On Monday, day 4, we took off for the Tail of the Dragon at Deals Gap. Rode on the Blue Ridge Parkway to hwy 19 then to hwy 28 to Deals Gap ( Tail of the Dragon ). They have a gas station, restaurant and souvenir store there. Then we rode the Dragon 318 curves in 11 miles. WOW you have got to pay attention and concentrate on this road tight curves, blind curves, back to back curves switch backs. The road at the top was closed due to a rock slide so we had to rid it back down to the store. Which was just as intense as the trip up. The crotch rockets were crazy they were dressed in full leathers with the skid plates in the knees and elbows. Had lunch in the restaurant as we were leaving Dennis Baber noticed a Gold Wing that was on the cover of the GWRRA Gold Book. It was Doug Roberts and his mother Laura. For those who haven`t seen the book, the picture on the cover is a gold Gold Wing riding the Tail of the Dragon and the sparks are flying. Ray Busch and Jim Applebee had their copies of the book with them and he autographed them. He will be at Wing Ding also, you must talk to him and listen to his story. That is his mother on the back with him. She is a cancer survivor. Back to the trip. We departed Deals Gap and headed for the motel
WOW. The trip to the Smokey Mountains was fantastic. We only had a couple of glitches. On day one Randy woke up to a dead battery on his bike. So Bakers, Babers, and Busch`s all met at Randy's home for departure. As we were traveling down Hwy163 south, Randy`s trailer lid decided it didn`t want to go along so it tried to depart from the trailer at 65 mph along with his seat cushion and a pair of chaps. All were retrieved and the trip resumed. I did have to pick up a set of ratchet straps to hold the lid in place. We met Jim Applebee at the Monroe exit. We spent the night in Saint Louis MO.
Smokey Mountain Trip
2010
Randy
&
Debbie
Ray
&
Judy
Dennis
&
Eileen
Jim
Dan &
Sherry
Day 3. We left Clarksville TN for Maggie Valley NC. Went through Chattanooga TN. and visited the Ruby Falls. This falls is located 260 feet under ground very quick elevator ride down and then walked a guided tour for 6000 feet or so to the falls. WOW Then walk back the 6000 feet or so and back up the elevator. Back on the bikes to Maggie Valley NC. Rode the southern part of the Smokey Mountains to Maggie Valley. Followed a river the locals use for white water rafting and a portion of it was used for the 1996 Olympics. As we followed this river we we blessed with plenty of white water rapids and water falls. We did have to ride in rain for about 1 to 1.5 hours. (First rain on the trip). Arrived at our motel in Maggie Valley. Averaged 250 to 350 miles a day. Holiday Motel in Maggie Valley was built in the 50`s but the rooms are up to date and clean. Each room had a king size bed, TV, micro wave and a mini fridge. They also had buckets with rags by the rooms so you could wash your bike if you wanted to do so. We could park our bikes under the over hang in front of your room if you wanted to.
Day 2 We.left Saint Louis for Clarksville TN. Rode through the the Land Between 2 Lakes in Kentucky. Did some sight seeing there, visited a 1800`s farm stead where I received a bundle of tobacco leaves which in my opinion smell pretty good. We listened to the people on the home stead about the history of that area, very interesting. We spent a couple of hours there before heading to Clarksville TN. The rode in Land Between 2 Lakes has it`s curves and straight away`s, so you do have to pay attention. There was a accident involving a motorcycle and a curve. On to our motel in Clarksville Tn, The Winners Circle Motel this place will be put on our list of not to return to.
All in all a very good trip the only thing to change would be to trailer the bikes out so there would be more mountain riding time. Plenty of pictures, plenty of memories and can`t wait until next year. Deb and I wish to thank Dennis & Eileen Baber, Dan & Sherry Baker, Ray & Judy Busch and also Jim Applebee for going on this trip with us and making it a memorable vacation. We have picture to share with all.
Day 7, the next morning we departed for Des Moines. We drove up to J & P Cycle in Anamosa, to check out helmets and speakers for Ray and Dan. Deb and I hit the drive way at 4 pm Friday the 11th. Total miles traveled 2400 Approximate round trip expenses $1000.00.
Departure day, day 6, again more mountain riding on our way to Knoxville Tn. We all decided to wear our rain gear as the clouds were not looking to favor our trip out. As we neared Knoxville the clouds opened up and the rain came, and it rained and rained some more. We rode to Louisville Kentucky where we spent the night. The next morning we visited Church Hill Downs, home of the Kentucky derby. This place is huge. There were some horses out exercising. TV does not do this place any justice as far as it`s size. From there we went to the Louisville Slugger base ball bat manufacturer and took a tour of the facility. Quite interesting and even received our own miniature slugger bat. We departed for Bloomington IL. Where we spent the night
Day 5, activities were more mountain riding. We left the motel around 9 am and again headed for the Blue Ridge Parkway southern route. Round trip was 117.5 mile but took most of the day. The mountain views were fabulous every corner and every mountain top has a different view. We made it to the highest point on this mountain and seen a couple of water falls. The end of our day was spent around a camp fire and reminiscing days travels and return trip plans for next year. The weather couldn't`t have been any better, 70`s during the day low 50`s at night. No rain until departure day.
Debbie says
Maybe we should put a water fall picture in. Then it would be great
Looking Glass Falls
North Carolina
The Holiday Motel
North Carolina
Tennesee
