***Official 2010 Deals Gap Thread*** (Updated OP)

Glad you made it home safely Joe. Believe it or not, the internet is now blazing fast! Go figure, it's the last day and it works the way it should have from the beginning.

I just want to say that I had a wonderful time in spite of a couple of set backs. We all came together in the end and became good friends. Joe (Currently) is a great guy and was a huge help to all of us. Kevin (Dragonslayer) was funny as heck and had us laughing all week. Knute was also an awesome dude but needs to practice on his ping-pong. Dave, Harry, Vadim, and Tony (NJFZ) I knew previously and can't say anything more about how great they are. Krispy was a cool guy and I had a blast riding with him. He's an excellent rider. He also reminds me of one of my favorite wrestlers, Jim 'The Anvil' Neidhart. Last but not least was (Crazy Joe). I never met anyone like him and he has to be one of the funniest people I've ever met in my life. His sense of wit is second to none and although he rags on you from time to time, you can only help but laugh as he is about as good hearted as they come. My stomach still hurts from all the laughing he had us doing. I want to personally thank all the guys who made my first experience to "the Dragon" a memorable one which I will never forget.
 
FZ1riderNY said:
Glad you made it home safely Joe. Believe it or not, the internet is now blazing fast! Go figure, it's the last day and it works the way it should have from the beginning.

I just want to say that I had a wonderful time in spite of a couple of set backs. We all came together in the end and became good friends. Joe (Currently) is a great guy and was a huge help to all of us. Kevin (Dragonslayer) was funny as heck and had us laughing all week. Knute was also an awesome dude but needs to practice on his ping-pong. Dave, Harry, Vadim, and Tony (NJFZ) I knew previously and can't say anything more about how great they are. Krispy was a cool guy and I had a blast riding with him. He's an excellent rider. He also reminds me of one of my favorite wrestlers, Jim 'The Anvil' Neidhart. Last but not least was (Crazy Joe). I never met anyone like him and he has to be one of the funniest people I've ever met in my life. His sense of wit is second to none and although he rags on you from time to time, you can only help but laugh as he is about as good hearted as they come. My stomach still hurts from all the laughing he had us doing. I want to personally thank all the guys who made my first experience to "the Dragon" a memorable one which I will never forget.
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Thanks for the kind words. I do appreciate not being considered a prick!!! :)
 
I've had a heads-up on the action there and it is great to hear from those who have made it back home safely.

Crazyjoe, I am very sorry to hear about the accident, the bike being totaled and your pain. My wife and I have ridden Wayah Road and know what the conditions are that you discovered. It was a nice road, but it was also a nice SLOW road. Sorry you found out the very difficult way!

To those of you who have not reported in, we hope you do soon! We expect a lot of pics, videos and some awesome stories!

Joe (Currently), thank you for taking care of our fellow riders. You've always been an awesome friend to Michele and I and I'm glad they got to meet and ride with you.

I :icon_beer: in your honor guys!
 
Made it home with Tony this evening in 14 hours! Tony had the hammer down all the way. Stopped for about an hour total for gas and food which brought our trek down to 13 hours flat, a new record! I'm downloading pics and video this evening to be posted tomorrow. I'd do it tonight but I'm too tired after all that driving. We all had a great time and hope to do this again next year.
 
FZ1riderNY said:
Made it home with Tony this evening in 14 hours! Tony had the hammer down all the way. Stopped for about an hour total for gas and food which brought our trek down to 13 hours flat, a new record! I'm downloading pics and video this evening to be posted tomorrow. I'd do it tonight but I'm too tired after all that driving. We all had a great time and hope to do this again next year.
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Glad you guys made it back safe. I sure enjoyed meeting you all.
 
Deals Gap Pictures!

Here are some shots in chronological order from the week down at the Gap.

Me and Tony's bikes on the way down Saturday morning.
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I love these rustic views of the country.
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There was a lot of these "Calvary" symbols down South.
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One of many stops at the pump, 13 in all for the Olds.
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Huge Pepsi Cap in Tennessee.
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Sunset on Saturday afternoon. 15 hours for the trip down.
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Arrival at "The Ridge" at 9pm Saturday night.
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Dave's V Max and Tony's FZ1
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Dave belting out some Metallica.
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Sunday's ride on the Cherohala Skyway. This wound up being my favorite road on the trip.
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Harry's Vulcan on the overlook.
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The "Wild Bunch" Harry, Dave, Tony, Me, and Vadim.
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They had to call in the reinforcements to keep us in line! Just kidding of course. They were there for an accident and were actually pretty nice guys.
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One of our buddies at the house.
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Day 2 Monday's Trip to the Dragon

A stop at the dam that Harrison Ford leaped from in "The Fugitive"
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Me and Joe (Currently) at the dam.
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Me and Tony (NJFZ1)
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Day 2 Continued

A view from the top of the dam.
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Vadim at "The Tree Of Shame"
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Here I am at the tree. Fortunately we had nothing to contribute.
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Ready to hit "The Dragon"
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The Tennessee side of "The Dragon"
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Me and Dave at the overlook.
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One of the other "critters" over at the house.
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Day 3 Trip to Gatlinburg via the Foothills Parkway

Passing the Cherokee Reservation on our way to Gatlinburg
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In the Foothills....
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Vadim on the bridge
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Ready to roll out to Gatlinburg
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Dave and Vadim grabbing a bite in Gatlinburg
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Lots of things to see in Gatlinburg
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"I will break you"!
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For Dave, this was as far as he would go. He waited for us as we made our way up the Sky Lift.
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Day 3 continued

What a great view from the top.
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Whats wrong with this picture????
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The "Blackberry" twins! I was jealous since I had no signal the entire week!
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Tony and I at the top.
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The "main drag" in Gatlinburg
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Vadim's Lady Friend (inside joke)
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On the way back from Gatlinburg
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Vadim and Dave enjoying the scenery
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Last shot before heading home
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Wheeler's on Route 129. Ken can pretty much repair anything enough to get you rolling again.
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Crazy Joe's Bike Returns

When we returned from Gatlinburg we were shocked to hear that Joe had crashed. He was bumped and bruised but okay. His bike on the other hand was trashed. It was a shame that his week would be over so soon.
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Day 4 Trip to Knoxville

On Wednesday we skipped riding in order to take a drive to Knoxville by auto.
Here's a shot of the store at Deals Gap
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The Harley Store on 129.
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Asheville Trip

Thursday, Vadim, Tony and I rode to Asheville, NC to see the Biltmore Estate but found out that it would cost me 60 bucks to see the house. I guess if that was my kind of thing I would have paid but it wasn't and I'd rather spend my little bit of money elsewhere so we wound up turning back after watching a movie in their theatre and running the Blue Ridge Parkway home. Now that was a nice road. We had a blast taking the long way home. Sorry but no pics.

Final Day

For our last day we had set up a ride on the Cherohala Skyway with the remaining guys plus Krispy1 who we had met in a gas station after the Asheville trip. It would be a big loop starting on the Skyway to Route 68 in Tellico Plains, south to 64/74 East to Murphy NC. to have lunch, and then Route 129 North back to Robbinsville. Joe Currently, Dave and Harry had already left for home and Crazy Joe was leaving that morning. That left Me, Tony, Vadim, Kevin, Knute, and Krispy.

The last of the guys on Saturday. L to R, Knute, Kevin, Crazy Joe, Tony, Vadim, and Krispy.
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Gassing up before the ride at the Thunder Mountain General Store
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Our first stop on the Skyway
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Everyone together
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Great scenery on the Skyway
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Grabbing a bite at a rib joint in Murphy NC.
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Hey, even Ho's have to make a living in this recession!
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We had a great ride on that final day. Once we got back everyone took turns loading up the bikes and getting ready for the ride home.
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We all had such a great week with the exception of some unfortunate happenings but I'm glad that everyone made it out of there alive and I hope to do this again next year. Thanks for looking!
 
There is a lot to see in the area. I have been a tourists many times and sometimes my wife and I just go up and spend a weekend there to look at the scenery. But, when I have a bike --- I just like to ride ----- and haul ass. :)
 
There's some great pics Billy. Thanks for sharing! Glad you all made it out of there in mostly one piece. It appears that the week was quite an adventure and I am sorry we missed it. But, also very glad that after all the planning, our pitfall did not interrupt your vacation time!

So, tell us what your favorite roads were... what were not such favorites? Which routes did you get to ride in total?

There is such a vast amount of great riding in the surrounding area that we could go for a few years and within a 200 mile radius, never hit the same road twice. GA, W. VA, VA, TN, NC, SC.... it is a riders dream.

Welcome back everyone!
 
My god i'm so jealous!!!!! I made the stupid decision to go to a power plant away form home to work my but off (6 12 hour days a week) instead of going on this trip. Next year if can we plan it a week or two earlier I will be there. Crazyjoe i'm glad your ok and hope you can get you and your bike in tip top shape ASAP!! Billy the pics are great thanks for posting!!
 
Adam, for me? It will always be May or Sept and middle of the month. Before Memorial Day and after Labor Day is the best time in the area. Especially Sept since the weather is typically great, the pollen count is down and the tourists are mostly gone.

I also have another pitfall.... my wife can never take the first 4 business days off on ANY month... Accounting can be a bear of a job... ARG!!!

I think we could start planning for Sept 9th through the 18th for next year? Any thoughts all? Same arrangements? What would you who went this time change up for next year? What worked, what didn't? Now that there is one trip under the belt, your input is GREATLY valued!

I hope that next year is less "eventful" and more enjoyable! :tup:
 
i think we all are jealous that we couldnt go i will be trying to plan going next year already told the wife. thnx for all the pics billy. :sport12:
 
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