Deals Gap and the BRP

[canadianshark74]

I am in Southern Ontario and spring is in the air, and we are planning our trip south this season.
We are heading to the Blue Ridge Parkway then Deals Gap, starging June 11-18th.

The list of parts and stuff for our bikes is getting way out of control. But its all in good fun.
Everything from new riding gear to hard luggage. 

I will be on my zed, my wife on her fz6r and our friend Brian on his 05 z750 he just bought.

We have 2 nights (mid week) booked at Deals Gap Motorcycle resort. 

Any chance of seeing any other zed forum members in the area?

cheers
Paul

[johntyree]

Hey Paul,
 
Are ya'll riding the whole parkway are just parts of it on the way to Deals Gap? If you have time you should ride as much as possible, I grew up about 30 min from Otter Creek which is south of Lynchburg, VA. There are some great views between there and Roanoke and also nice curves for the Zs and FZs. If you go to the Peaks of Otter be sure you eat the breakfast buffet at the lodge. I hope to go down this year and just ride in the area I grew up in. Have fun and be safe
 
JT

[Mike L]

I got to drive part of the Blue Ridge Parkway in a new Corvette just before Thanksgiving -- you'll enjoy that road!  But I'll be in Northern California at a ZRX meet that week.  Hope you can rendezvous with some other Zed heads!

[canadianshark74]

JT,
Yes we are riding most of the BRP.
Starting at Front Royal all the way to Deals Gap.
Only 2 months away, I can't wait.
cheers
Paul

[johntyree]

Sounds great, you will love the curves and road conditions, just make sure your tires are good because the surface is very abrasive. I did that trip back in the late 70s(1976 CB750F Honda) but I would like to do it on a modern bike like the Zed with radial tires. You will also hit the Smokey Mountains in North Carolina which is also a very beautiful ride. We camped at Mount Pisgah NC and had a blast, many nice camping areas along the Parkway. If you'd like let me know and I will try to think of more places such as Mabry Mill etc. that ya'll might like. Can't ya tell I'm homesick?    

[Deepsyx]

if you are in Southern Ontario, would you be coming down 81 through Alexandria Bay and Watertown towards Syracuse? or would you go through Buffalo?

I live about 1/2 way between the 2 and might be able to meet up with you for part of the ride anyway.

Let me know,

Deepsyx

[canadianshark74]

if you are in Southern Ontario, would you be coming down 81 through Alexandria Bay and Watertown towards Syracuse? or would you go through Buffalo?

We will be going through Buffalo on the way to Deals Gap.

On our trip last fall we went out your way to Lake Placid. (great riding there too)

[Deepsyx]

Send me a PM and we can swap contact info. I might be able to meet up with you depending on the day that you travel through Buffalo or back up to Ontario. I live 1.5 hours from Buffalo and 3 hours from Alexandria Bay.

Deepsyx

[canadianshark74]

I arrived home this afternoon.
8 days, 4000kms.  From Brampton ON, to Deals Gap NC, via the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Amazing trip, great roads, incredible scenery, really nice people.
We will be going back again.  I will post some pics later.
Here is one from the Dragon.
http://www.129pix.net/jps/store.jsp?act=preview&iid=300103142324645215&clid=3001&gid=1103&eid=120&page=13

[Deepsyx]

I am glad you had a great (and safe) trip. I will eventually get out to the dragon. But with 4 kids ranging from 2 years to 11 years it makes vacations difficult. I am still young though so I should have plenty of time (pending WW3 or the Rapture, whichever comes first). Anyway, get those pics uploaded I look forward to seeing those pads on the ground.

Deepsyx

[johntyree]

Paul,
 
Glad you guys had a good trip, the bikes did ok huh? Hope you enjoyed the trip as much as I did years ago and maybe sometime in the near future on my Zed. Sounds like you arrived home safe and sound too, good job! Take care and if you are ever in the Ohio Valley area let me know when you'll be here and maybe we can get together and talk motorcycling
 
JT

[canadianshark74]

Some more information on our ride.

2 out of the 3 riders rode home.  2 out of 3 bikes came home.

We arrived at Deals Gap Tuesday afternoon, did 6 runs on "the dragon" with no problems.

Wednesday we decided to ride the Cherohala Skyway.  Our pace was right around the speed limit, as it was our first time in the area.   I was leading, my wife second and our friend Brian third.

My wife ran a little wide in one corner, hit some gravel that was on the road from another crash. She almost had it recovered when she went through a huge oil slick left by a previous crashed bike. 
She low-sided her FZ6R, the bike slid for 30 feet, hit a small curb, flipped and smashed all sides, broke forks too.
She slid for a bit then rolled.  Lucky that we wear full gear when we ride.  Otherwise she would not have walked into, or out of the hospital.

Long story short: She will be fine, she flew home from Knoxville.  Bike was totalled (35mph crash)

Always wear your gear! Even if you think its too hot.

cheers
Paul

[Norse]

Ouch that sucks! Glad to hear she is ok.

And yes always have your gear on!

[canadianshark74]

Some pics from our trip.
cheers

[Deepsyx]

Some more information on our ride.

2 out of the 3 riders rode home.  2 out of 3 bikes came home.

We arrived at Deals Gap Tuesday afternoon, did 6 runs on "the dragon" with no problems.

Wednesday we decided to ride the Cherohala Skyway.  Our pace was right around the speed limit, as it was our first time in the area.   I was leading, my wife second and our friend Brian third.

My wife ran a little wide in one corner, hit some gravel that was on the road from another crash. She almost had it recovered when she went through a huge oil slick left by a previous crashed bike. 
She low-sided her FZ6R, the bike slid for 30 feet, hit a small curb, flipped and smashed all sides, broke forks too.
She slid for a bit then rolled.  Lucky that we wear full gear when we ride.  Otherwise she would not have walked into, or out of the hospital.

Long story short: She will be fine, she flew home from Knoxville.  Bike was totalled (35mph crash)

Always wear your gear! Even if you think its too hot.

cheers
Paul

So sorry to hear about the accident. The good news is that she wasn't injured. Bikes can be fixed or replaced, People are harder to fix and impossible to replace.

~D~