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October 2010
Leaf Peeping Paradise-
Smoky Mountain Road Report
Blue Ridge Parkway
Parkway open, work is wrapping up.
Almost all of the major work on the Blue Ridge Parkway is completed or near completion. Delays are infrequent and rare, though you may still run into one or two. They are still working on the rock slide site near Mt. Pisgah in North Carolina, but the timing on the temporary traffic lights seems to have been reduced. That could change as the traffic load grows. I'll keep an eye on it.
Interstate 40
Delays End This Week
The rock slide which closed I-40 near the Tennessee - North Carolina state borders should be resolved this week. One of the westbound lanes has been closed with delays occurring during heavy traffic times.
NC 215
Work Done
It looks like the paving work on NC 215 on the south side of the Blue Ridge Parkway is done and the new roadway is sweet indeed. This road should be on your list of side trips off the Blue Ridge Parkway. Make a nice loop ride by connecting with US 276 to return to the parkway.
While all is well on the south side of the Blue Ridge Parkway, be careful when descending on the north side on either US 276 or NC 215. US 276 has been patched in the worse places, though the pavement is rough and cracked in the tightest section of curves nearest the parkway. NC 215 has long been in need of attention and while most of the pavement is intact, the most serious hazard here is loose gravel which gets kicked onto the road when vehicles cut the curves and drag it onto the road. It's still one of my favorite challenging rides, but keep your eyes open. The highest parts are the worst.
A friend and I rode up to Maggie Valley back in May (our base from Monday thru Friday) and stayed at the Holiday Motel. We planned on the usual Blue Ridge, Cherohala and Dragons "wandering" rides but found your maps available for purchase at the desk. Well, the rest is history. We used your maps EXTENSIVELY everyday and had the best rides we've ever had! Basically, there were four loops (NE,SE,NW,SW) around Maggie V and we did one of those every day. It was the perfect amount of time to ride and we always got back to Maggie Valley around 7 pm (left a 8 am every morning). Your maps are simply the BEST. My friend bought them from me since he was leading and using the maps A LOT, and I forgot to get me a set before we left. We're heading up to Blue Ridge (Asheville) in 3 weeks to ride around and hopefully see some colorful fall displays, hence I bought the Blue Ridge bundle (4 maps). I bought the waterproof ones this time which will probably last
forever. ( I got a kick out of your video that you made....freezing, thawing, etc.) Thanks again for YOUR WONDERFUL MAPS! You guys really did your home work and know the area so well.Wes A.
Atlanta
“Your maps are truly awesome. As you know I have also ridden many miles in NC and surrounding areas laying out our Tours for Blue Strada. Just yesterday, I was studying your “Best Roads South of GSMNP East.” You have done riders and drivers a huge service by pointing out all the important little details along the way… I love the Red & Blue definitions of Great and Good roads.. but just looking at gas stations.. and the waterfalls locations make these maps fantastic. (In fact, I need to get the whole set for NC and GA). Anyone coming here to ride without a guide could do no better than to get a set of your maps and just start studying the options… of which there are so many… and making their own Tour. I’m going to send my motorcycle renters your direction in the future… they will be better off than trying to use my Tour maps… “
Bill Kniegge
www.bluestradatours.com
www.wheeljockey.com
POB 1336
Waxhaw, NC 28173
704 292 8801
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IT'S LEAF SEASON!
Don't worry, you haven't missed out!
Leaf season is starting with just a tinge of color, though after last nights dose of cold, things are going to take off quickly. It's still too early for the full show which usually "peaks" just a few days after the middle of the month. The reality is the spectacle lasts much longer, even into November in places.
It's hard to say there is truly any one "peak" of fall color. It varies with altitude. The highest peaks are the first to show the color, with places like Craggy Gardens, the Black Mountains, Grandfather Mountain, and the Balsams turning first. The colors then ebb gradually down the slopes to eventually play out in the lower valleys. Even those making a later trip on the Blue Ridge Parkway where the high sections have already dropped their leaves can find pockets of color once they descend into the miles and miles of back roads which surround it.
The first trees to show the change are the locust which started way back in August. They just fade to brown, so there's not much to note. Currently the fruiting trees like cherry, apple, pear, and dogwoods are getting their first touch of color. Many of the under story plants are also turning with deep purples and pale yellows. The firs, spruce, and pines will stay green as will the rhododendron. You'll still find yellow and purple flowers along the roadside.
What everyone is really watching for are the oaks, maple, ash, poplar, and birch which display the bright reds, yellows, and orange that gets the cameras clicking. Each of these is on it's own schedule dictated by the climate. Sometimes they all come in at once. Other times, it is more gradual and varied. Right now, most of them are still green, though it is a fading pallor that changes daily. It's looking like this year could be spectacular.
Some spots are better than others for viewing the leaves, and while the highest sections on the Blue Ridge Parkway can offer outstanding views, it is often those places a little lower that have the best of the show. The Mountaineer Restaurant in Maggie Valley usually has some awesome views, as does the Pisgah Inn on the Parkway. One of my favorite "secret" roads is NC 281 which always seems to have little pockets of outstanding color once the higher parts are done. It's good time to take the fine ride out to Hot Springs on NC 209.
I've also come across some excellent displays in Virginia, out west near Covington and Clifton Forge. Peaks of Otter and the James River Valley are usually nice. It's a great time for a ride out US 311 west of Roanoke, the hillsides that cradle the valleys running into Blacksburg and Christiansburg, the rolling hills around Floyd, and the roads surrounding the Mt. Rogers National Recreation Area.
New Video - The Diamondback
More Mountain Riding Tips
Here are a few things to know about fall riding
Beware the Descending Radius Turn:
This warning applies not only to the Blue Ridge Parkway, but any of the surrounding roads. On the parkway these turns are usually marked with signs, but not always. You're rare to run into them on a "modern" road, they engineer them to avoid these traps. The parkway was built long before some of these modern principals came into use. You're sure to find yourself in one of them and if you're not ready for it the consequences can be messy. You won't even notice it going in one direction. On the return trip, it's waiting to bite.
A descending radius turn is where the curve gets tighter and tighter as you go into it. They are typically longer curves and you can't see what's coming around the bend. You approach the curve at what you judge as an appropriate speed based on what you can see only to find once into the curve you're suddenly going too fast. Looking ahead you see the curve keeps getting tighter still disappearing around the bend and you're already pushing your limits on lean angle. You're going to run wide, into the other lane and potentially oncoming traffic. The curve which follows usually doubles back in the opposite direction and is really sharp - no room for run out.
The best way to deal with the situation is by shifting your weight down and to the inside of the curve. Throw the inside knee out and shift your butt to the edge of seat. This lowers your center of gravity, weights the tires better for more grip, and stands the bike up slightly giving you more lean angle. Unfortunately, few ride this way, and you've got to be set up to make the move ahead of time. When hitting the curvy sections, you should have the balls of your feet on the pegs so you can move around easier. It's a technique to practice and you'll be amazed at how much control you'll gain and how much more confidence you'll have in the curves with just a little body shift now and then.
The next best way to save the moment is delicate braking. Resist the urge to bolt upright and stomp down on them. Keep looking through the turn. Maintain your lean and feather the front brake to scrub down your speed as smoothly as you can. Keep looking through the turn, your eyes working out the next one. As you apply the front brake the weight will shift forward planting the tire more firmly on the road. Resist the urge of the bike to come upright as the braking is completed and you'll maintain control. Try not to use the rear brake as most of the bikes weight will be forward and it's much easier to lock it up which will start a nasty slide.
Dealing With The Pokeymon:
Ah, leaf season. People flock to the Smokies from parts all over to view the spectacle. From what you'll find out on the road, some of them must have set out weeks ago. Lewis and Clark made better progress. Yes, they're back. Doddering along at 20 mph under the speed limit, completely oblivious to the 25 cars riding their bumper, wobbling across the lanes like they're dodging every falling leaf, it's a wonder more of them don't just plunge off the hillsides into the abyss. Maybe they do. Who would look for them to know?
There's little you can do but be prepared for it. If you're traveling the Blue Ridge Parkway this time of year it's par for the course. I've come upon cars stopped and abandoned in the roadway while the occupants are off taking photos.
Here are some tips to help:
- Expect it. Deal with it. Don't let them get to you.
- Don't take it out on them. They're oblivious. Antagonizing them only makes them drive more cautiously.
- Get out early. When it's not too cool or foggy you'll find the parkway wondrously devoid of other traffic. Mid-afternoon is the worst of times.
- Plan shorter trips. Take more breaks at the overlooks. If your schedule is tight, the parkway might not be the best way to get there.
- BE COURTEOUS WHEN PASSING! - Don't blast the throttle to show your displeasure. Ease on by with as little fuss as possible.
- Get off the Blue Ridge Parkway. It's this time of year that got me started making my maps of all the great roads in the surroundings. You'll have more fun.
If YOU'RE the POKEYMON;
Take pity on us. We understand you need to go at your own pace.
- Use the pull-outs and overlooks to let traffic pass.
- If you're riding in a group, space out so passing traffic can leap frog you instead of trying to race past then cut off the guy in the lead.
- If somebody is riding your tail through the curves, DON'T SPEED UP WHEN YOU HIT A STRAIGHT STRETCH - move to the right and let them slip past or they'll just be on your tail again at the next curve.
- Don't get pressured to ride faster than you are comfortable with.
- STOP TO ENJOY THE VIEW - every year distracted riders go over the guardrails because they weren't watching the road (and it ain' t pretty).
Don't Let Those Pretty Leaves HURT YOU:
Huh? It's true. Something to be aware of. Wet leaves on the road are slicker than owl sh*t. It's usually not much of a bother on the Blue Ridge Parkway as there is sufficient traffic and wind to keep them from piling up. Be wary though on the roads that climb to reach it, and especially on the back roads in the surroundings.
There are places where the sun never reaches the road to dry it out. When these moist spots get an accumulation of leaves that sit for a couple days, they can get really slick, worse than hitting a gravel patch. Watch for them in the tight and shady curves, especially after a rainy spell.
Keep To The Left of Your Lane
When you're out on the back roads riding in single file through the twisty bits, keep to the left side of the lane. While it doesn't seem as safe at first, after all, you're closer to those cars passing in the other direction, the main reason is it improves visibility. In a curve, you see deeper into it and further around the corner, and you'll be seen sooner by other traffic. It gives both of you more time to react.
Riding the middle of the lane may seem more logical, but in practice you'll find that's where the gravel and other hazards accumulate on the road. Car tires clean the margins and drive the debris to the middle.
The right side of the lane is more prone to pot holes and drop offs where car and truck wheels run off the edges, drag gravel onto the surface, and it's where those kamikaze suicidal squirrels lurk to dart out at you.
Bring Your Cold Weather Riding Gear
I'm especially reminded of this today - 3 inches of snow fell at Mt. LeConte in Great Smoky Mountains National Park last night (October 4). There was frost on the trees at noon up on Balsam Mountain. It's unusual, but it happens. Plan ahead.
Fall riding can be wonderful on those sunny blue sky days when the temperatures approach the 70's. This season is a volatile time for the weather, expect almost anything and don't trust the forecast. 50 degrees can be perfect riding weather on a nice day or a miserable experience on a wet, gray, blustery day, and leave you shaking with chills and hypothermia if you get caught in a shower.
I ride year round, even when there's snow on the ground. Here are some tips to help keep you comfortable:
Discover Synthetics - leather gets wet, and blue jeans not only get wet but stay wet. Wet = cold. A good set of synthetic gear will keep you warm and dry even when it's pouring rain and it lasts for years. You don't need to pack additional rain gear, It's worth the investment.
Long Underwear is so nice - it's comfortable to ride in, keeps you warm, and means less bulky clothes on top.
A light hoodie is versatile - find one that's thin enough to fit under your helmet. Keep your head warm and you're half way to comfort. It's out of the way when you don't need it, but quick to slip on when it gets chilly.
Protect your neck - Those skeletor face masks may look cool, but I've found those things can lead to fogging problems and they get wet from your breath. A good neck warmer (I use something called a turtle I got at an outdoors store) fits in a pocket and provides a good seal at the jacket and helmet.
Gauntlet Gloves - Waterproof, wind proof, with a collar long enough to cover and seal the sleeves of your jacket.
Heated Gear - One of the most versatile pieces of cold weather gear, a heated vest and gloves will keep you going when others stay in with the hot cocoa. I use Gerbing gear. It's light enough to work as a light jacket for general use, and should it turn cold, just plug it in and set the thermostat to the level you need. If you're considering it, look for separate controls for the vest and gloves - the vest is under the jacket so it doesn't take as much heat to warm you. Your hands are out in the wind and elements. It's hard to find s single setting where your hands are warm enough without cooking your torso. Of course, if it's not raining, you just open your jacket a bit, but individual controls are the nicer way to go.
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