Florida folks & all others

[coacha]

Originally Posted by "dk dixie"

Did you need a passport to get into Ohio?

LOL...nope but I needed outriggers to stay between all of the dang highway barriers. I swear we had construction from Cincy to north of Dayton and it was a mess.

[dkdixie]

Originally Posted by CoachA

LOL...nope but I needed outriggers to stay between all of the dang highway barriers. I swear we had construction from Cincy to north of Dayton and it was a mess.

Understand, according to article in Wall Street Journal some time back, that 50 mile stretch of I75 is the most patrolled in the U.S.

[trosco]

Mike in Fla (and all), I am with you on the no 500 mile days allowed approach. The 5oo-6oo mile days in the trip up to and back from Custer are something to talk about but not something to repeat if the objective is fun. The last 2 days on the way home in 102+ temps were grueling and WayneE had 2oo more miles to go when we split up at 8PM that Sunday night. Based on that being his first real long trip on a motorcycle I would not be surprised if he never did another one!

In my mind the trip should take us to NE Ga Sat evening, then SW VA Sunday evening and then to Home Base Monday evening. Sat and Sun's stopping points would both be convenient rendezvous points for other SENR's from GA/TN/SC/NC. If we traveled up to the rally along the east side of the mountains (basically the Blue Ridge Parkway) and then ride the Shenandoah Valley/Skyline/WV-VA border area (great roads and scenery!) making a point to see Seneca Rocks, the Railroad, and the Observatory during the rally then we could go west over the Mountains to central WV and ride south on some more great roads. Before living in VA, I lived in Charleston WV so am familiar with a lot of that area also.

I would offer that picking a location like Harrisonburg as the Home Base site appeals to me a lot more than staying on the Parkway or Skyline. It will offer many hotel and camping options and the other services like hardware stores, parts stores, grocery stores, restaurants and medical services that become necessary on these kinds of trips. Hwy 33 is excellent and gives you 30 minute access to the Skyline North or Skyline/Parkway South. You can also go west into the WV side of the WV/VA border and ride some great areas in no time at all.

I lived 15 miles from the North tip of Skyline Drive for 4 years and worked PT for 2 years with National Park Police on Skyline. I think the lodges are a great place to spend a night with a couple other friends or as a get away with a special someone.

But I don't think any of the lodges will be an acceptable home base. Most rooms won't have phones and cell service was almost non existent on Skyline when I was there. They usually don't have fridges or microwaves. They will be small and expensive and restrictive on their reservation and cancellation policies not allowing "blocking" of rooms when I worked with them. If you have access to a restaurant it will be small and expensive. Many are not air conditioned, don't offer ice machines and so on.
This may be a concern for some. Alcohol was not allowed in the Skyline Parks when I was there but the lodges may be exempt from that. However going to get a 12 pack or a bottle of wine (or any groceries) will be a 2 hour trip from Big Meadows.

If BM is the home base then it's likely that the overflow and those that want a alternative to BM will go to Luray. It's not physically that far from Big Meadows but at the 15-20 MPH average speed that you'll maintain it will be far enough that there will be little interaction between the folks there and the folks in Big Meadows.

Luray is home of the Luray Caverns which is a big tourist attraction so there are Hotels and Camping there. And there will be a convenience store or two and a few restaurants but it is not orientated to Motorcycle tourism like Custer was.

So that is my two cents worth and with that said, I can and will stay anywhere the group decides. And, Mr Funi, I will bring a quaint little red from a West Tx vineyard for you to try! And maybe that will help make the floor sleeping seem more appropriate?

[coacha]

NE GA would be 470 +/- miles from here, which is almost 1/2 way from our house to Luray area. I am going to play with the mapping of our trip after the first of the year. I would really like to stay off interstate as much as possible given that we have 3 days to go up.

[mrfuni]

Trosco thanks for your work and input, you seem to know the area very well..

[trosco]

I'm with ya on the no interstate thingie! Some where south of Athens GA then the first night, then up to Smokey Nat Park and onto the parkway with Sun nite somwhere between Boone NC and Roanoke VA and on to Luray VA for Monday night? It is about 900 miles total from Jax, 950 or so for central FL. A 250 mile day once we are on parkway type rodes is about what we should expect as it gets dark earlier on the east side of the mountain. So we might want to shoot for 350-400 the first and last day when we are in south GA and FL just so we more relaxed time for the rest of the days?
If the knee healing goes well, in Fall I will do a color tour. I will do a ride to visit Sister in far west SC. She's close by parkway. Then on to see friends in Smith Mountain Lake on the parkway in VA by Roanoke then up to Front Royal/Stephens City in VA (North end of Skyline) to visit friends. Will explore some of our choices and share! Can check out some campgrounds first hand if you ID any by then?

[goose]

Man you guys got me all jacked-up about going already! Its going to be along wait.

[dkdixie]

Originally Posted by trosco

I'm with ya on the no interstate thingie! Some where south of Athens GA then the first night, then up to Smokey Nat Park and onto the parkway with Sun nite somwhere between Boone NC and Roanoke VA and on to Luray VA for Monday night? It is about 900 miles total from Jax, 950 or so for central FL. A 250 mile day once we are on parkway type rodes is about what we should expect as it gets dark earlier on the east side of the mountain. So we might want to shoot for 350-400 the first and last day when we are in south GA and FL just so we more relaxed time for the rest of the days?
If the knee healing goes well, in Fall I will do a color tour. I will do a ride to visit Sister in far west SC. She's close by parkway. Then on to see friends in Smith Mountain Lake on the parkway in VA by Roanoke then up to Front Royal/Stephens City in VA (North end of Skyline) to visit friends. Will explore some of our choices and share! Can check out some campgrounds first hand if you ID any by then?

Might as well go another hour to Blairsville.
I know a guy that would have a garage full of malt beverage ready.

And I think I remember seeing a small bottle of wine around, or was that vinegar.

Be a handy place to do any maintainance if needed.

There's B&B and rental cabins real close by. Motels within 5 miles.

[coacha]

Hmmm...malted beverages, wrenches...Blairsville is sounding mighty inviting.

[coacha]

Originally Posted by Goose

Man you guys got me all jacked-up about going already! Its going to be along wait.

Nah, it will be here before you know it.

[samkjr]

I agree with most allthat Trosco said about Location. Though I used less words, I intimated most of those thougt on the other thread.

[trosco]

hey all, how do i get one of them little flag thingies and a pic or two on my posts?

[Yellow Jacket]

Originally Posted by trosco

hey all, how do i get one of them little flag thingies and a pic or two on my posts?

Check out this thread. It explains how to do a bunch of stuff.

http://www.vulcanbagger.com/phpBB3/v...t=5852&start=0

[trosco]

Hey yellow jacket, just to prove how inept I am. I followed the instructions and I now have a url ??? to my photobucket album that has the 3 images I want in my signature line???? More advice or help for the foolish old man is welcomed!

DkDixe: the blairseville thingie would be just about a perfect spot to rendevous either Friday night or Saturday Night. It's where you live, right? How lucky are you!!!
It would be a ways to come for the south Florida folks? It is not a bad ride at all from Jax. I was up in that area the week before my knee surgery at the SCRC GA rally. Left at 7AM from Cartersville and was home before 3PM.
I say it's up to the South Florida folks. If they are willing to come that far I am in! And if some one from way south needs it, they can come as far as Jax the day before and hang with me. I have a spare bedroom and secure parking.

[MikeInFla]

All this talk and planning... aw hell, lets just go already.