Intruders-Alert

Thursday PM April 14 thru Monday AM April 18.

Our first was a success - and by popular demand - here is our second:

Fancy Gap, Virginia on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Near Exit 8 off I-77 (just north of VA border with North Carolina).

Headquarters is Mountain Top Motel in Fancy Gap (on US-52 just off Blue Ridge Parkway).

Arrive Thursday April 14 for meet-up dinner.
Ride Friday the Back of the Dragon and MORE
Ride Saturday to Danville to watch Tank Museum drive real TANKS - their festival.
Ride Sunday the Crooked Highway and MORE.

This is the home of Bluegrass music - hence - dinner, music, beer.
Evening campfires.

These are some of the twistiest damn roads I have ever found.
But no hurry - ride your own ride.

I have the routes, gas stops, meals, music, dinners, etc all planned out already (having ridden these several times) and will post details when I figure out how this site works. Hopefully IA will come back up - but just in case.

Pictures just to give you an idea of routes. Detail will be available with gas stops, lunch, etc. For those that want I can send GPX files or post to Google Maps. Or, of course, you can just ride along with the group and never know if the leader is lost or not.

The Red Route is Tazwell Back of the Dragon LOOP. It includes The Back of the Dragon and several other roads. Very twisty and mountainous.

The Blue Route is Damascus The Crooked Road LOOP. It includes the Crooked Road and several other roads. Also very twisty and mountainous.

The AAF Tank Museum in Danville has every damn tank ever made by everybody. Plus every auxiliary.

Annually they have a BIG PARTY with hot dogs etc.
But the best part is they fire-up these monsters and actually drive them around.
A truly amazing event to be Seen AND Heard.

These tanks have been restored to operating condition by the men who actually used them in battle.
They tend to sit around THEIR tanks and bullshit.
Stories not to be missed.
If you are respectful they even answer dumb questions.

This year it is Saturday April 16 and we will ride there.

Getting to Fancy Gap and back home, you have choices, depending upon how much time you have.
Interstate 77 crosses the Blue Ridge Parkway at Fancy Gap.
OR
if you are coming from the North, you can take Skyline Drive to the Blue Ridge Parkway
OR
if you are coming from the South, you can take the Blue Ridge Parkway

I can send GPX files or post these routes to Google Maps for anybody that wants them (for this or other rides).

from NORTH



from SOUTH

98VS1400 wrote:You understand BaseCamp??? You went up a notch in my book! [emoji2]

NO kidding! I'm still scratching my head...

Dr. THANKS for keeping this alive! I know it means a lot to people!

Yo-

we have 5 bikes coming so far
there is more room available

the first time I organized our Fancy Gap IA Rally was April 2013 and we rode a couple of twisties at the speed limit
just about everybody thought that was great (as versus riding twisties as fast as possible)
it was more enjoyable and you got to see the beauty of the mountains you are riding thru
I even took some pictures while we rode

So, this year, while the roads are even twistier than the first time
I will lead at the speed limit for those of use who like that
if others want, they can ride ahead, and wait for us at the next gas stop

So SIGN UP NOW

There is a secret to using BaseCamp >> do NOT use Trip Planner (even Garmin admits its junk).

Instead use the icon for New Route (3 green boxes connected by lines - in a triangle formation)
it brings up a box to which you drag your start point and end point - then calculates the route in between

add the waypoints you want to that List
now double click on that route (brings up another box) and use Green Plus Sign to add these waypoints to your route / recalculate

it takes some practice, but this way you can get BC to do anything you want

Who's going so far and where's the sign up?

It's not likely I could get the vacation days approved on such short notice, but it I might look into it. Plus, I work in a lawn & garden center and mid April is usually a busy, busy time.

Nice area. I've ridden some parts of it myself.

Hey Doc !!! I'm planning to come ! Mostly because I know it will be organized by You ! And because I can. Didn't do much riding last year so I got some due me. Do you have a phone no. for the motel? It'll just be me so I'm willing to share the room.
Larry

I'm in!! Anyone else coming from Canada??

We are up to 7 bikes now with 8 people.

The routes with gas, breakfast, lunch, dinner, music, scenic views, etc are all done.
For those who wish to attend I will email final routes with maps, etc.
GPX files are available.

Motel is $50/night with 2 beds.
They have a BBQ and Fire Ring for our use.
Do NOT book with Motel - book with me.

One route revision is worth mentioning - as now - we can run the Back Of The Dragon multiple times.
Not everybody has to, but those that want to can run it once, twice or even three times - genius idea makes this possible.

Let me know if you are interested or want to signup, Bob

I've already reserved a room. That's how anxious I am, [emoji41]

Bob...I'm heading up, too. I also jumped quick and reserved a room. See y'all Thursday afternoon. Norm.

Sitting here watching the snow fall. Find it hard to believe that in 10 days time I'll be heading to Fancy Gap. Had enough of snow and cold. Really looking forward to getting on the bike and heading south to meet up with an incredible group of people. Looks like I'm going to have to bundle up real good to stay warm if the weather keeps this up.

I'm heading up a day or 2 early, gonna camp at the Fancy Gap KOA for the duration (less than 1/2 mile from hotel)....(edited)

We need another Fancy Gap rally Doc Alloway! [emoji106]