Maggie Valley....Deals Gap....Georgia?
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 3,587
Likes: 1,150
From: Brandon,Fl
Tom T-Bird had said these days worked for him, so lets see what kind of a group is still interested. Just got a magazine that I subscribe to with an article on roads in Ga. around the Elljay area( west of Helen) that looks interesting. Lets keep this plan rolling..
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,881
Likes: 7
From: North Georgia
I'm still watching this thread to see the dates firm-up. If Maggie Valley is "base" then much of the N. Georgia stuff is really out of reach. Nobody will want to run from Ellijay back to Maggie Valley in the dark. Just saying.... darkness, mountains, critters, and no street lights is NO FUN. Some of these "runs" will take 4 hours (or so), which puts a long day together to travel back and forth.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 3,587
Likes: 1,150
From: Brandon,Fl
Plenty of day-trips in this area. This is my backyard (so to speak) and is my typical area to run the hills. You have Fort Mountain over by Ellijay and you have Blood Mountain over by Helen. In between there are numerous mountains all filled with twisties. There are a couple of published routes they call "Granite to Gold" runs. Over by Ellijay you've got granite quarries you can cruise past and then America's first Gold Rush was started over by Dahlonega (just south of Helen) where a nice lunch can be had and a gold museum if you're into that stuff. Then there's Moonshine Alley (Cops chasing "bootleggers" back in the day) down route 9 from Dahlonega to Dawsonville. NASCAR genesis without a straight piece of road to follow.
I'm still watching this thread to see the dates firm-up. If Maggie Valley is "base" then much of the N. Georgia stuff is really out of reach. Nobody will want to run from Ellijay back to Maggie Valley in the dark. Just saying.... darkness, mountains, critters, and no street lights is NO FUN. Some of these "runs" will take 4 hours (or so), which puts a long day together to travel back and forth.
I'm still watching this thread to see the dates firm-up. If Maggie Valley is "base" then much of the N. Georgia stuff is really out of reach. Nobody will want to run from Ellijay back to Maggie Valley in the dark. Just saying.... darkness, mountains, critters, and no street lights is NO FUN. Some of these "runs" will take 4 hours (or so), which puts a long day together to travel back and forth.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,881
Likes: 7
From: North Georgia
If North Georgia becomes the group's destination then I can throw some hotel choices your way. I will also do my best to join you guys once you arrive.
At a minimum I will share some route planning so that no day passes without a "Wow" factor. Aside from some very cool mountains to climb, there are some neat lakes to run past.
Anybody ever put a rainbow trout in their saddlebag? I've got a couple of guys who have turned me on to riding to some of the local trout streams, we do a little trout fishing, and then ride again. (Knock wood) Haven't been skunked yet. But the fish know it is catch and release right now.
I'm doing a motorcycle camping/fishing 4-day in early April (when the season opens)meeting up with a group of 80 (or more). Some of us are sneeking off to fish since we ride these roads year-round. Should be fun!
At a minimum I will share some route planning so that no day passes without a "Wow" factor. Aside from some very cool mountains to climb, there are some neat lakes to run past.
Anybody ever put a rainbow trout in their saddlebag? I've got a couple of guys who have turned me on to riding to some of the local trout streams, we do a little trout fishing, and then ride again. (Knock wood) Haven't been skunked yet. But the fish know it is catch and release right now.
I'm doing a motorcycle camping/fishing 4-day in early April (when the season opens)meeting up with a group of 80 (or more). Some of us are sneeking off to fish since we ride these roads year-round. Should be fun!
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 3,587
Likes: 1,150
From: Brandon,Fl
Ok, lets make it official,Sun28th-Wed1st are the dates. Whoever wants to go, jump on board. Thanks Poorboy for your input.I hope to finally meet you while we are in your backyard.
The article I mentioned highlighted the following roads.Highways 19. SR60,SR180,and SR52. Can't wait to get back up there, thanks, Pat.
The article I mentioned highlighted the following roads.Highways 19. SR60,SR180,and SR52. Can't wait to get back up there, thanks, Pat.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,881
Likes: 7
From: North Georgia
Ok, lets make it official,Sun28th-Wed1st are the dates. Whoever wants to go, jump on board. Thanks Poorboy for your input.I hope to finally meet you while we are in your backyard.
The article I mentioned highlighted the following roads.Highways 19. SR60,SR180,and SR52. Can't wait to get back up there, thanks, Pat.
The article I mentioned highlighted the following roads.Highways 19. SR60,SR180,and SR52. Can't wait to get back up there, thanks, Pat.
Highway 19, a.k.a. - Highway 129, the VERY same road that the Dragon runs up in NC & TN. Running this stretch from Turner's Corner, heading north, will reveal where the head of the Dragon lives. Everyone rides the tail of the dragon, but this will show you how big that critter really is.
SR60 is a wonderful road that runs (the nicest) from Suches on up through to Morganton. Completely through a National Forest. Some of the twists on this road will let you read your license plate. Many, many local folks consider this their favorite road to ride. It is tree-covered cooler riding in the heat of the summer.
SR180 - famously named (locally) as Wolf Pen Gap Road. "Run with the wolf" as they say. lots-o-twists on this puppy, but sadly, also the need to avoid some poor road surfaces throughout.
SR52 is a beautiful way to cut across a swath of North Georgia. From Dahlonega over to Ellijay. This road is the biggest part of the Granite to Gold run. Big dividends are paid when riding SR52 west from Ellijay; this takes you up Fort Mountain. Very nice views that will test your Android's panorama picture app.
All of this can be ridden (more comfortably) over two days, not impossible (but highly unlikely) to do all of this in one day. Throwing handlebars around all day (when you're not use to it) will kick your butt. A few of the FL Crew here can probably describe this for those who have never done it.
It would be an honor to show my fellow FL Crew around up here.
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