First timer long van and trailer with 5 bikes

[Nighthawk]

I will be coming to Deal's Gap on Saturday Aug 19th. Will I be needing any kind of help to make the trip to the camp ground? I'm coming from Ohio and will get there around 11 am to 12am. 15 passenger van with a 20ft trailer.

[brad@dealsgap]

Wow that is a very busy time to trailer through the gap, traffic will be near peak then so please just go slow and keep van and trailer in your lane.

[Ralphie]

i come from cleveland about three times a year. drive at night or during the week. saturday is also known as parade day. very crowded. lotsa small wrecks and a few coppers. keep it in your lane most importantly. not easy with what you are driving so go slow and watch the new gravel in the pull offs. if you stay in it you will just pull it in the road and that sucks. be safe be smart have fun.will also be there that weekend.

[Nighthawk]

We will be leaving Dayton Ohio around 3am Saturday morning. Stopping in Marysville for food and drink. I was told it would take 8 hours to get there. Is that about right?

[khelton]

Are you staying at the resort ?????

Let me add, the resort is far and away the best place to stay, great people, you will meet new friends, clean, xlnt price and 3.5 seconds from the best riding on the East Coast.

But, if not, just stay in Townsend since you have a large crew and a lotta equipment. Can be at the foot of The Hill in 20 minutes, nice ride over Foothills Parkway, etc. Then you can avoid pulling the long trailer over 129. I only mention this because of the long van and trailer.

[Nighthawk]

We are staying at the resort camp grounds.

[khelton]

That's the best place to stay...

I like to leave for the resort immediately after work. That puts me at the Resort about 0100 to 0200 in the morning, sleep 5 or 6 hours and then have the whole day Saturday to ride and relax. That is an easy drive if someone can spell ya at the wheel for an hour or so, very easy ride . This would also keep you from pulling a trailer through The Gap at the worst time and you are rested when you start riding.

[Ralphie]

sounds about right. its about 9-9.5 hours from cleveland. it will still take about an hour or better from marysville. it takes about 25-30 minutes to trailer through the gap. i went through on a sat afternoon about 9 years ago w/trailer. never again. it took me over 2 hours because of an accident. anyway i will be down there the same weekend so look for the f 150 w/ohio plates and my wife and i (both on sport bikes)

[kaw750]

I am looking at coming down that weekend as well. Is there any big events happening that weekend? I am leaving from Northern Virginia Saturday morning and staying till tuesday. How long are you guys gonna be down there? I will be on my Kawasaki Z750 that weekend along with my buddy on a 650 bimmer. So if you see me please give me the rookie treatment and don't be gentle.

[Engloid]

you may want to consider parking the trailer and van at the lake, riding the bikes for a while, then taking the trailer and van through to the resort at "off peak" time.

[Nighthawk]

We changed are start time to put us in before the peak. Now we are looking at 8:30 to 9:00 am. I'm not riding the nighthawk this time, I'm riding a red 95 BMW R1100RS. I think we are bringing one of everything. BMW, Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki and a Yahmaha.

[drewpy]

no ducati's :(

[Nighthawk]

Son you were on the Kawasaki. And I got some Monkey Butt for you. See you at Mid-Ohio on track day.

[Deerhead]

If you don't want to drive through the Gap take another great road through the Park and approach the Resort from the east.

[bkbkbandit]

If your time frame can be changed, it is MUCH better to schedule your arrival at the GAP to between 8~9:00. There is less traffic at that time. If you have room reservations, you may have to wait a few hours for your room BUT you can always "SUIT UP AND RIDE"!!!