Road Trip - Blue Ridge to the Dragon - September 3-7
 

Road Trip time for me over an extended Labor Day weekend. I finally decided it's time to head south to the Dragon! I'm going to do it the scenic way, winding down the Blue Ridge Parkway, ending up at the dragon on the 4th. I'll stay in that area at least one night for a few dragon runs and some of the other roads in the area, heading back home on the 5th or 6th, depending on how much fun I'm having. ;-)

If there's anyone else in the area that's interested in joining me, please feel free. I've got some hotel ideas that are reasonably priced and still available in the Dragon area.

The plan so far:
This is a long arse trip (google maps timewise) running the full length of the parkway down, but I'm determined to do it! These are my best guesses as far as travel days/times go:

Day 1 - September 3 (Hotel in Sparta or nearby)
Google Map - Day 1

Day 2 - September 4 (Hotel in Robbinsville - Microtel)
Google Map - Day 2

Day 3 - September 5
Hit the dragon for a few runs, have some lunch then explore other roads in the area. Potentially stay another night in Robbinsville or elsewhere in the area if I find a hot hillbilly chick with more than two teeth!

Day 4 - September 6
Head back home by pointing my car north and seeing where whatever road I'm on takes me. ;-) I'll avoid the interstate most likely on the way home too, so it could be interesting.

Hrrrrrrrmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm......


Interesting!


:tup:

Would love to but I'll be in Washington State that weekend. I'll look for the pics when you return.

Man, I just got off a week vacation so I can't take off.

Let me know about your hotel ideas and prices...this is an interesting proposition hehe :)

Well there's a lot of options in that general area such as Holiday Inn express, there's a Mircrotel place right in Robbinsville and many others for about $70/night. So far they all have vacancies over that weekend. If I really do take the scenic route down, I'll need to find something around the Virginia/NC border off of the Parkway.

I kind of wing it on these things, but will most likely at least make a reservation at a hotel in the Dragon area to be safe.

Priceline.com is your best friend when it comes to hotel prices. :hello::hello:

Ok not sure if it happened or not I haven't been there . What i've been reading about the Dragon is that they have put in speed bumps all threw out the route. Please check it out before you travel. Just My 2 cents

I had to look at the calendar after reading this... Nope not April 1st! :icon18:

Who ever gave you that bull really got you unless you were trying to get me!

Tail of the Dragon at Deals Gap and Cherohala Skyway, Graham Co, NC

LOL!

:ugh2:

Lance...are you planning on taking skyline drive down to blue ridge parkway?

Na, blue ridge is long enough. I've done Skyline before, so I thought I'd shave off a few hours drive by heading direct to the blue ridge. I may even take 81 straight down on Thursday the 3rd and hit the dragon on the 4th (Friday) to avoid some of the traffic there. If I do that, I'll take the Blue Ridge back home.

I'm so undecided as of yet! Fortunately there's plenty of hotel options with vacancy down there.

Cool. Bored at work messing with google maps..checking stuff out.

Me too...shhhhh....
:cool:

You flying solo for the trip?

Sorry for all the questions haha :)

Yep, none of my friends want to drive that far just to drive. Bastages! :shakes head:

Cool...just checking... Reason I asked if you were flying solo is because I never want to be the third wheel on some trip with a guy and his girl if noone else goes....


:tup:

Na, no GF on this trip. I plan on hitting the road hard and finding a nice dive bar at night! ;-)

No Bull It's been going around The Gixxer site for awhile. They were getting tired of all the bikers getting hurt. So they were going to install speed bumps. Just figured I'd pass it on. Sorry I'll leave now........

You really shouldn't believe everything you read or hear. This is just one of the many myths that never seem to go away.

Don't worry my friend, there are no speed bumps and will not be any.

This issue is actually posted on the rumors and legends page on that website. Speed bump rumors on the dragon have existed for decades apparently.

This is a long arse trip (google maps timewise) running the full length of the parkway down, but I'm determined to do it! These are my best guesses as far as travel days/times go:

Day 1 - September 3 (Hotel in Sparta or nearby)
Google Map - Day 1

Day 2 - September 4 (Hotel in Robbinsville - Microtel)
Google Map - Day 2

Day 3 - September 5
Hit the dragon for a few runs, have some lunch then explore other roads in the area. Potentially stay another night in Robbinsville or elsewhere in the area if I find a hot hillbilly chick with more than two teeth!

Day 4 - September 6
Head back home by pointing my car north and seeing where whatever road I'm on takes me. ;-) I'll avoid the interstate most likely on the way home too, so it could be interesting.

:icon18: You know where that's going? Best Quotes thread...boo yah! :bowrofl:

Dooh!

THE DRAGON!

Conquered it 3x today!

Nuff Said!

Video coming when I get back home!

Gotta tighten up the KW's Jae! I was dragging the rubber front! LOL!

WOW!

What a road!

We all have to plan on going back for the big Z weekend!

PARTY!

The Motorcycle dudes were taking pics of my Z at the Deals Gap Motorcycle resort this morning, LOL!

FUN FUN FUN!!!!

:tup: Cool!

So if you're complaining of dragging the front....how would my car do? :p

It was only on a few high down force right-handers that it drug, but since I can go tighter, I might. ;-)

I was running hard core though. Sport bikes were letting me pass! ;-)

Looking forward to the video, sounds like it was everything and more!

Nice! I had the chance to hit the Dragon years ago, when I had my WRX. It is a pretty awesome road. It's almost like a paved Roller Coaster. I'm looking forward to seeing your videos.

Just a pic from the drive down... This was on the Blue Ridge Parkway

Wow that's awesome. Please give me your photography skillz!

LOL...

I was just checking out the photographers sites from the dragon (Killboy, US129photos, etc...)

So far nothing up from Killboy but see me at US129photo ;-)

PhotoReflect - Xtreme Sports Photography

Yep, that's my video camera on the door...

Very nice!

Awesome.


Is that a suction cup holding it there? I'd be nervous as hell :)

Yep! ;-) That thing holds my DSLR that ways in at a hefty 6 or 7 pounds too depending on lens.