Florida To Asheville

[ISP-FL]

After the "Boys" trip to the mountains last month the boss said she needed equal time in the saddle. Heading back next Friday but staying in Asheville NC instead of Sevierville TN. We were going to leave there and make a big loop up through Illinois then down through Alabama before coming back home. We shortened that 3-week trip to a 6-day event.

 

[Jack Klarich]

Have a good run with your better half, enjoy the ride

 

[Zammy]

Hope your trip goes well Joe.

 

[cycle7447]

Sounds like a fun trip - enjoy

 

[ISP-FL]

Did all my "trip maintenance" yesterday. All the fluids were perfect, the lug nuts and psi was spot on, and I could only find one bolt/nut that needed a "fart and a grunt" to make it tight.

The boss has been packed for 2 days and she doesn't understand why I'm waiting until this afternoon to put my crap in the bag. I'm guess I'm wondering why after 40+ years she even wonders about it anymore. Anyhow, I should have mowed yesterday instead of playing cornhole because it certainly looks like it will rain today until afternoon.

Typical Florida weather in the summer so it looks like we could catch a shower on the way up out of our Sunshine State tomorrow but no biggie. I only take I-75 about 180 miles to Ocala then get off on US-301 up and past Jacksonville to I-95 (sorry Jack, I try to avoid your city traffic if I can).

Got my CarPlay all set up and can't wait to use it on a trip. Thanks to all on here to guided me on that deal.

 

[cycle7447]

Did all my "trip maintenance" yesterday. All the fluids were perfect, the lug nuts and psi was spot on, and I could only find one bolt/nut that needed a "fart and a grunt" to make it tight.

The boss has been packed for 2 days and she doesn't understand why I'm waiting until this afternoon to put my crap in the bag. I'm guess I'm wondering why after 40+ years she even wonders about it anymore. Anyhow, I should have mowed yesterday instead of playing cornhole because it certainly looks like it will rain today until afternoon.

Typical Florida weather in the summer so it looks like we could catch a shower on the way up out of our Sunshine State tomorrow but no biggie. I only take I-75 about 180 miles to Ocala then get off on US-301 up and past Jacksonville to I-95 (sorry Jack, I try to avoid your city traffic if I can).

Got my CarPlay all set up and can't wait to use it on a trip. Thanks to all on here to guided me on that deal.

Have a great trip

 

[Woody]

we are sitting in Maggie Valley today, bring warm clothes 58 degrees when I got up this morning.

 

[ISP-FL]

we are sitting in Maggie Valley today, bring warm clothes 58 degrees when I got up this morning.

Yep, I looked ahead and knew the morning temps would be cool.

Had great all-around weather to and from Florida until we were 15 miles from home yesterday. Our luck ran out when we had to finish in a heavy rainstorm. But that is typical FL summer weather, when we pulled into our drive it stopped raining.

Road the Redneck Dragon, did Maggie Valley and Gatlinburg, and spent two days on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Ended up putting just over 1,800 miles on the trike including the two days to get up there and back.

When we travel we try to use Best Western branded motels. We take advantage of their reward points so about every 7 to 10 stays we get at least one free night. The BW we found for this Asheville trip was on Tunnel Road (south side of the city). It was just dumb luck because one of the better entry points for the Blue Ridge Parkway was located 2 miles down Tunnel Road.

 

[Motorcycle Mike]

Redneck Dragon? Never heard of it.
Do you have a route number?

 

[pwhoever]

Oh, nice! I just looked it up and it is Hwy 32 heading out of Crosby TN. Some opinions are that it's curvier than the Dragon. Word of caution, last 1 mile on NC side is supposed to be hard packed gravel but very passable. Thanks for the tip @ISP-FL !

 

[ISP-FL]

Redneck Dragon? Never heard of it.
Do you have a route number?

Yep, Mike is correct. RT-32 out of Cosby. We found it last month when us "boys" were us there doing some riding. When my wife and I went back into the area I wanted to show her that area but at a slower pace.

The pavement is almost new and they just painted new center lines and fog lines. Both times this year when I ran it we passed maybe two other vehicles the whole distance.
This last run coming back down I did pass a deputy.

I have never finished on the gravel portion. I'm just paranoid about being 800 miles from home and taking a chance on getting my drive belt damaged. There is a good space to park or turn around where the paved road ends.

This is one of my favorite rides in that part of the mountains.

 

[pwhoever]

Well it looks like it's not too far from Maggie Valley and I will be spending a couple days there next week. I might just have to slide north a bit and see what all the fuss is about...

 

[ISP-FL]

The day we rode the Redneck my wife wanted to run over to Gatlinburg for a late lunch. When I was up there the previous month we all avoided Gatlinburg because of the bumper to bumper traffic. We went over and of course you have to park in a paid lot and not on the street. Even though it was more or less their off season and there wasn't much traffic the parking lots were still charging $20 minimum. I asked the lot attendant if there was anywhere I could just pay for a couple hours parking and she said it was all $20 for 10 hours. What a rip off.