Latest topics | » Buzzing while accelerating by JohnyC Yesterday at 4:50 pm
» Possible Purchase by GHM-PM Wed Dec 11, 2024 7:17 am
» Belt Squeek by Hop Tue Dec 10, 2024 8:55 am
» smart keyxxxxxx by gustav Mon Dec 09, 2024 8:21 am
» Summer Trip to Hyder AK USA - Stewart BC Canada by sonuvabug Fri Dec 06, 2024 10:16 am
» Sealing trunk area seams by GHM-PM Thu Dec 05, 2024 6:30 am
» Thining out my riding gear after 70 years,,,but of course still riding by john grinsel Wed Dec 04, 2024 10:10 am
» Parasitic amperage leak Uintah by Scootaboy Wed Dec 04, 2024 6:53 am
» Highest miles ? by LarryD Tue Dec 03, 2024 7:33 pm
» December Forum Picture by LarryD Tue Dec 03, 2024 7:27 pm
|
|
| Blue Ridge Parkway | |
| | Author | Message |
---|
midlandchip Scooter Rider
Number of posts : 79 Age : 86 Location : Midland, Michigan USA Points : 5232 Registration date : 2010-11-21
| Subject: Blue Ridge Parkway Thu Sep 27, 2012 9:58 pm | |
| Just came back from a trip I have been thinking about for a long time - a ride on the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina. This is a ride through the Blue Ridge mountains in Virginia and North Carolina. The Blue Ridge is just a section of the Appalachian mountain chain.
The first day I rode from Midland, MI to Athens, OH down I-75 from Midland to Findley, OH and then southeast across Ohio on mostly secondary roads to Athens, OH. After spending the night in Athens I crossed into West Virginia and rode I-77 to Fancy Gap, VA where I stopped for the night again. The next morning I got on the Blue Ridge Parkway and rode about 200 miles to Asheville, North Carolina.
Most of you probably know little about the Blue Ride Parkway but it is a scenic, two lane, paved rode through the Appalachian mountains. Here is a link to a site with plenty of maps and pictures if you are interested:
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=Blue+Ridge+Parkway+Map&qpvt=Blue+Ridge+Parkway+Map&FORM=IGRE
There are lots of places to stop and visit along the way such as the Blue Ridge Music Center, sort of a museum of mountain music, and others.
I stayed in Asheville for two nights and went to a college football game with a friend from Asheville. Then it was back on the Blue Ridge which I rode to the end in Cherokee, NC. From there it was on to Knoxville, TN and then back to Michigan.
So now I have done the Blue Ridge from Fancy Gap, VA to Cherokee, NC. Next summer I plan to do the Sky Line Drive from Front Royal, VA to the point where it connects with the Blue Ridge and then on down to Fancy Gap. That means I will have done the Sky Line Drive/Blue Ridge Parkway from start to finish.
I had a lot interesting conversations with motorcycle riders on this trip. All of them in North Carolina could not believe I rode a 600 cc scooter from Michigan all the way to Virginia and North Carolina. These people have no idea what this bike willdo. And most were surprised I actually rode on an expressway. After all, we all know to ride on an expressway you have to have at least an 1,800 cc road monster. It was a good time. Only problem is I forgot to check the total number of miles I covered.
Last edited by midlandchip on Fri Sep 28, 2012 10:03 pm; edited 1 time in total |
| | | CathyN Silver Wing Expert
Number of posts : 771 Location : USA Points : 6066 Registration date : 2010-11-15
| Subject: Re: Blue Ridge Parkway Fri Sep 28, 2012 12:25 am | |
| midlandchip,
Sounds like it was a great trip. I have riden the Blue Ridge from Cherokee, NC to north of Asheville a couple of years ago. It is a beautiful road. I have been on Skyline Dr. but in a car. I will one day get up there on the Swing. Glad you had a great trip. |
| | | GHM-PM Site Admin
Number of posts : 2637 Age : 72 Location : Bullhead City, AZ Points : 7549 Registration date : 2012-05-17
| Subject: Re: Blue Ridge Parkway Fri Sep 28, 2012 7:52 am | |
| Sounds like a great trip! Just for info when I take a ride short or long I set one of my trip odo's for the entire trip mileage and the other for fuel purposes. I would assume all Silverwings have two like mine? |
| | | jdeereanton Silver Wing Guru
Number of posts : 1995 Age : 77 Location : Huntsville, AL Points : 7904 Registration date : 2008-12-24
| Subject: Re: Blue Ridge Parkway Fri Sep 28, 2012 9:02 am | |
| |
| | | midlandchip Scooter Rider
Number of posts : 79 Age : 86 Location : Midland, Michigan USA Points : 5232 Registration date : 2010-11-21
| Subject: Re: Blue Ridge Parkway Fri Sep 28, 2012 12:27 pm | |
| I missed your post Dale. I don't spend a lot of time on this board. I'll read it later tonight.
I actually had my doubts about making this trip. I'm not getting any younger and I wasn't sure I could do it. But it was a breeze and I would get on my bike and do it again tomorrow it we were not at the end of summer. I guess I learned if one puts limits on what they can do as they get older they will end up doing nothing.
I like your idea of linking up with others for the ride. When I do the Sky Line Drive from Front Royal, VA next summer, and then on down to Fancy Gap, VA, I would like to see if I can get a few other riders in the area to make the trip with me. I had a great time by myself but it's always more fun when a few others with similiar interests are along. My wife is just not interested in this sort of thing. Anyway I have hard side cases on my bike and I had a big duffel across the back behind the backrest. There was no place for a rider. |
| | | midlandchip Scooter Rider
Number of posts : 79 Age : 86 Location : Midland, Michigan USA Points : 5232 Registration date : 2010-11-21
| Subject: Re: Blue Ridge Parkway Fri Sep 28, 2012 12:30 pm | |
| Cathy, just wanted you to know I learned about the headlight protector from one of your earlier posts and I ordered one for my bike. It has been on the bike for a while and looks great. |
| | | CathyN Silver Wing Expert
Number of posts : 771 Location : USA Points : 6066 Registration date : 2010-11-15
| Subject: Re: Blue Ridge Parkway Fri Sep 28, 2012 5:54 pm | |
| Glad the headlight protector worked out for you.
|
| | | Silverwing28681 Scooter Rider
Number of posts : 94 Location : Taylorsville, NC Points : 4611 Registration date : 2012-08-16
| Subject: Oh blue ridge ! Fri Sep 28, 2012 8:36 pm | |
| Oh man I love to ride on the blue ridge parkway ! Here is a photo of my wing on the parkway at over 3500 feet !!!!!!!!! Anyways we all need to plan a ride along the Blue Ridge Parkway ! What do you think ? |
| | | midlandchip Scooter Rider
Number of posts : 79 Age : 86 Location : Midland, Michigan USA Points : 5232 Registration date : 2010-11-21
| | | | yamascooter Scooter Rider
Number of posts : 22 Age : 97 Location : raven,va. Points : 4566 Registration date : 2012-07-05
| | | | clay_in_co Scooter Rider
Number of posts : 40 Age : 58 Location : Weld County, Colorado Points : 4456 Registration date : 2012-11-25
| Subject: Re: Blue Ridge Parkway Tue Dec 18, 2012 11:06 pm | |
| I absolutely love that ride! Years ago, the wife and I used to come down from NJ and ride Skyline Drive/Blue Ridge Parkway down to the GoldWing "Rally in the Valley" in Roanoke. It was the two of us with all of our gear on a 76 CB400F. Ahh, those were the days. | This is not my actual bike, but it looked just like it, except for the sport windshield, rear rack, backrest, soft saddlebags, tankbag, and loads of other stuff. Anyone remember K&G universal motorcycle accessories? |
|
| | | | Blue Ridge Parkway | |
|
Similar topics | |
|
| Permissions in this forum: | You cannot reply to topics in this forum
| |
| |
| |