Mid-April ride down the BRP?

[Trekker]

In anticipation of attending CampSToc in Trenton GA... I am working on my route plan from upstate NY down thru PA, MD, VA & NC. (this is assuming the roads in NY will not be iced over). I hope to leave before daylight Wed. April 18th & arriving at Cloudland Canyon SP late day Fri. 4/20. That's a couple of long riding days there & back, and I wonder if that might be too much for the beginning of the riding season. My schedule is tight and adding more time isn't an option.

My intention is to camp all the way there & back, avoiding motels. (This is the year of the tent afterall!) Looks like a lot of the State Parks (except for PA) may not be officially open, so this is a concern. I have not researched any private campgrounds on the route yet, and I assume that might be early for then too.

As I have a great desire to ride the Blue Ridge Parkway, it is in my route plan right now. Anyone have an opinion regarding the BRP in mid-April? I expect it would be colder compared to I-81, and I can adapt to that. Should I expect poor weather conditions which would force me down to the valleys? My route home most likely will be Interstates to make better time.

Any input is welcome.

Thanks!

[mongo]

It's really to early to say about the BRP in april, weather varies alot from the lowlands. This is a good overnight stay 1 mile off the BRP, clean bathhouse, easy access, decent mom & pop restaurant in town. And the owner is an old ST rider (although he is riding dirt now).

http://www.willvillebikecamp.com/

[Trekker]

Thanks! I forgot to include Willville in my plan. And it's just about 1/2 way thru my route... perfect.

[Diggers1300]

BRP is great for a sight-seeing ride in the area but terrible for a through trip. Speed limit on the parkway is 35MPH with very little straight-a-ways which makes for a LONG trip. Be sure to plan a LOT of EXTRA time to travel the length of the parkway.

[Trailace]

PRP and Skyline Drive will take you a good day and a half to do.:bike1: Never been on it in April the campgrounds do not opne till May 15th I think.:dizzy1:

[mongo]

Most of the BRP is 45MPH, though some of the areas (pedestrian areas) are 25-35MPH. As long as you keep the speed limits in the slow areas, you can get by keeping 50MPH every where else (or I have). Everyone is right you cannot make any time on BRP, I usually ride it when I am not in a hurry and just want to get away. Willvile should be open during April, was last year. To make sure just call Will and he let you know.

[Trekker]

Thanks for the input so far...
As my route plans are today (which will change many times :D), I have two days for the BRP. And I remember the Skyline Drive north of the Parkway was 35. The Parkway itself is 45.(I have no plans to ride the Skyline) My wife & I drove this last summer on a car trip and I swore I would get back on 2 wheels. My schedule this summer doesn't give me too many opportunities for excursions, and I am concerned that mid-April is a little too soon for services. This plan isn't so much about making time... but more about getting this ride when I can. I can do the superslab home and fly low if I have too.

[mongo]

That is usually what I do, take my time and enjoy the ride getting there/burn the wind getting back in time for work!

[Trekker]

I was just reading the Ride Report of the trip last fall of Kempo-Ster on ST-owners.com, and it caused me to alter my plans to include the Cherohala Skyway. It is right in the area I will be in and apparently is a must-do road. So as it stands right now, the only thing I need to worry about will be the weather.

And, I will be looking at camping at a KOA campground in MD... because it will be open.

[Mellow]

I was just reading the Ride Report of the trip last fall of Kempo-Ster on ST-owners.com, and it caused me to alter my plans to include the Cherohala Skyway. It is right in the area I will be in and apparently is a must-do road. So as it stands right now, the only thing I need to worry about will be the weather.

And, I will be looking at camping at a KOA campground in MD... because it will be open.

I've been on the Cherohala a couple times, really nice..

[Trailace]

You do not want to miss the Cherohala Skyway. :bike1:

[georgeorge]

I was just reading the Ride Report of the trip last fall of Kempo-Ster on ST-owners.com, and it caused me to alter my plans to include the Cherohala Skyway. It is right in the area I will be in and apparently is a must-do road. So as it stands right now, the only thing I need to worry about will be the weather.

And, I will be looking at camping at a KOA campground in MD... because it will be open.

I was leading that trip. And the Cherohala is a must ride. Great ride. That trip was where my current avatar picture was taken. And echoing what others have said, don't try to "make good time" on BRP. We got nailed going north a few miles after entering Virginia for 69 in a 45. $147 times three of us by the Feds. That was the only downer to our trip.

[Trekker]

Yeah... I remember thinking last summer when driving the Parkway in the cage that I would not want to fly low on this road... too many vistas and views, too many chances of getting caught, too many ditch donkeys! So I am taking all the advice given to enjoy the Parkway & Skyway, than fly home on the Interstates where I know I can move along at a good pace somewhat safely. I figure three days to get to Trenton GA should be about right.

Gah! New tires on the ST & it's stuck inside while we wait on an ice storm to pass before the snow dumps on us! :mad:

The next couple of months will be spent refining the route, checking all the gear, updating & buying new stuff I need, and sitting on the bike while parked in the garage making bbbbrrrrrrrbbbbb noises with my lips. (I think that's how to spell bbbbrrrrrrrbbbbbbb.... I could be wrong).

[Diggers1300]

The next couple of months will be spent refining the route, checking all the gear, updating & buying new stuff I need, and sitting on the bike while parked in the garage making bbbbrrrrrrrbbbbb noises with my lips. (I think that's how to spell bbbbrrrrrrrbbbbbbb.... I could be wrong).

Hey it sounded close enough to me! Maybe add a little sewing machine to it. :p

[Mellow]

I was thinking Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa a....Whuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu uuuuuuuuuuuuu .... blublublbub... whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

[Trekker]

Ahhhh..... so Joe is going for the wide open mouth technique, while Digger & I were using the time tested lips together method! ;)

[Mellow]

Ahhhh..... so Joe is going for the wide open mouth technique, while Digger & I were using the time tested lips together method! ;)

Oh.. you are sooooooo wrong... :boss4:

[Trekker]

Whoa! Get out of the gutter! I was referring to making motor sounds!

[Mellow]

Whoa! Get out of the gutter! I was referring to making motor sounds!

Well, in that case...

potatopotatopotatopotatopotatopotatopotatopotatopo tatopotatopotatopotatopotatopotatopotatopotatopota topotatopotatopotatopotatopotato

[Diggers1300]

I was thinking Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa a....Whuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu uuuuuuuuuuuuu .... blublublbub... whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Sounds like the "squid" coming out in Joe. :eek:

[Ron]

I heard from a local the Cherry Cola was being heavily patroled on both sides of the border and the speed limit in Tenn. is 30mph. Having ridden it numerous times, I moved on elsewhere. Nice ride though.

[Trekker]

Thanks for the heads up... my plan is to allow enough time so I won't need to worry about a performance award. Even if I ride it just this once, that would be OK.