Surf and Turf Tour

[bush]

EDIT: This post updated 4/28/08

I was going to wait until I had most of my route figured out before creating a thread, but I thought more about it since Wakey brought it up in my ride report thread and thought it would be better to do it now. That way I'd have more time to collaborate with members and try to meet up with a few people along the way.

The name Surf and Turf was decided because I'll be riding mountains from Pennsylvania to Tennessee (turf) and coastline from Florida to Delaware (surf). I'm so creative it hurts sometimes. I'll be camping as many nights as possible along the way, and at this point it looks like I'll be traveling alone, so the Kat will be loaded to capacity.

I'll start day before dawn and hit the slab from Williamsport to State College PA to get a good start. I'll get on PA 26 south in State College and immediately begin the scenic tour to the Maryland border.

I'll be cutting through one of the skinniest sections of Maryland via Green Ridge State Park, then onto WV 29. Follow 29 south until it meets WV 55, then travel east into Front Royal VA where I'll jump onto Skyline Drive and begin the trek down the Blue Ridge Parkway.

This is where the itinerary is thrown to the wind. I don't know how far I'll make it down the parkway before stopping for the night, which basically makes every day after questionable as far as time or destination.

Anyway, I'll travel the entire parkway to US 441 in North Carolina, follow US 19 to SC 28, into US 129 to ride the Dragon. Up the Dragon into Tennessee, follow 129 > 72 > 441 > 360 > 165 > 143 (Cherahola Skyway Loop) and back onto US129 in Robbinsville, NC.

I'll be following US129 into GA180 int GA348 to ride the Richard B. Russel Scenic Highway, and onto GA75 to hook up with US129 once again. Then I'll follow US129 again until it meets up with US441, then it's a long ride into Florida.

That's what I have so far.

I'll more than likely be spending a night in Orlando then heading up the coast. I don't have that part planned out yet.

EDIT: Plans have changed a bit, so I'll be heading as far south as Ft. Myers FL to visit family along the way. That will probably be the southernmost point of the trip.

If you're along my route and want to meet up for some turns and lunch, and/or you have suggestions for this part of the trip, let me know! I'll update this post with more info as I figure it out.

Right now I'm looking for resources that list campsites, cost, ameneties, etc. because I have no idea where I'll be stopping. I have a good idea of available campsites along the parkway, so that won't be a problem, as well as the coast of NC and SC.

I've managed to get another week off work, so the trip is actually extended until June 15th. If the trip ends up being 4,000 miles, I can average 400 miles a day and still have 2 days along the way to stop for a day and just relax.

[Goin Ape Nutz]

i have a new found respect for you.

awesome pictures, in that last thread that is... can't wait for the pictures from this planned ride.

[Wakey]

Here is a loop that has the Dragon included. This way you can catch Cherohala also. Tail of the Dragon at Deals Gap and Cherohala Skyway, Graham Co, NC

Here is a popular loop in N. Georgia. http://www.deadzonevideo.com/Map/loop.htm

Here is a collection of nice maps. Maps

If it were me I would never end up below North Georgia. So many roads to ride in the tri-state area.

This is the Richard Russell "raceway" Another Cherohala Skyway type road with little or no access for people trying to kill you. Visibility is outstanding for fast runs on this one and you can visit Helen Georgia at the end. http://www.deadzonevideo.com/Map/hwy348.htm

I'll get with some of my riding group and see if we can compile some nice routes for you to think about.

[bush]

I may have to re-evaluate my route through Georgia.

[bush]

Bump

Wakey, you've convinced me to take the Skyway loop. I'll pick it up via NC 28 and end up at US129 in Robbinsville, NC.



I'll follow US129 into GA180 into GA348 to ride this:



Then south on GA75 into US129.

From there I'll follow US129 south until it reaches US441 outside of Athens, GA. If anybody in N. Georgia is reading this, what can I expect from 129?

Then it's a long, uneventful ride on 441 until I get into Florida. More to follow once I figure it out.

[jjake]

when are you going and coming back, have a place in the mountains going up and back soon, could ride with you

[bush]

Tentative dates are May 29-June 8.

[Vstromer]

I can't help you with your trip up the coast until you get to Virginia Beach VA. Once you get into Virginia Beach, you have to experience the Chesapeake Bay Bridge tunnel, and make sure you stop at the rest stop in the middle. Follow 13 north to VA 175 into Chincoteague Island. When you leave Chincoteague on 175, head north on Va 679 into MD where it becomes MD 12. Follow MD 12 to 113 N. Take 113 N to Berlin MD and head east on 376. 376 dead ends on 611. You can go south to Assateague Island National park, or head north to Rt 50. Take 50 east into Ocean City MD, and then N on coastal Highway into DE. Coastal Highway turns into DE 1 and will take you through Dewey Beach and Rehoboth Beach. Traffic in Ocean City MD and Rehobeth can get rough with lots of stop lights, so if you want to skip them, stay north on 113 instead of turning on 376.

Let us know about when you plan to make that run through Md down to Skyline Drive. If it's a Saturday, we would love to meet up and ride that section with you.

[bush]

Sent you a PM.

[Vstromer]

Originally Posted by bush

Sent you a PM.

Got it, and I'm filling out the leave request for work right now.

[stefrrr]

That's some of the best riding in the Southeast. N. Georgia is one my favorite places to visit because there's not a lot of traffic - especially if you make it on a weekday.

Ga. Route 60 is a lot of fun. 180 between 129 (Vogel State Park) and Suches is on par with the dragon and has less traffic. Narrow and spooky-fun. The other side (heading East) is just ok.

A good place to stay is Franklin, NC. There's a place called the Colonial Inn on 441. They're cheap & clean.

There are a ton of fantastic roads in that area. It's really hard to end up on a bad one.

Oh, but be careful if you ride through Dillard, Ga.

[zero!]

Originally Posted by Vstromer

I can't help you with your trip up the coast until you get to Virginia Beach VA. Once you get into Virginia Beach, you have to experience the Chesapeake Bay Bridge tunnel, and make sure you stop at the rest stop in the middle. Follow 13 north to VA 175 into Chincoteague Island. When you leave Chincoteague on 175, head north on Va 679 into MD where it becomes MD 12. Follow MD 12 to 113 N. Take 113 N to Berlin MD and head east on 376. 376 dead ends on 611. You can go south to Assateague Island National park, or head north to Rt 50. Take 50 east into Ocean City MD, and then N on coastal Highway into DE. Coastal Highway turns into DE 1 and will take you through Dewey Beach and Rehoboth Beach. Traffic in Ocean City MD and Rehobeth can get rough with lots of stop lights, so if you want to skip them, stay north on 113 instead of turning on 376.

Let us know about when you plan to make that run through Md down to Skyline Drive. If it's a Saturday, we would love to meet up and ride that section with you.

whats so great about the ches tunnel? its like $10 to cross and windy as hell.

[bush]

Updated my original post. Added another week to the trip for some breathing room, and now I'm planning my stops along the coastline.

[bush]

Planned my stops on the way back.

Staying in Ft. Myers for a day. From there I'll be heading to Jekyll Island, GA for a night.

From Jekyll Island to Edisto Beach, SC for a night.

Edisto Beach to Carolina State Park in NC for a night.

Carolina State Park to Cape Hatteras NC, where I'll probably spend a day or two at the Cape Hatteras KOA. Right on the beach.

After a stay in Cape Hatteras, I'll head north to Cape Henlopen, DE for at least one night.

And the final stage of the trip will take me from Cape Henlopen back to Williamsport, PA.

Google Maps says 1600-ish miles, but I expect to rack up about 2000 on the return trip.

Camping every night, everybody do me a favor and cross your fingers for good weather.

[bush]

Less than 42 hours remaining!

Going to try to hit 600 miles the first day, should put me in good position to make it to FL by Tuesday.