Hi,
I'm going to ride to the "Tail" sometime over the next couple of months (July - Aug). I'm retired, so I can wait till the weather down there cools back from the current Insane, to their more seasonal, outrageously hot & humid.

I'll be leaving from Brampton on a DL650 and crossing at Detroit. I'll come back via a yet-to-be-determined, more easterly border crossing. I plan to do a mix of tenting / low-end motels.

I've got GPS & CAA's on-line Trip-tiks, etc to give me the common-sense directions, but I would like to travel the most interesting route. So, I'm appealing to any of you who have made the drive before, to share your experience, and to provide suggestions for the most interesting paved, but non-interstate, non major highways routes for either the trek down and / or back.

Any suggestions will be appreciated

2 years ago, I went down to Alabama to spend a weekend at Barber Motorcycle Museum in Alabama. I tented the entire trip and passed through Deals Gap heading south and again on my way back north.

Here is a ride report I did with the routes I took (day by day) and all the info regarding places I stayed and so forth.

Heading south, I rode down the US 219 from the top to the bottom (crossing at Buffalo). On my way back, I rode up the Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline drive from bottom to top. Both directions were loads of fun.

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My Bike!
www.shanekingsley.com - House (and jungle) Music All Night Long
The Big Map of Ontario's Best Roads.

id wait until september.

take your time and do some roads in Pennsylvania.

here's a trip im planning

Driving directions to PA-287 S - Google Maps

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2008 Vstrom DL 1000

I assume you have other reasons for crossing at Detroit, but if not do as Juan suggested and head for 219 south out of Buffalo area. This gets you to the Pennsylvania border fairly quickly and not a bad road. Then just pick some 3 digit PA roads to get you farther south. The start of the Skyline Drive is at Front Royal VA if you want to do it, so aim for there. Skyline Drive then links up with the Blue Ridge.

If you have to go thru Detroit, head down thru Ohio. There are plenty of great options there, but if you can work it in, find hwy 26 and take it south into Marietta OH. Talk to the Ohio guys and they can give you more recommendations from the Cleveland area. Got to be one of the best motorcycle roads anywhere. From there it's easy to find some great roads to take you east toward the Blue Ridge.

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John
johnvstrom at yahoo.ca.............. V-Stromming since '03
'06 DL1000 Grey
'03 DRZ400$ sold, down to one bike

If you come through Detroit, head east on Rt 2 to Rt 6 along the lake, until you get to Rt 60 in Vermilion. Take 60 south and you can ride all the way to Marietta on a fun 2 lane road. South of Loudonville (Mohican state forest) the road is much more fun to ride.

From Marietta, drop down to Parkersburg WV and take 47 south to 33. Run 33 east all the way to Harrisonburg Va. 47 and 33 are fun rides, especially 33 east of Elkins WV to Harrisonburg.

You can pick up the Blue Ridge Parkway at MM 1 in Waynesboro Va which is nearby.

From Waynesboro, the next 469 miles south will be on the BRP. Probably my favorite ride.

In the Smokys, don't forget to ride the Cherahola Skyway from Robbinsville NC to Tellico Plains TN.

Also, from Deals Gap, take Rt 28 south to Highlands. Get a local area map down there and find Wayah road and Warwoman roads. (NC and north GA).

From the north end the Dragon, take Foothills Parkway over towards Gatlinburg, and the 441 south over the mountain into Cherokee. (or at end of BRP, go north on 441 then west over the Foothills parkway to 129 (dragon will be to the immediate south of the foothills parkway)

Lots of great roads down there. The dragon is okay, but most others are better.

Thanks for the feedback.
Why the September recommendation? Is the weather notably better?

Because it can be VERY hot and humid down there in July and Aug. Even into Sept...I've spent several Labour Day weekends in SE Ohio in 90-100* and very humid conditions. That's tough to take for days on end, on a bike. You just can't escape from it!

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"The true adventurer goes forth aimless and uncalculating to meet and greet unknown fate." "O. Henry"


86 HD Softail (170,000 miles)
04 DL650 Suzuki

You'll find a lot less traffic after labor day, and a bit cooler conditions.

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2008 Vstrom DL 1000

once you get there.... camp here:

Iron Horse Motorcycle Lodge near Deals Gap and Cherohala Skyway

Awesome camp grounds geared toward motorcycles.

Also... the weather might be horrible this time of year trying to get to the dragon.. but once you get there...you can always jump on the foot hills parkway, cherohala skyway, or blue ridge parkway and go up 6,000 ft in elevation ( which drops the temp about 18 degrees) during the hottest parts of the day.