looking for advice on riding the Blue Ridge Mtn. parkway : V-Twin Forum: Harley Davidson Forums

RIDETOEAT · 02-18-2009, 09:13 PM

Will be a small group of bikes with a minimum of 3 to 5 and as many as want to go along. The only thing so far is the time frame of late june or early july and the desire to ride it from north to south. We are considering fairly short riding days, have about 500 miles to travel east and likely on US 50 to the north entrance and then maybe (3) 150 mile days going down the parkway toward Cherrokee area for the weekend. That first 500 mile day will likely get split into two 250 milers as well. Nothing to prove here but a couple of the guys don't have as much cush as we do on the ultras. If you have traveled these roads I would appericiate any thoughts on any reason this might be a good or bad begining plan to refine as time goes by.

simjue · 02-18-2009, 10:04 PM

This is a good plan. We ride the Parkway almost every year. It is a great road with lots of good scenic viewing spots. It is slow going especially in summer as the tourists are out with RV's. Speed limit is 45 and well patrolled. Riding after dusk is dangerous as the deer population is high. Go to the NPS web site for a map/milepost. Peak of otter wayside on the Parkway is a good place for food and lodging if, but may be full at that time of year. Blowing Rock NC is just off the Parkway. A nice, but touristy town. Good place to stop and stay. 150 miles per day makes an easy ride with lots of stopping opportunities. Weather can be great or hot. Be alert for summer storms as you are riding the top of the mountain range and there is not many escapes or places to get under. Have a nice trip.

hardluk1 · 02-19-2009, 08:47 AM

This sounds like one of the better planed rides ,,Not much set in stone . Tell all to keep a sweat shirt for the first couple hours even in the middle of summer in the higher mountains. The Station Inn during the week for a possible layover around marker 260 ,motel and food ,good biker place but typicaly too busy on the weekends to find a room. Check out grandfather mountain and there are several good bike friendly motels in and around sprues pine and burnsville area and west on the BR like the switzerland inn and mountain view that do have beer wine for those in need.Also there are the best jem mines around in mitchell county like Emrald Mine which is about 5 minutes from swiss inn. DO Not allways follow the given detours off the BR with out a good map, seems like there will allways be detours and the marked detours are more likely to be car not bike friendly and less senic. Good area to stay is maggy valley, lots of motels there and still just a short ride from the end of the BR. If your trip puts you in the asheville area in late june there is a growing CBA event at Hot Springs nc that can be a good time along with a side trip on the same weekend to Barrbarosia's on the river about 30minutes away in tenn. They had David allen cole 2 years ago, missed last years event . Check out (carolinamcevents.com) for everthing motorcycle in the NC area from events to camping to shops. Good site. Early fog if found can be hell ,stop ,go back and take a break or change elevation . It can be so thick you can see ahead and afraid to stop for the same reason. Someone buy the atlas and gassettes of the states of NC and maybe VI, they will show side roads most standard maps don't and gps only show at a scale to small to matter. Many great side trips around nc mountains . If shopping is part of the plan just make it to downtown Asheville ,all kind of shops in a 3 or 4 block area. Lots of modern day hippy left over and odd ball shops too. DO NOT SITE SEE while rideing the BR please I have seen or come across to many wrecks from riders looking and screw'n up or haveing someone else hit them doing the same thing. WE remodeled a house on the BR and during a 3 month period watched 4 bikes get hauled off with died or injured riders west of sprues pine area. Some of the best roads there just to many good views to. See if the states can send you some tourist info for the west half to get some other ideas for stops that may interest you. Can't help with the virginia section but can help with any questions or problems with the nc area you might need.

Mr Cujo · 02-19-2009, 02:49 PM

Only have been on the BRP once, but can't wait to go again. I found it to be slower than I might have imagined, but well worth it.
Sounds like you have a pretty good plan.. slow and easy..no big rush

As a small aside, we did see several small packs of bicyclists. Just something to be on the lookout for...

The only advice I have is to be mega alert on the tunnel entrances.
The tunnel entrances cause temporary blindness going from light to dark, normally not so big an issue, but there are a few blind bumps (significant ones) that will raise the pucker factor up quite a bit if you are not ready for it, especially when you are leaning in with a turn.
FWIW, this was on the Maggie Valley end. No knowledge further up the road...

Have fun, be alert, and have fun. (yeah..I said fun twice on purpose...)

Cujo

GJarrett · 02-19-2009, 06:02 PM

Yeah expect a leisurely ride: there's way too many white haired retired folk in RVs moseying along to allow for peg-scraping antics. But the scenery makes it well worth the adventure. I didn't get my bike until December so I haven't ridden it yet on my Harley but cannot wait.

Mr Cujo · 02-19-2009, 07:02 PM

GJ,

We'll make a point to hit a bit of the BRP in May while your up this way..

GJarrett · 02-19-2009, 08:15 PM

Yippie!

ADVNTR · 02-19-2009, 08:18 PM

Be sure to pull over and let the faster bikes by, so don't forget to look in the mirrors. Weekends suck on the BR so try for the week days. I can't warn you enough about thunderstorms up there-make sure you have good rain gear and a NWS radio.

Sarge7 · 02-27-2009, 09:16 PM

Also check out the BR Parkway web sight - it has a wealth of info and will let you know about road conditions up to the minute.

RIDETOEAT · 03-01-2009, 11:39 AM

Our trip is shaping up to look like only 280 the first day Leaving Madison Indiana and going east on US 50 east stoping at Parkersburg WV and then around 220 miles the second day going east on US 50 to the north end of the BM parkway and staying at winchester Va. Then on 150 miles down the parkway to Buens Vista on the 3rd day, then on down another 152 miles to around Fancy Gap to stop on day 4. Next will be 134 miles down to Little Switzerland at mile post 334 for the night and then on to Gatlinburg the following day. Will be spending Monday, Tue and Wed. evenings on the Parkway so hopefully rooms won't be an issue. I will probably go ahead and get reservations as soon as our friends look over the plan.

I would think this might be a high traffic week even though it is during the week. We are planning on June 29, 30 and July 1 for the parkway overnights.

To those of you that have rode the BRM pky. do my plans of 135 to 155 miles a day seem about right allowing for the 45 mph speed limit and stops for sight seeing. ?????????

road_king · 03-01-2009, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RIDETOEAT

To those of you that have rode the BRM pky. do my plans of 135 to 155 miles a day seem about right allowing for the 45 mph speed limit and stops for sight seeing. ?????????

I have ridden the BRP from top to bottom many times and I would say those daily mileage numbers are very realistic. But you will want to try to get a fairly early start each day as you do not want to ride the parkway past dusk. Obviously the time spent sight seeing will affect how many miles you cover in a day, but by far its the weather that can dictate how far you ride in a day on the BRP.

RIDETOEAT · 03-01-2009, 12:27 PM

I know the speed limit is 45 but how would you guess traffic to be flowing during the week. Slower or faster or at the speed limit ????

simjue · 03-01-2009, 05:07 PM

Traffic flow is much better during the week than weekends. Traffic moves OK except slow around turnoffs and site-seeing vistas. Most traffic between about 10am-2or3pm. RV's tend to be slower, but no big trucks allowed. You will not have any problems with your mileage plans in my opinion. It is such a beautiful place, just sit back and enjoy.

RIDETOEAT · 03-01-2009, 05:11 PM

Ya, I was thinking a rider back rest or two might be in order, I wish money was more plentyful this year but it is not...

sportsterjohn · 04-08-2009, 01:43 PM

The north end and the south end are very different. The north end is hilly and goes through alot of farmland. It's a nice leisurly country ride. The Southern 200 or so miles is where it really turns into mountain riding. Expect alot more curves and mountians once you cross into NC. There is a great place to eat in Fancy Gap Va. it will be the last exit before you cross into NC. I think the highway num is 58. The place is the little country cafe right on the corner with the gas station there. As others have mentioned, the Boone / Blowing rock area is a good place to hang for a day or so. There are some real nice condo's for rent in blowing rock / banner elk. If you go a little further south to Little Switzerland, there is a motorcycle resort type of thing there. The rooms are not great but it is a biker place. There are a few alternative roads that are also very cool. Highway 221 from Galax down into NC is a nice ride, you go through some real nice small towns and you can hit grandfather mountain and linnville falls. If you stay on 221, it will dump you out on highway 64 which is also a very nice ride. You can take 64 east to lake lure and then take alt 74 back up to the brp on the north side of ashville.