Trip to Deals Gap

D

DJR6

New member
I Say Boy, headn down to see Jethro and his sisters brothers cousin uncle Daryll....

Looking for places to stay near Squeel like a PIG -EON FORGE... Any recommendations? Looking for places with secured/lockups for bikes at night?

Also, some of the boyz are heading down with bikes in the back ofthe truck. Are there dealerships with off load ramps around near the GAP??

heading down 81 to scope out the backroads for the trip back. Spend a few days in the smokies then rip around near HAZARD, roads looks fantastic, on the map anyways...

Regards, JED
 
I dunno if you've ever been there before....but bikes are secure parked just about anywhere down there. It's a different world than it is here.
 
There is a little hotel in the deals gap area (I think robbinsville). They have a garage attached to each room. You can prob fit 2 bikes in there.

I think it's about 100 a night. its called iron horse or iron something I think.

But as omnivore said.. It's very bike friendly there... I wouldn't worry about leaving ur bike out unless it's made out of gold.
 
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I set out for Deals Gap last month, but ended up getting washed out, realizing a day of riding in pouring rain in North Carolina and then having to haul *** on I-75 to make some commitments in Ohio was no fun. There is always the Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline drive, which I also intended to do and got fogged out. Coming north between 81 and the Parkway/Drive there are some nice roads. And we had a fantastic romp up from Boone NC to Damascus TN. The road followed a river, twisting and descending, with no traffic. It would have been even better with no rain! I stayed at a variety of places, with no problems with the Duc, and no special parking.
 
There are lots of places to stay, all over, however Pigeon Forge is a tourist hell hole. In my opinion there is no reason to stay there, very busy and much like Clifton Hill in Niagara Falls. The same can be said for Gatlinburg, if you have to stay on that side of the mountains, Gatlinburg would be the better choice. Robbinsville is closer on the eastern side, remember that Graham County is a dry county so no beer, plan ahead. Cherokee NC has lots of rooms, it too is dry but just a few hundred yards outside the rez there are liquor and beer sales, plus there is a casino. Do some research before you go. Also lose the attitude, the people down there may have a different accent than you but they are not "hillbillies", they are the nicest ,friendliest people you will ever run across. This is an extremely "Christian" area of the world so there are churches everywhere, filled with friendly generous people. Now up around Hazzard Kentucky, those people are "hillbillies", however they too are extremely friendly and generous. As well as the entire Appalachian area being pretty "church going" the people are mostly all "gearheads" (it is the birth place of NASCAR) so expect a lot of curiosity about the bikes you are riding. The area around Deal's Gap differs from most of the US also by the fact that the folks are pretty well informed bike wise, all bikes don't have to be Harleys, they know Ducatis from Aprilias, and they appreciate exotic machinery. Have fun but be respectful.
 
Absolutely agree with FJgeezer's view on Pidgeon Forge. It's not in the mountains so it's extremely hot and US441 traffic moves like the DVP at rush hour. Gatlinburg is a bit better but both those places are tourist traps. Maybe someone else can correct me if I'm wrong but i think there's a ramp right at Deals Gap where the sign is used for photo ops.
 
Any recommendations for bike friendly motels in/around Maryville, TN? Looks to be the last major town, spot to rest up before dropping into the winding roads.
 
Did Skyline and top 1/2 of Blue Ridge today.1st time down here.
Some scorching sunshine, then rain, then fog thrown in for good measure. Who cares lol just ride. :)
Calling for rain down by Dragon tomorrow. Soooo....

In dry, rain with a bit of fog on Blue I saw 2 trucks, 3 bikes & 22 deer in a 32 mile section. Speed limit is 45mph. Never went over 75! It was wet in spots. Eyes wide, finger ready on brake. Always prefer good wet weather tires when touring.
 
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theprocess said:
Any recommendations for bike friendly motels in/around Maryville, TN? Looks to be the last major town, spot to rest up before dropping into the winding roads.
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Many people here stay at the bottom of the tail - Robbinsville or Cherokee country. I have always stayed at the north west end in Marysville at the Princess Motel. $65.00 a night - Fridge & Micro - dated from the 50s but clean - pool was always clean as well. it's a hop skip and a jump to the 129 turn off and a great ride.

http://princessofmaryville.com/
 
Hope no one minds me jumping on this thread.

Thanx for the hotel info.

Did all but the last couple of miles on the Blue Ridge today.
Forecast was rain. Rain stopped at 8:00 am..
Then sunny & 28 degrees.
6 deer, 3 vultures and a black snake on road. Views spectacular. Curves, so many curves. :):).

Saw a turkey on the road. He did not seem bothered by me and the bike. So I stopped and did the turkey walk with him/her. Solo ride so no one around to take a picture of the only 2 turkeys around! Lol.

I stopped to take some pictures. 17 minutes before another vehicle drove by.
 
Finished my 4,500 km trip in 7 days.
Absolutely would do it again tomorrow!
Roads in such good shape, people were so friendly and helpful, unlike so many people in the Toronto and surrounding area.

Hotels even have containers at main entrances labelled,"Rags for motorcycles." With a bucket beside labelled, "Place dirty rags here."
$44 a night for a queen size bed, fridge, microwave, wifi.
93 octane fuel as low as $3.24 a U.S. gallon!!

Did the Skyline Drive, Blue Ridge Parkway (all 469 miles and nothing but curves), Tail of the Dragon, Smokey Mountain Forest, Cherahola and many side roads. All with near perfect pave. HWY 219 return was great with switchbacks but also more than enough boring interstate sections.

Weather forecasts were for possible thundershowers most days. Blue skies and sun was all I had but for part of day 2.
 
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Ikan, it sounds like you had a great trip. The only negative thing is now you'll be bored silly riding around here and will be wishing you're in the mountains every time you throw your leg over the bike. Don't get too discouraged, Pennsylvania is only a few hours away.
 
FJgeezer said:
Also lose the attitude, the people down there may have a different accent than you but they are not "hillbillies", they are the nicest ,friendliest people you will ever run across. This is an extremely "Christian" area of the world so there are churches everywhere, filled with friendly generous people. Now up around Hazzard Kentucky, those people are "hillbillies", however they too are extremely friendly and generous. As well as the entire Appalachian area being pretty "church going" the people are mostly all "gearheads" (it is the birth place of NASCAR) so expect a lot of curiosity about the bikes you are riding. Have fun but be respectful.
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No attitude here... you just out did yourself with the labelling lol.

It was a great trip. People were very friendly. We ended up staying in Pigeon Forge for a rest after trip down, then moved on to Fontana Village which was $149/night for a two bedroom cabin on HWY28 which leads north directly to the GAP. Awesome road and minutes from the GAP and a good run to Cherohala Skyway. I also highly recommend the bottom part of the Blue Ridge that starts near Cherokee.

Overall it was a good scout mission. YES the GAP has a ramp right there, but mid day would be impossible to get truck up to it when the lot is full of bikes.
 
Just got back from " The Dragon" had the best time down there. North Carolina has some of the nicest scenery and curvyest roads. For me though the Blue Ridge Parkway was my favorite. Some of the most amazing roads I have been on.
Couldn't find a straight road in the state. Anyone thinking of going don't hesitate, you won't regret it!
 
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