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/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl General Category >> The Cafe >> June exploration of Franklin NC Area /cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1462822697 Message started by Oldfeller on 05/09/16 at 12:38:17 |
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Title: June exploration of Franklin NC Area Post by Oldfeller on 05/09/16 at 12:38:17 Oldfeller sez: Pick your weekend and we can all see if we can match it. Sounds like you and MM are more familiar with the area than me (first time for me, I think). Dave sez: The only weekend that I could not do it....is the June 11/12th weekend. Subject is to explore the Franklin NC campgrounds and cabins first hand, looking for a replacement for Simple Life (since they upped prices and killed off all their cheap 4 man cabins). So far Dave has said what he can't do date-wise and we got some "undefined" hits on the other thread that were not clear as to which trip they were ringing in on, so we have moved this trip over to here to keep things "more clear". |
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Title: Re: June exploration of Franklin NC Area Post by Dave on 05/09/16 at 14:03:39 The Franklin, NC area is a great place to do some exploring around in the mountains. Route 28 is goes from Franklin right up to the Dragon....and it is a great twisty road all by itself....the bonus is the Dragon is at the north end! The Highlands is nearby and is very scenic, and the southern roads out of town go to Georgia. I have a local fellow as a resource to get us on the correct roads - he stays in Franklin regularly, has been going there for years, and he rides a Ducatio Multi-Strada (and as a former road racer he knows how to use it)! I will have him mark up a map for me so that we know all his favorite twisty roads. This isn't planned to be a week long event - maybe a long weekend for a few of us. If you want to get there early or stay late - that is OK too. The only weekend in June that I can't do it - is June 11-12th. Any other weekend is fine - but we might want to stay away form the end of the month as that could be too close to your July 4th plans. I could drive/ride down on a Thursday night and ride Fri/Sat/part Sunday. June 3,4,5? June 17,18,19? June 24,25,26? |
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Title: Re: June exploration of Franklin NC Area Post by Oldfeller on 05/10/16 at 02:58:48 Sounds good, let's aim for the weekends with clear weather. http://www.accuweather.com/en/us/franklin-nc/28734/june-weather/334781?monyr=6/1/2016 3-4-5 looks real bad now -- worse than 16-17-18 which is worse than June 24-25-26 (both will change some once we get inside the 1-2 week out range as the predictive math used is different and the accuracy goes way up). Still, we need some somewhat decent weather to move around in ..... Since it is an easy explore trip I will try to find us a cheap place with an unload ramp and bring the bike on the trailer so as to make sure it works right. We will try cabins to see what reality is with the cheapie cabins, real reality all the way. |
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Title: Re: June exploration of Franklin NC Area Post by Oldfeller on 05/11/16 at 12:42:03 http://www.mimountaincampground.com/RV-Campgrounds-Cabin-Rentals.html Thought I had found a winner in Mi Mountain camp ground until I noticed the cabins said "Bring your own mattress" ..... What the heck? Are people so sensitive over bugs of various kinds they will not sleep on a campground mattress any more? Or does everybody pack their own foam or air mattress now-a-days? :-? So, being me I called the man and asked him -- they had had cloth covered foam mattresses at first but some campers tore some of them up and the remainder got mildewed by the humidity, so they tossed the foam mattresses, dropped the price of the rooms and started recommending "bring your own double air bed". I was told that these were not fancy digs, the bunk beds were plywood and 2x4s with no fancy anywhere. $38 dollars a night, 2 beds and a futon per cabin (has cheapie TV and small fridge). One of the two existing $30 a night plain jane cabins has two homemade bunk beds and sleeps 4 people, no fridge or tv. Very very basic sleeping at $8 each after taxes which is cheaper than camping at most places. But no pillows and no mattresses ...... |
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Title: Re: June exploration of Franklin NC Area Post by Oldfeller on 05/11/16 at 13:49:27 http://kickstandlodge.com/rates.html Next player is Kickstand Lodge which is close to Bryson (and the Emergency Room we keep visiting with them over-eager younger type new persons). They have a thing they call the Bunkhouse which has six beds in it at $22 per person. They show pillows and mattresses in the pics. Beds and that is it ..... just beds. This is somewhat vague and offers me chances to misunderstand the pricing (to my advantage of course). If the interpretation goes the other way it is exactly the same price as Dragon Lodge Apartment #1 which would be not good at all. Plus, the cancellation policy sounds exactly like Dragon Lodge. There isn't any cancellation, period -- you pay when you reserve it. No money back, period. So I called Mo to try to get me some better information. Got her answering machine and we will see what is what when she calls back. She called back, you reserve the Bunkhouse for the amount you anticipate, you pay that amount and they keep your money if somebody doesn't show up. If more show up, you pay more. Dave, what does your local expert source say ???? I am hoping Dave's local expert knows of some better stuff hidden away somewhere deeper in towards Georgia ...... really, I do. |
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Title: Re: June exploration of Franklin NC Area Post by Dave on 05/11/16 at 19:06:13 I will email Dean tomorrow and see where they stay. He evidently is thrifty when the go....so I imagine they don't go top shelf. He goes to the area twice a summer. |
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Title: Re: June exploration of Franklin NC Area Post by Dave on 05/13/16 at 04:34:56 Here is Dean's response: We have been staying at the Sapphire Inn in Franklin, but probably will not in the future. Getting a little run down. http://www.thesapphireinn.com/ The Knights Inn in Franklin looks good and we will probably look at it in the future or the Carolina Motel. http://www.knightsinn.com/hotels/north-carolina/franklin/knights-inn-franklin/hotel-overview?WID=LC:KG:20150901:Rio:Local http://www.carolinamotel.com/ In Robbinsville there is the Phillips Motel. I have stayed there and it is a very nice Mom and Pop type motel. http://phillipsmotelonline.com/ If you go to this web site and look down the right side of the home page there are a lot of lodging choices. http://tailofthedragon.com/ If you ride the Cherohala Skyway, just as you come off the Skyway on the west end near Tellico Plains, the first deli on the right (going west) is Tellico Kats. Great lunch. Highly recommend. http://tellicokats.com/ MM, his brother Kent and I assembled at the Kat's Deli on the summer trip 2 year ago....it is a nice lunch place to stop and it has a nice deck that is right on the river. I clicked on the Nights Inn, a room for 2 adults is $ 65 a night, and they only have 3 rooms left for June 16/17/18. The Carolina Hotel was $ 70 a night......their screen didn't show the number of rooms available. I don't have any problem paying those kind of rates for a nice, clean hotel....with a comfortable bed and shower. I also can rough it a bit more....cabins and a campground style public bath/showers also work for me. If I bring the trailer.....it is cozy to sleep in and I just need the shower/restroom access. |
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Title: Re: June exploration of Franklin NC Area Post by Oldfeller on 05/13/16 at 13:16:58 Wow, hotels, huh ...... Unless we are going to invest in some air mattresses and go all crude & RUDE we are going to be spending some bucks on staying places if we stay inside. Might as well stick with the original MM tent idea. As of this moment, we got no places in mind to go check out, really, and we recognize that costs are going up all over the place for cabins and tent spots, etc. :( |
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Title: Re: June exploration of Franklin NC Area Post by Dave on 05/13/16 at 18:20:25 Well, I could bring my trailer and sleep in it. I also have some extra foam, and some comfy cots if they will fit in the cabins that don't have mattresses. For this trip, we could just stay in the cheap place and take some time to look around and see what else is available. |
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Title: Re: June exploration of Franklin NC Area Post by Oldfeller on 05/14/16 at 03:43:39 http://www.mimountaincampground.com/RV-Campgrounds-Cabin-Rentals.html OK, Mi Mountain $30 bare bed cabins it is for a try out. I will get me an inflator that will also suck deflate an air mattress flat fairly quickly, 12 volt version since I have a 12 volt socket on my bike. Think of it as "trip planning" for the up the Blue Ridge run and any future rough type runs. Mi Mountain is 28 miles from the start of the Blue Ridge Parkway (a standard breakfast run) and if acceptable to the guys Mi Mountain could be the meet up place instead of the Blue Ridge Motorcycle Campground. Same exact air bed equipment for tenting that would also support a "stripped bunk bed" situation that may be the up and coming thing due to the horde of insecticide proof bed bugs and head lice coming up from Mexico. MM, didn't you get a 12v inflator a few trips back? http://www.accuweather.com/en/us/franklin-nc/28734/june-weather/334781?monyr=6/1/2016 The weather prediction is fairly stable, saying June 17-18-19 is our best shot for the explore session, so we will go with that. Also, we have 2 extra beds in the cabin at Mi Mountain if someone wants to join us June 17. How many days do you want to reserve the cabin, or do you want to plan to move around each night? I plan to ride up on the bike, as if I can't stand the ride up and back I need to know that fairly quickly -- but I am also "more healthy" than before since I got my valve replaced so I hope I can ride to and back from at a nice leisurely pace. |
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Title: Re: June exploration of Franklin NC Area Post by Oldfeller on 05/14/16 at 06:28:10 Amazon had sleeping bag sized thick style airbeds for $12.95 (that can be rolled up in with the sleeping bag) and a little 12v inflator for $11 (gotta love them damaged package units from the Warehouse Discount section). I have a 25 amp fuse in my lighter socket on my bike, so I am good to let the bike idle while pumping or sucking using the little 12 volt tool. Looking to fit it all on the Savage and just be mobile. We need to spit on whether we move each night or not on the explore trip -- best weather is showing for June 17-18-19. Also, we have 2 extra beds in the cabin at Mi Mountain if someone wants to join us June 17. |
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Title: Re: June exploration of Franklin NC Area Post by Oldfeller on 05/18/16 at 01:21:15 Got MM to post something -- he isn't going. So, Dave and I are going exploring. MM is building a new carport to hold his 4 cars and various vehicles .... he has a few, he does. He's busy ...... We can stay where we want since we will be checking out places to stay. One place we will detour to check out is Don's Cabins that is right exactly at the southern mouth of the Blue Ridge Parkway and we will be checking that one out as it is FAMOUS on the internet because it is not even on the internet (has no home page) and the guy who runs it is apparently a luddite that hasn't ever seen his facebook ratings and is blissfully unaware he is already famous for all the wrong reasons. Since I can't believe people would really rather camp naked in the woods rather than stay at Don's we simply gotta go check the place out. ;) Also, we have 2 extra beds in the cabin at Mi Mountain if someone wants to join us June 17. This is a free weekend, since we have a default $30 place to go to I can afford to spot you room rent. You will have to gas your scoot and feed yerself -- I can't support your evil habits beyond basic room rent. DO CHIME IN AND SAY YOU ARE COMING --- if we need to pack a spare air mattress we need to know that coming in. |
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Title: Re: June exploration of Franklin NC Area Post by Dave on 05/18/16 at 03:15:45 So are you looking to wander and find a new place to stay each night....or will we be using Mi Mountain as the basis of lodging for this weekend? It makes a difference which bike I bring.....I can't haul bedding and clothing on the Savage Cafe' bike. |
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Title: Re: June exploration of Franklin NC Area Post by Oldfeller on 05/18/16 at 13:37:45 I will come in light and mobile, but that's just me trying it out. I may grow a small bed roll rack over my tail light, but that's about it. If you want to come in on a different scooter or a car & trailer, that's great with me. I am just trying out my camping rig for next month the hard way, the way that really really counts. I understand not wanting to ride the Cafe in, as it is somewhat uncomfortable and not luggage friendly, but you do have a new Honda 750 and another 650 Savage that should be somewhat more friendly on your butt and bones and should be able to carry more stuff. Which one do you plan to take up the Blue Ridge Parkway anyway? Pack and ride that one like it was for real -- make it a real test case time. You will learn something by doing it, I am pretty sure. I will bring a bed roll, two air beds (I would anyway) and two small plastic sheets to keep them wood splinters away from the air beds, so you can proof one of them out for me if you want to. Plus the little 12 volt air pumper/sucker. And a one gallon gas container ..... betcha I get to use that on some of them long Blue Ridge Parkway Stretches ....... We can decide what we are doing when we get there ....... We have a cabin for the first night (Friday) and are just hunting for a spot for Saturday night. (we'll play like we are following MM and the plans just got expanded upon by the daily periodic GPS updates) |
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Title: Re: June exploration of Franklin NC Area Post by Dave on 05/18/16 at 14:51:58 I only have the Cafe' Savage...the rescue bike was sold to a local women learning how to ride....and she is thrilled with it. It did turn out to be a really nice looking and great running bike. I was sorry to see it go - but the sale of the ST1100 and the Rescue Savage financed the purchase of the NT700. I have the Cafe', the Ninja 250, and the NT700. |
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Title: Re: June exploration of Franklin NC Area Post by Oldfeller on 05/18/16 at 16:35:38 Which bike are you planning on going up the Blue Ridge Parkway on? Pack that one like it was for serious and bring it, as night #2 we will be in the same shape as we will be on the Blue Ridge Run. We will be hunting for a place to stay. We may have to practice fieldcraft for all I know on Day #2, that's unfortunately the natural fruit of not planning your stops and stays (ie making reservations) and sometimes you really do get caught out by "all full up" syndrome on a Friday or Saturday night. Rough camping is your fail safe condition while on unplanned road trips. If you want to bring the cafe, then we can find a hotel as our fail safe, no biggie. If you need a place to leave your car, we can go two nights at Mi Mountain as a $30 parking fee isn't all that much even if we are actually somewhere else at the time. |
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Title: Re: June exploration of Franklin NC Area Post by Oldfeller on 05/27/16 at 02:57:18 Time to start getting the bike ready, retorquing the front pulley, testing the air beds ...... repacking the bed roll with the two air beds rolled up inside it. Did the airbed test inflate/deflate using the little blower device. It can be full in less than a minute, it can get sucked flat in less than 2 minutes. Fusing on the bike socket is good for the workload and the battery can still start the engine after one inflate/deflate cycle without having to run the engine. To be safe, I will carry a small charger and a cord inside my clothes bag along with the cell phone charger for cabin use. Bed roll is larger now, has a ground sheet and a fatter air bed inside it now. Theoretical is now practical, so I am good to go. |
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Title: Re: June exploration of Franklin NC Area Post by Oldfeller on 05/29/16 at 11:56:13 We are at the 2 week roll up point, the forecast is changing and we might need to change with it. 10th 11th and 12th might have better weather ....... What do you think? http://www.accuweather.com/en/us/franklin-nc/28734/june-weather/334781?monyr=6/1/2016 |
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Title: Re: June exploration of Franklin NC Area Post by Dave on 05/29/16 at 18:49:36 I could do it the week later if the weather is better. I really don't like riding in the rain! |
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Title: Re: June exploration of Franklin NC Area Post by Oldfeller on 05/30/16 at 02:08:26 http://www.accuweather.com/en/us/franklin-nc/28734/june-weather/334781?monyr=6/1/2016 Best weather shows on 10, 11, 12, so let's aim for that. It pushes us a weekend earlier, but as you say, who likes riding in the rain? Rather shift rather than get wet, you know. I will work with the folks at work and with Mi Mountain to move the weekend to see if we can avoid the wet stuff. I will also reserve a Mi Mountain cabin for both nights if possible, so you can bring your trailer and your cafe bike if you want to. I will still be riding in as I need to "reality" judge my legs, hip etc. etc. The next trip up the Blue Ridge is a whole lot longer, you know ...... |
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Title: Re: June exploration of Franklin NC Area Post by Oldfeller on 05/30/16 at 03:50:21 Bad news from work -- they are scheduling a training weekend for the weekend of the 10th 11th 12th so on those days I will be required to be sitting in a classroom instead of going to the mountains. We will just have to judge the weather closer in and decide what to do. Right now we have Mi Mountain reserved on the original dates, June 17th and 18th. If the weather pulls nasty, we can abort June 17th and 18th as we have no money laid down at Mi Mountain as they take no charge card anything, just cash or checks upon arrival. |
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Title: Re: June exploration of Franklin NC Area Post by Oldfeller on 05/30/16 at 05:08:54 Also be aware that Blue Ridge Motorcycle campground is apparently intending to charge cancellation fees of some sort starting this year. They want you to email in a cancellation email so they have dates and a pre-recorded dated justification for charging you for this and that. More care needs to be exercised with Blue Ridge Motorcycle Campground going out into the future as they are getting a bit more "Dragon Lodge" into their DNA. |
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Title: Re: June exploration of Franklin NC Area Post by Dave on 05/30/16 at 05:40:23 The one weekend I said that I can't do it is the 12th.......I have to help my uncle that weekend. Since you want to practice your "camping"....it really doesn't matter if we don't have a cabin "guaranteed" upon our arrival. If we can't get a $ 30 cabin.....tent spaces are never hard to find. Dave |
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Title: Re: June exploration of Franklin NC Area Post by Oldfeller on 05/30/16 at 06:14:44 We will roll with the punches if we want to roll to somewhere else. If not, I called Mi Mountain to speak for the 17th & 18th but I have no $$$ invested if we change our minds. You can trailer in or ride in, all flexible according to the weather, that's you. He just rides a lot faster in the rain ..... he really does. ZZZZoooooommm |
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Title: Re: June exploration of Franklin NC Area Post by Dave on 06/01/16 at 07:36:03 The weather forecast for the 16/17/18 is looking better....some morning rain is forecast for the 19th. http://www.accuweather.com/en/us/franklin-nc/28734/june-weather/334781?monyr=6/1/2016 With more than 2 weeks to go.....it still can change - but at this point it looks promising! :) |
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Title: Re: June exploration of Franklin NC Area Post by Dave on 06/02/16 at 11:04:24 Well as is typical....weather forecast for 2 weeks away keeps changing daily. Thursday, June 16th is now forecast for a strong thunderstorm, the other days look better much better. Tonight I am taking maps of NC/GA and will hopefully see Dean and he can mark up the recommended rides. I have a meeting on Wednesday, the 15th that starts at 6:30 PM, and I will most likely take the enclosed trailer and a bike that fits inside the trailer (Cafe' or Ninja 250), and as soon as the meeting is over I will head south. I most likely will be able to get into the area late Wednesday night.....what I do depends on the weather on Thursday and what time Oldfeller is planning on arriving in Franklin. I can always just crash at the Deals Gap Resort on Wednesday night, unload the bike and take a few runs on the Dragon Thursday morning, then load up and head over to Franklin for riding Thurs/Fri/Sat/Sun. Anyone is welcome to meet up with us at anytime to ride.....just let us know when you are coming and we can make arrangements to hook up with you. Cell phone service is a bit spotty in the area.....so telephone calls can be a hit/miss way to get things worked out at the last minute. Dave |
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Title: Re: June exploration of Franklin NC Area Post by Dave on 06/03/16 at 04:17:30 I met with Dean last night, and since he has been going to the area 2-3 times a year for the last 14 years......he had some information (and a marked up GA map) to share. He says some of the best riding is in norther GA. The roads aren't clogged up with campers and tourists, and the roads are generally in very good condition. He really likes 28 all the way from Deals Gap, then south past Franklin, then just after passing into Georgia turn right onto Warwoman and go over to Clayton. From there continue west to 76, then you have a choice of continuing west on 2 or south on 197. There are several loops that are really good, and they include 129/19 through Blood Mountain, and the B. Russel Scenic Highway which is 348. He also suggested a good lunch spot is the Two Wheels Inn that is located at the intersection of 180 and 60 - for his adventurous riding style (Ducati Multi Strada) the TWI is about 2.5 hour from Franklin. One of there "all day routes" is from Franklin south on 28, and over to the TWI for lunch as described above, then northwest on 60 and another road or two to Tellico Plains, then onto the Cherohala, then back to Franklin - which is a 320 mile loop. He also said a small town called Helen is always crowded - it is a Swiss Village kind of place and full of crafts and people. Here is a link to the TWI - Dean says to be there before 2 if you want lunch. http://www.twowheelsonly.com/ Oldfellor.....decide if you want to stay in Franklin for 3 days - or if you want to practice your rambling. Here is a MapQuest route from Franklin to TWI....it is just over 3 hours non-stop.....about 111 miles. All of the riding area is accessible from Franklin, and according to Dean having to ride back on the same road is never boring, as they are like completely different roads.....in one direction you have lots of downhill turns, and on the return route they are uphill turns. https://www.mapquest.com/directions/from/us/nc/franklin-282022239/to/us/north-carolina/highlands-282035805/to/us/georgia/business-clayton/war-woman-359826793/to/us/georgia/clayton-282021875/to/us/ga/clayton/30525-4848/6693-highway-76-w-34.872708,-83.564996/to/us/ga/clarkesville/30523-1003/12592-highway-197-n-34.756550,-83.604019/to/near-34.70888024508579,-83.74122619628906/to/near-34.69222697200049,-83.770751953125/to/us/ga/blairsville/30512-7408/205-russell-scenic-hwy-34.792492,-83.878293/to/near-34.76840943083678,-83.92026901245117/to/us/ga/suches/30572-2927/1934-state-highway-60-34.687661,-84.021884 |
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Title: Re: June exploration of Franklin NC Area Post by Oldfeller on 06/03/16 at 04:55:48 We have no money tied down at Mi Mountain so once we are both there we can look at it and decide if we are going to stay there. If you are biking it in let's plan on rambling. We need to pick us an arrival time at Mi Mountain so I know how early to leave home on Friday. I'm adding a small flat rack to the back of my sissy bar to hold a sleeping bag or a clothes bag. I think I like the bedroll up front tied firmly to the forks so I can keep an eye on it as we ride. |
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Title: Re: June exploration of Franklin NC Area Post by Dave on 06/03/16 at 06:28:25 There isn't any reason for us both to bring a tent....unless it is a tiny backpack tent that only sleeps one. If you don't have a tent, I have a 2 person backback tent that might work.....I will set it up and see how big it is. This one was just a bit too small and we got a bigger tent that could fit us and the dog - but I believe it is OK for 2 people and a little bit of gear. The weird part is that our much larger tent packs up into a bag that is only about 50% bigger than the smaller/lighter tent.....I will see which one packs on the bike best. |
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Title: Re: June exploration of Franklin NC Area Post by Oldfeller on 06/03/16 at 11:57:07 Bring the tent you plan to bring on the Blue Ridge Parkway run and we'll tough it out somehow (can you say Holiday Inn Jacuzzi ???) ;) |
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Title: Re: June exploration of Franklin NC Area Post by Dave on 06/03/16 at 12:10:24 2D0E0604070E0E0710620 wrote:
NO! |
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Title: Re: June exploration of Franklin NC Area Post by Oldfeller on 06/04/16 at 03:13:53 :) Now now Dave, quite a few of these campgrounds do have pools, you know. I can jest close my eyes and imagine the little kiddies splashing around and squealing as a bad pump bearing in my imaginary jacuzzi ...... |
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Title: Re: June exploration of Franklin NC Area Post by Art Webb on 06/04/16 at 07:13:11 great, now I want to go to a Holiday inn and hang out in the jacuzzi ;D |
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Title: Re: June exploration of Franklin NC Area Post by Oldfeller on 06/04/16 at 16:26:16 Well, MM and I did that at a Microtel Inn on a rolling trip one late summer a while back. Had a heated indoor pool and a jacuzzi and a breakfast bar with waffles and eggs and sausage and bacon. We camped really rough that night, really really rough, lemme tell ya. Right outside our patio door was a fruit tree with some ripe fruit on it, a little bit buggy but they tasted pretty good if you carefully ate around the bug holes and didn't go try to eat the middle section. Figs or peaches, I can't remember which one. I remember sweet and soft though. Probably peaches. |
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Title: Re: June exploration of Franklin NC Area Post by Art Webb on 06/05/16 at 07:31:33 Now that is really roughing it ;D ;D |
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Title: Re: June exploration of Franklin NC Area Post by Oldfeller on 06/05/16 at 07:51:12 Oh, the best part of the breakfast story was that MM was wearing his chaps as we were gonna eat and scoot --- and there were 3-4 grannies there who were eating breakfast at another table that were jest FASCINATED by MM's butt hanging out of those chaps. Twittering to each other behind their hands and grinning like they had just got away with something. Them grannies may be old, but they are not dead yet -- their memory works fine, I would suspect ..... MM, waffle eating, butt waggling & slow grinning granny bait ...... |
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Title: Re: June exploration of Franklin NC Area Post by MMRanch on 06/05/16 at 21:17:18 In my defense : " I never even noticed those grannies till they waved as we were leaving --- even then I think they were waving at OldFeller ! " :-/ |
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Title: Re: June exploration of Franklin NC Area Post by Oldfeller on 06/06/16 at 02:11:07 They wuz heart broken to see you leave, but they all clustered at the door for one last good look as you swung your leg over the seat..... |
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Title: Re: June exploration of Franklin NC Area Post by MMRanch on 06/06/16 at 19:27:25 NO :-[ YOU CAN'T BE TELLING IT RIGHT ! --- THEY WERE WONDERING WHICH ONE YOU'D TAKE FOR A RIDE ! ::) :) |
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Title: Re: June exploration of Franklin NC Area Post by Oldfeller on 06/07/16 at 01:18:38 http://www.accuweather.com/en/us/franklin-nc/28734/june-weather/334781?monyr=6/1/2016 Some cloudy stuff but no rain predicted so far ...... so far so good. Now it's beginning to bug MM a little bit, he's wondering jest what sort of adventures we will be getting into as we go off into the wilds of Georgia .... will there be a bevy of buxom juicy young georgia peaches splashing in a mountain stream -- or just some withered grannies hanging from the branches for us to bump our heads into? If something really neat happens, will he miss out? ;) After all, if I get into any trouble with the Georgia variety of Forest Cops, he won't be there to take pictures and crack jokes about it afterwards. |
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Title: Re: June exploration of Franklin NC Area Post by Dave on 06/07/16 at 04:26:12 I really don't expect a bevy of buxomesque beauties where we are going - but I do expect some really nice roads and a chance to unleash the full 30 HP frequently! The roads appear to be some of the best we have ridden, and Dean says they seldom encounter motorhomes and campers on these roads. The weather forecast is improving a bit........hopefully it can improve even more (dry is good)! |
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Title: Re: June exploration of Franklin NC Area Post by Oldfeller on 06/07/16 at 06:28:51 :) :) :) :) :) If he doesn't go, I bet he misses something neat ..... |
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Title: Re: June exploration of Franklin NC Area Post by Oldfeller on 06/07/16 at 06:32:08 What time on Friday, June 17th do you want us all to shoot for? And all the rest of you might wanna go people -- we got 2 extra spare beds on the first night, Friday June 17th |
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Title: Re: June exploration of Franklin NC Area Post by Dave on 06/07/16 at 11:26:44 4261696B686161687F0D0 wrote:
Well....I am most likely headed down to the area right after my City Council meeting on Wednesday, June 15th......so I will arrive somewhere in the area on Thursday, June 16th.......around 2 AM - 5 AM! Depending on the weather and what others are doing.....I might bring the trailer and go to Deals Gap and just sleep in my trailer......and run the Dragon a few times on Thursday morning, eat lunch, then load back up and go to Franklin......or maybe just drive directly to Franklin if the weather is bad on Thursday morning. I don't plan on riding the bike down, as I just don't want to ride all that way from 9 PM to 3 AM.....or whatever time I am able to leave the Council meeting. If I decide to ride......I might just leave really early in the morning so I can get into the area before noon on Thursday. The above really depends on the weather.....and I probably won't have a final plan until the day before I leave. I plan on riding Thursday, June 16th through about noon on Sunday June 19th. Dave |
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Title: Re: June exploration of Franklin NC Area Post by Oldfeller on 06/08/16 at 02:02:15 Ok, that sounds good -- I'll leave very early Friday AM and get to Mi Mountain around 1-2 in the afternoon (going on secondary roads, not the interstate). We can explore Friday afternoon and evening, all day Saturday and I will plan to leave on the return leg Sunday AM after breakfast. This allows you time for another Dragon stop on Sunday (or other stopover of some other non-biking kind) if you wanted one. I will find out if my "new body" can take the day long riding any better than it used to do --- I know I understand cramp fighting better now and I have lots of ways to make my joints feel better compared to 5 years ago. |
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Title: Re: June exploration of Franklin NC Area Post by LANCER on 06/08/16 at 02:49:04 Joints ? You still have joints ? |
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Title: Re: June exploration of Franklin NC Area Post by Oldfeller on 06/08/16 at 03:29:35 So they tell me, periodically. http://www.accuweather.com/en/us/franklin-nc/28734/june-weather/334781?monyr=6/1/2016 |
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Title: Re: June exploration of Franklin NC Area Post by MMRanch on 06/08/16 at 06:42:14 I would like to be able ride with ya on this one , but I can only do so many and still keep peace in the family and the chores done up. :P I'll be thinking about ya and grinning with ya's ! ;D |
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Title: Re: June exploration of Franklin NC Area Post by Oldfeller on 06/10/16 at 02:23:22 http://www.accuweather.com/en/us/franklin-nc/28734/june-weather/334781?monyr=6/1/2016 Huston, we have a go for weather -- begin the final count down ....... T minus 6 days and counting. |
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Title: Re: June exploration of Franklin NC Area Post by Dave on 06/10/16 at 03:09:40 The weather looks promising. I still have no idea what bike I am bringing - I will be hauling the bike down in my trailer.....as that will be my lodging for Wednesday and Thursday night - I am tempted to bring the little Ninja. I just need to figure out how to pack my stuff on it in case you want to wander away from MIMountain on one or two of the nights (I might have to build a rack this weekend). I also need to see it the 2 main backpack tent is big enough for your "air mattress"....and still leave room for me to sleep! The 3 man tent is roomier - but is half again as big when packed up. My vote is that we stay at MiMountain the entire time.....I won't need to turn my small sport bike into a Pack Mule! July is the pack mule trip.....and I will be riding the NT700 (which already is a pack mule). |
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Title: Re: June exploration of Franklin NC Area Post by Oldfeller on 06/10/16 at 03:31:52 Done. We stay at Mi Mountain (if it looks good enough). Boys and girls, we got two empty bunks going begging for free, if you want a short bike trip for cheap this is the one to glom into ..... |
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Title: Re: June exploration of Franklin NC Area Post by Dave on 06/10/16 at 03:55:11 Since I am bringing the car/trailer.....I will bring the larger tent just in case we need to "bug out" to a different location. That way we will have all options available tent/cabin....and hotel if needed. This is an "exploration".....as we have not yet stayed overnight in this area. |
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Title: Re: June exploration of Franklin NC Area Post by Oldfeller on 06/12/16 at 16:50:31 http://www.accuweather.com/en/us/franklin-nc/28734/june-weather/334781?monyr=6/1/2016 Dave, Since you are bringing the kitchen sink, I won't pack you an air bed unless you just want to try one to see what they are like. Weather is still changing, but seems to be running "mountain standard" a little short bout of rain somewhere hereabouts, but we don't have to be where the rain is (our standard avoidance tricks will work on this trip too). I'm packed and ready to go. Hey, I finally found me a way to get a plastic bag wrapped (rain proof) bed roll to stay on the front forks & fender without sliding around all over the place. Them front forks are bouncy bouncy fun fun fun to tie stuff to (I am realizing this more and more and more as I get some more experience doing it.) This week I will also work on my cell phone GPS system to shake out the Google Maps offline bugs. I have memorized a trip map and can supposedly run from here to there in airplane mode, making sure to run the offline map instead of eating up my data plan and being all spotty all the time. |
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Title: Re: June exploration of Franklin NC Area Post by Dave on 06/13/16 at 03:57:25 Based on the weather forecast, I am bringing the little Ninja, as it is a lot better in the rain than the Cafe' bike......which throws water all over me. I changed oil in it yesterday, stuck on the tank bag, and got a few things in the trailer. I have daytime work and evening City Council or Planning Commission meetings M/T/W, and I will be leaving right after the evening meeting on Wednesday night. The meeting starts at 6:30......with any luck I will be on the road by 8PM, and I will most likely drive until midnight or so.....sometimes I make it all the way. I am still not sure if a stop at Deals Gap will occur on Thursday morning.......it is weather dependent. My Garmin is waterproof, and I do have a borrowed map that I need to try and keep from getting ruined, as he has marked all his favorite routes on the map. I don't have a map of Georgia, and I don't seem to be able to find a decent online version. I don't need you to pack an extra air mattress.....I will have my foam mattress in the trailer. Won't be long now! :) |
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Title: Re: June exploration of Franklin NC Area Post by Oldfeller on 06/14/16 at 00:51:34 http://www.accuweather.com/en/us/franklin-nc/28734/june-weather/334781?monyr=6/1/2016 Lookie lookie, the weather just got sunny and nice and at 3 only days out one could hope it becomes a stable and accurate forecast for our trip. Sucker will still change a little bit again tomorrow, this we know from all those past trip plannings. Reality says it spontaneously showers (sporadically sometimes, occasionally) up in the mountains though -- always has. We won't be super super high up in the mountains, so maybe this forecast is relatively more correct than not. And since we aren't trapped on "only one road" we can dodge and run away from from rain clouds according to info we should be able to get off Weather.com's radar. Little Ninja will be nicer on your body -- and that counts some too. WE ARE STILL GIVING AWAY (2) FREE BEDS in the cabin -- this makes it a cheap trip to anybody that wants to go off on a short exploration trip as we go hunt up new places to stay and new roads to go run on. Plus, you get a hands on say on future trips, for both roads and places to stay. |
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Title: Re: June exploration of Franklin NC Area Post by Dave on 06/14/16 at 04:55:12 The weather forecast is typical....it appears it has changed again and does show some thunderstorm chances. There really is no way to plan a trip ahead of time in this area and not risk getting wet at some point during the week. The only way to avoid this......is to wait until the day you leave to check the weather and make a go - no go decision at the last minute. Even with a fair-weather forecast there is always a chance of a stray shower.....I will just have my rain gear in my backpack. Anyone is welcome to come and ride with us......at this point we are planning on staying at MiMountain just north of Franklin, and generally we get up and moving, and ready to roll by 9 AM. Dave |
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Title: Re: June exploration of Franklin NC Area Post by old.indian on 06/14/16 at 05:38:41 Enjoy your selves. I wish I could join you. |
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Title: Re: June exploration of Franklin NC Area Post by Steve H on 06/14/16 at 20:10:49 I might be able to ride up one day this weekend but I won't know until this weekend. My schedule is always up in the air 'cause I have to take my wife to work. If she's off, I'll probably have the chance to come. It's about a 3 hour ride for me to Franklin. I'd really enjoy the chance to meet those who will be there if I can make it. If not, everybody be safe and have a great time. |
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Title: Re: June exploration of Franklin NC Area Post by Oldfeller on 06/15/16 at 02:45:18 http://www.mimountaincampground.com/ We will likely be out of pocket riding between 8 and 7 every day, so text us on the cell phones to arrange a meet up place and time, or plan to meet us at Mi Mountain at around dusk to dawn to find us still there (before we hit the road for that day). |
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Title: Re: June exploration of Franklin NC Area Post by Dave on 06/15/16 at 04:15:34 Everything is packed up, and I drove the car and trailer to work.....they are in the parking lot waiting for the work day and evening meeting to be over so I can "bug out"! Still uncertain about the Thursday weather, and where I will sleep tonight. It may be best for me just to drive to Franklin, then tomorrow I could ride 28 up to the Dragon and do a few runs....then ride 28 back. The other option is to sleep at Deals Gap tonight and unload the bike and ride around the Dragon before heading to Franklin - I'm a winner either way! :) |
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Title: Re: June exploration of Franklin NC Area Post by old_rider on 06/15/16 at 04:21:59 Don't fergit to take pikturs! |
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Title: Re: June exploration of Franklin NC Area Post by Dave on 06/15/16 at 04:45:27 I used Mapquest and checked my route to Franklin.....and I end up going right down the Tail of the Dragon and south on Route 28 to get to Franklin.......so maybe stopping at Deals Gap for the night will work out and in the morning I can decide if I am going to ride....or continue driving down to Franklin. |
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Title: Re: June exploration of Franklin NC Area Post by Dave on 06/16/16 at 10:22:51 I arrived. I hoped to get to Deals Gap by 12 last night - but with gas and dinner stops I didn't arrive until 13.......showered and sleeping in my trailer by 13.5! I drove on down to MiMountain and met the owner Greg, he had me park by our cabin. It is a long walk to the toilet! I am out riding in GA- and 76 is loaded with scary tar snakes! |
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Title: Re: June exploration of Franklin NC Area Post by Dave on 06/16/16 at 18:09:31 I had a good day....the weather was perfect. The roads I tried today were not as good as what we have around Waynesville. It seems the east/west roads are in the valleys along the sides of the mountains, and the north/south roads go up and over them - so the next trial will be to use the east/west roads to access the better mountain roads (north/south). I was headed up Route 60 toward Tellico Plans around 4, and I was going to try and ride the Cherohala and then the Dragon and then go home on 28 - but I figured I was not going to have enough time. I reset the course for 129 and road it up to Deals Gap, road the Dragon north and then back south, then headed back to Franklin on 28 and got home at 8PM. I went 287 miles today. I have never ridden on tar snakes like the ones on 76. They must be standing up from the surface a bit....and they could be rubbery.....cause when you are leaned over in a curve and hit one (or several)...the bikes wiggles around a lot and I don't get a good feeling from it. Some wiggles can be ignored - these don't feel like it would be wise to ignore them! My impression after the first day is that Franklin and MiMountain are an hour or more away from the good riding in GA. The roads to get there are OK - but it is a lot of mediocre riding to get to where the action is. Maybe Oldfeller and I can find a spot that is closer to the fun! Oldfeller.....since you will be here 1-2 PM, I will go on a morning ride if the weather allows, and be back to the campground by 1. There is supposed to be a strong thunderstorm overnight - but right now I am sitting outside at a Mexican restaurant, and the skies are clear and it is very nice. I might make a Verslagen inspired "tarp hanging from the cabin" for the motorcycle tonight! |
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Title: Re: June exploration of Franklin NC Area Post by justin_o_guy2 on 06/16/16 at 19:59:31 Old dude, on a bagger, windshield, straight road, rolling with traffic, about forty MPH, rear tire hits the end of a tar snake. Boom,on his side... I was watching and I don't know which one of us was more surprised. Watch them, they can bite. |
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Title: Re: June exploration of Franklin NC Area Post by Dave on 06/17/16 at 04:10:32 The weather forecast nailed it.......thunderstorms rolled in between 2-3 AM this morning. It is now 7 AM and the sun is up and it looks like a great day to ride....some PM thunderstorms are forecast. I pretty much have this place to myself. There are folks in their campers that must have their own bathrooms - as I have never seen anyone in the bathrooms. There are no tents set up in any of the camps sites.....just RV's and camping trailers in their semi-permanent spots. |
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Title: Re: June exploration of Franklin NC Area Post by Dave on 06/18/16 at 18:36:49 Oldfeller arrived Friday morning about 9:30. We went for a ride into Georgia....and we found some OK roads.....but not great. We bailed out of Georgia and went to Robbinsville, and we rode Wayah Road.....and it was great as usual. It starts out along a creek, goes up one mountain and down the other side, then it goes along a lake shore...then up another mountain, and then down the other side to some really nice tight twisties! I do believe that and 28, and 231 between Waynesville and Brevard are my favorite roads. This morning OF left to go home, and I went on a nice long ride. I rode south on 28 out of Franklin to Warwoman, then Warwoman over to the west......and then the Russel something scenic parkway, then to 348, and then to the Two Wheels Inn for lunch. After that I rode up to Tellico Plains, rode the Cherohala Parkway, then 129 up to Deals Gap......then I rode 28 south to Franklin. I rode about 300 miles today....WOO HOO! I think I know enough now to provide a good ride into northern Georgia for a day or two - but for the tight twisty riding that I like.....Waynesville and Deals Gap most likely is a better choice. But.......it was a nice visit for this weekend, and a nice adventure. |
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Title: Re: June exploration of Franklin NC Area Post by Oldfeller on 06/18/16 at 20:28:24 Yep, I am back home again. Dave's road and ride synopsis is spot on, there are no amazing Savage roads in the Georgia mountains. We like to ride at 25-60 mph on a very curvy Savage road and the good Savage roads suit those speeds. Dave theorizes that the guy who marked up the map for him rides GSXer type machines and he goes very very fast on those Georgia rural roads to make them exciting. This could be, we saw no Georgia cops down there writing tickets. We did see a lot of fairly finished looking mountain communities, with very well developed lakes, kinda like the Lake Lure area in NC. Most of the roads were 3 lane construction, with a passing lane alternating in each direction every 3 miles or so so getting around a slow poke wasn't much of an adventure to us. There were no great yet cheap cabins in the Franklin/Georgia area either. There is some cheap stuff, but the cheap stuff is very run down OLD stuff and the good to great stuff is very expensive, much more so than Blue Ridge Motorcycle campground. I felt comfortable calling the trip a bust as far as finding any new places to stay within the first 9 hours of riding around. I characterize the "places to stay" issue like this --- the 1960's and 1970's people who actually built these campgrounds and the cabins and who actually put it all together are mostly dying from old age now. Only the very rare places like Blue Ridge Motorcycle Campground are really good enough to have been profitable ongoing (and to be sold and and bought again by new blood) in this day and age. The very very run down very old cabins I stayed in were built 30+ years ago out of rough sawn 2" thick 14" wide pine planks installed vertically that had exterior 4" wide 1" thick strips from the same material nailed over the fit up gaps on the outside. "Lap and strake construction" is what it was called when I was a kid, and all the corn cribs and farm barns and outbuildings used it. This cabin construction method had very much in common with those farm buildings, especially the tin roofs and the door construction methods (exact same heavy 2 by 14 construction as found in a barn door). BTW, Waylah Road is a real gem of a ride, worth searching out all by itself. It by itself has all the road styles we love so much, multiple mountain up-downs, a stream run and a lakeside run. It has shaded mountain close twisty woods runs, a national park kayak laden stream run and farmland runs all on the same lengthy road. A primo day loop would be stay in Robbinsville, go up to the Dragon on 128 and come back down 28 (alias Fontana Dam Road) going all the way down to Franklin, then picking up Waylah road to ride back to Robbinsville. If we were touring a group of newbies, this would be a good second or third day run after we broke them in good riding the Cherohala Skyway's big sweepers. We could wait until we had enough people (6-7) to fill up the BIG DOG at Simple Life Campground to get the BETTER QUALITY OF STAY at a relatively more reasonable price tag (perhaps skipping a year if need be to increase the participation rate). Robbinsville is a near optimal location to stay at, really. My post surgical body report (my other reason for going). Yes, I can still ride a bike up to the mountains and back again on the same weekend --- but I have to pay too much in leg based body pain in the doing of it. But I can still do it. But only for only a day or so, so please understand there will be no more long iron butt weekends for this old boy. Bike on a trailer, that's me ...... Compliments to Dave, he rode all the Georgia areas once before I got there and he rode them again after I left. Nothing got skipped over, so Dave has a complete and honest appraisal of all the northern Georgia roads as recommended to us by his friend. To me, the north Georgia roads are sub-par compared to what we normally ride up in NC proper. The condition of the road surface is poor, with tar snakes everywhere as they are in the slow process of being repaved. Dave's Kawa 250 hates them tar snakes, you can see him abruptly move over a few inches every time he hits a fresh tar snake while taking a sharp turn. The Savage isn't nearly as tar snake sensitive, but I got tired of hitting them snakes all the time too. All in all, a good short trip. Got good info for trip planning out of it, which is why we went in the first place. :) |
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Title: Re: June exploration of Franklin NC Area Post by old_rider on 06/19/16 at 20:58:31 Old Feller says: "A primo day loop would be stay in Robbinsville, go up to the Dragon on 128 and come back down 28 (alias Fontana Dam Road) going all the way down to Franklin, then picking up Waylah road to ride back to Robbinsville. If we were touring a group of newbies, this would be a good second or third day run after we broke them in good riding the Cherohala Skyway's big sweepers. " That is what I do for a 4 day weekend type stay. Robbinsville has several small hotels and a microtell that are not too expensive .... well weren't when I stayed ($90ish) a night for a two person bed (queen). The wife and I loved the microtell, has tons of bikes there so you have to secure your room way early in the year. It has the econo breakfast thing, but serves its purpose. Just did a fake reservation for aug 25-28 and it averaged $63 a night. Other hotels in the area are even cheaper the farther out you go. We like the Robbinsville area as much as the Blue Ridge area..... so either side is good. We still haven't figured what we are doing in September.... perhaps maybe the leaves will change early and we can do something up there. We really wanted to go see the redwoods.... but alas... can't do that very cheaply :) |
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Title: Re: June exploration of Franklin NC Area Post by Dave on 06/20/16 at 04:27:22 We were supposed to get photos....and I only got 2 (I posted the other photo in the "humor" thread). This is the Two Wheel Inn located in Suches, GA. It has camping and cabins and the lodge is open between 12-3 and serves a nice lunch. http://i64.tinypic.com/309mz9u.jpg The little Ninja 250 did great in the mountains. I rode 911 miles on it, I averaged 69.3 mpg, and with the 4.6 gallon tank I have a range of 318 miles! The bike is lacking a bit of torque when you come out of uphill corners....and when riding casually you have to shift down 1-2 gears when you exit the tight corners.....if you are riding aggressively you need to shift down 2-3 gears. The seat was a bit tiresome.....the seat is sloped forward and I was always up against the fuel tank, and it would help considerably to take just a bit of padding out of the seat to make the top more level. On the uphill parts of the Cherohala Skyway the bike had no problem holding 60-70 mph.....it just doesn't accelerate very quickly on the steep uphill roads. |
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