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Hey all, so last Thursday I got back from my trip out to indy and more, and I finally got the pics up and the time to write a report. Enjoy!
Sunday Day 1 439 miles
So I got up early to watch the F1 race at Spa before I head out, great race but I'm a little bummed Kimi ended crashing out right at the endLoad up all the gear, get a block away and then come back for the chain lube I forgot. Headed down Rt. 7, 22, out to NY, hit up T***** rd, say goodbye to Ozzy, who had followed me out that far, then head south on I87, west on I84 and south again on I81. Stopped at a scenic view area on I84, beautiful view of the sunset. Started talking to guy in a RV pulling a Harley. Turns out he was a bounty hunter from Alabama, orig from Brattleboro, came up here to visit and ride the roads. Pretty cool. Get to Locust Lake State Campground at about 9:15pm set up camp and hit the hay.
Monday Day 2 387 miles
Woke up and found out the campground to be an awesome spot. Back on the interstate until I reach Gettysburg. What a place that is, I spend maybe an hour cruising around the military park but then have to keep on going. More interstate miles until I reach the Skyline Drive at 5:30pm. $10 to drive the 105 miles but it was worth it. Some of the most amazing views of the trip, and more deer on the road than I ever want to see again. Finish the Skyline Drive and transition to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Rode about 40 miles in the dark with more deer, until I arrive in Buena Vista where my friend is going to college. He threw a bonfire that night and I stayed up much later than I planed.
Camp
Locust Lake
PA soldiers monument
VT soldiers monument
Skyline Drive
Tuesday Day 3 about 284 miles
Woke up to rain, and it rained pretty much all day with varying degrees of intensity. Met up with an older guy, Larry, on 1981 Suzuki GS1100G from Toronto. He was riding the BRP, and his pace was close enough to mine, we ended up riding a couple days together. Ended up at Linville Falls campground, right off the BRP at mile marker 317.
In the clouds
Wednesday Day 4 about 284 miles
Light rain in the morning that gave way to sunshine all afternoon. Plan was to finish the BRP and get to the Dragon by the end of the day. Ended up riding all the way to the top of Mt. Mitchell elev. 6578ft. Took a detour off of the parkway because of a closure and found NC route 80 (South from the BRP to route 70). One of the best roads on the trip, sorry no pictures, was too tight and twisty and fun. Made it Robinsville NC after dark and checked into Phillips Motel.
Thursday Day 5 356 miles
Headed north from Robinsville to the Dragon. We got caught behind an 18 wheeler right before the fun started so we pulled off and waited 15 minutes for it to get a ways ahead, only to catch back up halfway through the dragon, and have to pull off and wait again. Lots of traffic on the dragon, but none that would hold you up. Stopped in TN at a store to get our dragon stickers/t-shirts and whatnot and headed our separate ways. North to I75 and then to West I74 to Harrison OH to the Comfort Inn. Passing by Lexington OH I encountered the worst rainstorm I have ever rode through. Washer and dryer was very needed after a couple days in rain and shitty saddlebag rain covers.
me and larry on the dragon
Where do you call home board. One of two from VT
Friday Day 6 178 miles
Made it to Indy through the rain, met up with the svrider.com people and set up camp. Our seats were as awesome as they looked like they were gonna be: bikes in our view for about 32 seconds, views of turns 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, and launching down the straight. Rain slowed and stopped in early evening and didn't start again until morning Sunday.
View from STAND J SECTION 8 ROW T SEAT 4
Saturday and Sunday Day 7 and 8 21 miles
Qualifying was in the bright sun and was awesome. There were at least 3 different Desmosedicis there.
one of the yami customs
Hayden leads in the opening laps
Rode to one of the only places with an open room in Indy sunday night, the Hampton Inn, and payed way too much. I was tired.
2005 suzuki SV650 - yellow touring
2004 suzuki SV650 - black track
Monday Day 9 349 miles
Headed East on I70, stopped at the AMA Hall of Fame Museum. Relatively small but worth going to if you're ever out that way. Got off the interstate and rode rt. 555 "the triple nickel" after some advice from the Ohio svrider people. Magnificent road, constant elevation changes, corner after corner. Some pavement was shiesty but still way better than VT roads. Finished in Marietta, Ohio, a very old city that was proud of being one of the first and a had a great dinner and beer at the local brew pub.
McQueen's Husky from On Any Sunday, and his 1926 Scott
Neil Peart from Rush's drum set and bimmer R1100gs he used on his 50,000mile round the world trip
Arlen Ness twin engine custom and "Smooth-ness"
Ohio route 555 "the triple nickle"
Tuesday Day 10 355 miles
After looking at a map decided to try out rt. 26, and was glad I did. Apparently its been recognized by Car and Driver as a great driving road, and it did not disappoint. After that headed back on I70, then to rt. 30 in PA to Gettysburg. rt 30 climbs over a few mountains and is pretty fun as long as no trucks are near you as the grades are extreme climbing and descending the mountains. Checked in to a cheap motel in Gettysburg and had another wonderful dinner and beer at the Appalachian Brewing Company's Restaurant.
Wednesday Day 11 440 miles
Spent a couple hours at the Gettysburg Museum and Battlefields in the morning, one could spend an entire week there and still not see everything. Over 5100 monuments and over 6000 acres of protected land. After that it was interstate (with a couple small detours) all the way to Bennington, VT to a friends house who teaches at the high school there. 80 degrees in Gettysburg when I left, and 50 degrees when I got to Bennington that night. Why do I live in Vermont again?
Round Top
Thursday Day 12 188 miles
Rode to the Bennington Battle Monument as I had never really stopped and looked at it, then headed East on 9 and then North on 100 to 17, across the App Gap and then 116 to Burlington and home.
Was the best experience of my life so far, and want to go even farther next year, with less slab miles and more time to do it all. Thanks for looking!
2005 suzuki SV650 - yellow touring
2004 suzuki SV650 - black track
an 18 wheeler on the dragon? isnt that illegal?
looks like you had a great time. im gonna do something like that one day![]()
When I start my KTM in the morning, rules are broken. Its inevitable...
01 SV650S (RC51 eater)/07 690SM /03 300EXC/14 XTZ1200
TRACKS:Firebird/NHMS/VIR/Calabogie/California Speedway/NJMP/MMC/NYST/Palmer/Thompson/Club Motorsports
Great post/pics..thanks for sharing.
Lyle
i talked to some people down there and they said yea it was illegal for the 18 wheeler to be on the dragon, and that if cops saw em on it, they would give em tickets. not sure how this guy faired tho. he was dragging lots of dirt/mud onto the road in the corners and going way over the double yellows. one of the most unsafe things i have ever seen in my life.
2005 suzuki SV650 - yellow touring
2004 suzuki SV650 - black track
yeah...thats why they arent allowed. they generally get stuck or worse could kill someone coming the other way since they have to drive on the other side of the road to make the turns.
When I start my KTM in the morning, rules are broken. Its inevitable...
01 SV650S (RC51 eater)/07 690SM /03 300EXC/14 XTZ1200
TRACKS:Firebird/NHMS/VIR/Calabogie/California Speedway/NJMP/MMC/NYST/Palmer/Thompson/Club Motorsports
Re the trucks, I'm not sure when this page was done, but it's been floating around awhile: Tail of the Dragon at Deals Gap and Cherohala Skyway, Graham Co, NC
'15 MV Agusta F3
'08 Hyper 1100s
Holy crap man!!! That is Awesome.
"I'd rather ride a slow bike fast than a fast bike slow"
Bikes: Ducati: 748 (Track) Honda: RC31 (Race/street)/ CRF 110 Mini Moto/ Hawk Endurance Racer Kawasaki: ZXR1200R
BOMO Instructor
EX# X
the easiest thing to do would be to put up something that the trucks couldnt clear. like something that is only 11ft high. that would reduce thye BIG trucks anyways. as for smaller dump trucks towing trailers or RVsa "no trailers" law?
When I start my KTM in the morning, rules are broken. Its inevitable...
01 SV650S (RC51 eater)/07 690SM /03 300EXC/14 XTZ1200
TRACKS:Firebird/NHMS/VIR/Calabogie/California Speedway/NJMP/MMC/NYST/Palmer/Thompson/Club Motorsports
sweet deal. I really want to do something like that next year.
Ive been to gettysburg 3 times now, awesome place. Last time I went there was with the Army and we did a Staff ride of the whole place and I got stuck talking about pickets charge and had to walk it and describe every little thing to everyone.
but it looks like u had a great time
Awesome.
Thank you for taking the time to post.
Cool Pics. Glad you had a good trip.
One of the best things you have done so far and one of the best ride reports I've read so far.
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yea man, gettysburg is just an awesome place, i don't even know much about it, just what i learned in school and from the museum. but the enormity of that place strikes you and you can kinda imagine what it musta been like.
i had planned that trip for almost a year and am so glad that i did it, i almost had to scrap the ride. i crashed a fiddy four weeks ago (two weeks before i was supposed to leave) and havent been to work since, 14 stitches in my pinky, no nail, fracture, bruises and rash on other fingers and chip on the end of my middle finger. left hand. so i cut the clutch lever down and bent it a little bit to reach it alright with two fingers. getting gloves on the first week was a 5 minute exercise each time. its healed up pretty good now, but still isn't fully mobile. back to work this wednesday![]()
2005 suzuki SV650 - yellow touring
2004 suzuki SV650 - black track
Outstanding ride report and awesome pics...
2010 BMW S1000RR - Soon to be track dedicated!
2006 BMW K1200 R
2002 Honda CBR 600 F4i - Trackbike - SOLD
2003 Kawasaki EX 250 - Hers
2008 Toyota Tacoma TRD - Sport
I can still walk around in my garage, I need more toys...
Wicked!
Boston --> San Diego
how was the sv with all the gear on the back?
Getting back into the game! Looking for my next bike!
when i first set out i noticed it at slow speeds, like the bike wanted to turn more once you leaned it, but the higher the speed the less noticable it was, really didn't feel it much after the first day. felt fine through the twisties, could move around/off the seat fine, but not trying to drag knee or anything. riding without the gear the past couple days has been weird though, no back rest and no backpack haha, and it sits a little higher at stops without all that weight. to do it again i might think of getting hard luggage and carrying less clothes ( i had enough for about 6 or 7 days), just finding ways to wash everything.
2005 suzuki SV650 - yellow touring
2004 suzuki SV650 - black track
I need a trip like this. Looks like you had a great time!
great write up man.
I flew out and didn't have half as much fun as you
Great ride report, Mike! Wish I could have made the trip.
--mark
Next year Mark, I'll be getting tickets again for sure. Maybe retool the itinerary a bit. I had too much fun on this trip, I'm dying to do more sport-touring now.
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2005 suzuki SV650 - yellow touring
2004 suzuki SV650 - black track