Popular Post Helmutt Posted June 29, 2015 Popular Post Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 (edited) No good reasoning as to why the wife and I waited all these years to take in Deals Gap and it's surrounding routes, but now that we have, it's abundantly clear why it's such a well loved area. The riding there is second to none that I've ever experienced, aside only to track time. Not to mention the awe inspiring views. I spent the first half of last week tuning up the truck, the bike, and overhauling my trailer so the wife and I could trust in it all for this trip. Met up with Granda080 and Oldschoolsdime92 at an eagerly early 345am Thursday morning. We reached the Dragon right about noon to sunny skies and perfect weather conditions, so I got to enjoy driving it first on our way to check into our cabin at Ironhorse Motorcycle Resort in Robbinsville ( for anyone curious, it's a great place to stay, well ran, good people, and plentiful amenities ). Once we got unpacked, unloaded the bikes, and suited up, we went right for Rt129. Took a parade lap the first pass in heavier than expected traffic, but a couple hours later we got a fairly clean run at it and really dug in at a much better pace.I like the Dragon, it's tight and technical turns bring exhilaratingly quick transitions, one after another, in an almost neverending succession. But, I honestly enjoyed a lot of the other routes we'd ridden the following day a bit more. Rt28 is a lot of fun, and better suited for the long gearing of my ZX14. Cherohala is a big favorite too. Even Foothills Pkway was enjoyable as a nice, easy ride of long sweeping turns and sweet overlooks.Friday, we rode an awesome twisty route from NC, to TN, down to northern Georgia, and back. I believe we have Pauly to thank for the coordinates? Blood Mtn was a blast. The beautiful elevation changes where most every corner is so sweetly banked, easily enabling extraordinary entry speeds that eventually shear away at your front tire until it's down to nothing, making you stop at the nearest dealer who gladly helped get me in and out at just over an hour. So, I nod my head with huge props to Union Powersports in Blairsville, GA and their excellent service of a last minute customer.The ultimate culprit was a less than credible tire gauge that had lied it's ass off prior to us leaving the house. Their mechanic showed me the true pressure was at about 22psi, semi-hot. So ambient pressure that morning was likely sub 20psi, but the janky gauge had read around 32-34ish. Needless to say, that turd of a tool went into the garbage to be replaced with an accurate instrument.Sadly, less than 5 minutes after we left the dealer is when the worst part happened. Torrential downpour. For the entire trip back to Ironhorse. I'd wager it was similar to what Noah experienced when the Earth flooded. Water was filling our boots, soaking our buttcracks, and running behind our helmet's visors, rendering us all virtually blind but for what was barely within our headlamp's range. We aren't fair weather riders, we've been caught in the rain before, no big deal. But this storm seemed to follow our every move with a non-stop dumping of buckets, thunder, and lightning. But why stop? Once you're soaked and out in the middle of who-the-fuck-knows, embrace the hate and mush on. Took us over 3 hours to journey back from just outside Blairsville to Ironhorse. We got to see Bridal Veil Falls for all of 3 seconds as we rode past it, Oldschool pointed up, we all looked, wife and I chuckled to one another over our Sena coms that the rain was coming down harder than the falls were, and kept riding. I'm just happy I didn't have to limp it through that storm on a bald front tire in the twisty hills, or I may not be here today to tell this little tale of conquering adversity. Albeit somewhat mild adversity, 'twas still a dangerous mission.Saturday morning we all decided not to ride since the forecast showed rain all day, our gear was still soaked, and our pruned hands and feet had just dried out. So after breakfast we headed into Maggie Valley's famed Wheels Through Time Museum. Awesome place to visit for those that haven't been. There's a ton of history on display in that building, and quite a bit of it still runs. The owner fired up a few pieces to boast his handy work, pretty impressive to see something over a century old start right up and run. Nabbed some lunch before heading back to the cabin. Wife and I went to the Gap store for some keepsakes and took a spin for a bit to take in some more scenery before we packed up to ready our jettison the following morning. Got back to the homestead about 5pm today. Glad to say none of us went down, and we all had the best time. Looking forward to the next trip down there. Pics to follow Edited June 29, 2015 by Hellmutt 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helmutt Posted June 29, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 Loaded down and ready for the morning haul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helmutt Posted June 29, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 (edited) Our first ever Killboy screenshotA few overlooks Edited June 29, 2015 by Hellmutt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helmutt Posted June 29, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helmutt Posted June 29, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 Shots from the museum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helmutt Posted June 29, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 Fontana DamOverlook Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
600ZZ4eb Posted June 29, 2015 Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 Awesome! I love the area and its past time to go back. Glad u had a good timeSent from my SM-N910P using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MidgetTodd Posted June 29, 2015 Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 Why you clowns wait and go alone instead of on our annual ORDNANCE trip aye? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldschoolsdime92 Posted June 29, 2015 Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 We tried to go later in the season, hoping for less rain. Jokes on us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
durk Posted June 29, 2015 Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 Thanks for sharing your experience. Every time I read 1 of these posts I get more and more determined to make it there. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whaler Posted June 29, 2015 Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 Excellent review of your trip! Glad you had arrived home safe. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helmutt Posted June 29, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 Why you clowns wait and go alone instead of on our annual ORDNANCE trip aye?Yeah, like Oldschool said. Figured we were going to hit a sweet spot in the weather by going later in the month. The locals we talked to said early-mid May or waiting until September as it rains most all summer.Thanks for sharing your experience. Every time I read 1 of these posts I get more and more determined to make it there.Definitely make the trip man. We started kicking ourselves over waiting so long as soon as we got there. It's one of THE best times you'll ever have on 2 wheels Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DerekClouser Posted June 29, 2015 Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 Why you clowns wait and go alone instead of on our annual ORDNANCE trip aye? I'm not saying this was the same reason for Hellmutt, but I was a bit nervous going down there and I wanted to make my first trip with some close friends so I can experience it first my own way before trying to tackle it all with a group of people I'm only relatively familiar with. Hindsight, wouldn't have mattered, I was overthinking it in my own head. I'll be planning to attend with the rest of you hooligans next year. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2talltim Posted June 29, 2015 Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 Thinking about going down Labor day weekend. Who's in? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snot Posted June 29, 2015 Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 (edited) I also had a job change that prevented an earlier trip. I loved the sena, as we all know I am a noob. I am on my 4th season and third bike. Hellmutt gave me a few heads up and granda talked me through a couple of tight corners. After my lowside at Mid O last year I have issues with turns that are tight down and then back up. I found the sides of my tires and had a blast.pics to follow Edited June 29, 2015 by snot 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MidgetTodd Posted June 29, 2015 Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 We tried to go later in the season, hoping for less rain. Jokes on us. Yeah, like Oldschool said. Figured we were going to hit a sweet spot in the weather by going later in the month. The locals we talked to said early-mid May or waiting until September as it rains most all summer.Definitely make the trip man. We started kicking ourselves over waiting so long as soon as we got there. It's one of THE best times you'll ever have on 2 wheelsStop second guessing the pros you clowns. We always go that weekend because that weekend is always perfect. I expect you to join us next year. Now I need to see your asses back at the track 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MidgetTodd Posted June 29, 2015 Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 I also had a job change that prevented an earlier trip. I loved the sena, as we all know I am a moon. I am on my 4th season and third bike. Hellmutt have me a few heads up and granda talked me through a couple of tight corners. After my lowside at Mid O last year I have issues with turns that are tight down and then back up. I found the sides of my tires and had a blast.https://www.ninjette.org/forums/picture.php?albumid=901&pictureid=12517https://www.ninjette.org/forums/picture.php?albumid=901&pictureid=12521https://www.ninjette.org/forums/picture.php?albumid=901&pictureid=12502https://www.ninjette.org/forums/picture.php?albumid=901&pictureid=12514Get back to the track with me and let's fix that 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MidgetTodd Posted June 29, 2015 Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 I'm not saying this was the same reason for Hellmutt, but I was a bit nervous going down there and I wanted to make my first trip with some close friends so I can experience it first my own way before trying to tackle it all with a group of people I'm only relatively familiar with. Hindsight, wouldn't have mattered, I was overthinking it in my own head. I'll be planning to attend with the rest of you hooligans next year.Kind of backwards thinking. Going the first time with us means you're there with a group of guys that know the roads and area very well and that go multiple times a year every year so you're in good hands to learn a dangerous area safely. You'd have the best tour guides around not to mention be with a group that is highly capable of handling any bad situation there since we know the area and the group includes Mechanics, Medics, Mcgivers, Jerryriggers, Nurses, Sandwiche Makers and Bartends. Why would you want to go any other way? Rides are always divided by pace and skill too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snot Posted June 29, 2015 Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 (edited) Edited June 29, 2015 by snot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snot Posted June 29, 2015 Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snot Posted June 29, 2015 Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 (edited) Edited June 29, 2015 by snot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helmutt Posted June 29, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 I'm not saying this was the same reason for Hellmutt, but I was a bit nervous going down there and I wanted to make my first trip with some close friends so I can experience it first my own way before trying to tackle it all with a group of people I'm only relatively familiar with. Hindsight, wouldn't have mattered, I was overthinking it in my own head. I'll be planning to attend with the rest of you hooligans next year.I sort of get that, factoring trustworthy companions and all. Wasn't the case for us, wife's job and dice rolling with weather is what drove our decision. Although I'd confidently ride ANYWHERE with granda080 and Oldschool. Good guys and very trustworthy, helpful, experienced riders, and just fun fellas to hang with. Thanks again you two. Definitely took the guesswork out of our inaugural Gap visit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helmutt Posted June 29, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 Thinking about going down Labor day weekend. Who's in? How I wish. Not sure the wife could pull off another get away from work. We have already discussed picking up a few cheap acres to throw a small cabin on for multiple inexpensive visits each year though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2talltim Posted June 29, 2015 Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 (edited) How I wish. Not sure the wife could pull off another get away from work. We have already discussed picking up a few cheap acres to throw a small cabin on for multiple inexpensive visits each year though Just emailed Iron Horse about available beds labor day weekend and they said they only have 4 beds in the bunk house available. I need to decide soon. Would like to get a small group but I know some folk already have holidays planned out. Edited June 29, 2015 by 2talltim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helmutt Posted June 29, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 Just emailed Iron Horse about available beds labor day weekend and they said they only have 4 beds in the bunk house available. I need to decide soon. Would like to get a small group but I know some folk already have holidays planned out.The bunkhouses are ok but they're not bathroom equipped, so middle of the night shits would incur a walk to the lodge where the community baths are. Also, the bunkhouses are rented on a per bed basis, so if all the beds aren't taken you dont know who else you're bunking with. Less security for your gear/personables. We rented a shared cabin, where 2 bedrooms of up to 4 people share a personal bath and each room has it's own key, which is more private and secure. Just sayin, if you can get 3 or 4 guys to commit, it's fairly priced. The 4 of us stayed 3 nights for a total of $585, so it was less than $50 a night for each of us Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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