Deals Gap in the Fall

[larryvon]

I know the summer is not OFFICIALLY here yet, but once again I'm planning a trip to Deals Gap, Asheville and Mt Mitchell this fall. I've been making this trip for the last 7 or 8 years. Since I've joined this board I thought I would ask or least pose the question if anyone might be interested in making the trip this September. While 5 months seems like a long time, it's not trust me. It'll be here before you know it.

A little about the trip we normally leave on Wednesday and make the ride to The Dragon. Thursday and Friday we hit the dragon and the highway. Saturday we begin heading home and make Mitchell and Asheville and come home.

It's a lot of mile in a short time. You will spend a minimum of 5 to 6 hours a day in the saddle. It's not all interstate miles, many of the roads are two landed and you can't blast up them.

If you've never rode the Dragon's Tail (Hopefully it will be open soon. Rock slide) you don't speed or cut lanes on that road. The LEO's cover it like a blanket and just love giving out tickets to bikers. I have a few to prove it.

We double up in the rooms to save a few bucks. I normally spend about 400 to 500 for the weekend. We eat well and drink and sleep in nice places. I'm way to dam old to sleep cheap any more.

If anyone is interested think about and I'll post again later in the year...

[Mike]

I'd be game.

[larryvon]

I have a camera mount on my bike. Stick my video camera on and film away. Just make sure you can't view it while riding, otherwise the local LEO's will handle out pickets.

Last year we stayed a Lake Lure lodge where Dirty Dancing was filmed. Nice place.

I am just starting to do the leg work on where......

[bondsemble]

I have a camera mount on my bike. Stick my video camera on and film away. Just make sure you can't view it while riding, otherwise the local LEO's will handle out pickets.

Last year we stayed a Lake Lure lodge where Dirty Dancing was filmed. Nice place.

I am just starting to do the leg work on where......
what bike are you riding?

[ND4SPD]

The Gap is open but Hwy 129 isn't. You can ride the Dragon between 8am and 8pm but it is patrolled pretty heavily.

[Brian Hudson]

That sounds like a great trip. I don't know yet when I'll be coming back to Charleston (working in Norfolk now) but if I get back before then I may be down for it.

Mt. Mitchell is a nice scenic view. When I rode the BRP a few weeks back, the ambient was in the low 50s--but there was still snow piled up in shadowy areas. Road was nice and clean though.

[cbrgreg]

hey guy s - im new to this board. i live about a 1:30 min from the gap, we went sunday morn[7-11-10]@6 oclock when the sun was coming up & it was a blast-no traffic that early. they just opened it back up this weekend,i would meet you guys up there for some riding-look forward to seeing you all:wave:

[Scootimus]

Welcome to the site cbrgreg! Last/first time I tried to go to the gap was 2 months ago. Had an injector stick open and flood the engine so I never made it to the gap. Hopefully one of these days I will get up there. When I do, I'll hit ya up.

[Nash]

Did someone say Dirty Dancing? I'm there!

[Brian Hudson]

May not be able to make this...I don't know if I'll be able to take leave in September or not, but rumors are flying that we may not leave Norfolk until October.

Got any specific dates yet Larry?

[ClayB_600r]

I would like to do this...just let me know closer to time with specific dates, if possible!

[Surfdancer]

I've put in for vacation the week of Labor Day (9/6 - 9/10) and plan to be riding in the Smoky Mountains all week. I am trying to get my brother's rental house in Maggie Valley - about an hour from Deals Gap and the Cherohala. The Realtor who manages it for him wants to keep it available so she can rent it at full price, and get her commission. If it's still available in August, I've got dibs on it for the cost of the cleaning fee.

Regardless if I stay in Maggie Valley or not, I'll be in the mountains that week.

If y'all are heading over to the Dragon that week, I'll have to hook up with you hooligans!

[bondsemble]

I've put in for vacation the week of Labor Day (9/6 - 9/10) and plan to be riding in the Smoky Mountains all week. I am trying to get my brother's rental house in Maggie Valley - about an hour from Deals Gap and the Cherohala. The Realtor who manages it for him wants to keep it available so she can rent it at full price, and get her commission. If it's still available in August, I've got dibs on it for the cost of the cleaning fee.

Regardless if I stay in Maggie Valley or not, I'll be in the mountains that week.

If y'all are heading over to the Dragon that week, I'll have to hook up with you hooligans!
just paying the cleaning fee? jeez... i"ll split it with you. can i sleep on the floor??!!!!:rolleyes: pretty please

[Surfdancer]

just paying the cleaning fee? jeez... i"ll split it with you. can i sleep on the floor??!!!!:rolleyes: pretty please

No need to sleep on the floor. The place is 5 br, 5 1/2 ba.

Here's the listing for the place... It's named "Brookside", since there's a tiny brook that runs down the edge of the property.

http://www.vacationrentals.com/vacation-rentals/15853.html

[bondsemble]

man, that's one nice place! too high class for me. besides, no pets allowed.:D


i would love to stay a night during that week if you have room. prob later in the week. if the rental deal doesn't pan out let me know, i'll split a room with ya somewhere in the hills:shrug: could possibly do a thursday/friday.

[Surfdancer]

Here's the deal (no pun intended). I've got the cabin from Saturday (9/4) to lunchtime Wednesday (9/8). I'm riding up on Saturday, probably with a fellow ZRX owner. On Wednesday, I'm likely going to head down to Suches, Ga for a ZRX Rally for a couple days.

The cabin in Maggie Valley is 5 br - there are three (3) bedrooms currently available. The cost is a share of the cleaning fee (probably $150) and whatever you buy and eat. The cabin has a fully equipped kitchen, or there are plenty of places to dine out in the area. This is a rental home, so you have to furnish all your own toiletries (soap, shampoo, etc), but there are plenty of towels and there is a washer and dryer in the 2 car garage if you need to wash your socks :lol:

[Surfdancer]

Just got back from a little 1200 mile ride in the mountains, including Deal's Gap. Right as you cross into Tennessee, there's a gentleman with a badge and hat pointing a radar gun at you while he's sitting in his patrol car. Speed limit is 30 and that takes a little wind out of your sail, so to speak. Hwy 28 was empty and fast :D. One of our group pitched his Honda 954 over the edge. We have a new tree of shame. Fortunately, we had a tow rope, duct tape and other essential supplies. He made it back with his bodywork tied together - he was only bruised. Did you know that a few packets of black pepper will stop a small radiator leak? :lol:

[MrDude_1]

Sounds fun.... I'm going up there this weekend

[ND4SPD]

Did you know that a few packets of black pepper will stop a small radiator leak? :lol:

So will an egg.

Sounds like a fun trip, save for the 954 tossing. Hwy 28 is at least as good as the Gap itself.

[Surfdancer]

Can't seem to find the pics from Tuesday (9/7), when the road was fairly empty. It may have been too early for Killboy. Did find a couple pics from Sunday, but it was CROWDED that day!

http://www.photoreflect.com/store/orderpage.aspx?pi=04RK01AG0C0413&po=415&pc=893

The best riding was through the Smoky Mountains Park. There was this beautiful waterfall we stopped at. I made it my new desktop photo.

http://images5b.snapfish.com/232323232%7Ffp63268%3Enu%3D6%3A56%3E875%3E257%3EWS NRCG%3D32%3C283%3C244348nu0mrj

And of course, I had to be in one... :D

http://images5b.snapfish.com/232323232%7Ffp633%3A5%3Enu%3D6%3A56%3E875%3E257%3E WSNRCG%3D32%3C28444%3C5348nu0mrj