| Author | Message | ||
     Paralegalpete |
My wife wants to drive to Florida (from Ontario Canada) to visit her Mom at March break. She also wants to stop at Hilton Head SC to say hello to her Pa. I'm considering trailering the Uly across the boarder and spliting up when she goes to Hilton Head with the car. I would head over to Deals gap along the Blue Ridge Pkway and then meet up with her in Florida. I'm going to assume the weather in the mountains will be unpredictable in mid March. Anyone with any experiance with the area that time of year?   Thanks PP (Message edited by paralegalpete on January 07, 2010) | ||
| Kellaupat |
I live at Exit 0 of Skyline Drive, in Front Royal. The weather can be very unpredictable in March. The park service also loves to lay down huge amounts of gravel and cinders on the road. It usually takes several hard rains to wash the road. It is not un-common to go from sunshine to very thick fog, in the course of a few miles. That being said, I still go up there often. Slow and steady riding you will be fine, as long as there is no ice. They will tell you the conditions of the road at the gate. I would go for it. If Skyline Drive is too bad, there are plenty of nearby high-ways. The Blue Ridge Parkway is pretty much the same. Mountains get taller the closer you get to North Carolina. It is a great route you are planning. Have fun and let me know if you want company for the first few miles or so, I love it up there. | ||
| Pherris |
I don't think the parkway is officially open in mid march but u can still ride it. Nothing is open. Just be very careful b/c water runs out of the rocks and freezes on the road. This includes ice inside the tunnels too. I ride in the NC mountians frequently it's awesome but still cold with potential ice and snow in March. | ||
| Jim_williams |
trailer? Huh?  a friend of a friend trailered his bike from RI to NC/Tn for his "dream" trip to the Blue Ridge Parkway and Deal's Gap over the summer. He was a day behind me and it rained the whole time. Weather couldn't have been better for me. I'd call that trailer karma. These things aren't meant to be transported. They're meant to be ridden. | ||
| Kellaupat |
Pherris is right, Skyline Drive is open to traffic also, but there are no services up there until May. They still have people at the gates, and you know the rangers with their radar guns never close... | ||
| Glenn |
The blue Ridge has several gates as you get into NC. They do close them and there is no access if they determine the conditions are too icy or there is snow. I've run into them a couple of times especially as you get closer to Asheville. Check the Blue ridge web site. | ||
| Paralegalpete |
Jim, there may be more bad karma from being critical of someones personal choice then from choosing to trailer a motorcycle. I live in Canada and will probably have a couple of feet of snow on the ground in March. Whats your personal experiance riding in the Smokies in March? (Message edited by paralegalpete on January 07, 2010) | ||
| Etennuly |
It is usually fifteen degrees colder and the wind is ten mph faster up on the ridges than in the surrounding valleys. If you get up on top and hit bad weather or icing, you can always drop down to warmer air and roads. The Dragon is open but usually has some sand left over from winter treatment. Serious riders/drivers often get their clubs together and sweep it off. The Cherohala is one of my favorite rides and in March is still cold, and can have some ice. There is usually salt and sand in places around intersections and such. I went over the Dragon and came back over New Found Gap (Cherokee to Gatlinburg) in late October on a warm day. The roads were clear but the North facing embankments a the tops had snow cover. I ride them all usually when it has been known to be warm up there for a couple of weekends. You can Google weather forecasts for those areas on you 'puter before you leave. In March you will see budding on the flowers and trees, too bad you can't hit it in April things really 'pop' to life. These are the reasons we are changing March Badness to April Buells day. It tends to rain a lot in March also. | ||
| Jim_williams |
You might have a point there, Pete, so accept my public apology. To answer the question, I went through the smokies 4 years ago in early March. Bought a bike in Tampa where it was in the 80's. The smokies were in the 50's and on/off rain. A couple passes of the BRP were closed, but, they usually have detours up. Some are short. Some are long! One particualar detour took me 50 miles out of my way. Beautiful road, unfortunately, that part of the trip it was raining, so, not so great! I've been to the BRP several times in the "off season". One thing to watch out for is the FOG! It can be brutal at the top, and, creeps up quick. Go around a corner, and, BAM, you can't see anything. 300 yards later, it's clear again. More dangerous than rain to me. I would certainly do that trip without hesitation, but, be prepared for anything. It could be nice, cool and dry. Perfect riding weather/roads, or, it could be cold, wet and miserable. It was freezing rain the last 300 miles of that trip back into RI, so, i took the good with the bad during that 8 day stretch! (Message edited by jim_williams on January 08, 2010) | ||
| Florida_lime |
I have a place in Robbinsville, and have ridden up for the Easter weekend. One time, if my rear wheel bearing hadn't died outside Atlanta, it would have been 80 + degrees when I was supposed to get there. Several days later, I waited until noon to leave, so that the temperature got into the 20s ! I was there for a week at Christmas -- 2 days it was up to the mid 40s (2 good DS rides on the KTM 950SE), with lows in the 20s. A ride up the Cherohala (with 4WD !) had daytime highs 15 degrees cooler, with a lot of snow and ice at 4500 feet + elevation. A gamble at that time of year, but it could pay off big if you get lucky. | ||
| Paralegalpete |
Thanks for all the replies. I guess I'm going to have to wait just prior to departure to decide if it's worth taking the bike. I may also consider a different route depending on the weather. I will keep you all up to date in case anyone would like to meet up. Another Question. When you say that "services" are not avialable in the off season what are we talking. Fuel? | ||
| Etennuly |
There are seasonally open resorts, restaurants, shopping venues along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Most fuel stops(at least on the Southern end) are near by it in a small town or near an exit to the Parkway. Some of the little connector roads to small towns are amazingly fun to ride too! It is fun to get off once in a while to test the local atmosphere. | ||
| Ghostrider |
Here's another option, Pete: Maybe you could hit those roads on your way back instead of on the way out. This way, there's at least several more days for the weather to be warming up. Going that far, sounds like it'll take about two weeks out and back (including any time spend visiting). So, if you hustle down there, visit, and then hit the fun stuff on the way back, maybe the weather would be more agreeable. | ||
| Etennuly |
That is a good idea to give it more time, a couple of weeks can make a big difference. Another factor is the speed of travel. Running the Interstates around the mountains for the maps you posted can be done in about six or eight hours. That distance can take two and a half days on the mountain Parkways and passes. Most of the speed limits are 30 to 45mph.(But it is so worth the trip!) | ||
| Pso |
+1 Etennuly, New Found Gap and Cherahola. I prefer them to the Gap, but eveyone should do the Gap once I suppose if for no other reason than to get a small dragon decal for their bike, helmet or whatever. I have been on Skyline south of Front Royal in April and found the weather unpredictable. Sunny, cloudy, foggy, rainy, cold, warm all on the same day. | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
All I know is... Vern and I went to Daytona last March and I froze my butt off when we went over the mountains.... a HUGE snow storm had just went thru a week earlier and there was a LOT of snow on the hillsides. We also happened to be riding after dark.... and I didn't have my Cee Bailey's on... I had no electric gear... I was glad to get into a hotel room! I think it could be a ton of fun if you have the right gear and have the bike set up for it.... But, like you said before, you will need to wait until just before you head out to see what the weather has done or is going to do. | ||
| Etennuly |
We went across/through the mountains South on Interstate 40 just after dark. Yeah that was a cold sumbich. That entire highway is still closed in both directions for a major rock slide that happened in October. | ||
| Paralegalpete |
Lots of good ideas here, I think I will be flexible so that I can do the Smokie ride on the way there or on the way back.(or both) We have decided to drop the side stop in Hilton Head as it was a lot of driving for a one day stop, and instead we are going to head south down I 75 with a stop in Maryville TN. (any Hotel recomendations are welcome) We plan on exploring the area the next day and of course do the tail of the dragon ect. (road recomendations are welcome) ending up for the night at a hotel near six flags over Georgia. The two teens will be dropped off the next day at the park while wifey and I will ride the bike to the Barber Motorsports Museum. From there on to the mom in laws in Florida. Thoughts, things not to be missed? | ||
| Florida_lime |
+ on the Barber museum ! Where in Florida are you headed ? | ||
| Etennuly |
I have never done a motel in the Maryville area, but there are many to choose from, and lots of good local eateries. Come into town on 321 at the Lenore City exit for less traffic and nice four lane road. If I had one full day with good weather to ride the area I think I would hit 129 over the Dragon into Robbinsville. There for lunch and gas, then back over the Cherohala into Tellico Plains for gas. From there I would then take 360 into Vonore, then 411 back to the motel for a nap then dinner. | ||
| Arcticktm |
I live south of Asheville, NC. Most mountain sections of the BRP will likely still be closed in March, with gates. Not a good idea to go around them, as the Park Service will not be impressed if they find you. Some places go as high as 5-6000 ft, so ice and winter road debris would be a problem anyway. I would not count on using the BRP that early. As Etenuly said, I40 is currently closed in both directions near the TN/NC border (technically it is on the NC side, but they have it closed down several miles either side of the actual slide. Official word is that it will not re-open until March or later. The detour adds about 1 hr to the trip. I am guessing you wouldn't come that way, but just in case... It could be 70F or 30F. Flexible plans and good gear will be your keys to success. | ||
| Pso |
+2 on Barber. Need a full day there. | ||
| Florida_lime |
If I had one full day with good weather to ride the area I think I would hit 129 over the Dragon into Robbinsville. There for lunch and gas, then back over the Cherohala into Tellico Plains for gas. From there I would then take 360 into Vonore, then 411 back to the motel for a nap then dinner. Excellent loop -- takes me within 5 minutes of my place outside Robbinsville ! | ||
| Paralegalpete |
Etenuly, Thanks, wifey found a Hotel just mear Maryville, Holiday Inn express, pool and a room with a view of the bike. Alcoa TN. I like the idea of the Nap, I'm self employed working from home and don't often miss an afternoon nap. Arcticktm, agreed flexability and heated gear.I have both. Florida Lime, the in law is in Sebring FL. Thnks for the assistance, for us part of the fun is in the planning and as it's winter I have time on my hands. We will have 4 hours to spend at Barber, hope thats enough. | ||
| Paralegalpete |
while at the Toronto bike show in Dec, I picked up a brochure from tailofthedragon.com  Has anyone ridden the Citico Road, the part that is shown as gravel? | ||
| Etennuly |
I have not done that gravel road yet. I would highly recommend saving that for summer months. Things can stay frozen in back valleys for a while and if there are water crossings that could get ugly. Another thing I would recommend if time allows, from the Dragon store/motel at the NC side of the Dragon. Take 28 for about fifteen miles, when you see four lane that is enough, turn around and run back up to the Dragon store and try to not grin too hard. Then proceed back on the loop to Robbinsville. In Robbinsville there is a small restaurant on one of the side streets in town. I think it is "Linda's", but I cannot recall. They have great food and they really promote their "Fried Ice Cream". Just get one, they are huge. | ||
| Chalupa |
I go to Townsend, TN with two fellow Wisconsinite Buellers every March to kick off our bike season. we ride Deals Gap, Devils Triangle, Cherahola Skyway and anything else we can in our 3 days of riding. This year we will be out there March 18-20 rain or shine....we have had GREAT weather and BAD weather over the years, but all that matters is that we are RIDING !! | ||
| Paralegalpete |
I will be there on the 12th and perhaps 10 days later | ||
| Dentguy |
To be clear about Skyline Drive. Shenandoah Park is always open meaning you can walk in. Skyline Drive (road going through the park) is not always open in the off season. It depends on the weather, conditions of the road and deer hunting season (at night). You can get updates here with the phone number. http://www.nps.gov/shen/planyourvisit/drive_status .htm | ||
| Florida_lime |
In Robbinsville there is a small restaurant on one of the side streets in town. I think it is "Linda's", but I cannot recall. They have great food and they really promote their "Fried Ice Cream". Just get one, they are huge. Lynn's Place -- across from the Graham county courthouse (143 business rt.)  |
