barely keep up! That Beemer looked like a motocross bike as I was trying to keep the taillight in sight! We rode some twisties around my backyard (Lake James), then parted when he went back up the mountains on 181. Excellent day, with great rider! It was warm in the foothills, but only about 65 degrees up on Mt. Mitchell. Fortunately, we've had a high pressure here lately, and low humidity, with great visibility. Great riding conditions!

[the Ferret]

Yea he started coming into his own following Physics Teacher and MTC in Ark, then further refined his cornering chasing Long Ranger in Colorado. Improvements will come incrementally now from simply practicing what he has learned.

[Stichill_imp]

Sounds like it may be time to give offroad a new handle: Point-n-Scoot! Catch him if you can!

Is this the [url=https://goo.gl/maps/m5jGfSEpScT2]Mt. Mitchell you guys are talking about?

[Offroad]

It was a great day!






Now the only question is where to ride tomorrow, last day...

[the Ferret]

That's the place Stichill. Most motorcyclists blow right past the entrance on the BRP, but it's worth the side trip.

Offroad.. Have you been to Maybre Mill? ( on the BRP?) beautiful place. THe most photgraphed place in the US I've heard.

[Cormanus]

Looking good offroad. It's great country around there.

[The A-man]

That's it Stichill, highest peak east of the Mississippi, at 6684 feet. On a clear day, the view is phenomenal. We looked out into a cloud to the East, but other directions were clear. In that immediate area, there are 7 peaks above 6000 feet. It's a nice "destination" ride, either from Asheville up the BRP, or from the east where I live, up rte. 80 or 226A. I think you mentioned you'll be in WNC in early August. PM me when that time gets close, and perhaps we can meet up for some riding. It's always about 10-15 degrees cooler up there -- great ride to escape the summer heat!

[Offroad]

Finished my last day with 270s....rained 1/2 the day slowed me down.



This is how you greet your wife in the hotel after raining so hard you don't even take off your helmet to walk inside Lol



My plan was to go to Deals Gap....not really ride the Dragon....but once there I remembered they take your picture so how could I resist!



It was actually more fun than I remembered....the high bank curves make that 11 miles and 318 curves pretty unique. 10:30 on a Thursday, traffic very light....if the photographers time stamps are any indication, the 8-9 am was the busiest....maybe everyone trying to beat the crowd created a crowd?

I did go looking for Wayah rode Stichell mentioned.....is was a great rode, around Nantahala Lake....raining the whole way made it interesting ;-)

I made a wrong turn and had to backtrack through Junaluska Road...which itself wasn't a bad road. Funny 2 GPS units and I still get lost :-(

Hwy 28 is a great road.....



it goes up and over the continental divide and the Bridal Veil Falls, Highlands NC was pretty neat.



I came back up 109....decent but rough surface....rained most of the way.

My plans were to go back down 215 and up 276....but ran out of time....maybe next time.

[the Ferret]

Awesome offroad. So glad you are enjoying yourself. Hard to get a selfie behind Bridal Veil Falls huh? lol

You are really blossoming as a motorcyclist!

[Stichill_imp]

That's it Stichill, highest peak east of the Mississippi, at 6684 feet. On a clear day, the view is phenomenal. We looked out into a cloud to the East, but other directions were clear. In that immediate area, there are 7 peaks above 6000 feet. It's a nice "destination" ride, either from Asheville up the BRP, or from the east where I live, up rte. 80 or 226A. I think you mentioned you'll be in WNC in early August. PM me when that time gets close, and perhaps we can meet up for some riding. It's always about 10-15 degrees cooler up there -- great ride to escape the summer heat!

I’ll be in touch, A-Man. I’ll be riding with a group of 4 or 5 friends Thursday-Saturday but on Sunday 8/5 I’m cutting out on my own from Maggie Valley. I’ve got a cabin rental on Lake Watauga for Sunday night. It’s not very far away so I’d have plenty of time for a meet and ride.
Way to get out there and ride despite the elements, offroad! In your hotel pic you look like an alien visitor. I had a similar experience in Realp, Switzerland. Arrived at a hotel cold and soaking wet.