• There were many reasons for the change of the site software, the biggest was security. The age of the old software also meant no server updates for certain programs. There are many benefits to the new software, one of the biggest is the mobile functionality. Ill fix up some stuff in the coming days, we'll also try to get some of the old addons back or the data imported back into the site like the garage. To create a thread or to reply with a post is basically the same as it was in the prior software. The default style of the site is light colored, but i temporarily added a darker colored style, to change you can find a link at the bottom of the site.

For those going to Maggie Valley next week, Keep an eye on the weather!

Wife was just reading on Facebook about some land slides and road closures in Ashville and surrounding areas. So check out the NC DOT.
 
I just checked the North Carolina Department of Transportation website.


It says:

A lane is closed from the TN State Line to Exit 7 (Cold Springs Creek Road) in both directions for construction, due to impacts from Hurricane Helene. The speed limit through the affected roadway is 35 MPH. Motorists can expect delays, especially on Friday and Sunday afternoons.
2 of 4 lanes closed.

Sounds like 1 lane is open in each direction, and speeds are significantly reduced, but you can still get through.

Google maps thinks Cold Springs Creek Road is about 25 miles North of Maggie Valley.

And I am thinking that the original damage was caused Hurricane Helene in 2024, as the Start Date of the incident is Friday, Sep 27, 2024.
The end date is Friday, Jul 31, 2026 so they're still working on fixing the road.

And I don't think it will affect me, as I've plotted a route that avoids the interstates, so I won't be on that section of Interstate 40.
My route is farther South and uses State Highways 70N, 321, and 441.
 
I have about 8 buddies heading up there tomorrow (Wednesday 10/1). Should be great weather. I asked him to give me a leaf color report. We are going in 12 days and hoping to catch peak color for the season.
 
I got here a little after 8 pm on Monday night, after leaving home at 10 am for the 5 hour drive to Maggie Valley.

First problem: a TN State Trooper blocking the road with his cruiser and directing everyone to detour. I later learned there was a bad accident involving a motorcycle fatality.

Apple CarPlay redirected me without many complaints, but instead of being on a State highway, I ended up headed South on 18 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway... after dark, and while there was a large group of ricer boys right out of The Fast and Furious headed North.

I went for an interesting ride with another Spyder rider on The Rattler Loop. He was on a new 2025 Spyder RT S2S with his wife as a passenger, while I was riding solo on my 2024. And I could not keep up with him. He finally realized I wasn't keep up and pulled over to wait for me, then went slower after that. When we got back to the hotel we talked about it, and he admitted that he had a Baja Ron sway bar and end links installed on his Spyder. He also mentioned how he liked the bronze accents on my seats with the "Sea to Sky" stitched into the driver's seat, which his does not have.

There was one ride we went on to a place for lunch, and when we checked in, we were asked if we were the first of the large group? Apparently there was a group of 30 motorcycles stopping for lunch. It was a small lunch place and country style store, and I don't think they had 30 seats in the restaurant. We ate, and the group started pulling in as we were leaving.

I mentioned to my friend that my maps weren't working correctly, and he said he was using a Garmin GPS and it was working fine. One of the newly arrived riders overheard and told us that the valley where the restaurant was is a known cell phone dead zone, but a few miles down the road I should be fine. He was right, the maps popped on my display about 15 minutes later. Other than that, Apple CarPlay has worked flawlessly, even through the odd detour on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

And Baja Ron (of bajaraons.com) is here and doing upgrades and installs, and has a bunch of Show Chrome accessories for sale. I went over to say hello and introduce myself, as he and I have exchanged a few emails over the past 6 months or so.

And then I bit the bullet and had them install a Baja Ron sway bar and endlinks. They sell several different colors of the end links, but I asked for the black ones, which ended up being the last set they had on hand.

I've been thinking about heading home first thing Friday instead of staying until Saturday. They are still listing a dinner on Friday night, but I have no idea how they are going to serve it, since we don't have access to the Stompin' Grounds building (and kitchen). There has been a food truck on site all week, but that won't be able to serve the entire group.

It's been an interesting trip.
 
I'll be leaving Maggie Valley tomorrow morning.
And as much as I'd like to head North on I-40 the North Carolina Department of Transportation is still reporting problems on I-40 South of the Tennessee border, with only one lane in each direction open, and speeds limited to 35 MPH.

So I'll be taking the longer route, heading South on several state highways (321? 4xx something?) before getting on 70N back home.
I plotted it all using mymaps.google.com and then sent the route to my phone, so that Apple CarPlay will take me home.
 
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