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Average Member
 
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 11/25/2008 9:23:22 AM
Posts: 549,
Visits: 401
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Yesterday, two friends from work and I took a mental health day. We met at 8:00 AM and rode two hours to get to the Blue Ridge Parkway (two BMWs and a V Strom). None of us had ridden together before, but knew the others personality from work. The ride to the BRP was great, not much traffic and the Sheriffs that were out only watched us for a brief period of time. The ride to Stuart, Va. was sunny, some clouds, but clean fresh air while being a little humid. No real glare and the air temp was perfect. We chose to travel route 58 to the BRP and arrived at Mabry Mill around 10:15. When we got there, the first thing that struck all of us was how much cooler it was at that altitude and the smell of the forest was great. Until then the ride was nice, nothing out of the ordinary but it sure beat being at the office. Now that we were in the mountains it was like months of prep and the game was about to begin.
After some small talk we headed north. Somewhere after route 8, we jumped onto a back road to look for gas and that’s when the fun began.
A couple of turns and the speed picked up. The leader had his GPS set for back roads and we were going about 55 mph or better. Each set of curves produced new revelations and joys. I rode in the last spot, as my bike could not perform like their bikes. Ok, so it could have been me as well – they are good riders. Needless to say I learned a lot about riding, and about them.
So let me set the stage, the road is supposed to be wide enough for two cars, that is if they are minis or both put their outside tires off the pavement when passing. The road is tree lined, it travels up and down hills, lots of blind corners (both directions) and at times fifty foot drop offs where the ditch would be on more modern roads. Some times the road opens to a field area then it is lined with barbed wire fences and farms.
I really liked being in last position as I could follow the track of their wheels when I felt it appropriate. Sometimes they would enter a corner to far to the wrong side for my tastes and some times that would also get me in trouble. The lead, having a GPS, knew the extent of the corner, I did not. A couple of times I went in too hot and a couple of times the bumps in the corner threw off the centrifugal force. On one occasion, we started down a road and 500 feet into it, it became apparent that it was a, “tar and stone” road that they just created. Stone was everywhere in piles. We slowed a great deal to take that road on.
All in all, it was a great ride and I strongly recommend that if you go to the BRP, do the side roads for fun but ride safely, they are challenging.
The "Z" MAN - North Carolina
1995 BMW R1100R - MOA #115950
Olympia, Scorpion, Gerbings, & Alpinestars
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