June trip to The Smokey Mountains

[KMC1]

My SO and I are planning a trip from Hartford, CT to the "14th Gathering of the Clans" near Ferguson, NC in June and then spending the better part of the following week just tooling around and seeing the sights. This will be our first really long ride together on the LT and we're playing it loose so we can just enjoy the trip and not worry about the destinations. I'm thinking we'll camp some and stay in B & B's / hotels some but again, nothing is in stone yet. As we're planning just the two of us to go, we're thinking about hooking up with maybe another couple or two if anyone would be interested, to have some company or maybe a ride out of the wilderness should the final drive let go! :p
Right now it looks like we'll leave on 6/7 or 6/8, beeline it to the rally, then putz around The Smokey Mountains, NC, WV, PA, DE, etc. to be back in Hartford for 6/17 or so. If anyone would like to ride along and hang out for some or all of the trip let me know. Open invite.

[BLBantz]

Did a ride like this one last April with my wife. Check out the Evergreen B&B in Christiansburg, VA. Very nice and good restaurants there too. It's near the Blue Ridge Pkwy., which I'm sure you will want to ride. Also, the Magnolia Manor Plantation B&B in Warranton, NC. This is a real plantation that has been completely renovated recently. It is a mansion of a place, serves great breakfast too. Both places will give you good parking for the LT. Have fun.

[KMC1]

Hi Brian,
I really appreciate your input, both of those places sound like they could be great possibilities, we'll definitely take at least one spind on the BRP so we'll be in the area. This brings up a good point actually, anyone who would like to volunteer cool places to ride, or great hikes/attractions etc. please feel free!

Thank you.

Kevin

[BLBantz]

Kevin,

Forgot to mention, pick up the April issue of Road Runner magazine. There is an article on page 14 outlining a trip through VA, NC and WV. He talks about lots of the small county roads, towns, places to eat etc. My wife and I left last Thursday for that area again and planned to use some of the tips from the article, but the rain got in the way over the weekend. The BRP is really fun, but it does eat up a lot of time. The Strasburg Hotel is great too. It is near the top of Skyline Drive in Strasburg, VA and is a small 17 room hotel from 1900 with a 3 star pub and restaurant in the lobby. More like a large B&B. Stop there after shopping in Winchester, VA. Good luck!

[Jim_Schuyler]

Kevin,

You just missed the STC, Spring Training Camp, at the Ironhorse Lodge this past weekend. See Southeast forum. www.ironhorsenc.com Great motorcycle friendly campground & lodges, restaurant. John, owner, just totaled his LT. Close to the Draqon, Fontana etc.

[KMC1]

Shameless bump to get this back up top before I leave.
The plan is to take off from Hartford in the AM (9:00 ish?) and head out most likely West even though it adds miles, I like the lighter traffic going out 84 and down 81... Could change my mind though and go over the Tappan Zee.
If anyone would like to ride out for a while on Thurs. or maybe meet up somewhere on the trip, drop me a line.