Ride from NC/VA Border to Blue Ridge Campground

[In10city]

My wife and I will be re-attempting to make a long mountain road ride from the North Carolina and Virginia border off I-77 on Highway 21. Ride past Mount Rogers on the Highlands Parkway into Damascus and then through Boone to the BRP and all the way back to the Blue Ridge Motorcycle Campground this weekend.

We plan on leaving at 0500 and want to be leaving the interstate by around 9:30am. If anyone wants to meet us along the way or join us at the camprgound it would be great to meet some members here and have some company.

 

[JimLor]

We'll be close, but no cigar. Lorie and I are going from N. VA to Lexington, VA and will hit the BRP from Waynesboro to Buena Vista. Too bad our paths won't cross.

Jim

 

[luvtoride]

My wife and I will be re-attempting to make a long mountain road ride from the North Carolina and Virginia border off I-77 on Highway 21. Ride past Mount Rogers on the Highlands Parkway into Damascus and then through Boone to the BRP and all the way back to the Blue Ridge Motorcycle Campground this weekend.
We plan on leaving at 0500 and want to be leaving the interstate by around 9:30am. If anyone wants to meet us along the way or join us at the camprgound it would be great to meet some members here and have some company.

Hi In10city,

I was just looking at a map & don't see either 77 or 21 near the VA-NC border. However, I'm very familiar with part of the ride you're planning Highlands Pkwy... Rte 58... that's a good one. Also, I see that you're passing thru Damascus? Do your self a huge favor & drop south there on Rte 133. That takes you into Shady Valley. In and out of the valley on 421 is EXCELLENT. It'd be easy to get into Boone from there, too.

Anyway, not trying to sidetrack you... just a friendly suggestion.

Hey, going to EOM?

Heidi

 

[brazos parker]

+1 what Heidi says...

If you could give me a time and a landmark, maybe I can zip over from JoCy to meet you...heh! heh! heh! any excuse to ride Shady Valley... :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo:

 

[In10city]

Sorry to miss you this time Jim, we'll defintaly be doing more rides so someday we'll get to meet...

Thanks for the suggestion Heidi. I looked at that road but from a map it's hard to tell the good from the bad so I had just chosen HWY 91 but I'll definately make that change. I've heard a lot about Shady Valley so it will be nice to finally 'find' it.

I guess I need to read some more here, what is EOM? This is about the only free weekend I'll have until I get back from parts unknown, my unit is deploying again at the end of August so I'll miss the best part (my opinion) of the riding season.

If you go to Acme Mapper and paste in these coordinates: N 36.26642 W 80.82573 you'll see the exit off I-77 we are taking.

Brazos, I don't really know what time we'll be making our way through Shady Valley. I've never taken this route before, normally I venture into the Franklin, NC area and work my way west from there. I am estimating that we will be making it to Damascus around noon but it's hard to say. I don't know if we are going to venture into the Highlands State Park or just keep on riding so the time is hard to judge. If you are in the area, we'll be on a 2005 blue one, I'll be in all black Joe Rocket gear and my wife will have black pants and blue joe rocket stuff. We'll have a tent bungee net'ed (still waiting on Givi topcase already ordered) to the luggage rack.

 

[In10city]

OK, I found the EOM and now I'm really dissapointed. Not only am I missing my annual ZZR rally at the TWO campground, now I'm missing my first FJR meeting! I'll be a couple of oceans away at that point doing my job.

Hopefully I get to attend next year and meet some of you! Wow, 2 owners rallies within a month. I'm so lucky!

 

[brazos parker]

OK...In10city, here's what I'll do.

When you ride 58 to Damascus, it will come to an intersection w/ 91 on the East side of Damascus where you'll take a right to go to Damascus proper. On the right side of the road, just as you get into town, there is an ice cream shop and cafe (2 buildings). I'll plan to be at that place at 12:00n. You may want to grab a bite to eat there as well.

I'll be riding an '05 Blue (no top box, but small red cooler for water), blue/white/silver Shoei helmet and a silver Tourmaster jacket. If I'm sitting around, you'll recognize me as the old guy in moto gear.

If we miss each other for whatever reason, we miss each other. Maybe next time.

In any case, be safe on the road and be safe whereever your unit is deployed (I can just imagine).

P.S. I think you'll really like Shady Valley :yahoo:

 

[In10city]

Brazos, I hope to meet you there if it works out. If you want to PM me your cell # (dosen't everyone carry these now?) I can call you if we get diverted or know for sure we are NOT going to make it, that way you won't be waiting around for nothing.

Looking forward to Shady Valley.

 

[luvtoride]

ok In10city, NOW I see where you're getting off of the interstate... and will be ending up on Rte 58 in Independence, right? Word of warning... be careful w/ your speed around Independence. I just looked at a map & you'll be cutting into 58 west of Hillsville. That's another notorious place for performance awards along Rte 58.

Brazos'll (Mike) show ya' Shady's finest. Once in Damascus it's about a 20 minute ride down Rte 133 (it's another route designation in Virginia. #133 is TN's designation) to the country store... nestled nicely in the valley. When riding through Damascus there is a sign that clearly marks the left turn for SV. Be sure to stop in and check out the wares @ the country store. Very motorcycle friendly there. They've got very nice m/c tee shirts.

A couple of pics for your viewing enjoyment:

The guy on the right is Mike (Brazos Parker) & the guy on the left is Travis (slapnpop) & allll the way on the left is the rear of my bike. Hahaha!!! This pic was taken the 3rd weekend in February.

Be real nice to Mike & I'll bet he'd lead you all the way through to Boone. You wouldn't even have to pay any attention to navigating. Good thing... SV commands your attention.

 

[brazos parker]

Heidi, I've been corresponding w/ In10city via PM. We're going to try to meet up on Sat in Damascus. I invited SnP but he has a Sat pm commitment and probably can't make it. Also invited TheRepairMan but haven't heard from him.

I'll see what their plans are and then suggest some rides...back and forth in Shady Valley or Shady Valley to Mountain City to 321 or whatever.

I'll see you at EOM...can't let all those WFO'ers have all the fun! :yahoo:

 

[In10city]

Thanks for the LEO head's up Heidi! We'll be taking it safely as my wife is still relatively new at being a pillon and I'm relatively new at carrying a passenger.

Looking forward to the ride tomorrow Mike. We are goign to try to leave our driveway at 5AM so we should have plenty of time to make it there by noon. I'll try to leave you a message as to our progress when we leave the interstate or stop for gas at some point.

The pics look GREAT!

My front tire is being installed right now and I'm changing my shaft oil in a few. Should be ship shape for the trip.

 

[brazos parker]

See you tomorrow in Damascus. TheRepairMan has a 1:00pm committment on Sat and may ride to Damascus w/ me (again, any excuse to ride Shady Valley will do) but will have to head back to Bristol ASAP to make that appt. So, it looks like I'll be the only one to meet y'all.

Be safe out there.

P.S. That pic that Heidi posted (Mike and Travis)

was in the parking lot of the Shady Valley Country Store. On Sat pm, that lot will be "covered up" w/ bikes.

 

[luvtoride]

Thanks for the LEO head's up Heidi! We'll be taking it safely as my wife is still relatively new at being a pillon and I'm relatively new at carrying a passenger.
Looking forward to the ride tomorrow Mike. We are goign to try to leave our driveway at 5AM so we should have plenty of time to make it there by noon. I'll try to leave you a message as to our progress when we leave the interstate or stop for gas at some point.

The pics look GREAT!

My front tire is being installed right now and I'm changing my shaft oil in a few. Should be ship shape for the trip.

Good deal... hey, be careful out there. That part of Rte 58 is super twisty/sweepy & SV can be pretty dern technical. You guys and gals have fun this weekend. Rubber side down & wish I were joining ya'!

Hey Mike, if they're into playing a little be sure to take them on 421 towards Bristol, turn around, go back thru & then the "playground" area towards Mountain City. That's a good one!

 

[brazos parker]

Roger that, Heidi. I'll just have to wait and see what their schedule is and then make the plan. I have to be back in JoCy for a 6:00pm neighborhood party but, until then, I'm flexible.

There's a slight chance I'll be back in Virginia Beach area the second week in August. If so, I'll let you know ahead of time.

 

[TheRepairMan]

Roger that, Heidi.(snip)

Did someone call my name? :lol:

Oh, I see, 10-4

Roger

You'll know when you see me Saturday...

I'd be the Red Power Ranger on the Pissed Off Red FZ1. :yahoo:

...but the way the weather looks this morning I may try to find a bright rain suit.

 

[brazos parker]

Well, w/ the weather radar looking like it does, I think the ride for this am has been called off. Hope In10city calls me along the way.

In10city? Are you there? Hello?

 

[brazos parker]

Well, w/ the weather radar looking like it does, I think the ride for this am has been called off. Hope In10city calls me along the way.
In10city? Are you there? Hello?

Well, disregard the above post. The weather cleared enough for me to make the rendevous point on time.

NOTE to HEIDI: In10city and Lady In10city now have braggin' rights for Shady Valley and 321. ..and both in the rain to boot!! :lol: :yahoo: :lol:

 

[luvtoride]

Well, w/ the weather radar looking like it does, I think the ride for this am has been called off. Hope In10city calls me along the way.

In10city? Are you there? Hello?

Well, disregard the above post. The weather cleared enough for me to make the rendevous point on time.

NOTE to HEIDI: In10city and Lady In10city now have braggin' rights for Shady Valley and 321. ..and both in the rain to boot!! :lol: :yahoo: :lol:

Hey, good deal Mike! So, you take 'em to the country store? How did they like 421?

 

[TheRepairMan]

Heidi,

The ride sort of fell apart for Mike, Travis and me because of the threat of bad weather but I was all geared up to ride anyway, as was Mike later on.

I took off solo to hit the back roads around South Holston Lake and ended up on 421 and on to the top of Holston mtn. I turned around there for a quick blast down the mountain or I might have actually run across Mike's party over at Shady Valley. I really wasn't sure where they were by that time so I ran back home.

I didn't run into any rain on my short ride, just heavy overcast, but I understand they were in it most of the day. 421 and 321 aren't much fun in the rain. Hopefully we will all have better weather during the EOM and can meet Travis at Shady on Friday morning, Sept. 8th.

Roger