AutoTrain

[James III]

I have posted a few times in threads about the AutoTrain and seems a few might be interested. I have been on the AutoTrain three times, always from Sanford to Lorton; always one way only. September 2012, coach seat and motorcycle price including AAA discount of 15% totaled $209.20.
I went online and did a planned booking for Mid May 2014, coach seat and motorcycle without the AAA discount for a total of 286.00. With the AAA 15% your looking at $243.10 per person and bike.
My main recommendation is to travel the AutoTrain during the week, not the weekends. Same for riding Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Use the weekend days for short rides and gathering; avoiding as much other traffic as possible.
We have always arrived at Sanford, grabbed lunch before going to the depot around 12:30. Motorcycle check in must be done by 2:00PM or they won't load you. I think we boarded around 3 or 3:30 and left at 4 pm.
Your bike is strapped down on carts, you can have 2 carry on bags. Don't know about motorcycle trailers as the bike carts have length restrictions. One would have to call AmTrack about that. If wanting the AAA discount you must have your card with you at check in. Groups that want to travel together need to check in at the same time as the check in person will put everyone on the same car. If memory serves me the train can be between 24 to 48 cars.
You can not get to your bike after check in. You'll see it in Lorton. Make sure to carry on your meds, and overnight items. Electrical plugs are at the window seats, each row, for your chargers, etc..
The trip is 17 hours, and has one stop during the night to change crew and refuel. Going through the Jacksonville area is pretty slow but after that the train moves pretty well. Some nice scenery before dark and the next morning. During the night trains pass within a couple of feet out the window...that was kinda scary the first time I saw how close they were. It's fun, never really have gotten good rest but...I'm prepared to work on that.
Arrival at Lorton is around 10 am by 11 -11:30 your leaving the depot and ready to grab a fast bit of food, ice, and ride. If doing all of the Skyline drive starting at Front Royal you have a 100+ mile ride before entering Shenandoah. Skyline drive is 105 miles long with a 35 mph speed limit.
Skyline drive ends and the Blue Ridge Parkways begins at Waynesboro where I have always overnighted. That makes for a very long first day on the road as the riding takes a lot of concentration. Next morning head out on the Blue Ridge Parkway and work it west a couple of days,
and pick a meet up point and time, be it Maggie Valley or where ever. I've always taken 441 home through Georgia and overnight in Athens. Twice I had to overnight in Valdosta due to heavy rains coming home.
Hope there is interest to give the AutoTrain a go! I have penciled in mid May, no commitments. Would like to be able to meet in Maggie Valley with the camping group timeline if that's where others might be planning on going.

James

[Jess from VA]

If you do this, I will provide any support I can on the VA end.  My home is only a few miles North of Lorton.  Bikes should be prepped before any trip, but if there were any issue, we can come to my house for any tools, jack, fixes necessary, quick shower, etc. 

I can lead us out of NoVA traffic and thru VA horse country to Front Royal, know the best places for lunch and stops.  It's 10 bux to get on Skyline (bike or car), and the permit is good for several days.  An annual pass is like $30, but you guys would have no need.  The Days Inn in Waynesboro VA is a good stop point; we've used them before several times for Meet-in-the-Middle rides down the BRP.  Reasonable, clean and no bugs in the past.

I (and maybe one or two locals) would be willing to sign on at least down to Maggie Valley, prolly not to GA/FL.   Understand May up here is not full Summer, rain and cold still very possible in Spring, so rain and warm gear would be essential.  Likely chilly to cold nights and early mornings, warming up decently in the daytime.   Skyline is always 10-15 degrees cooler than down below, elevations on BRP are not as extreme South of Waynesboro, until you get much farther South.

[Pappy!]

If you do this, I will provide any support I can on the VA end.  My home is only a few miles North of Lorton.  Bikes should be prepped before any trip, but if there were any issue, we can come to my house for any tools, jack, fixes necessary, quick shower, etc. 

I can lead us out of NoVA traffic and thru VA horse country to Front Royal, know the best places for lunch and stops.  It's 10 bux to get on Skyline (bike or car), and the permit is good for several days.  An annual pass is like $30, but you guys would have no need.  The Days Inn in Waynesboro VA is a good stop point; we've used them before several times for Meet-in-the-Middle rides down the BRP.  Reasonable, clean and no bugs in the past.

I (and maybe one or two locals) would be willing to sign on at least down to Maggie Valley, prolly not to GA/FL.   Understand May up here is not full Summer, rain and cold still very possible in Spring, so rain and warm gear would be essential.  Likely chilly to cold nights and early mornings, warming up decently in the daytime.   Skyline is always 10-15 degrees cooler than down below, elevations on BRP are not as extreme South of Waynesboro, until you get much farther South.

You da Man!!
I don't care what BillyBoy says about ya'!!   
From what James says I think a mass nap may be necessary lol

[Jess from VA]

Gimme a break.  Besides Grumpy Bill and John Schmidt, I've never even met any of you flatlanders.

[James III]

  Jess, Thanks in advance! Leaving the Lorton depot and getting orientated out of town is always pretty traffic ridden. Without referring to my maps, I just remember making a right out of the depot, a lot of traffic, a jaunt on the interstate, then a pretty long "horse country" trek. I'd rather follow a NOVA resident as timing is very important to enjoy Skyline Drive and still make Waynesboro by dark. The Days Inn is where I have stayed in the past; a pretty good place to eat next door to the hotel. Agreed on the weather, proper riding gear is required. The worst riding in my life has been on the Blue Ridge in September; rain, fog, freezing winds, and dead hot all in the same day. Went through in July this year after Inzane and fought rain off and on, and a closure at Asheville with a detour.
I penciled in May as to not interfere with the June Inzane estimated timeline, as well as early June vacation traffic in the area that explodes with bikers and hotel placement along the Blue Ridge can be iffy.
If our chapter is able to choose a destination and time that we will be able to all meet and ride together a few days and enjoy the landscape, then we can come up with an advanced A Train date and schedule. I'd estimate 3 days travel before a possible meetup at Maggie Valley, weather permitting. Once again trying to get a gathering with those wishing to camp out near Maggie Valley, hotel stayers, long weekenders, or week long participants. I plan being out for 10 to 12 days, including ride time home; and very flexible on that. 
Any that might want to join in a northern trek, be it ATrain and or gathering in Maggie Valley or chosen area will be able to help arrive together with good common dates to meet as many's schedules as possible. Many in the group will be attending Sherri and Bert's event so hopefully we can take a few minutes and discuss possible plans and dates.

James

[FloridaValkRyder]

Sounds like a pretty nice plan James. I, myself, am not interested in the Auto Train route. I prefer to trailer in to one place and stay there. Very nice of Jess to offer his experience and knowledge to y'all getting out of the Lorton area. That will prove invaluable to you guys.
After emailing and talking with several of the hotels in Maggie, I'm pretty sure the best week to go up there would be May 11th through the 18th. None of the hotels and motels were too interested in offering discounts for such a small group, I'm hoping for 10-20 people. There is plenty of availability in town during that time frame and we avoid all the events that go on after that time. I'm going to suggest these dates in the original thread and see who is still interested. It would be really nice to have a group from NOVA and your group meet us in Maggie for a few days of riding and socializing. There are so many great rides right there in that area plus the BRP is only 5 miles from town. So we shall see how many takers there are for a Maggie ride in. Hopefully we can make all this happen. I think it would be so much fun to have one of our "Meet and Eats" someplace besides Florida. I look forward to discussing this at Bert and Sherry's Memorial ride-in.
I'm disappointed there has been no word on InZane as yet. They must be having an awful time getting things finalized. My hat is off to them for what they must be dealing with.