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Blue Ridge Parkway |
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I've been back and forth about making a Blue Ridge Parkway trip this year, but was beginning to think it wasn’t going to happen. I had always wanted to run the BRP from end to end, then maybe hit Skyline Drive while I was at it. Saturday my planets aligned, the weather was good, and I got a kitchen pass (of sorts ).
So I off I went. Travis "this tire will be ok" Daigle was going to make the trip with me but his rear tire didn’t make it to Chattanooga. Since I was already packed, I elected to continue as a solo. |
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Now keep in mind, this trip was originally planned as a 3 day adventure, and since Travis was only getting the two day pass, I had committed to being at work on Tuesday, perhaps cutting my trip a little short.
So after Travis and I went our separate ways, I rolled up 74 from Cleveland TN through Andrews NC (fighting the urge to turn in on Hwy 129) till I got the very beginning of the parkway near Cherokee. Full of fuel, Gatorade and power bars I headed north.
The Blue Ridge is a sport bike/sport tour paradise. Did I also mention how pretty it is? Within minutes I'm rolling along the ridge at 5500 feet altitude, loving life. Awesome views for 50 miles on both sides, lush green forest falling away forever. For this trip I had absconded with a ST1300, and the bike was in its element. With surprisingly little traffic, the bike and I were in rock and roll mode all the way to Asheville, NC. Top off the tank, back out and before long I'm taking pictures of Craggy bottom. I can darn near see to Charlotte from there (or so the ranger tells me). I'm breezing by |
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Grandfather Mtn. (site of the highest wind speed ever recorded on earth- 221 mph!) with visions of Dan Sanders and I getting pulled over there in 2004. Its getting awfully dark quick, and the critters are coming out, but I'm 120 miles from Roanoke where I plan to spend the night, so I soldier on. 31 deer, 1 bear and 3 raccoons later I'm getting pretty sure riding the BRP at night is a bad plan. I duck in to Roanoke and tank up on pizza and beer with my friend Allen. |
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A 7 hour cat nap later and I'm back on the road. I'm thinking about just finishing the BRP and heading home. At this point I'm 140 miles from the end of the BRP, at which pint I'd be 500miles or so from home, at back about 7pm. Sounds good right? That is until I got the end of the parkway, and I'm staring at the entrance to Skyline Dr. I'd had such a good run that morning, I really wanted to do it. Right then a guy rolls up on a Harley, and offers me his pass to get on Skyline (saving me $15). Gotta be a sign, lets roll!!! Skyline Dr. has a speed limit of 35mph. My average |
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speed over it was, uh, somewhat more. Ron was right about the acorns! Holy crap they were deep in a couple spots. No worries though. More great road, more great views. The Shenandoah Valley is damn nice. Lots of good pictures. All good things gotta come to an end, and it finally does. I've done 889 miles since yesterday morning, 550 of them on the BRP and Skyline Dr. I cant help but feel a little sense of accomplishment, it was quite a ride and I made it through that part safe. Now I've got to pay for it... |
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I'm 760 miles from home, and I got to be at work in 19 hours. Time to hit the interstate and plug in the afterburners. Did I mention the ST1300 has a huge gas tank? Its 350 miles between fuel stops, and I put that to good use. Day turns to night and I'm still rolling. I get a little taxed by a local LEO outside Knoxville (12mph over in heavy interstate traffic? WTF!) Anyway, kick stand goes down in my garage at 10:42 last night.
Total distance covered 1552 miles. 64 pictures taken. Number of bugs smashed on my windscreen - countless.
You can see more photos of my ride by clicking on any of the photos above!
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By - Scott Newlin - Aka: ALVictoryDealer |