NC: NC(RTP area) to TN:Boone run 9/10/06 @ 8:15am

Meeting spot is at the gas station across from the LCD Sign at the Raleigh fairgrounds. Meet there at 8am SHARP Sunday morning. We will all gas up there, get a drink/snack etc, then leave around 8:15 to 8:30. Definately no later than 8:30. Not sure of the route we will take, but Kazlab will likely lead the way there. We should arrive in Boone around 11:30 or so. We will at first continue through Boone into TN through Shadey Valley and hit the switch backs. Then zig zag the roads back to Boone, ride some back roads, the parkway, etc. I have to work the next day, as do most everyone else (I think), so I'd like to be leaving Boone no later than 7:00pm. This should put everyone home around 10 or so. Call me a puss if you want, but I need sleep. ;) On the way back, I, and anyone else that wants to, will probably split off from the group, and take 421 to Sanford....hopefully someone will ride this way with me or I'll get lost on the by-pass. I'm expecting total mileage to be in the neighborhood of 600 - 700 miles. Make sure you bring something warm with you (long johns, sweat shirt, etc), because it'll be around 10 - 15 degrees (or more) cooler on top of the mountains. Ear plugs, aspirin, etc, isn't a bad idea either for those that have never made a trip this long. The worst part of the trip will be the long highway ride. Standing on the pegs occasionally, and keep moving around will help with comfort. We'll probably stop every 50 - 60 miles to for a 10 min break to stretch, drink, whatever. Also, if EVERYONE wouldn't mind, please put a "in case of emergency" phone number on a piece of paper in your wallet. Don't trust the number in your cell...could get smashed.

Sounds like a great ride Wish I had found the post sooner. I could have meet you guys up in Boone.

Shady Valley kicks ass. I think I had more fun on all the roads into, out of, and around that area than I did at the Gap. Im jealous for sure!

Shady Valley kicks ass. I think I had more fun on all the roads into, out of, and around that area than I did at the Gap. Im jealous for sure! :iagree: there is some great ridding there and I have a hell of a time finding peps that are willing to go that direction.

I don't remember the names of the roads, but we had an absolutely awesome tour guide for that area. A WOS member is good friends with the owners of Boone Action Cycle, so when they weren't showing us around they hooked us up with a local real estate agent who knew the entire area very well, and took us on many many good roads. Some of seemed like goat path's, but they all kicked ass.

:lol: Those goat paths can be scary to go fast on but make for some of the best ridding in the country.

Hehe yeah, I was having a blast. The dragon may have more curves closer together, but nothing anywhere near as tight as some of the hairpins we went through in that area. Its going to have to be tradition now for every Gap trip... Half the time at the Gap, other half down there.

If traffic is as bad in the summer as people say (I've never been down there) I could care less about the "dragon" I just want some nice roads and riding. :2cents:

The dragon IS the nice road :)

So run it once in the off hours and move on...

So run it once in the off hours and move on... you can tell you havent ridden these roads, they are a lot more addictive than you think.

you can tell you havent ridden these roads, they are a lot more addictive than you think. :iagree: and there are plenty more great roads around Just ask Drewpy. He got a taste of what I call heaven out side the Gap.

:iagree: and there are plenty more great roads around Just ask Drewpy. He got a taste of what I call heaven out side the Gap. Exactly, you have sooo many great roads, why the fixation on 11 miles? It probably is a really nice road, but is it honestly so great that it's worth the traffic? I'd rather experience Jeeps "heaven outside the gap" I'm sure the roads and twisties are addictive and perfect Trip, but you have many, many options. I'd rather get my fix with fewer squidz and cruisers.

Exactly, you have sooo many great roads, why the fixation on 11 miles? It probably is a really nice road, but is it honestly so great that it's worth the traffic? I'd rather experience Jeeps "heaven outside the gap" I'm sure the roads and twisties are addictive and perfect Trip, but you have many, many options. I'd rather get my fix with fewer squidz and cruisers. The Gap is an experience of its own. Im not talking about the road. Its the gathering of all the fellow nuts in one place. Any motorcyclist needs to check it out. I've been to the Gap many days and never actually rode the road itself. Just go to hang and BS with other riders.

Not my thing, I'm a loner... Yeah, have to run it once and see the place, but waste riding time hanging out. No thanks.

ok..... When we are going traffic isn't that bad, you just need to experience it before you write off the dragon and skyway. Look at my vid, that is middle of summer on a weekend and I hardly run into traffic. It's not as bad as you got in your head.

Not my thing, I'm a loner... Yeah, have to run it once and see the place, but waste riding time hanging out. No thanks. Im sort of a loner myself (hence my job). I still enjoy people with similar interest. Funny thing, I meet a guy from S Ga. at the Gap Saturday that claimed to have rode over 200 miles while on his trip at the Gap. What's so funny is, He never even tried any other road. He just rode back and forth on the same 11 mile strip.:crazy:

Im sort of a loner myself (hence my job). I still enjoy people with similar interest. Funny thing, I meet a guy from S Ga. at the Gap Saturday that claimed to have rode over 200 miles while on his trip at the Gap. What's so funny is, He never even tried any other road. He just rode back and forth on the same 11 mile strip.:crazy: I've done a 77 day. That was a little much, so I went back on the skyway.

I made three passes Sat. with some Motard guys but came in on 28 and left byway of the Foothills.