Blue Ridge Parkway in May

[Timba]

Greetings,

Just got back from a ten-day ride of the Blue Ridge Parkway, and assorted roads in Eastern Tennessee.

This is the fifth time I've ridden this area, but the first time during Spring; all our other trips were in the Fall.

There were some good points to Spring riding (lots of blooms, wildlife sightings), but overall I have to say that I like late August/early September much better. The roads are in better shape, the pollen levels are lower, and there seems to be less traffic later in the year. Temperatures are about perfect either time, but we had more rain on this May trip than we've ever had on a September trip.

There were lots of groups of riders out, and quite a few were eclectic bunches like ourselves (1 1150GS Adventure, 1 ST1100, and 1 Yamaha R1). There friendly quotient was very high, with about 95% of even the Harley folks returning waves.

Here are the photos of the trip:

http://community.webshots.com/album/143865186SiSKdx
http://community.webshots.com/album/143953516TDjhNI

 

[jdcoffman]

I don't know if my photo will attach but I took it on May 5th.

I left the midwest for points east on May 3, Camped out the first night in Wyandott camp grounds in Indiana. Bout froze to death. Next morning first K-mart I came to I bought an extra blanket.
Was almost wiped out by two deer getting ready to cross I64 just inside W.Va. right at the noon hour I couldn't believe it. I came around a corner doing a little better than posted speed limit and there on the side of the road a big ole deer and he was waiting for another one that was joining up with him, if they started across the interstate I was a goner so though they say don't startle the deer I laid on my *"fiams" and both deer bolted back into the brush.
I spent the night with some relatives in Clarksburg WVa. then took Hiway 50 east to Va. Lots of twists in that road but being a flatlander I found it hard to keep up with some of the semis and logging trucks...how embarrassing.
Made it to Skyline Drive and went south from there, plenty of wild life on skyline drive but I was driving more sensably (is there any way to get a spell checker on these forums?) While camping out met another rider who said I should hit "Deals Gap" which I did after visiting my sister in S. Carolina.
Uneventful return trip to Nebraska except I got a good soaking for about two states.

*Italian made horns BMW should have had made stock equipment years ago.

 

[82436]

Blue Ridge Parkway

The Parkway was really great today. Very little traffic and beautiful views.

 

[kbasa]

Wow. Nice shots, guys.

 

[kbasa]

This is pretty funny.

Edit: I was linking to one of the pictures in the webshots albums but webshots doesn't allow remote linking. Bummer.

Its the one with the picture of the guy flying off his bike.

 

[Timba]

Sudden Curve

Ha!