Vermont to North Carolina

[roninvt]

I am heading from Burlington, VT to Mebane, NC next week.  Thought I would check out Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway, as I have never ridden them.  Any thoughts/suggestions regarding camping, things not to miss and burger joints on the way.  Also, I am looking for a good route from Burlington, VT to Front Royal, VA. 

Thanks

[greenmtrider]

So how was the trip last April?.

[roninvt]

Hi fellow Vermonter!!  I did my trip last September.  It was a great ride, I did mostly secondary roads from VT to Front Royal VA, then Skyline Drive to Blue Ridge Parkway.  Detoured to Mebane NC to visit my brother.  Then took the slab to Cherokee hopped on BRP and did the trip home. An great ride..awesome roads, (the traffic is not too bad in September), The scenery was amazing. I took quite a few pictures.   I think the foliage was peaking or just past peaking.  lots of bambis, which made late evening and early morning riding a tad sketchy.   I met neat people everywhere, some of them even rode Harleys!  :laugh  Just starting to plan a trip to Nova Scotia for early summer and hopefully another run to NC in the fall.  Where in VT are you?  We should go for a ride and burgers! 

[greenmtrider]

I am 40min north of Burl.  the small town of Fairfax.  Your ride sounded great  thanks for that report.  Starting to get the itch spent the last couple of nights getting the 1100lt ready for summer.

[roninvt]

Fairfax is not too far from Burlington. I noticed the Country Pantry is open again.  Any good? My bike is still in storage, but I have been out for a few short rides.  I think I will be caving in to the desire to bring it home this weekend.  There is only a 20-30%chance of snow!  :laugh

[greenmtrider]

Almost went for a jaunt Thursday but just couldn't.  The Panty is ok i usually head over to Jef.  the pub under the INN is fantastic.  Also a great place to sit out side in the summer months.

[greenmtrider]

I hope you were able to get out today?.  It was a great day temp around 50 deg and very little wind.  I was able to get to Stow and watch the skiers and ask my self should I head for home.  Nope this ride is too good to stop now :yes

[roninvt]

I did get out today.  It was a beautiful day!!  Cruised from Burlington to Vergennes, stopped for breakfast at 3 Squares.  Then down to Crown Point, crossed the bridge into New York, north to essex, took a ferry ride across the lake  and up 7 home.   

[greenmtrider]

Thats a great ride, when I lived in SB I use to do that loop once a month.

[Westone]

... (the traffic is not too bad in September), The scenery was amazing. I took quite a few pictures.   I think the foliage was peaking or just past peaking.  ... and hopefully another run to NC in the fall.

Must have been just prior to peak color. Peak weekend is usually around mid October here. And the traffic on the BRP then is horrible. Always some big a$$ RV creeping along the tight turns on the parkway with a long line of cages behind. Of course weekdays wouldn't be so bad. And the rest of the year not nearly so bad. And for those not familiar with the Blue Ridge Parkway, it is narrow two lanes with no paved shoulder the whole way, and opportunities to pass are few and far between, even for a bike. When it is not crowded it is a beautiful ride and definitely worth a trip.

I just acquired an '88 K75 and hope to hit the parkway this coming weekend. It is one of the nice attractions about living in NC.

[greenmtrider]

The Panty is open once again under another new owner.  I will have to check it out this weekend, help wanted sign out front.  A great place to eat is the PUB in Jeffersonville,  It sits under the INN on the right side of the road on the way to Smuggs. 

[roninvt]

Hi greenmtrider,

I had breakfast at the new Pantry a few weeks ago. Crab & spinach omelet. Pretty good.  Ya  the Pub is a good stop after a cruise through Pleasant Valley.  Haven't been there yet this year.  Cruised the "Kanc" to white horse gear in No. Conway NH last weekend. Came back through Crawford Notch.  A great ride!

[greenmtrider]

Saturday I and a fellow rider made our way to the north side of the Hudson river NY to do some white water rafting.  That was a day I will never forget.  Great weather, great ride down and back.  Got to check out the new bridge finally nice view from the top.