Deal's Gap Eclipse Trip

A Place To Announce Run Flyers, Rallies, Web Links, Trips, Travel, Events and more.
Share your rides and events with other riders

Moderators: CYBORG, Rat, Forum Moderators

Post Reply
adecood
Cast Iron Member
Cast Iron Member
Posts: 88
Joined: Tue Jan 20, 2015 1:40 pm
Location: Mich

Re: Deal's Gap Eclipse Trip

#16

Post by adecood »

Yep you got it. That's what I was referring to.
Dave D.
84 1200 GW Std
02 1800 GW
User avatar
Lucien Harpress
Honored Life Member
Honored Life Member
Posts: 4077
Joined: Sat Dec 24, 2011 11:41 am
Location: Michigan

Re: Deal's Gap Eclipse Trip

#17

Post by Lucien Harpress »

That route in looks..... pretty awesome, actually. I've yet to do ANY riding in any kind of real terrain yet (not many mountains in Michigan), so I'm really looking forward to this. Thanks for the heads up.
1997 Valkyrie- Light Cutomization, but Too Busy Riding
1980 KZ1300- Bike's Haunted
1976 GL1000 (Yellow)- It Runs (Poorly) and Doesn't Leak (Mostly)
1974 Velosolex 3800- Better Than Walking
1972 CB750- Broke the Chain And Ate the Motor
1969 CT90- The Most Fun You Can Have on 90ccs.
1965 CA77 Dream- Needs a Full Teardown, but Complete

All advice I give is only valid until an expert corrects me.
adecood
Cast Iron Member
Cast Iron Member
Posts: 88
Joined: Tue Jan 20, 2015 1:40 pm
Location: Mich

Re: Deal's Gap Eclipse Trip

#18

Post by adecood »

I am sure you will have a great time in the Smokies. There isn't a straight road down there. I love that part of the country. Another option for you would be to check out Clingman's Dome in the national park . It is the highest point in the park and if the weather is clear you can see for miles in all directions at the top @ C.D.. But come to think of it you might not be able to make it up to the top of that road because there will probably be tones of people thinking the same thing I just mentioned. Plus its only a 2 lane road.
I would like to suggest that the best viewing site will be next to Chilhowee Lake. The lake is at the intersection of the Foothills parkway and 129. The path that I suggested in my earlier post. There is about 3 miles of shore line at that point with out any trees to block your view. If you were thinking of continuing on to the dragon you will be going in that direction already. But on the dragon there's allot of tree's that will block your view of the open sky. Of course you can still cruse the dragon after the eclipse is over too.
Oh by the way where in S.E. Mich. are you?. I Am in Farmington Hills. Also I can send you some GPS files of the area if your interested.
Attachments
Chilhowee lk.PNG
Chilhowee lk.PNG (58.05 KiB) Viewed 240 times
Dave D.
84 1200 GW Std
02 1800 GW
User avatar
Sagebrush
Run Executive
Run Executive
Posts: 6465
Joined: Wed Aug 15, 2007 10:35 pm
My Album: http://www.ngwclub.com/gallery/v/wingmans/album269/
Location: Raleigh, NC

Re: Deal's Gap Eclipse Trip

#19

Post by Sagebrush »

Consider viewing the eclipse from Fontana Dam. Its located just 12 miles from the Deals Gap Resort at the junction of US129 and NC28. Just follow 28 down hill from the resort. IIRC when you get to where 28 makes an actual right turn and opposing traffic has to stop don't turn, go straight, and it will take you to the dam.

Image

There is a visitors center at the dam with restrooms, plenty of parking, a picnic area and of course the lake behind the dam.
You can go out onto the dam to get a completely unobstructed view. Should make for a comfortable experience. Just get there early to ensure you get a parking spot.

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image
Dean Spalding
Raleigh, NC

"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein

'82 Yellow GL1100
'81 Blue GL1100

My Gallery
My 1100 Build Thread
User avatar
Old Fogey
Honored Life Member
Honored Life Member
Posts: 7702
Joined: Mon Aug 27, 2007 11:31 pm
Location: Glasgow, Scotland
Contact:

Re: Deal's Gap Eclipse Trip

#20

Post by Old Fogey »

You have be careful there. Some real unsavoury characters to be found wandering the dam at times! :lol:
100_1399.jpg
100_1399.jpg (70.19 KiB) Viewed 230 times
"Impossible Is Just a Level of Difficulty!..."
If I'd wanted you to understand, I would have explained it better! (Johann Cruyff)
I’d give my right arm to be ambidextrous! :-D
User avatar
Rat
Photo Gallery Admin
Photo Gallery Admin
Posts: 15456
Joined: Fri Oct 21, 2005 9:59 pm
My Album: https://www.ngwclub.com/gallery/v/wingmans/rat/
RIP: cookie
Location: Toronto .... Canada

Re: Deal's Gap Eclipse Trip

#21

Post by Rat »

Yeah .... they do look like Trouble ....

Gord (with a capital 'T' .... and that rhymes with 'P' and that stands for POOL) Jones anim-cheers1
"I'd rather Ride than Shine"
‘14 KLR650 ... not a rat ... yet
‘84 GL1200i ‘R2B6' (Rat to Be 6, the last, adopted by twowings)
My Original 'RAT' was a hybrid '82 CB900/1100F
User avatar
CYBORG
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 24536
Joined: Mon Jan 14, 2008 12:52 pm
Location: Muskegon mich

Re: Deal's Gap Eclipse Trip

#22

Post by CYBORG »

that guy on the right looks like he could lose a few pounds :lol: :lol: :lol:
1978 custom GL1000
1977 custom with 1200 engine
1985 gl1200
User avatar
Lucien Harpress
Honored Life Member
Honored Life Member
Posts: 4077
Joined: Sat Dec 24, 2011 11:41 am
Location: Michigan

Re: Deal's Gap Eclipse Trip

#23

Post by Lucien Harpress »

Hotel reservation is booked, trailer is rented, and the route is planned. I just have to pack, and I should be good to go.

Seeing the eclipse from the dam is a fairly brilliant idea. I was planning on checking it out anyway, so this is perfect.

Adecood, I'm down here in Adrian, but I've got family in Livonia, so I've been to Farmington Hills before. Small world, eh? Thanks for the maps, I think they'll be enough. It's going to be a trip of out 50/50 planned and then just wandering.

But either way, it should be fun. And naturally, there'll be plenty of photos for all!
1997 Valkyrie- Light Cutomization, but Too Busy Riding
1980 KZ1300- Bike's Haunted
1976 GL1000 (Yellow)- It Runs (Poorly) and Doesn't Leak (Mostly)
1974 Velosolex 3800- Better Than Walking
1972 CB750- Broke the Chain And Ate the Motor
1969 CT90- The Most Fun You Can Have on 90ccs.
1965 CA77 Dream- Needs a Full Teardown, but Complete

All advice I give is only valid until an expert corrects me.
User avatar
Lucien Harpress
Honored Life Member
Honored Life Member
Posts: 4077
Joined: Sat Dec 24, 2011 11:41 am
Location: Michigan

Re: Deal's Gap Eclipse Trip

#24

Post by Lucien Harpress »

...I should've asked this before, but where around there is good to eat? I'm sure Pigeon Forge has some decent restaurants, but I'll be the first to admit that's probably because it's turned into a bit of a overbuilt tourist trap. Anything a big more.... authentic? Or at least a bit local?
1997 Valkyrie- Light Cutomization, but Too Busy Riding
1980 KZ1300- Bike's Haunted
1976 GL1000 (Yellow)- It Runs (Poorly) and Doesn't Leak (Mostly)
1974 Velosolex 3800- Better Than Walking
1972 CB750- Broke the Chain And Ate the Motor
1969 CT90- The Most Fun You Can Have on 90ccs.
1965 CA77 Dream- Needs a Full Teardown, but Complete

All advice I give is only valid until an expert corrects me.
User avatar
Lucien Harpress
Honored Life Member
Honored Life Member
Posts: 4077
Joined: Sat Dec 24, 2011 11:41 am
Location: Michigan

Re: Deal's Gap Eclipse Trip

#25

Post by Lucien Harpress »

So, day 1. Things started a bit late because, rather than go with an open trailer with a ramp, I decided to save a few bucks and got a closed trailer with no ramp. Ended up making a ramp from some 2x8s and loading everything up this morning. I would've done it last night, but my dad got free tickets to the National Tractor Pull Championships in Bowling Green OH, so I couldn't say no.

Anyway, 2 hours of packing and strapping later, here we go.
20170820_102023.jpg
20170820_102023.jpg (129.03 KiB) Viewed 187 times
20170820_102106.jpg
20170820_102106.jpg (137.84 KiB) Viewed 187 times
The trip down was pretty uneventful, if a bit long. Had to get off of 75 on the south side of Cincinatti, and the GPS managed to take me straight through some pretty seedy areas. Also, learning to drive a manual transmission through the foothills of Appalachia while towing a trailer? Not fun.

In any case, the only other issue of note was the time I was driving with my windows down in 90 degree weather because my air conditioner is broke and got caught behind a semi.

Full of chickens.

:drunk

Anyway, eight hours later, and everything made it unscathed.
20170820_195145.jpg
20170820_195145.jpg (161.04 KiB) Viewed 187 times
I showed up a bit late to do any local riding, but I did grab some dinner at a local Shoneys. I also got a pleasant surprise on the way back out.
20170820_203023.jpg
20170820_203023.jpg (166.84 KiB) Viewed 187 times
The plan tomorrow is to get up early, grab breakfast at the hotel, then find a store to grab some bits and bobs for a pinhole camera to watch the eclipse. I'll run down the Dragon ideally before noon, then chill at the Dam until 2:30 for the eclipse. Until then!
1997 Valkyrie- Light Cutomization, but Too Busy Riding
1980 KZ1300- Bike's Haunted
1976 GL1000 (Yellow)- It Runs (Poorly) and Doesn't Leak (Mostly)
1974 Velosolex 3800- Better Than Walking
1972 CB750- Broke the Chain And Ate the Motor
1969 CT90- The Most Fun You Can Have on 90ccs.
1965 CA77 Dream- Needs a Full Teardown, but Complete

All advice I give is only valid until an expert corrects me.
User avatar
Lucien Harpress
Honored Life Member
Honored Life Member
Posts: 4077
Joined: Sat Dec 24, 2011 11:41 am
Location: Michigan

Re: Deal's Gap Eclipse Trip

#26

Post by Lucien Harpress »

So, stupidly long day today, and I'm exhausted. I'll do a full post-mortem later, but here's the bullet points.

-Ran the Dragon twice (man, ain't that fun!).
-Swam in a resevoir.
-1000 started playing up a bit (bogging from about 4k-5k). Might be heat or altitude related, but we'll deep dive later.
- Oh yeah, and the sun shut off.
20170821_143506.jpg
20170821_143506.jpg (17.37 KiB) Viewed 171 times
1997 Valkyrie- Light Cutomization, but Too Busy Riding
1980 KZ1300- Bike's Haunted
1976 GL1000 (Yellow)- It Runs (Poorly) and Doesn't Leak (Mostly)
1974 Velosolex 3800- Better Than Walking
1972 CB750- Broke the Chain And Ate the Motor
1969 CT90- The Most Fun You Can Have on 90ccs.
1965 CA77 Dream- Needs a Full Teardown, but Complete

All advice I give is only valid until an expert corrects me.
User avatar
CYBORG
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 24536
Joined: Mon Jan 14, 2008 12:52 pm
Location: Muskegon mich

Re: Deal's Gap Eclipse Trip

#27

Post by CYBORG »

Sounds like a fun trip
1978 custom GL1000
1977 custom with 1200 engine
1985 gl1200
User avatar
Old Fogey
Honored Life Member
Honored Life Member
Posts: 7702
Joined: Mon Aug 27, 2007 11:31 pm
Location: Glasgow, Scotland
Contact:

Re: Deal's Gap Eclipse Trip

#28

Post by Old Fogey »

CYBORG wrote:Sounds like a fun trip
Yeah, jealous as all heck!
"Impossible Is Just a Level of Difficulty!..."
If I'd wanted you to understand, I would have explained it better! (Johann Cruyff)
I’d give my right arm to be ambidextrous! :-D
User avatar
mr west
Titanium Member
Titanium Member
Posts: 329
Joined: Tue Aug 17, 2010 7:24 pm
Location: Sweden

Re: Deal's Gap Eclipse Trip

#29

Post by mr west »

I need to catch those roads at some point! Will be hard to coincide with an eclipse though!
1976 GL1000
1979 GL1000 Vetter
User avatar
Whiskerfish
President
President
Posts: 36850
Joined: Thu Feb 16, 2006 9:34 pm
My Album: http://www.ngwclub.com/gallery/v/wingmans/whiskerfish/
Location: Norfolk Va

Re: Deal's Gap Eclipse Trip

#30

Post by Whiskerfish »

The gap itself is OK but for me personally I enjoyed the roads in the area more than the Dragon in specific. More sweepers and less idiots trying to impress themselves. I have only run it maybe 15 times but I find it hard to relax on.
"Agreement is not a requirement for Respect" CDR Michael Smith USN (Ret) 2017
"The book is wrong, this whole Conclusion is Fallacious" River Tam
2008 GL1800 IIIA "TH3DOG"
1975/6/7/8/9 Arthur Fulmer Dressed Road bike
1975 Naked Noisy and Nasty in town bike
and a whole garage full of possibilities!!

Psst. oh and by the way CHANGE YOUR BELTS!!!!
Post Reply
  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post

Return to “All Runs World Wide”