Joe2Lmaker
Well-known member
Thanks in advance for your suggestions.
We'll be there the first week of June.
We'll be there the first week of June.
Routes near Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- Thread starter Joe2Lmaker
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HaulinAshe
Well-known member
If you can be more specific, I can too.
How many days do you have to ride?
Are you riding solo, two-up, group?
Do you want challenging or sedate/scenic?
How many miles of twisties can you stand in a day?
Are there any classic, must-do spots you want to hit?
Are you bringing fresh tires?
Do you have a GPS, if so what brand/what file formats can you accept?
I have a wealth of route information to share. Just need a place to start.
How many days do you have to ride?
Are you riding solo, two-up, group?
Do you want challenging or sedate/scenic?
How many miles of twisties can you stand in a day?
Are there any classic, must-do spots you want to hit?
Are you bringing fresh tires?
Do you have a GPS, if so what brand/what file formats can you accept?
I have a wealth of route information to share. Just need a place to start.
Joe2Lmaker
Well-known member
Excellent
The bikes are: my '06 FJR, a Suzuki M109, a Road Glide, and a Gold Wing. One rider each.
Two of us are poor/cheap and are going to camp. Two of us are rich/old and are going to motel it.
Two of us are whiney candy ***** that consider a ten hour day behind bars grueling.
Two of us are want to ride as much as possible and wonder why the others take so long to eat.
We depart Fridley, MN May 31. The candy ***** won't ride from here to there in one shot. So, we're taking two days to travel from here to there and two days back.
We have four days in the area to ride. We don't need to do spoke & hub type routes. A different destination each night would work too.
The candy ***** have a way of making even the most challenging roads sedate and scenic. The more aggressive riders have a way of making even the most scenic roads a blur.
I didn't keep track of how many hours of twisties we did last time we rode together (last year - Black Hills). We pretty much rode all day, stopping for lunch and leaving enough time to make camp before dark.
One classic/must-do, the Dragon. Also, I'd like at least one distillery tour (I'd like to find an American whisky I like as much as Glenlivet). But, the others couldn't give a damn about distillery tours.
We're starting out with fresh tires, but not packing any.
The only GPS we have is an old Garmin 12 of mine. I bring it along, but it doesn't get used much. We navigate by paper maps and atlases.
The bikes are: my '06 FJR, a Suzuki M109, a Road Glide, and a Gold Wing. One rider each.
Two of us are poor/cheap and are going to camp. Two of us are rich/old and are going to motel it.
Two of us are whiney candy ***** that consider a ten hour day behind bars grueling.
Two of us are want to ride as much as possible and wonder why the others take so long to eat.
We depart Fridley, MN May 31. The candy ***** won't ride from here to there in one shot. So, we're taking two days to travel from here to there and two days back.
We have four days in the area to ride. We don't need to do spoke & hub type routes. A different destination each night would work too.
The candy ***** have a way of making even the most challenging roads sedate and scenic. The more aggressive riders have a way of making even the most scenic roads a blur.
I didn't keep track of how many hours of twisties we did last time we rode together (last year - Black Hills). We pretty much rode all day, stopping for lunch and leaving enough time to make camp before dark.
One classic/must-do, the Dragon. Also, I'd like at least one distillery tour (I'd like to find an American whisky I like as much as Glenlivet). But, the others couldn't give a damn about distillery tours.
We're starting out with fresh tires, but not packing any.
The only GPS we have is an old Garmin 12 of mine. I bring it along, but it doesn't get used much. We navigate by paper maps and atlases.
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wheatonFJR
...
my advice...split up in two groups for the day with a common meeting place for meals/lodging
Joe2Lmaker
Well-known member
rushes
Well-known member
Joe2Lmaker
Well-known member
HaulinAshe
Well-known member
Here's what I'll do...
I'll take a PDF map of the area and highlight some route segments in two different colors. Something like YeeHaa Yellow for the twisty stuff, Gawkworthy Green for the scenic and sedate.
That way you can assemble the rides you desire.
Stay tuned. I'll PM you with results.
I'll take a PDF map of the area and highlight some route segments in two different colors. Something like YeeHaa Yellow for the twisty stuff, Gawkworthy Green for the scenic and sedate.
That way you can assemble the rides you desire.
Stay tuned. I'll PM you with results.
Joe2Lmaker
Well-known member
:clapping:
shokdimn
Well-known member
If you’re heading to the “J Daniels” distillery from east TN you may be passing thru my local area. I’m about an hour NE of Lynchburg. Oh, and there’s a “G Dickel” distillery not far from Tullahoma. It’s sort of out-of-sight back up in a “hollar”.
Where do you think you might depart east TN from if ya’ll decide to head to Lynchburg? Depending on from where you depart east TN you could follow a “longer” more scenic and entertaining route to Lynchburg or several more direct and considerably less scenic and entertaining routes.
There’s a lotta, IMO, fine Heartland in mid TN that isn’t routinely exploited or hasn’t been extremely sensationalized publicly by, what some would consider, reckless squids—yet.
By the way, a good BBQ can be found in Crossville. One might still find a good piece of coconut cream pie served at a small restaurant in Jamestown. And there’s a dinner not to far from McMinnville, on the way to Lynchburg if one is heading SW, where a plate lunch can be had for $6.
Fell free to send me a PM if ya have any specific questions. Also, fell free to “gimme a holler” if yur pass N thru muh “neck-O-da-woods”.
Where do you think you might depart east TN from if ya’ll decide to head to Lynchburg? Depending on from where you depart east TN you could follow a “longer” more scenic and entertaining route to Lynchburg or several more direct and considerably less scenic and entertaining routes.
There’s a lotta, IMO, fine Heartland in mid TN that isn’t routinely exploited or hasn’t been extremely sensationalized publicly by, what some would consider, reckless squids—yet.
By the way, a good BBQ can be found in Crossville. One might still find a good piece of coconut cream pie served at a small restaurant in Jamestown. And there’s a dinner not to far from McMinnville, on the way to Lynchburg if one is heading SW, where a plate lunch can be had for $6.
Fell free to send me a PM if ya have any specific questions. Also, fell free to “gimme a holler” if yur pass N thru muh “neck-O-da-woods”.
Jagermeister
Well-known member
Four Roses is my favorite Bourbon, and is a cool place to tour.
Here's a suggested route: Clicky. It takes you past 2 additional distilleries, then down a great section of 421.
When do you plan to pass through? Depending on the schedule, I may be able to ride with you for a few hours.
Here's a suggested route: Clicky. It takes you past 2 additional distilleries, then down a great section of 421.
When do you plan to pass through? Depending on the schedule, I may be able to ride with you for a few hours.
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Joe2Lmaker
Well-known member
Damn!
Talk about Southern Hospitality! You guys are great.
I'll post the routes in this thread once they are finalized. If it looks like you can meet us, PM me and I'll give you my cell phone number.
Talk about Southern Hospitality! You guys are great.
I'll post the routes in this thread once they are finalized. If it looks like you can meet us, PM me and I'll give you my cell phone number.
keithaba
Well-known member
If I'm around, I'm down to meet while your in KY too. Those are some good roads. Would love to go hit that section of 421 again!
Bogie
Two Wheels Forever!!!
I'll be in the area of Pigeon Forge, Fontana, Gap, Robinsville and Telico Plains during August 17th to the 23rd!! :yahoo:
I'mAllIn
Well-known member
Jeff,
Can you post here for the world to see? If not, please PM me the map! Thanks in advance.
Joe2Lmaker
Well-known member
Yesterday, we decided where we are going to stay. Unless we have problems making reservations, this is itinerary:
Sunday evening, June 1: Arrive Pigeon Forge, TN
Monday, June 2: Planning a route on roads south and east of Great Smoky Mountains National Park and circling north back to accommodations in Pigeon Forge, TN
Tuesday, June 3: Planning to ride roads south and west of GSMNP circling back north to accommodations in Pigeon Forge, TN
Wednesday, June 4: Head north out of Pigeon Forge, ride a section of 421. Then, find some interesting roads headed east toward Williamson, WV
Thursday June 5: Leave Williamson, WV and find some interesting roads to Lexington, KY and work in two distillery tours west of there
Friday, June 6: Start for home
I'll post the Google Maps as we learn what roads will work with the general plan.
Sunday evening, June 1: Arrive Pigeon Forge, TN
Monday, June 2: Planning a route on roads south and east of Great Smoky Mountains National Park and circling north back to accommodations in Pigeon Forge, TN
Tuesday, June 3: Planning to ride roads south and west of GSMNP circling back north to accommodations in Pigeon Forge, TN
Wednesday, June 4: Head north out of Pigeon Forge, ride a section of 421. Then, find some interesting roads headed east toward Williamson, WV
Thursday June 5: Leave Williamson, WV and find some interesting roads to Lexington, KY and work in two distillery tours west of there
Friday, June 6: Start for home
I'll post the Google Maps as we learn what roads will work with the general plan.
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HaulinAshe
Well-known member
Sorry everyone! I know the road to hell is paved with good intentions, but one of my key employees suffered a heart attack yesterday and I am up to my a$$hole in alligators. There's just no way I can get a formal map done today.
However, I will keep it on my to-do list and perhaps I can make a map this week while bored in a hotel room.
However, I will keep it on my to-do list and perhaps I can make a map this week while bored in a hotel room.
Jagermeister
Well-known member
Two distillery tours, you say?
Another great one is the Labrot & Graham Distillery - They produce Woodford Reserve. If you haven't seen it yet, this may give you other ideas: KY Bourbon Trail
When you head west from Williamson, try to avoid Rt. 23 and 80. Both are 4-lane Coal Truck routes. West of Hazard or Salyersville, KY, and you're out of Coal territory.
copterchief
Well-known member
+1 on KY Bourbon Trail and Labrot and Graham. Woodford Reserve is some of the best bourbon in the the world and one of the most beautiful historic distilleries. The setting is incredible and the tour and tasting is first class. The ride through Woodford County will be one of the most memorable in your trip. I'd be glad to map some of the best scenic routes around the area if you let me know your general route through KY (are you sticking to the I65/I64/I75 corridors or the backroads, etc.?) Either way, you'll pass through bourbon and Thoroughbred farm country and should take full advantage - it's still a fairly direct route to/from your home.
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