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I completed my first long road trip from Columbus, OH to Charlottle, NC last weekend, 1045 total miles in three days. I rode straight through on the way there only stopping for gas. It was great and I'm looking forward to the next one, maybe to Chicago, IL or Memphis, TN from Columbus.
After getting to Charlotte, my buddy and I drove his truck to Atlanta for a couple of days and then headed back to Charlotte. The ride up wasn't too bad but it was just getting used to my arse getting sore after about every 200 miles, but pretty uneventful. However on the way up I kept noticing a lot more bike traffic on the road near NC. Then I started noticing the exit signs like, Fancy Gap and Rocky Gap, etc. I then started to see groups of bikers getting off at these exits. Since I was on a time schedule, I told myself I'd see what all the hype was about on the return trip.
On the ride back, I got off at the Fancy Gap exit and went and filled up at a gas station. There were a few other bikers there and I just asked them if there was a place to ride a motorcycle on some nice routes up here and he said you came to the right place. The entrance to Blue Ridge Parkway was directly in front of me, so I filled up bought a cheap camera since my battery died and proceeded to hit the hills. I went about 50 miles in on one of the routes, I can't think of the name of it now to save my life. It was a pretty casual route with nice views and not too many twisties, but it worked great for me... and since it was about 1100 am in the morning on a Monday, there was minimum traffic! After taking some pics at some of the scenic overview areas, I jumped back on the highway and hauled arse all the way home. Funny thing is that my butt never got sore once on the ride home. I was tucked so low behind the wind screen, I never had to much weight on my butt!!
I talked to some other riders at the gas station before going up that were locals and they gave me their name and number and told me that the next time I come up that I could give them a call and they'd take me to all the cool routes and even put me up for the night if I needed it. I met several other good bikers on the routes I stopped and took some pictures at.
After getting to Charlotte, my buddy and I drove his truck to Atlanta for a couple of days and then headed back to Charlotte. The ride up wasn't too bad but it was just getting used to my arse getting sore after about every 200 miles, but pretty uneventful. However on the way up I kept noticing a lot more bike traffic on the road near NC. Then I started noticing the exit signs like, Fancy Gap and Rocky Gap, etc. I then started to see groups of bikers getting off at these exits. Since I was on a time schedule, I told myself I'd see what all the hype was about on the return trip.
On the ride back, I got off at the Fancy Gap exit and went and filled up at a gas station. There were a few other bikers there and I just asked them if there was a place to ride a motorcycle on some nice routes up here and he said you came to the right place. The entrance to Blue Ridge Parkway was directly in front of me, so I filled up bought a cheap camera since my battery died and proceeded to hit the hills. I went about 50 miles in on one of the routes, I can't think of the name of it now to save my life. It was a pretty casual route with nice views and not too many twisties, but it worked great for me... and since it was about 1100 am in the morning on a Monday, there was minimum traffic! After taking some pics at some of the scenic overview areas, I jumped back on the highway and hauled arse all the way home. Funny thing is that my butt never got sore once on the ride home. I was tucked so low behind the wind screen, I never had to much weight on my butt!!
I talked to some other riders at the gas station before going up that were locals and they gave me their name and number and told me that the next time I come up that I could give them a call and they'd take me to all the cool routes and even put me up for the night if I needed it. I met several other good bikers on the routes I stopped and took some pictures at.
) I agree with diavolo - do Chicago soon or else you'll have no choice but do the Memphis ride. 
I havent taken any long trips on mine yet.. I'm looking forward to some next year when i get my leak issue resolved.. I might have to take it to the shop *shrug* .. But anyways great pics and great looking bike!!!!
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