Deals Gap - Fall Colours and Twisties in October

shanekingsley

shanekingsley

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If anyone is interested to come, I am going to head down to the Deals Gap area to spend a few days riding around. I was going to take about 7 days to do this ride and do it sometime between Oct 15th and Oct 30th - the earlier the better.

I am going to bring my tent and was thinking about staying at one of the many places down there in the heart of the good roads. Most of these places have cabins too, but I like to sleep outside if it's nice out. On the way there and back I was thinking about tenting in different parks or staying in motels if the weather is bad.

I was hoping to get down there in 2 days, spend 2 days riding around and then take a scenic 3 days to get home along twisty, scenic backroads only. I would really like to check out some nice roads in West Virginia and Pennsylvania on the way home.

I did a similar ride down to Barber Museum a few years ago and the fall colours made for an amazing ride. The temperatures down there were around 25C, while in Toronto it was closer to 10C - so I'm hoping it will be similar this time too. I think that a ride like this would be best with no more than 4 riders - there will be long days on the bike pretty much every day!

I have to sort out my route there and back, but would prefer to avoid the 219 and Blue Ridge Parkway, because I've already been on the entire length of those roads. Any suggestions are appreciated for anything to do with places to stay, roads to check out and more.
Cheers!
 
Interesting. I and another person were talking about doing this... we were planning on trailering, however.
 
If I could swing the time off work I would definitely do this - I love camping in the fall - but my boss is off to NZ/Australia second half of October and I have to hold down the fort :-(
 
WV- go west on 7- Mason Dixon road.
Turn south on 20 or 16- either is awesome for a whole day.
 
omnivore said:
WV- go west on 7- Mason Dixon road.
Turn south on 20 or 16- either is awesome for a whole day.
Click to expand...

Thanks - very nice! I've got a portion of #16 from North Tazewell in VA to Wilkesboro in NC on my way down. Thinking about camping the 1st night at Hungry Mother State park in VA which is right on 16.

Here's the tentative 2day route heading down assuming 10 hr days. Mostly slab for the first day and then gets better. http://goo.gl/maps/HOOMP. On my way home, I'll spend more time in WV and PA.

Any suggestions for places to camp near water? I stayed at a placed called Riverbank in Cherokee and the view was really awesome and the sound of a moving river is nice to go to sleep and wake up to.
1049995573_Ry2Cg-L.jpg
 
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So I've made out some routes for a 7 day trek. I plan on staying at Iron Horse.
Any more suggestions are much appreciated!

Day 1 Route http://goo.gl/maps/N6bpz (1065km/11:04hrs - Mississauga to North Tazewell VA)
Camping at Hungry Mother State Park or iloco's place

Day 2 Route http://goo.gl/maps/iI7Yb (633km/11:02hrs - North Tazewell VA to Iron Horse Lodge, NC)
Camping at Iron Horse Motorcycle Lodge

Day 3 Route1 http://goo.gl/maps/jPC1v (573km/10:06hrs - Deals Gap Area w/little river rd)
Day 3 Route2 http://goo.gl/maps/4V1zD (578km/10:05hrs - Deals Gap Area - no little river rd)
Camping at Iron Horse Motorcycle Lodge

Day 4 Route1 http://goo.gl/maps/N7cAm (501km/8:35hrs - Deals Gap Area - short route)
Day 4 Route2 http://goo.gl/maps/EhRYT (615km/10:37hrs - Deals Gap Area - long route)
Camping at Iron Horse

Day 5 Route http://goo.gl/maps/RmB87 (721km/11:13hrs - Iron Horse to Blue Bend Campground WV)
Camping at Blue Bend Campground

Day 6 Route http://goo.gl/maps/E8i1d (734km/11:21hrs - Blue Bend WV via Spruce Knob/Smoke Hole to Greenwood Furnace State Park PA)
Camping at Greenwood Furnace State Park

Day 7 Route http://goo.gl/maps/oNJtQ (703km/9:08hrs - Greenwood Furnace State Park to Mississauga)

5050km
 
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shanekingsley said:
I did a similar ride down to Barber Museum a few years ago and the fall colours made for an amazing ride. The temperatures down there were around 25C, while in Toronto it was closer to 10C - so I'm hoping it will be similar this time too. I think that a ride like this would be best with no more than 4 riders - there will be long days on the bike pretty much every day!
Click to expand...

I was down there mid October in 2011 at it was downright chilly at night, of course not thinking I took my usual summer camping gear including a light sleeping bag lol. During the Day if the sun was out it was awesome though.

I don't know if you know where Meadows of Dan is on the BRP, it's where the Willville motorcycle campground is. The local fire hall does a pancake breakfast to raise funds around that time of year, if your in the area the pancakes where yummy the year I went.
 
I've got some great camping gear that's good to about -10. I stayed at willville before and really liked it too, but this time I thought it would be nice to try some different places. I think I'll stay at ironhorse, Fontana and blue ridge motorcycle campground each for one night and state parks everywhere else!
I'm really hoping I luck out with warm, sunny days.
 
Some great ideas here Shane.
I may borrow some of this when I do my trip in the spring :D
 
Sounds good.

I changed up most of the routes in the post above and now they include even more twisty roads. I'm hoping the gov't shutdown will be over so I can ride the Little River Road in Tennessee again.
I'll do up a ride report when I get back.
 
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Good luck! Have fun!

Bring some warm gear. I did a similar trip in fall of 2011. 7 days going from the end of September into early October. On my way back through Pennsylvania a cold front came outta nowhere and I found myself riding through a snowstorm. :(
 
shanekingsley said:
Sounds good.

I changed up most of the routes in the post above and now they include even more twisty roads. I'm hoping the gov't shutdown will be over so I can ride the Little River Road in Tennessee again.
I'll do up a ride report when I get back.
Click to expand...

Good luck.

Check with Deals Gap resort, as to which roads are closed. Sounds like a few are shut down due to the gov't shutdown.
 
Thanks. I have full heated gear and really warm camping stuff too.

Tailofthedragon.com has all the info on road closures too and I've got paper maps and different routes to keep me busy.

It's always tough to decide whether to keep riding and explore more roads, or stop for more pictures and to relax and just enjoy the scenery.
 
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