T-Mac 2012 travel routes

Figured I'd fire up this topic for those of us riding in to Franklin as a way to maybe cross paths with others riding the same route in.

I'm planning on heading out Tuesday morning sometime between 6 and 7am, for a super slab slam route down I81 hoping to make the Roanoke Virginia area sometime  around the 8 or 9 o'clock hour as long as the weather holds, last year I made Harrisonburg VA before I81 was closed due to a flash flood. :ohmy:

http://g.co/maps/qt2hc

Wednesday, will not be as early of a start as Tuesday was, maybe on the road around 8 or 9, for the run over to Fancy Gap to pick up the Blue Ridge, again weather permiting, with an ETA at the Hotel mid to late afternoon My google map shows it as an 8hour trip but that works out to be 35MPH, the BRP is 45MPH limit, so Google is a little off on its travel time. Did the route 3 years ago in about 6 hours, counting food and fuel stops, and still running a speed that wasn't attracting too much attention, from those who write tickets.

http://g.co/maps/urzud

Anyone thinking they may cross paths with me, you can follow me on my SPOT tracker, or drop me a PM and I'll shoot you my cell number.

http://share.findmes...vNfsuEGZY1qFSaG

Myself and my buddy will be departing from Edison, NJ on Wednesday, the 16th sometime after work.
We will take 78 west and then hop onto 81 all the way south to arrive to Franklin sometime around Noon on Thursday.
We'll be driving a truck with a trailer and there is room for one more.
If someone is interested in sharing the drive down or if someone breaks down and needs help along this route, let me know.

Probably just going to trailer up with someone else and book it down from Cleveland.

Rice.....I am going down with Travis.  Besides.......I don't possess the elder wand, so I wouldn't be safe in your truck anyway.

I was kinda hoping for 2-stroke margaritas en route :laugh:
See ya there.

I will be travelling from Traverse City, MI to Cincinnati on the 16th, then from Cinci to Franklin on the 17th.  Would anyone like to ride together?  Show me some routes?

[image: View Post]NorthernVFRDave, on 16 April 2012 - 08:44 AM, said:

Figured I'd fire up this topic for those of us riding in to Franklin as a way to maybe cross paths with others riding the same route in.

http://g.co/maps/qt2hc


I'm doing a VERY similar route from Montreal to Harrisonburg, but was planning to enjoy the side roads from there on into Franklin.  In 2010 I did the 'slab to Harrisonburg then split off' on my way to Tmac (one month late mind you...) and it was a blast.  I've mapped an alternate route from Harrisonburg to Franklin, this year.
It is definitely the "Long Way 'Round", but it is my annual Great Ride, so I'm taking my time and savouring every kilometer.

I've mapped it out in Garmin using Mapsource, so I have the .gdb files.  Attached are Google Earth versions, much more entertaining to follow the route.  Zoom in, tilt the horizon and 'fly' over the terrain, starting from Harrisonburg heading west.

ver 1 is the route I took in 2010,  [image: Attached File]  Tmac 2012 ver 1.kmz   190.86K   17 downloads
ver 2 is the plan for this year. [image: Attached File]  Tmac 2012 ver 2.kmz   180.21K   43 downloads

I was planning 3-4 days to get to Franklin, leaving May 12, arriving at Franklin on May 16.
For the return ride, I'm riding the full length of the BRP, then jumping on the slab until Montreal, probably 3 days.
So if anyone wants to enjoy a mega-ride with me, that's the agenda.  I'm riding alone, so far.....

CU all in Franklin,
Brian

Looks like 129 South or the DRAGON and then 28 thru Fontana and then the Highlands. Man its a tough ride but somebody has to do it,

:tour: :tour: :tour: :tour:

Switchblade, on 30 April 2012 - 06:19 AM, said:

Looks like 129 South or the DRAGON and then 28 thru Fontana and then the Highlands. Man its a tough ride but somebody has to do it,

:tour: :tour: :tour: :tour:

i know its still early Monday morning...But have you been told yet today? :ph34r:

I'm sure we will cross some where.
:ohmy:

If the weather cooperates my friend Tom and I are currently planning to ride the length of the Blue Ridge Parkway on the way down to Franklin.

We'll probably start at the northern entrance to the BRP where I-64 and hwy 250 cross the mountains at Afton early Wednesday morning (5/16). However, these plans are not written in stone and we may also consider getting on the BRP at a point further south.

Most likely we'll end up spending Wednesday night in a hotel in Ashville or further north depending on where we get on the BRP and how far south we manage to ride that day. On Thursday we'll continue south with plans to arrive at the Microtel Thursday evening.

If anyone has similar plans and would be interested in joining us for the ride down please feel free to pm me.

Carey

Is anyone planning to end up spending the night somewhere close to the Blue Ridge Parkway near Asheville or Little Switzerland next Wednesday (May 16)?

I've stopped at this place a few times over the years, but have not spent the night there.

https://switzerlandi...iamondback.html

I've also considered reserving a room at a $45 2-star hotel in Asheville (The Mountaineer Inn) that's just few miles off the BRP via Tunnel Rd.

Feel free to pm me if you expect to be in this area and would be interested in getting together. At this point my riding companion and I are  planning to intersect BRP in VA on hwy 8 (just north of Mabry Mill) before noon that day.

Weather-permitting on Thursday we hope to ride most of the rest of the BRP toward Cherokee and to arrive at the Microtel in time to check-in, drop off our gear and hopefully head to the Dragon for a few runs.

Carey

Rome wasnae built in a day, nor am I planning to get there on the Sunday........



Andrew and I will ride from Charlotte to Little Switserland for lunch on Sunday.
After which my plan is to head for Rome. Stop somewhere along the way for the night. Continue on Monday.
Rome is close to AL where I want to drive through a bit and then head up towards Estill Springs.

David, best I call you from where I got to on the Sunday evening so we can work out a rendevous...... :tour:



[image: Posted Image]

I also included the town of Helen, a supposedly Bavarian town so I can should some pictures for Seb :tour:

And Warwoman roads sounds interesting too!

[image: View Post]Dutchy, on 09 May 2012 - 04:02 PM, said:

David, best I call you from where I got to on the Sunday evening so we can work out a rendevous...... :tour:



[image: Posted Image]



Sounds Good Dutchy/Leon..... :fing02:

I am hoping to make it to Cincinnati on Tuesday, and heading south from there on Wednesday morning.  Is there anyone at all interested in meeting up?  

Someone please show me the fun roads on the way down! :)

I'll probably head through Auburn and stop in at the Auburn/Cord/Deusenberg museum on Tuesday,

http://www.automobil...es/default.aspx

although it looks like they've got a special event on starting then.

Then down to Nashville and over to Franklin on Thursday.

I think 81, 77, 79 and back through Buffalo.  Yep, Interstates, but still nicer than the interesting roads we got here...

Glenn

Two of us will be heading out from Richmond, VA at 6 am this morning with plans to hook up with members painterbob, northerndave and brianddovfr at Mabry Mill on the BRP around 10 am.

Probably will end up spending the night near Asheville, and may ride most (or all) of the remainder of the BRP toward Cherokee Thursday AM before arriving in Franklin that evening. Since at least one of my riding companions is a Tail of the Dragon virgin, we may end up taking 28 west instead of east to allow him a first opportunity to joust w/the Dragon before we make our way to Franklin.

I only wish the booming thunderstorms outside in combination with my ready-to-ride excitement would allow me to get some sleep. Since turning in around midnight I haven't slept at all and since my alarm is set to go off in less than an hour, looks like I could be feeling the effects of sleep deprivation by this afternoon. Oh well. I just hope the adrenalin rush will counter the sense of being hypnotizing I sometimes feel while "ghosting" along the BRP. Falling asleep is most definitely not an option!

In any case after not getting an opportunity to visit these roads for 5 years, I'm really looking forward to returning-and to attending my 1st Tmac.

I'm curious what the condition of pavement on 28 toward Franklin may be now. Last time i was there it resembled a tar & gravel patchwork quilt. Sure would be nice if it's smooth asphalt now. Ditto for Wayah ("Thunder") Road.

Carey