September Travel

[palmeris]

Hello and what a great site.

The wife and I are taking a trip from West Palm Beach Florida up to Michigan and plan on returning and spending 2-3 days in the area of the dragon. Thanks for all the links on hotels and such, they are very helpful in planing the trip and finding information.

What I was wondering, are the leaves starting to change color and fall by the 21st of September in this area of the country or is it still to early for that?

Thanks:cool:

[brad@dealsgap]

That is still alittle early for that, most chang in mid-late oct.

[Memnoch003]

Still beautiful country anytime of year though.

[brad@dealsgap]

I agree, and late Sep we see the temps cooling off again, so awsome riding weather

[palmeris]

Thanks for the info, we are looking forward to our stay in the area and the great rides that await us.

We were hoping that the weather would be a little cooler than the hot and humid that we see that time of year down here in the sunshine state, the color change would have been a bonus but I am sure it's beautiful regardless of the foliage.

We are planning on motoring in on Wednesday the 20th and leaving on Saturday morning, the 23rd. We figured that 2-3 days we could explore a lot of the area and that the traffic would be less durring the week, plus it gives us a some extra time if we get a rain day.

Other than the dragon and the skyway loop what other day trip explorations would you suggest for us area virgins?

Thanks a bunch for the info and providing such an imforative web site.
:cool:

[khelton]

Foothills Parkway to Cades Cove (early), Cherokee over Clingman's dome and back through Fontana, Backroads of Tellico, NAntahala Gorge roads,

[brad@dealsgap]

Also
Wyah Bauld road goes arount lake Nantahala, US 28 south to Franklin, Highlands road hits 2 waterfalls.

[s2tbolt]

...US 28 south to Franklin, Highlands road hits 2 waterfalls.

+1

Bridal Veil Falls...

http://www.rocketmadness.com/photopost/data/500/falls1.JPG

[brad@dealsgap]

Nice picture

[palmeris]

Wow thankks for the suggestions. Is that a rock in the road under the waterfall, or just part of a paved trail to get to it?

[s2tbolt]

I've seen old pictures of when the road split into a "Y" and the falls went between the two, and then the roads came back together.
That "rock" fell and blocked one side of the "Y".
You just gotta see it in person! :cool:

Enjoy your trip!

[palmeris]

Gettin closer!!! We have our room reservations at the 2 wheel inn and have watched the DVD a few times now, cant wait to get there and RIDE!!!!

[748L052]

"We figured that 2-3 days we could explore a lot of the area"

LOLOLOL We moved to this area about 1973 or '4, work very seriously hard at collecting outback twolane twisties, are nowhere near slow yet and are still finding good new stuff about which no one will hear anything...

If you can find a bad road near here post it up - we're still lookin' for it...

[semi_gray]

Hi,
I just registered to the forum and wanted to get some info about the area before I make my trip the week of the 18th of September. I was planning on camping near Joyce Kilmer National Forrest and maybe stay a night at Two Wheel Inn. I chose this time of year to avoid crowds, but wonder if reservations should still be made.
I'll be riding my '02 Honda 919 coming from the Chicago area. I'll probably be arriving sometime the 19th or 20th.
Any advice about the area in advance would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance! :)

[brad@dealsgap]

Camping in the forest as well as Deals Gap is first come first serve so you can not make reservations but you should be able to find a spot. As far hotel rooms I would make reservations. Most of the small Motels like us, 2 Wheels, Tuckaseegee are small, 14 rooms or less. To ensure a room where you want to stay I would call ahead.

Brad

[MilleArp]

+1 on camping at Deal's Gap (aka CRoT).

You can camp in a more populated area with others near the small motel, or you can "go Nam" (plenty deep into the woods) for the isolation effect.
They've got showers/bathrooms, big fire pit, and if needed a payphone by the store.

:D

[towboattrash34]

Also
Wyah Bauld road goes arount lake Nantahala, US 28 south to Franklin, Highlands road hits 2 waterfalls.
WoW...i need to find this place......looks like a very nice trip

[palmeris]

Well we goy home Late sunday from our trip, total of 3717 miles over 18 days.

We only got to stay in the area 2 nights because of an unexpected break down in Statesville NC, which cost us 24 hours.

Last friday we rode the dragon in the AM, there was some trees down and the road was wet in areas, but there was very little traffic and I really enjoyes the route.

We then did the loop and comming back over the skyway got stuck in HEVAY rain and fog, could not see 3 feet in front of me in the higher elevations over 4000 ft. that was scarrrrryyyyyy !!!!!!!

So we shall return, and plan on spending more time in the area to explore and ride.

And Barry and Linda at the 2 Wheel Inn were some of the nicest people we met on our journey, we thank them for being so kind and keeping the light on for our late arivial.

[palmeris]

I submitted to the HOG Mag photos from our trip and they published a shot of the wife and I that was taken at the overlook. It is in the 2006 roadbook addition bottom of page 5. Thanks to the fellow biker " Honey" that made us laugh and snapped the shot!