My trip around the entire eastern US on the Wee

[TheIglu]

Back story: Leaving tomorrow night on the Wee. Need to be back in Jim Thorpe PA by early evening Friday.

Have couches/beds to crash on in until Monday, then going to be grabbing hotels.

My timeline is as follows:

Tomorrow night, Carmel NY.

Saturday night, Riotville MD.

Sunday night, Raleigh NC.

Monday night, Savannah GA.


From Tuesday on, I'm wide open. I'd like to get back through West Virginia and into Pennsylvania for friday evening, ending destination Jim Thorpe.

Does anyone know what it would be like to ride from Savannah GA, over to Mobile AL or Pensacola FL in one day? Possibly avoiding super-slab?

Then, from Baton Rouge or Lafayette up heading north.

If possible, I'd like to get to the Gulf so I can have me some mudbugs and oysters.

Am I biting off too much? What do you travelers think?

What area of West Virginia specifically should I hit?

[Spooler]

In West Virginia there's a lot of great riding all around the Monongahela National Forest. One of my favorite parts of my last big trip.

[scottieducati]

Hit up Marlinton, WV. There's a motor inn there. Exit the parking lot, turn in basically any direction, and go whatever way you like at the next intersection too and you'll find heavenly roads, relatively free of cagers and LEOs. The best riding in the country is in WV.

[TheIglu]

Hit up Marlinton, WV. There's a motor inn there. Exit the parking lot, turn in basically any direction, and go whatever way you like at the next intersection too and you'll find heavenly roads, relatively free of cagers and LEOs. The best riding in the country is in WV.

Juicy.


Still never been to Robbinsville, eh?


I'll let you know how it stacks up.

[TheIglu]

Lulz.

[scottieducati]

Nope I've never been to Robinsville, have ridden a lot of other places here and abroad though, have yet to find as desolate and smooth twisty tarmac anywhere else though!

[TheIglu]

Nope I've never been to Robinsville, have ridden a lot of other places here and abroad though, have yet to find as desolate and smooth twisty tarmac anywhere else though!

It's not as desolate as it used to be, but in the 9 weeks I've been doing very illegal things down there, I've never had a ticket. The roads are just SO tight, it's hard to speed on the NC side.


I remember 3 years ago, on Rt.28 on the way back from Franklin. Ocks walked away from me on his KTM, and I walked away from Mike on the SV, so we were all split way up. Coming around a long tight corner, nearly full lean (on old hard Roadsmarts, so not quite draggin), knee out, off the saddle, head down, and a NC state cruiser is coming the other way. Look down. Doing 52. It was a 50 zone. Not even a glare from the cop. Damn I love roads like that.



Scottie, still room in the house in June

[markbvt]

+1 on the Marlinton area.

Rt 16 between Beckley and the NC border has a lot of great riding. Just be careful of coal dust on the road surface -- it's slippery.

Rt 421 (the Snake) between Mountain City and South Holston Lake in TN is awesome.

The southern end of the Blue Ridge Parkway between Cherokee and Asheville is excellent.

Rt 52 between Chatsworth and Ellijay, GA, is a lot of fun.

Rt 276 crossing the BRP in NC has some pretty awesome twisties.

Rt 414 through north central PA is really nice.

I can't recommend much in Mississippi or Alabama -- pretty flat -- apart from visiting the Barber Museum in Birmingham. Also, the Natchez Trace Parkway is a nice ride -- not twisty, but pretty and very easygoing, and trucks aren't allowed.

See some of my ride reports for more info and maps.
2010 trip to WV, Great Smokies, VA: 2 natl parks, 5 natl forests, 3 crashes, and thousands of twisties! - ADVrider
2011 trip, big loop through the South: Two Yankees on Britbikes explore the South - ADVrider
2013 trip to PA, WV, VA: Tiger Army attack!; or, the long way to the Bennington Triumph Bash - ADVrider
2013 quick trip to northern PA, Finger Lakes: A long weekend in northern PA, the Finger Lakes, and the Adirondacks - ADVrider

--mark

[Falko]

There are some hilly areas in the northeast part of Alabama, but nothing to endure the long flats to get there. Lynchburg area is pretty nice.

[TheIglu]

Nice.

[loudbeard]

If it were me and I were in Savannah looking to head further south, I would be making a beeline to the Ozarks. I haven't ridden there or been there even, but it is pretty much at the top of my list for street riding destinations.

I also don't think you'll be doing much to avoid interstate or really even find much in the way of interesting roads between Savannah and Pensacola. Its flat land down there, just about the only turns you'll find will be around cow pastures and tobacco fields.

[Paul_E_D]

Into the eye of the storm, matey! Haarrrgh

[RandyO]

+1 on the Marlinton area.

Rt 16 between Beckley and the NC border has a lot of great riding. Just be careful of coal dust on the road surface -- it's slippery.

Rt 421 (the Snake) between Mountain City and South Holston Lake in TN is awesome.

The southern end of the Blue Ridge Parkway between Cherokee and Asheville is excellent.

Rt 52 between Chatsworth and Ellijay, GA, is a lot of fun.

Rt 276 crossing the BRP in NC has some pretty awesome twisties.

Rt 414 through north central PA is really nice.

I can't recommend much in Mississippi or Alabama -- pretty flat -- apart from visiting the Barber Museum in Birmingham. Also, the Natchez Trace Parkway is a nice ride -- not twisty, but pretty and very easygoing, and trucks aren't allowed.

See some of my ride reports for more info and maps.
2010 trip to WV, Great Smokies, VA: 2 natl parks, 5 natl forests, 3 crashes, and thousands of twisties! - ADVrider
2011 trip, big loop through the South: Two Yankees on Britbikes explore the South - ADVrider
2013 trip to PA, WV, VA: Tiger Army attack!; or, the long way to the Bennington Triumph Bash - ADVrider
2013 quick trip to northern PA, Finger Lakes: A long weekend in northern PA, the Finger Lakes, and the Adirondacks - ADVrider

--mark

pretty sure Clay has been on half or more of your recommended rides on his trips to the dragon

the whole length of Rt 16 thru WV is great with the exception of the urban area right in Beckley

I would recommend making the trip to New River Gorge Bridge in WV, just cause its worth seeing (I think)

also Big Stone Gap between VA & KY then on to War, watch out for coal trucks

[RandyO]

If it were me and I were in Savannah looking to head further south, I would be making a beeline to the Ozarks. I haven't ridden there or been there even, but it is pretty much at the top of my list for street riding destinations.

I also don't think you'll be doing much to avoid interstate or really even find much in the way of interesting roads between Savannah and Pensacola. Its flat land down there, just about the only turns you'll find will be around cow pastures and tobacco fields.

Ozarks have some great roads, but kinda out of way unless he wants to add a week to his trip

[SRTie4k]

You won't be too far away from the Back of the Dragon. My coworker went down there last year and said it was heavenly.

[csmutty]

Pa cops suck.

[TheIglu]

You won't be too far away from the Back of the Dragon. My coworker went down there last year and said it was heavenly.

I will be avoiding VA as much as possible.

- - - Updated - - -

cops suck.

Yes, yes they do. Everywhere. But especially in VA.

[RandyO]

I will be avoiding VA as much as possible.

- - - Updated - - -



Yes, yes they do. Everywhere. But especially in VA.

Big Stone Gap is at the western tip of VA

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Big+...36.9662044!3e0

[Paul_E_D]

SW Virginia is beautiful, and remote!

[TheIglu]

No Bubs, no need to delete that. It was completely ON topic and the exact reason I'm avoiding VA.

[nhbubba]

Fine. You mod types are weird.

Never Speed In Virginia: Lessons From My Three Days In Jail

[TheIglu]

Made it through VA without seeing a single cop running radar.

CRUSHED it through the backroads. 8 hours worth. Not a single highway all the way from Maryland to here.

In Raleigh now chillin Jay's couch. Savannah tomorrow.

[StrayNut]

Good place to crash in Lafayette if you're not a light sleeper: Blue Moon Saloon. Cheap, clean, communal kitchen, nice people, maybe some music. $18 for a bed in a shared room. Good place for a beer and a meal over in Henderson: McGee's Landing. Roads around there are well maintained with some nice long sweepers, but nothing really fun to ride. It's all pretty flat.

[TheIglu]

Made it down to Savannah. Stayed at a B&B at the edge of the historic district. Took a free bus down to the riverfront. Had dinner at a somewhat fancy place, got my shrimp and grits.

Started counting out the days I had left and distances I needed to cover. Decided to head west/north and skip the Bayou.

Rode from Savannah all the way up to Highlands NC, then decided to have delicious Mexican food and hit the Dragon. I'm in Robbinsville now at the Microtel. Going to run the Dragon early hopefully before the cops get there, then head north. Tomorrow night I should be somewhere in Eastern Kentucky or southern WV.

[TheIglu]

BTW, rode Rt.28 today, same as in my story above.

I passed one car the entire time. It was wonderful. Really gave those Pilot Road 4's a workout.