Meet In The Middle / The Blue Ridge Parkway

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

We took off Friday morning with the Southern Group from my hometown of Clinton, Tennessee. We had riders from Alabama, Georgia , Indiana and The Great State Of Tennessee . Friday we got lucky and only hit rain once while crossing The Cherohala Skyline . We just kinda meandered our way to Maggie Valley , North Carolina for the first over-night on the trip.Picture below is Bald River Falls just off the Cherohala Skyline on the Tennessee side.
The Bald River is a river located in Monroe County, Tennessee in the Cherokee National Forest. It is a tributary of the Tellico River. Just before it empties into the Tellico, the river falls over a large waterfall, Bald River Falls, which is variously reported as being between 80 and 100 feet high. The river then flows under a bridge on Forest Service Road 120 (the falls and the river mouth are both very readily visible from the bridge). The falls is regarded as the most impressive and scenic waterfall in East Tennessee. The river is short in length but powerful as it flows through a steep, densely wooded valley and it is constantly replenished by the area's frequent rains. It rises just north of the North Carolina state line near the crest of the Unicoi Mountains and flows northeast for a short distance before turning to the northwest.





Lunch was in Robbinsville, North Carolina with The Dragon close by much of the town cater motorcycle riders who bring some major money into the economy of this small town. We had lunch at Bojangles and they have a new bike shed with a few picnic tables.All the bikes in this picture was with our Southern Group.




Next stop was " The Road To Nowhere " outside of Bryson City , North Carolina. We got caught going thru the pipe barricade by Park Ranger Barney Fife who was a real dickhead and took all of our driver license and said " I got to run these for wants and warrant's to see if any of you are wanted criminals " . We didn't hurt anything going thru the pipes a motorcycle fits perfect I've had my bike up there many times over the years and I've seen other do the same as well the road has pavement all the way to the tunnel.
In the 1930s and 1940s, Swain County gave up the majority of its private land to the Federal Government for the creation of Fontana Lake and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Hundreds of people were forced to leave the small Smoky Mountain communities that had been their homes for generations. With the creation of the Park, their homes were gone, and so was the road to those communities. Old Highway 288 was buried beneath the deep waters of Fontana Lake.

The Federal government promised to replace Highway 288 with a new road. Lakeview Drive was to have stretched along the north shore of Fontana Lake, from Bryson City to Fontana, 30 miles to the west. And, of special importance to those displaced residents, it was to have provided access to the old family cemeteries where generations of ancestors remained behind.

But Lakeview Drive fell victim to an environmental issue and construction was stopped, with the road ending at a tunnel, about six miles into the park. The environmental issue was eventually resolved, but the roadwork was never resumed. And Swain County's citizens gave the unfinished Lakeview Drive its popular, albeit unofficial name "The Road To Nowhere."



Next pictures was taken along The Blue Ridge Parkway ( Its open all the way now ) .














I didn't get many pictures Saturday night when we met The Northern Group in West Jefferson , North Carolina... These next pictures was Sunday when we made our way back south. The Snake in Shady Valley , North Carolina. We hit rain or I should say it hit us about a hour out of West Jefferson and rained on us all the way to The Shady Valley Country Store. After leaving the store we rode home all the way dry. I love this sign and have no doubt whatsoever the owner would in fact shoot you for breaking into his store.If you are standing on the porch of The Shady Valley Country you have 489 curves in a 11 mile radius ... The Motorcycle Playground.





" The Money Shot " taken at The Road To Nowhere just before Barney Fife came into our life.

[robin]

Great report Joe thanks for sharing i'll see in October going to be there about a week ahead of ya and hanging out with flask and gabby at the cabin.

[Oss]

sounds like a lot of fun, not surprised no pics of the meet up with the Yankees

Hopefully some folks will post some soon.  

wondering if there was camera sitting on a pole with a little solar cell
somewhere to let Barney know you were coming down the road to nowhere

they have loads of em up here including the Croton Dam and the bridges
but none have radar so far as I know



big brotha is watchin more than we realize  

[B]

 

[HayHauler]

Sounds like a large time was passed by all.  Also seems like y'all had visits from Johnny Law more times than any other ride........  
Thanks for sharin' with us Joe.  

Hay
Jimmyt

[NC_Rob]

Nice report and pics Joe! Thanks for sharing

[Flrider]

As always, great pics and narration.

Question:

So, in the Road To Nowhere, are the barricades there to prevent people from getting to the tunnel?

I have missed the Road To Nowhere the last few times I have been there but it is on my to do list for my next trip.

Again, thanks for taking the time and the effort to share you pics.

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

As always, great pics and narration.

Question:

So, in the Road To Nowhere, are the barricades there to prevent people from getting to the tunnel?

I have missed the Road To Nowhere the last few times I have been there but it is on my to do list for my next trip.

Again, thanks for taking the time and the effort to share you pics.

You can park in the parking area and walk to the tunnel about a 1/4 mile... Or you can fold the highway pegs up and ride through the pipes and take your chance  

[eric in md]

yet another great ride sorry my world is busy right now has been all year ..sorry i missed another ride i miss all you great boys.. thanks for the history lesson joe .. ride safe my lil buddy

[hal47]

Good report Joe, had a great time as allways,heard you bought up the tail going home.

[Thunderbolt]

Thanks for the good report and pics.  When we went to the road to nowhere a few weeks ago Barney came by just as we were leaving. 

[Punisher]

Good ride and reporting as always Joe, hate I missed it, especially "the speech!"

I expect the Fuzz and Rangers know you by your first name 

What happened that caused the middle hotel manager to get his panties in a wad?   We've never had any problems there before, even with a much larger crew.

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Good ride and reporting as always Joe, hate I missed it, especially "the speech!"

I expect the Fuzz and Rangers know you by your first name 

What happened that caused the middle hotel manager to get his panties in a wad?   We've never had any problems there before, even with a much larger crew.

Dude was a dick ... We was all the way down by the creek and not botherin' anyone... I don't think his lard ass could take seeing folks have a good time    When you made the ride we had a sellout at the motel and everyone there was one of us .... This ride just about didn't happen this year Mark and I waited too long to get our ducks in a roll. Wish you could have made it Allan we are doing the Dragon Round Up in Indiana in a few weeks... Bring It...LET'S RIDE 

[Ghost]

I have to say what a fun trip, I have never rode roads like that before. These guys are some of the best riders I have ever had the pleasure to share the wind with. I meet some great people and made some new friends, wanted to say a special thanks to Jim and Bill who gave me some great advice on how to handle myself on these roads. Oh and Joes friend Larry, I owe you one for that little prank you played on me.   I also got to meet Gordon who rides a very nice looking Valkyrie, the next time you see mine I can only hope it looks half as good as yours. Joe thank you for the great time and I look forward to sharing the wind with you many more times in the Future.

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Great report Joe thanks for sharing i'll see in October going to be there about a week ahead of ya and hanging out with flask and gabby at the cabin.

Good deal Robin I look forward to The Fall Color Ride every year.

[KY,Dave (AKA Misunderstood)]

As always, Thanks for a great report Joe 

[Gary]

Nice write up and pic's, I enjoyed virtually tagging along, thanks for pulling it together and posting. Always nice when the rain doesn't overpower the run. 

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

sounds like a lot of fun, not surprised no pics of the meet up with the Yankees

Hopefully some folks will post some soon.  

wondering if there was camera sitting on a pole with a little solar cell
somewhere to let Barney know you were coming down the road to nowhere

they have loads of em up here including the Croton Dam and the bridges
but none have radar so far as I know



big brotha is watchin more than we realize  

We passed Barney coming in and he turned around I don't think Barney cares too much for bikers .

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Sounds like a large time was passed by all.  Also seems like y'all had visits from Johnny Law more times than any other ride........  
Thanks for sharin' with us Joe.  

Hay
Jimmyt

It does seem that way....Damnifiknow 

[Bocephus]

Had a GREAT TIME with some GREAT PEOPLE. Enjoyed meeting everyone that was there. Hope to do it again soon.

[Detn8er]

Sounds like a large time was passed by all.  Also seems like y'all had visits from Johnny Law more times than any other ride........  
Thanks for sharin' with us Joe.  

Hay
Jimmyt

It does seem that way....Damnifiknow  

I'm glad the popo's weren't around after I broke off from the group.....I let the big dog eat all the way home........I never once went beyond the speed limit on the fabulous BRP.  

[Stanley Steamer]

Had a GREAT TIME with some GREAT PEOPLE. Enjoyed meeting everyone that was there. Hope to do it again soon.

Even that HAL47 guy??......... .....was HE there??......