Carolina/Virginia Loop
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Tourer
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 406
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From: North Carolina
Carolina/Virginia Loop
Started riding again last September after 10 years out of the saddle. When my Son was born I sold all 3 bikes I had at the time, 2005 Springer Classic, Suzuki V-strom 1000, and a Yamaha V-star 1100 classic. Back then me and a few guys would ride Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway every July. We would only see each other this 1 time a year for the annual Blue Ridge Parkway ride. It all started from a Yamaha chat room like this one where no one knew each other, but getting together once a year and riding really formed friendships. I ended up moving to New York and later found out the annual ride fizzle out a few years later. Now that I'm back in the Carolinas, and in the wind, I made contact with these old lost friends and we are doing a reunion next week.
Since I'm going without a windshield I plan on avoiding interstates the whole trip. The first day will be driving from Wilmington, NC to the meeting point in Front Royal, VA. Day 2 will be driving Skyline Dr. and the Blue Ridge Parkway to the Peaks of Otter Lodge. If you ever get a chance, the Friday night buffet at Peaks of Otter is insane. Day 3 we will travel the Blue Ridge and spend the night in Blowing Rock. Day 4 we will travel to the Pisgah Inn towards the southern end of the Parkway. This is another awesome place to stay on the Parkway and has a great restaurant. Everyone will go their separate ways on day 5 and I plan on snaking down to Brevard, NC and then taking the Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway over to Fort Mill, SC to visit family. Day 6 will be back country Carolina 2 lane roads to the homestead.
I'll be sure to update with lots of pictures when complete.
Since I'm going without a windshield I plan on avoiding interstates the whole trip. The first day will be driving from Wilmington, NC to the meeting point in Front Royal, VA. Day 2 will be driving Skyline Dr. and the Blue Ridge Parkway to the Peaks of Otter Lodge. If you ever get a chance, the Friday night buffet at Peaks of Otter is insane. Day 3 we will travel the Blue Ridge and spend the night in Blowing Rock. Day 4 we will travel to the Pisgah Inn towards the southern end of the Parkway. This is another awesome place to stay on the Parkway and has a great restaurant. Everyone will go their separate ways on day 5 and I plan on snaking down to Brevard, NC and then taking the Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway over to Fort Mill, SC to visit family. Day 6 will be back country Carolina 2 lane roads to the homestead.
I'll be sure to update with lots of pictures when complete.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 3,832
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From: Coastal Carolina
Agreed about the BotD, but the BRP is about an hour and a half east of Marion, so if that's the OP's route, it's a pretty big detour.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2012
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From: Michigan
FWIW---
We just did part of the BRP with some friends and as always we had to stop in at Mabry Mills for lunch (actually their Blackberry Cobbler).
We spent a night at the Park Vista Motel (in West Jefferson) right off of the parkway near the 268 MP.
They're in the process of rebuilding so at this time it's "quaint" with a restaurant that's closed on Mondays and Tuesdays so have your supplies if you plan on spending the night.
We just did part of the BRP with some friends and as always we had to stop in at Mabry Mills for lunch (actually their Blackberry Cobbler).
We spent a night at the Park Vista Motel (in West Jefferson) right off of the parkway near the 268 MP.
They're in the process of rebuilding so at this time it's "quaint" with a restaurant that's closed on Mondays and Tuesdays so have your supplies if you plan on spending the night.
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,609
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From: the 'ville' kentucky
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Tourer
Joined: Oct 2016
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From: North Carolina
Trip completed-Pics added
Well, the trip went extremely well and only hit 10 minutes of rain in 6 days. I left Thursday 7/20 at 6:00 am from Hampstead, NC headed to the rendezvous point at Front Royal, VA.
Pic 1- Packed and ready to depart.
Pic 2- Overlook on Skyline Drive VA.
Pic 3- Panoramic view of Peaks of Otter lodge Friday
Pic 4- View from my balcony at Peaks of Otter lodge
Pic 5- Richard, Lenny, Myself, and Ray getting ready to chow on the famous Peaks buffet
Pic 6- Ready to depart Peaks of Otter
Pic 7- Overlook on Blue Ridge Parkway VA.
Pic 8- My bike and I at a NC overlook
Pic 9&10- after spending the night at the Holiday Inn Express in Blowing Rock, NC we were invited to eat breakfast at the former Blue Ridge Parkway directors house just off the parkway.
Pics 11,12 & 13- A overlook above an apple orchard on the BRP. between Grand Father Mtn. and Asheville, NC
Pics 14&15- morning sunrise from my balcony at Pisgah Inn on the BRP just south of Asheville, NC
Pics 16,17,18,&19- highest point on the BRP.
After this we continued on to Cherokee NC and completed the Skyline Drive/BRP trip. From Cherokee we went separate ways and headed home. Total miles for me -1,554.
If you have never been on the BRP add it to your bucket list. There are so many amazing long range views it boggles the mind, but amazingly some of my favorite parts were not long range views but rugged sections between ridges and valleys. I thoroughly enjoy riding with a group but I also recommend riding it alone sometime so you can stop where and whenever you want. Some of my favorite views were not even at an overlook and I would have just pulled off the side of the road and gawked for hours. The southern part between Asheville and Cherokee is so outstanding it is worth waiting for a clear day for your ride.
Pic 1- Packed and ready to depart.
Pic 2- Overlook on Skyline Drive VA.
Pic 3- Panoramic view of Peaks of Otter lodge Friday
Pic 4- View from my balcony at Peaks of Otter lodge
Pic 5- Richard, Lenny, Myself, and Ray getting ready to chow on the famous Peaks buffet
Pic 6- Ready to depart Peaks of Otter
Pic 7- Overlook on Blue Ridge Parkway VA.
Pic 8- My bike and I at a NC overlook
Pic 9&10- after spending the night at the Holiday Inn Express in Blowing Rock, NC we were invited to eat breakfast at the former Blue Ridge Parkway directors house just off the parkway.
Pics 11,12 & 13- A overlook above an apple orchard on the BRP. between Grand Father Mtn. and Asheville, NC
Pics 14&15- morning sunrise from my balcony at Pisgah Inn on the BRP just south of Asheville, NC
Pics 16,17,18,&19- highest point on the BRP.
After this we continued on to Cherokee NC and completed the Skyline Drive/BRP trip. From Cherokee we went separate ways and headed home. Total miles for me -1,554.
If you have never been on the BRP add it to your bucket list. There are so many amazing long range views it boggles the mind, but amazingly some of my favorite parts were not long range views but rugged sections between ridges and valleys. I thoroughly enjoy riding with a group but I also recommend riding it alone sometime so you can stop where and whenever you want. Some of my favorite views were not even at an overlook and I would have just pulled off the side of the road and gawked for hours. The southern part between Asheville and Cherokee is so outstanding it is worth waiting for a clear day for your ride.
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