mike3069
New member
I had a GREAT time in Gatlinburg! Thanks to all of you who I meet for making this such a memorable week.
On Saturday I rode up to Mountainside Motorsports and got the update to the update done by Danial in the morning. My bike only had a very slight lean pop at low RPM so I waited 'till everyone else got it and came back then to get mine. It seems to work just fine still.
It started raining as I was leaving, so I went across the highway to Bass Pro Shops to get some waterproof spray and spent some time looking around the store. I found some real nice Camo upholstered recliners that people were lounging in and since it was still raining hard I went out and got a book from the Spyder. I wound up sitting in the recliner in the store reading for about four hours! The rain never let up so I went over to the Holiday Inn and got a room.
Next morning after a free hot breakfast, I headed out, making my way over some back roads to the Tail of the Dragon. Then I did some wandering around south of the park for a bit and ended up on the Blue Ridge Parkway. I rode 'till dark and stopped at the Big Lynn Lodge in Little Switzerland for the night. I checked in just in time for dinner (included in the price). When the owner brought my steak and saw me trying to cut it up one handed, she intervened and took over just like she was my mother! I must say they made me feel right at home. I totaled 260 miles and 6 1/2 motor hours for the day.
Next morning, after a great breakfast (also included in the price) I headed north on the Parkway to Linville, the headed into the mountains. I got to Beech Mtn. then went W om 194 to 19E, then S on149 to Roan Mtn. Park, continuing S to Bakersville then W and back N on 226 into TN. Then 173 N to 321 E to 67 N. From 67 I found back roads over to 91 and into Shady Valley. Now I remembered Lamonster talking about Shady Valley on here. This place is "Riding Heaven". I went N on 133 to Backbone Rock Park, and the "worlds shortest tunnel" then on to Damascus, VA. I continued E into Grayson Highlands Park and wandered around back roads here for a while, winding up back on 91 S to 421. Turns out 421 from here back through Shady Valley and on into Holsten Lake is something called "The Snake". Wow. From Mountain City back to Shady Valley I never saw a car and the road was mtn. twistys all the way! When I got to Shady Valley my arms were about to fall off after all the turns I had done today. I got the # of a place with some small cabins from the girl at the Shady Valley Country Store and called it. Turns out it was only 1.7 miles away, so I headed over and meet Windy the owner of Switchback Creek Campground. I spent the night in one of his small but comfortable cabins sleeping like a baby after 240 miles and 7.5 hours on the engine!
Next day I had breakfast at Shady Valley then took the snake west to the lake, turned around and went east all the way to Mtn. City, back thru Grayson Highlands on 58 then S on 194 to 88 to 421 to 321. The previous night I had called Lamonster and asked if had anymore of the BRP promo cards that he had out at the BBQ. He did, so at this point I took 321 W to Greeneville then made my way to his place. While there he put on my Grip Puppies for me (this is NOT a one hand job! Thanks Lamont!). After chatting a bit I set my GPS for home and headed off to KY. I arrived home just after dark with 360 miles and 8.5 hours on the clock.
On Saturday I rode up to Mountainside Motorsports and got the update to the update done by Danial in the morning. My bike only had a very slight lean pop at low RPM so I waited 'till everyone else got it and came back then to get mine. It seems to work just fine still.
It started raining as I was leaving, so I went across the highway to Bass Pro Shops to get some waterproof spray and spent some time looking around the store. I found some real nice Camo upholstered recliners that people were lounging in and since it was still raining hard I went out and got a book from the Spyder. I wound up sitting in the recliner in the store reading for about four hours! The rain never let up so I went over to the Holiday Inn and got a room.
Next morning after a free hot breakfast, I headed out, making my way over some back roads to the Tail of the Dragon. Then I did some wandering around south of the park for a bit and ended up on the Blue Ridge Parkway. I rode 'till dark and stopped at the Big Lynn Lodge in Little Switzerland for the night. I checked in just in time for dinner (included in the price). When the owner brought my steak and saw me trying to cut it up one handed, she intervened and took over just like she was my mother! I must say they made me feel right at home. I totaled 260 miles and 6 1/2 motor hours for the day.
Next morning, after a great breakfast (also included in the price) I headed north on the Parkway to Linville, the headed into the mountains. I got to Beech Mtn. then went W om 194 to 19E, then S on149 to Roan Mtn. Park, continuing S to Bakersville then W and back N on 226 into TN. Then 173 N to 321 E to 67 N. From 67 I found back roads over to 91 and into Shady Valley. Now I remembered Lamonster talking about Shady Valley on here. This place is "Riding Heaven". I went N on 133 to Backbone Rock Park, and the "worlds shortest tunnel" then on to Damascus, VA. I continued E into Grayson Highlands Park and wandered around back roads here for a while, winding up back on 91 S to 421. Turns out 421 from here back through Shady Valley and on into Holsten Lake is something called "The Snake". Wow. From Mountain City back to Shady Valley I never saw a car and the road was mtn. twistys all the way! When I got to Shady Valley my arms were about to fall off after all the turns I had done today. I got the # of a place with some small cabins from the girl at the Shady Valley Country Store and called it. Turns out it was only 1.7 miles away, so I headed over and meet Windy the owner of Switchback Creek Campground. I spent the night in one of his small but comfortable cabins sleeping like a baby after 240 miles and 7.5 hours on the engine!
Next day I had breakfast at Shady Valley then took the snake west to the lake, turned around and went east all the way to Mtn. City, back thru Grayson Highlands on 58 then S on 194 to 88 to 421 to 321. The previous night I had called Lamonster and asked if had anymore of the BRP promo cards that he had out at the BBQ. He did, so at this point I took 321 W to Greeneville then made my way to his place. While there he put on my Grip Puppies for me (this is NOT a one hand job! Thanks Lamont!). After chatting a bit I set my GPS for home and headed off to KY. I arrived home just after dark with 360 miles and 8.5 hours on the clock.
