Got a good phone call today

[mark81]

I had been trying plan a trip to blue ridge parkway with some friends for early this spring.  All my friends suck at life. Everyone of them has bailed out in the last few weeks for one reason or another.... except my brother.  He called today to tell me he put in for vacation time and has 5 free days before his 2 boys get off school for spring break. In the 10 minute phone call plans changed drastically.  I have never been farther west than Chicago or parts of Louisiana I got to see on the Gulf coast ride, we are now heading west as far as we can get from Cincinnati, OH the first day. Iron butt or better ride. All highway getting as far as we can. Then meander our way back home for 3 days the scenic route which leaves 1 day for him to spend time with his wife.

[Hook#3287]

That, ride as far as you can for one day, then meander back for three, sounds like a great plan.

Enjoy it.

[..]

Or you could ride to Cherokee, NC in about 6 1/2 hours from Cincinatti.

Jump on the southern beginning to the BRP and ride north to Roanoke 467 miles - 2 days - and then head home.

[mark81]

Britman that was the original plan. Chris is coming over tomorrow to get a general idea of where we are going mapped out. We could haul ass for 4 days and go this route. Hit a bunch of states neither one of us have been to and not see anything because we're too busy putting in miles to enjoy the ride


https://www.google.com/maps/dir/7081+Sheed+Rd,+Cincinnati,+OH+45247-3637,+USA/Four+Corners+Monument,+New+Mexico+597,+Teec+Nos+Pos,+AZ+86514/South+Carolina/38.1773847,-81.4629542/38.7799493,-84.0952735/@36.2653105,-103.7931682,5z/data=!4m22!4m21!1m5!1m1!1s0x8840353caaf38977:0x928c2049ef1e3b4!2m2!1d-84.637306!2d39.213118!1m5!1m1!1s0x873a25d2c9c70acd:0xc9945bd27b66993a!2m2!1d-109.0451868!2d36.9989773!1m5!1m1!1s0x88f8a5697931d1e3:0xb9ffa132f505179e!2m2!1d-81.1637245!2d33.836081!1m0!1m0!3e0

I wonder if I could talk him into 21 states and 4000 in 4 days

[..]

In my experience of doing 3 separate unplanned 1,000 mile days I'd have to say NO!

I do remember the beginning and end of those days with a couple of gas stations thrown in but not much else.

[mark81]

I agree. This is going to be a quality over quantity ride but I'm still going to tell him in the morning when he gets here that's the new route. Just wouldn't feel right if I didn't mess with him a bit

[..]

I agree. This is going to be a quality over quantity ride but I'm still going to tell him in the morning when he gets here that's the new route. Just wouldn't feel right if I didn't mess with him a bit

 

[DirtyDan]

Mark

 Don't be in so much of a hurry that you don't enjoy it. Hitting it hard at first is the most logical. Making good time in a group is tough. Keep us posted

Dan

[old2soon]

Sides my brother I have 1 MAYBE 2 guys I can count on when they/me say Ride we RIDE. When I tell someone I'll be THERE and we go K S U at such and such a time you git there 3 minutes After K S U-we gone!  Course NOT havin a spousal unit do free me up a LOT!  RIDE SAFE.

[pais]

     Mark, know very well of what you speak of. Dependable riders are hard to come by. Must be an Ohio thing, not sure. Great that your brother will be going! I have 3 brothers and not one rides. 2 Never did and the one that did just parked it 1 Winter and never got it out again. I mean that literally. To this day it sits in his basement with a sheet over it, 1975 Z-1 Kaw. Last time ridden was 1982.
     Anyways, I just caught a PBS documentary about the BRP. It was from 2010 but I had never seen it and I only caught maybe 1/2. I had no idea just how much politics were involved in getting that road built. It is rooted in politics all the way back to FDR. A congressman, Robert Doughton from North Carolina who was the chairman of The Hou$e Way$ and Mean$ Committee. Deals were done and N.C. got the road and FDR got his Social Security.
     After seeing this, it got me to thinking about making the trip. I was planning on going to Georgia in early April. Think I'm going to wait and head to the BRP sometime in May before all the schools let out and vacationers hit the road.

[..]

    Mark, know very well of what you speak of. Dependable riders are hard to come by. Must be an Ohio thing, not sure. Great that your brother will be going! I have 3 brothers and not one rides. 2 Never did and the one that did just parked it 1 Winter and never got it out again. I mean that literally. To this day it sits in his basement with a sheet over it, 1975 Z-1 Kaw. Last time ridden was 1982.
     Anyways, I just caught a PBS documentary about the BRP. It was from 2010 but I had never seen it and I only caught maybe 1/2. I had no idea just how much politics were involved in getting that road built. It is rooted in politics all the way back to FDR. A congressman, Robert Doughton from North Carolina who was the chairman of The Hou$e Way$ and Mean$ Committee. Deals were done and N.C. got the road and FDR got his Social Security.
     After seeing this, it got me to thinking about making the trip. I was planning on going to Georgia in early April. Think I'm going to wait and head to the BRP sometime in May before all the schools let out and vacationers hit the road.

http://www.ncnatural.com/Parkway/MilebyMile.html

http://www.blueridgemountaintravel.com/national-parks/shenandoah-national-park-skyline-drive/skyline-drive-parkway-gas-stations/

https://www.nps.gov/blri/planyourvisit/roadclosures.htm

https://www.nps.gov/maps/full.html?mapId=e212fcb5-4ff9-4787-bbe4-3d40cc0d0daa#9/36.8390/-80.6506

https://ridewithgps.com/ambassador_routes/1012-blue-ridge-parkway

Some of the overlooks don't seem that tempting but you can miss some spectacular views if you pass them by.

Example

http://www.masterviews.net/BRP/Section1/RavensRoost.html

http://www.masterviews.net/

[pais]

    Hey Britman,
    Thanx for all the info!   

    Saved it all in my favorites!