TN/NC/GA trip on Norge: ride report

[blackbuell]

Day 7 of ride in Tellico Plains at Hunt's Lodge. Nice hosts and place is well prepared for motorcyclists
 We have been here 2 nights; nobody else here tonight. Beer scene in TP sucks; can't find a decent brew anywhere. Got drenched on Cherohala Skyway yesterday, but had a nice ride  today. Spent previous 2 nights at Two Wheels of Suches in north Georgia. Nice place; very few patrons. The roads around Suches are spectacular. Wolf Pen Gap Road puts the Tail of the Dragon to shame.

First 3 nights of trip were spent at a Red Roof Inn in Asheville
 There we focussed on beer. Went to a few biggies: New Belgium and Sierra Nevada; I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the beer and the overall experience at the latter; don't generally like crowded, commercialized places. Was blown away by the sheer number of good microbreweries downtown. Favorite was Green Man. We did manage to get in several hours of riding on the Blue Ridge Parkway, but sections of fresh chip and seal took some of the fun out of it.

While in Suches we rode to the town of Blue Ridge. Had a wonderful porter at Grumpy Man brewery; I highly recommend the place.

Tomorrow we head home with an overnight stop in Morehead, KY. Outside of new rear tire in Asheville, the Norge has been problem free, great road bike.

Jon

[Wayne Orwig]

We have been here 2 nights; nobody else here tonight. Beer scene in TP sucks; can't find a decent brew anywhere. Got drenched on Cherohala Skyway yesterday, but had a nice ride  today. Spent previous 2 nights at Two Wheels of Suches in north Georgia. Nice place; very few patrons. The roads around Suches are spectacular. Wolf Pen Gap Road puts the Tail of the Dragon to shame.

Tellico Plains pretty much rolls up what little sidewalk that have around 5PM. Not much there in the evenings.

I agree on the North Georgia roads. Hard to find anything really bad. They were talking about shutting down Wolf Pen Gap road for about qa year to reroute a bridge. That would be disappointing.

[oilhed]

First 3 nights of trip were spent at a Red Roof Inn in Asheville
 There we focussed on beer. Went to a few biggies: New Belgium and Sierra Nevada; I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the beer and the overall experience at the latter; don't generally like crowded, commercialized places. Was blown away by the sheer number of good microbreweries downtown. Favorite was Green Man.

Man I love Asheville.  Love the beer scene.  All the small Breweries downtown in walking distance.  Huge fan of the Asheville Guitar Bar just over the river from West Asheville.

[Daleroso]

The Dragon is a better road because you can find a rythym & set your own pace. Wolfpen Gap (Ga180) is made up of sections that causes different degrees of technicality. The twistiest road in Ga can be fun if skilled otherwise it scares most unfamilier riders. I hope they leave the bridge over Lake Winfield Scott alone. After a tightening right sweeper the bridge requires an immediate 90 degree left that cathces you by surprise initially. 1/3 of what older local riders called The Cooler Run causes a fair amount of pain & expense every year.

[twowheeladdict]

One major difference between Wolf Pen Gap and the section of 129 called the Tail of the Dragon is that there are no driveways, side streets, etc. on the Tail of the Dragon.  Can't say the same for Wolf Pen Gap. 

The Dragon was just another fun mountain road before it got all commercialized.  You can still ride it with very little traffic if you time it correctly.  Timed incorrectly, and you are either in heavy traffic, or dealing with locals heading to work and straightening the curves in their pickups.