replaced
08-10-2003, 02:59 PM
This is a summary of an adventure I took in August of 2003. This is a work in process, so please feel free to check back for updated information and more photos. Many of the photos posted today (August 10, 2003) were taken with my digital camera. The good photos are on film, and will be posted when I can get them scanned in.
Brendan Kearns
Stromtrooper #653
Tuesday August 5.
I kissed Jennifer goodbye and left our home in greater Clay City, IN around 8:30 a.m. I started a bit later than anticipated because I just couldn't get organized. I knew I was forgetting something and realized what I forgot later in the trip.
I really had no plans other that I wanted to ride Deals Gap (Hwy 129) near Maryville, TN and I wanted to ride the entire Blue Ridge Parkway. I planned on being home by Friday afternoon, but if I didn't make it, no big deal.
I don't want to bore you with details, so I will stick to the key points that seemed interesting to me. I made excellent time to 129 with minimal stops. The ride to Knoxville was easy. I took Hwy 46 to Columbus, IN where I jumped on I-65 to Louisville, kicked over to I-64 to Lexington, KY then aimed South on I-75 to Knoxville. The V-Strom was running good, but the chain was getting a bit slippery. I should have replaced it before I left, but..........
After Knoxville I pointed the V-Strom towards Maryville to get on the infamous 129. Hondasarge mentioned that the Honda-Suzuki shop in Alcoa is pretty cool, so I stopped there to see what they had to offer. Several of the staff members were asking me about the V-Strom and noted that it was a popular machine in that area. A sales guy mentioned a back road to Deals Gap, but I was a bit confused with his directions so I decided to stick to 129.
About a 40 minute ride from the shop, I arrived at what I thought was Deals Gap. The roads were getting twisty, and the V-Strom was surging like a champ. I pulled off the side of the road to check out my chain situation. Sure enough, I should have bought a new chain in Alcoa. I adjusted it to the second to the last mark and decided that I would buy a chain at the next opportunity wherever that was. I continued on 129 and about 15 miles into the ride I was stuck behind a delivery truck. "Crap, I rode all this way and I am going to ride Deals Gap behind a slow truck". He pulled over and I motored on until I came upon this dam.
http://www.stromtrooper.com/122-2274_IMG.JPG
The dam is actually to the left, and I will post more photos after they are developed. I met a young couple on a FZR600 and they informed me that I was not at Deals Gap yet, but to be carefull so that the Dragon doesn't bite me. We talked a bit and then I motored on.
I knew I was on the dragon when my left boot was grinding the pavement in the turns. Man was that road wicked. I had to be carefull because I was not 100% on my game since I spent about 6 hours in the saddle before I hit Deals Gap. I also didn't feel like destroying my V-Strom so early in the trip. The road was everything I heard about, twisty, hilly and if you screw up you would be in a bad situation to say the least. I
finished the Dragon in about 20 minutes and stopped at the campground with plans on buying a shirt. Sure enough, they were closed-maybe next time. It was around 7:00 p.m. North Carolina time and I was getting pretty spent. I was thinking about aiming for Asheville but the riders at the campground suggested Cherokee NC instead. I took the long route by taking 19 to Cherokee instead of the shorter route 28 and I am glad I did. It was very scenic, twisty and challenging at times. Just an FYI, Cherokee was not in my Rand McNally 2002 Atlas, but is close to Bryson City. Look for where Hwy 441 and 19 intersect and you will see it. Cherokee is the start (Southern End) of the Blue Ridge.
I logged 535 grueling miles and was very tired, so I decided that it was time to find a place to stay. I wanted to avoid the "chain hotels" so I looked for a locally owned place. I ended up at the Cherokee Plaza Motel (828-497-2301) and I highly recommend it. The room was about $45.00 and very clean. The hostess put me in a "River View" room, but it was dark and I couldn't see the river. I unpacked my gear from my Touratech cases and went in for the night after a nice dinner at the Pizza Inn that was connected to the hotel.
Wednesday August 6.
Bored yet? Sure enough, I overslept. I woke up around 8:30 a.m. NC time (7:30 my time) but figured my body needed it so no big deal. I packed my gear and headed outside to a spectacular view of the river complete with people trout fishing, and you could see the trout jumping along the small rapids. http://www.stromtrooper.com/122-2277_IMG.JPG
I went to check out, and the owner of the Cherokee Plaza Hotel came outside as I was putting my gear in the cases and offered me a towel. "You can use this to dry your bike if you like". Now that is service.
http://www.stromtrooper.com/122-2280_IMG.JPG
I got a bite to eat down from the hotel and headed towards the Blue Ridge Parkway. The next time I make this trip I plan on setting a day aside to explore Cherokee, and what the Cherokee Indiana Reservation has to offer.
http://www.stromtrooper.com/122-2281_IMG.JPG
Now that I hit the Blue Ridge, the stage 2 of my adventure was just getting started.
More later.........
Brendan Kearns
Stromtrooper #653
Tuesday August 5.
I kissed Jennifer goodbye and left our home in greater Clay City, IN around 8:30 a.m. I started a bit later than anticipated because I just couldn't get organized. I knew I was forgetting something and realized what I forgot later in the trip.
I really had no plans other that I wanted to ride Deals Gap (Hwy 129) near Maryville, TN and I wanted to ride the entire Blue Ridge Parkway. I planned on being home by Friday afternoon, but if I didn't make it, no big deal.
I don't want to bore you with details, so I will stick to the key points that seemed interesting to me. I made excellent time to 129 with minimal stops. The ride to Knoxville was easy. I took Hwy 46 to Columbus, IN where I jumped on I-65 to Louisville, kicked over to I-64 to Lexington, KY then aimed South on I-75 to Knoxville. The V-Strom was running good, but the chain was getting a bit slippery. I should have replaced it before I left, but..........
After Knoxville I pointed the V-Strom towards Maryville to get on the infamous 129. Hondasarge mentioned that the Honda-Suzuki shop in Alcoa is pretty cool, so I stopped there to see what they had to offer. Several of the staff members were asking me about the V-Strom and noted that it was a popular machine in that area. A sales guy mentioned a back road to Deals Gap, but I was a bit confused with his directions so I decided to stick to 129.
About a 40 minute ride from the shop, I arrived at what I thought was Deals Gap. The roads were getting twisty, and the V-Strom was surging like a champ. I pulled off the side of the road to check out my chain situation. Sure enough, I should have bought a new chain in Alcoa. I adjusted it to the second to the last mark and decided that I would buy a chain at the next opportunity wherever that was. I continued on 129 and about 15 miles into the ride I was stuck behind a delivery truck. "Crap, I rode all this way and I am going to ride Deals Gap behind a slow truck". He pulled over and I motored on until I came upon this dam.
http://www.stromtrooper.com/122-2274_IMG.JPG
The dam is actually to the left, and I will post more photos after they are developed. I met a young couple on a FZR600 and they informed me that I was not at Deals Gap yet, but to be carefull so that the Dragon doesn't bite me. We talked a bit and then I motored on.
I knew I was on the dragon when my left boot was grinding the pavement in the turns. Man was that road wicked. I had to be carefull because I was not 100% on my game since I spent about 6 hours in the saddle before I hit Deals Gap. I also didn't feel like destroying my V-Strom so early in the trip. The road was everything I heard about, twisty, hilly and if you screw up you would be in a bad situation to say the least. I
finished the Dragon in about 20 minutes and stopped at the campground with plans on buying a shirt. Sure enough, they were closed-maybe next time. It was around 7:00 p.m. North Carolina time and I was getting pretty spent. I was thinking about aiming for Asheville but the riders at the campground suggested Cherokee NC instead. I took the long route by taking 19 to Cherokee instead of the shorter route 28 and I am glad I did. It was very scenic, twisty and challenging at times. Just an FYI, Cherokee was not in my Rand McNally 2002 Atlas, but is close to Bryson City. Look for where Hwy 441 and 19 intersect and you will see it. Cherokee is the start (Southern End) of the Blue Ridge.
I logged 535 grueling miles and was very tired, so I decided that it was time to find a place to stay. I wanted to avoid the "chain hotels" so I looked for a locally owned place. I ended up at the Cherokee Plaza Motel (828-497-2301) and I highly recommend it. The room was about $45.00 and very clean. The hostess put me in a "River View" room, but it was dark and I couldn't see the river. I unpacked my gear from my Touratech cases and went in for the night after a nice dinner at the Pizza Inn that was connected to the hotel.
Wednesday August 6.
Bored yet? Sure enough, I overslept. I woke up around 8:30 a.m. NC time (7:30 my time) but figured my body needed it so no big deal. I packed my gear and headed outside to a spectacular view of the river complete with people trout fishing, and you could see the trout jumping along the small rapids. http://www.stromtrooper.com/122-2277_IMG.JPG
I went to check out, and the owner of the Cherokee Plaza Hotel came outside as I was putting my gear in the cases and offered me a towel. "You can use this to dry your bike if you like". Now that is service.
http://www.stromtrooper.com/122-2280_IMG.JPG
I got a bite to eat down from the hotel and headed towards the Blue Ridge Parkway. The next time I make this trip I plan on setting a day aside to explore Cherokee, and what the Cherokee Indiana Reservation has to offer.
http://www.stromtrooper.com/122-2281_IMG.JPG
Now that I hit the Blue Ridge, the stage 2 of my adventure was just getting started.
More later.........