Blue ridge parkway

[RVFR]

Was wondering after watching a show on discovery channel on mountain roads that were built in some pretty crazy places. one that caught my eye was the blue ridge parkway and how it forms to the hills, seems from what I saw was a pretty nice wondering hiway of sorts. Anyone here ever been one it? How is it?

[two4one]

If you enjoy long stretches of leisurely riding and scenery, The Blueridge Parkway is for you. If you get bored easily by pretty much the same thing for extended periods of time, only take the Blueridge/Skyline Drive for short stints.

I've been on it three times actually. Two times on two different occasions heading south a couple years ago and one time heading north this past October. If you're going to choose between the Blueridge and Skyline Drive, I'd definitely pick the Blueridge. If you pick your time of day based on shift changes in the park rangers and/or popo schedule, you can whip it up a little when traffic permits. I was riding south on my old Blackbird in August of '06 around 5:30 in the afternoon when the Blueridge was completely empty. It was one of those rides that I'll always remember. I was of course riding much faster than I should have but the sun was right, the road was right, the scenery was right and the tunes were right...perfect recipe!

Here is an image of what you'll see a lot of:



I had to stop for a mileage milestone also:



You really should obey the speed limits and take it easy however I got into a groove and next thing you know my knees were on the ground! I'm lucky I didn't get into trouble but I sure have a great memory of that day.

One awesome benefit is if you exit the Blueridge, the ride back down the mountainside has awesome, long sweepers that change things up if you get bored (I do). You can then re-enter the parkway whenever you feel like it. I can only handle the parkway(s) so much at a time for fear of tickets, often times VERY slow car and camper traffic and also the monotony of it all. Don't get me wrong, I'll be on it again this riding season but for my tastes, it gets old quick especially on a sport bike.

Here's some more photos from this past year on the VFR. These photos were taken on points further south on the Blueridge:









Overall I'd encourage anyone to give it a try. Virginia and West Virginia are absolute riding heaven. You can't go wrong.

Also, if anyone needs input on roads in Virgina and West Virginia, I've covered a decent amount of miles in the past two years. Be glad to offer some advice.

[SCraig]

I've been on it from Asheville, NC to Fancy Gap, VA. I've got a number of photos on This Page (scroll down to Monday, July 2, 2007).

It is a great ride although the speed limit is 45mph. The days I was there it was very foggy in the mornings (more like riding in clouds) and coming into left-handers knowing there isn't much out there but a looooong drop is somewhat eerie ;)

Beautiful scenery for the east side of the country, and it was a great couple of days. I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

[two4one]

Originally Posted by SCraig

I've been on it from Asheville, NC to Fancy Gap, VA. I've got a number of photos on This Page (scroll down to Monday, July 2, 2007).

It is a great ride although the speed limit is 45mph. The days I was there it was very foggy in the mornings (more like riding in clouds) and coming into left-handers knowing there isn't much out there but a looooong drop is somewhat eerie ;)

Beautiful scenery for the east side of the country, and it was a great couple of days. I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

Nice stuff Craig! I'll have to visit the Mabry Mill next time I'm down there. You like mills? Get yourself to Babcock State Park in WV...awesome mill there!

[KC-10 FE]

I've driven it from Front Royal, VA all the way to Cherokee, NC. Twice. The southern end is more twistyer than the northern part but I like the whole thing. The Skyline Drive in VA has a 35 MPH limit and is enforced so I really can't recommend that part. The BRPW has a 45 & has very limited enforcement. I got pulled over for 70 in a 45 and was let off with out even so much as a warning. The officer & myself chatted about this & that & he told me to "have fun but be carefull".

I love the BRPW & will definitely be back many more times.

KC-10 FE out...

[nozzle]

Speed limit is nutty slow, but the roads have some nice views. Skyline drive has some nice hikes off the road, but that's tough if you can't lock your stuff while you're gone. 2nd 2-fer's up & down the mountain.

[SCraig]

Originally Posted by two4one

Nice stuff Craig! I'll have to visit the Mabry Mill next time I'm down there. You like mills? Get yourself to Babcock State Park in WV...awesome mill there!

I just like to RIDE I need some sort of ethereal destination though. It can be as simple as a Starbucks in another city for a cup of coffee (did that a couple of times), or just a city in general (did that MANY times!), but I like to head "Somewhere". Mills are cool and that sounds as good a target as anything else. May have to head up that way.

Mabry Mill is a nice place and like most places on the BRP it is very well maintained. When I stopped there I had passed it heading north to Rocky Knob and stopped coming back south. I was virtually on fumes and really hoping there was a gas station not too far away or I was going to regret the distance across that parking lot ;) There was, no problems. The V-Strom gets great gas mileage.

[mello dude]

BRP is some beautiful stuff and a good run. BUT is more a cruiser ride as is the speed limit is 45 MPH. I earned myself a speeding ticket on the viffer. 45 is just plain nuts for that road.

+1 on WV and Virginia riding, Add SE Ohio and East Ky and you could easily burn a week there.

MD

[hottstuff_284]

How does it compare to the Cherohala Skyway (besides length)?

[camcclellan]

I used to do several sections near Blowing Rock, NC in my Porsche 928. Depending on the time of week and time of year that you go you will not have traffic problems.

Eventually, when I learn how to ride well and am used to my new motorcycle, I will take it there, as well.

[SCraig]

Originally Posted by hottstuff_284

How does it compare to the Cherohala Skyway (besides length)?

Very similar in places as I recall. Both go over mountains and the curves are about the same, pretty much one right after another. I can't recall what the speed limit was on the Cherohala though.

[rngdng]

Originally Posted by hottstuff_284

How does it compare to the Cherohala Skyway (besides length)?

The Blue Ridge is a lot busier that the Cherohala, and the speed limit is the same....45 mph. All National Park Service roads seem to be 45 MPH. The Blue Ridge is enforced, but it's inconsistant; one day you'll see no LEOS, and the next, there'll be one every couple of miles. It's great if you like scenery.

It's not as much fun as the Dragon......


Lane

[Mac]

Well, it's almost in my backyard, and I usually avoid it.
I consider the Parkway around Blowing Rock, and Grandfather one of the most dangerous places I know of to ride. When the tourons are thick, it's plain scary. If you look into the cages as they go by, they are bickering amongst each other, or letting their minds wander over a cliff. Very few are driving.
There are overlooks for sight seers, I presume so they can stop and wait for a motorcycle to pull dead out in front of.
I'd rather ride Hwy 221 between Blowing Rock and Linville, 147 curves in thirteen miles, it's not the Dragon, but has some sick stuff.

Mac

[camcclellan]

What I usually did in the car was one stretch of the parkway and then the rest on the other roads, like 221 and so forth. I guess I should have been more specific.

[two4one]

Originally Posted by SCraig

Very similar in places as I recall. Both go over mountains and the curves are about the same, pretty much one right after another. I can't recall what the speed limit was on the Cherohala though.

The Cherohala doesn't have a "posted" speed limit however it has an assumed limit of 55-60 if I remember correctly. I read this on one of the Tennessee tourism sites.

I personally can't compare the Cherohala to the Blueridge. The Cherohala is my personal favorite of the big name roads. The sweepers are huge and there are several other places where you can't see completely through the turn. Really fun road to ride! I'm hoping to head back in early April again this year.

I have a real short clip from the Cherohala while on my Blackbird last year. The sound was out, sorry.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tn-ceZ0dvkg

[rngdng]

Originally Posted by two4one

The Cherohala doesn't have a "posted" speed limit however it has an assumed limit of 55-60 if I remember correctly. I read this on one of the Tennessee tourism sites.

The speed limit is 45. Trust me on this.


Lane

[reg71]

Originally Posted by two4one

Nice stuff Craig! I'll have to visit the Mabry Mill next time I'm down there. You like mills? Get yourself to Babcock State Park in WV...awesome mill there!

Hey! I painted this exact picture in high school. It was oil on canvasboard. I did a horrible job. Rocks are much harder to paint than to draw! My dad still has the painting hanging in his office, I believe. I never knew where it was. It sure is a cool picture, though.

[KC-10 FE]

When it comes to pure riding, the Cherohala Skyway is hard to beat. For lack of better words, I get lost in the moment whenever I ride the Skyway. There are several times I found I was just about doubling the limit. This wasn't an attempt to simply go fast, the road was tempting me to give it my best shot and I sure as hell tried.

The speed limit on the Cherohala is 45 in NC & 35 in TN. You really, I mean REALLY, need to be trying to get nailed on the Skyway. The reason being is there are only 3 ways to get off the Cherohala once you get on it & if memory serves, all 3 are maintenance access roads for the Forestry Service. The cops don't want the headache of driving for 35 miles & then turning around for another 35 miles just to get into the middle of nowhere. If someone has actually received a ticket on the Skyway, I would love to hear about it. On both WWW.DEALSGAP.COM & WWW.TAILOFTHEDRAGON.COM there are several times the mods of those websites say there is little to no LE on the Skyway but the Dragon is crawling with LE at the freaking time.

My wife is about the safest rider I know & even she says the Skyway speed limit should be raised to 50. An average rider can maintain around 55-60 quite easily.

KC-10 FE out...