Shady Valley TN

[HaulinAshe]

Visited Dave at the Shady Valley Country Store this weekend. Dave reported that they are averaging 4-5 Tenn Highway Patrol pretty much all day, every Sat. and Sun. One of Dave's crew conveyed that the police have gone so far as to state that they "intend to shut down the store and run all the motorcycles off". This is a sad state of affairs for any place or group to reach.

We stayed in the Shady Valley / Switchbackcreek campground this weekend and were only in/out Shady Valley during early morning and late evening. Actually ran The Snake at night Sat. night. Now that was a rush!!!

We did not see a single Tenn HP around The Snake, but again, we were not there during peak hours. Dave did say that as long as you had all your paperwork legal (insurance, registration etc.) and minded the speedo, that they (Tenn HP) were not bad. However, there are plenty of tales about road blocks, bikers being cited for removing one hand from the bars for waving and loads of other seemingly harrassing actions by the cops.

I hope this all blows over soon and we can all find a peaceful co-existence in such a gorgeous motorcycle territory. At least some things have not changed. Dave and crew still make everyone feel welcomed and Dave still cooks a mean cheeseburger!

 

[Fencer]

, bikers being cited for removing one hand from the bars for waving

Thats illegal?

 

[HaulinAshe]

, bikers being cited for removing one hand from the bars for waving

Thats illegal?

My understanding is technically YES. So is standing on the pegs, touching buttons on the GPS, etc. etc. etc.

Considered "wreckless driving" by the overly ambitious LEOs.

 

[black mamba]

I probably spend as much time in the Shady Valley area as anyone I know of. There has been a huge increase of late in the number of bikers flocking to ride the " Snake ". As expected, the numbers are largest over the weekend. It was inevitable that the popularity of the area would grow as word got out about how good the riding is. Sadly, the scene there is becoming increasingly just like the Dragon and will probably only get worse.

The big trucks that use the road present the same insane situation you find at the Dragon. Cagers that are all over the road are the same ever-present hazard. Most notibly though, is the increase of sportbikes blasting through the area. A local leo in Mountain City said the Governor of TN is giving the same emphasis to " cleaning up " the Snake as he did with the Dragon. He said they would expand their enforcement efforts incrementally until such time as they have discouraged bikers from coming to the area. IN HIS WORDS, they do not view the influx of bikers as an economic benefit......rather they are seen as vermin that need to be eradicated.

TREAD LIGHTLY AROUND SHADY VALLEY.

 

[HaulinAshe]

I probably spend as much time in the Shady Valley area as anyone I know of.

If you live in Jacksonville FL, and frequent Shady Valley TN, one thinks you MUST have some strange connection to a truly hot babe in Tenn.???

 

[black mamba]

LOL. I wish that were so. I have business interests in the area. Until recently, I had a mountain house in Boone fo 20 some odd years. I sold it and am having a new home built in Mountain City. I spend about 4 months each year....spread throughout the year.....riding my bike in that area. When this new home is finished, I'll be moving up there on a permanent basis. I'd love to hook up with you sometime. I might be able to show you some roads you don't know about. You could probably do the same for me.

 

[luvtoride]

Howdy Jeff, I was waving at you down there at the Snake from the twisty windy roads of WV. You have email if you haven't already seen it.

Thanks for the Shady Valley heads up. Really sorry to hear about it. I am betting that eventually, all of the patrolling will pass.

Heidi

 

[HaulinAshe]

Don't get me wrong, I still had a fantastic weekend in the mountains. Just different this time because Shady Valley was not my destination, just my base camp.

Doing The Snake at night was a... "adventure", and not one I would often repeat. To be able to say that I've done it with "vigor" at night, well that will be a remembered moment.

It was a fairly uneventful weekend, comparitively speaking. I can recall only three or so radar targeting events. It's good to know that both Tenn and NC Highway Patrol share the same philosophy of ignoring the cagers zooming down the highway and just wait for the oncoming motorcycle to come within close range.

 

[jwilly]

Wish we could have joined you this weekend Jeff. We were at a Softball tournament all weekend! Sounds like a good time!

JW

 

[smokeFJR06]

Hey gang, I was just through the Shady Valley area last weekend and didn't see one LEO. I went through on Friday and then again on Sunday, both in the afternoon hours. I saw a fellow 06 Feejer on Friday at the SV Country Store, not sure if it was someone here or not. I would have liked to stop and said hello, but I was on a time crunch and not able, so a friendly wave had to do. I did stop at the store on Sunday. There were about 50 bikes there on Sunday, only 2 on Friday. What a beautiful weekend to ride there.

My Dad lives in Bristol, and I have relatives that live in Mountain City, Butler, Elizabethton, Johnson City, and others that I probably don't even know about. I must say that I think I enjoy Shady Valley more than the Dragon area. I was just at the Dragon the last week of September, I think when Jeff, you were in Shady Valley. The Dragon is way over crowded in my opinion, but still makes for great riding.

I'm not totally convinced there is as big an issue with the HP in these areas. We stopped and talked with a HP on the Dragon and I think alot of these reports are blown out of proportion. The HP was a nice guy, even got our picture taken with him (not sure why). From what I've observed and gathered, the HP just wants to stop the reckless high speed riders from killing themselves or others. We ran across an accident where a guy took the corner too fast and went off and down the mounain about 100 feet. The only thing that stopped him was a huge tree. The guy went down with the bike, but was okay. The bike, not so. It was Yammie too which hurt to see.

Anyhow, I'm rambling here so I'll shut up. +1 on the Shady Valley area for sure. I told myself I was going to spend a whole week there riding next year. The riding season here in the Mid-West is drawing closer to a close. It was nice to get one more trip in before then.

Be safe everyone!

 

[FJRPierre]

...The big trucks that use the road present the same insane situation you find at the Dragon. Cagers that are all over the road are the same ever-present hazard. ...

TREAD LIGHTLY AROUND SHADY VALLEY.

First this

then

 

[CCook82]

Best not buy the speculation that the LEO's at Shady are just trying to stop the really ballistic riders. As a matter of fact, they gave a nice 55 in a 35 violation to one of the straightest arrows I know. When I told the cop that the guy was probably the most law abiding citizen on the mountain, he said probablty so, he stopped, and we cite the ones who will pull over. (Note to self - message in there somewhere.)

They are up there and they are giving tickets. Heavy mostly at mid day on the weekends. Usually clear early and late.

CC

 

[7mary3]

Best not buy the speculation that the LEO's at Shady are just trying to stop the really ballistic riders. As a matter of fact, they gave a nice 55 in a 35 violation to one of the straightest arrows I know. When I told the cop that the guy was probably the most law abiding citizen on the mountain, he said probablty so, he stopped, and we cite the ones who will pull over. (Note to self - message in there somewhere.)
They are up there and they are giving tickets. Heavy mostly at mid day on the weekends. Usually clear early and late.

CC

b

 

[MrTwisty]

Ya'll just need to come on down a little further south. Hwy. 180, 60 and 348 are great down around the Suches, GA area. Leos are not a problem, the roads are great and so is the scenery.