Key Largo Fl -> Louisville Ky

[IndianaTom]

This weekend I'm taking part in a group ride from Southern Indiana to Key Largo. Much of the planned trip seems to take interstate (I-65). The planned return trip is similar, but I'd like to break-away and travel thru eastern Georgia, the Carolinas, Tennessee, and so on. (Adirondacks)

So right now I'm soliciting route suggestions that have plenty of pretty things to gawk at (scenery), be interesting to ride on (curvy), but at the same time, keep me moving the general direction of home.

Thanks

 

[trimmantom]

Hi Tom,If your coming back through georgia,heres a route for you.

Take I-85 north out of Atlanta,whenI-985 branchs off to the left take it to Gainesville and get off on the second Gainesville exit,it's 129 north.

Go through town til you see signs for 60 north,take this road 20 miles to Dahlonega,go through Dahlonega on 60 north and you'll be on a nice twisty road.

You'll go about 10 miles or so on this road and after you go over the mountain you'll come into Such's and theres a place called two wheels only on the left,it's a cool place to stop and hang out for a while.

When you continue from here you have several options.#1 take a right on 180 it's about 10 miles of real twisty road,if you go this way beware there are a couple curves that will put you in the woods.

When you get to the end of this road you'll come to 129,go north on this road app. 3 miles and take a right back on to 180 again go a half mile and take a right,which will be 356 south.this is richard russell scenic highway and is avery nice mountain road with some nice tight sweepers,it'll take you over a mountain,it's about 15 miles.When you come to the end of this road take a left onto alternate 75 about3-4 miles to highway 75.Go right here and you'll run through Helen,which is a little touristy place that you might like to have lunch at.You can then pull your map and take 75 north or get back over to 129 north which takes you up towards north carolina.

Option#2 is just stay on 60 north which is 40 miles of more twisty roads. Take it into Tennessee and it'll turn into 68 in tenn. take 68 to Telico plains and gas up here.

You'll take a right off 68 in telico plains on to the Cherohala Skyway which I say is a ride you don't want to pass up.It will take you up to 5000 ft elevations across the mountains, also it gets cool to cold up there depending on weather conditions.This is a nice 40 mile ride.When you get close to Robbinsville n.c. there is a turnoff which takes you over to 129.take a left north and you'll have anice scenic ride up to deals gap and the dragon,app 10-15 miles and stop at the store on the right for pics and refreshment before you run the dragon.

From here you can go up thrugh maryville to gatlinburg or take 28 south til it runs into 19-74 in north carolina and catch the Blueridge parkway north at Cherokee or further up the road near Sylva.

There are infinite possibilities and rides.If you want to spend the night near deals gap theres a nice motorcycle campground on 28 called Ironhorse campground,it's a nice place.

If you want to spend the night off the BRP,another campground is blueridge motorcycle campground off 276 north towards waynesville.This is a really cool place to stay they have cabins and food.

Hope this helps with youer planning.You can't go wrong by taking any of the roads I mentioned here.Good luck and ride safe.

 

[IndianaTom]

...this is richard russell scenic highway and is avery nice mountain road with some nice tight sweepers,it'll take you over a mountain,...
...on to the Cherohala Skyway which I say is a ride you don't want to pass up.It will take you up to 5000 ft elevations across the mountains,....and you'll have anice scenic ride up to deals gap and the dragon,app 10-15 miles and stop at the store on the right for pics and refreshment before you run the dragon.

Thanks, this is the kinda info I was hoping for.

 

[wallypiper]

356 south.this is richard russell scenic highway

Whoa there. Richard Russel is GA 348, not 356.

Othewise, pretty good directions through North GA although if it was me I'd avoid the metro area either to the east or west. There's some nice countryside out there, though not very twisty once you get south of a line from Rome to Dahlonega to Helen.

 

[trimmantom]

356 south.this is richard russell scenic highway

Whoa there. Richard Russel is GA 348, not 356.

Othewise, pretty good directions through North GA although if it was me I'd avoid the metro area either to the east or west. There's some nice countryside out there, though not very twisty once you get south of a line from Rome to Dahlonega to Helen.

Wally you're right,Isometimes get my numbers mixed up in my pre alzheimers conditon.

Thanks for the correction. As many times as I've been up and down that road it should be imbedded in my little pea brain!!!!!!!!

 

[wallypiper]

Didn't want a visitor to get all twisted trying to find GA 356. I don't think one exists.

RR is a great road. Sometimes has gravel in the righthand apexes but worth the trouble.

 

[trimmantom]

Didn't want a visitor to get all twisted trying to find GA 356. I don't think one exists.RR is a great road. Sometimes has gravel in the righthand apexes but worth the trouble.

Wally there is a 356 it runs off 197 over to 75 just above helen.

It goes by unicoi state park

 

[IndianaTom]

Well, I ended up being exhausted after driving thru hours of Floridian smoke, and went up 75 to 83 at Forsyth, took that up to 441 and camped out Clayton. The next morning I wandered all over the hills until I ended up at the Dragon shack on 129 where I saw 3 FJRs parked together in the parking lot.

I was inside, and saw a guy that kinda looked familiar, then I noticed the FJR T-shirt... there be Jeff Ashe at Deal's Gap. He was there with his SO, Hedi, and Scab. After a short visit, they took off, I bought a t-shirt, and then hit the road. (figuritivly).

Lots of pretty riding out there, I envy you guys that live out there.

 

[wallypiper]

Didn't want a visitor to get all twisted trying to find GA 356. I don't think one exists.RR is a great road. Sometimes has gravel in the righthand apexes but worth the trouble.

Wally there is a 356 it runs off 197 over to 75 just above helen.

It goes by unicoi state park

So there is. What's worse, I've been on it. 197 is a good ride. In fact, I might be on it this weekend on the way to Warwoman and points north.

Glad you had a good passage through our hills, Tom. Come back any time.

 

[05fjrBluedevil]

This weekend I'm taking part in a group ride from Southern Indiana to Key Largo. Much of the planned trip seems to take interstate (I-65). The planned return trip is similar, but I'd like to break-away and travel thru eastern Georgia, the Carolinas, Tennessee, and so on. (Adirondacks)
So right now I'm soliciting route suggestions that have plenty of pretty things to gawk at (scenery), be interesting to ride on (curvy), but at the same time, keep me moving the general direction of home.

Thanks[/quote