ABOUT SITS
All of the rides will be separated
into several groups. One group will be for the aggressive riders who
want to get everything they can out of the roads they will be on. The
other group will be what I will term the "Flower Sniffers". This group
will be taking the routes at a much more leisurely pace with time taken
out to enjoy the scenery and photo opportunities along the scenic
routes.
Day one (Sunday) will allow all comers to arrive and get checked into
the motel. There will more than likely an outside "Tailgate Attitude"
session in the parking lot that night. This is always great for meeting
the other members and telling war stories and lies. LOL
Day two (Monday) will start out with a ride to Townsend and across the
"Foothills Parkway" to famous US 129. Here we will tackle and fight the
"Dragon" at a leisurely pace. We don't want ANY losers here please.
Those who wish to test their skills and aggressively tackle the 318
curves in the 11 miles will be sent up the mountain first, so that the
slower more conservative riders (Me) will not slow them down. We will
meet at the top of the Dragon at the "Dragon's Den" for souveniers and
whatever. Now we leave and head out to ride "The Cherohala Parkway" back
into Tennessee and Tellico Plains. In Tellico Plains we will visit Bald
River Falls for photo's and then wind back around and back to Pigeon
Forge.
Day three (Tuesday) we'll travel on US 411 east to Hwy 339 and follow it to the Foothills Parkway (a different one than Monday's). From the end of the Foothills Parway we will then jump on I-40 and ride it through the "scenic" gourge, then get off at exit 37 for a ride across Hwy 151. From Hwy 151 we will pick up the Blue Ridge Parkway. We will take the Blue Ridge Parkway (63 miles) into the Cherokee Nation of North Carolina and possibly stop at the Cherokee Casino (for all you gamblers) to eat. After eating somewhere we can stay around and shop before hitting 441 back to Pigeon Forge. Some of you "Die Hards" may want to head over to Bryson City, Robbinsville and then back on the "Dragon" for another dose of 318 twisties in 11 miles before heading back to Pigeon Forge. This ride will be approximately 250 miles long. .
Day four (Wednesday) This will be a day of relaxation for thse of you who need and want it. This day we can ride or hit some of the major attraction in the area including Gatlinburg, Dollywood, Ripley's Aquariun (fantastic) or hit the major outlet malls in the area. You may want to ride through some of the local backroads that most tourist do not know about including a run on The "Roaring Fork Trail". This is a one lane road going through some of the old (1800) homesteads in the area and is not as well know or crowded as "Cades Cove". Cades Cove is a beautiful ride also, but you must get there at the opening time and get through quick to avoid all the tourist, who can be a real pain in the butt to a motorcyclist... LOL We will also have direction for a ride on the "Devil's Triangle" as well as another alternate route along the River Road
Day Five (Thursday) This ride will take us back across the mountains into Cherokee, NC. From there we will head through Bryson City and then down Hwy 28 to Deals Gap. After a short rest, a little shopping and refreshments, we will cross the "Dragon" once again. We will then head across the " Foothills Parkway", into Townsend and back to Pigeon Forge. Hope to see everyone there....
