We liked the place we stayed at on the second day and would recommend it as a base point for another trip. It was within easy reach of the Ashville / Boone area as we ran the entire area from it on the second day.
There were no downsides to this entire trip, the weather was cool and beautiful, the 3:00 PM afternoon rain showers were completely predictable (we simply stopped and ate dinner while they did their little shower thing -- the pavement was dry by the time we finished dessert), we had zero mechanical issues, no accidents, no traffic tickets, no traffic issues whatsoever except on the Parkway and that was due to ongoing repair work that was taking place to the tunnels and such up there. We stayed off the Parkway accordingly.
I had no issues with any cars or buses or trucks or 16 wheelers or Hurleys or sportscars or anything up there at any time, nothing impeded or slowed or irritated me more than momentarily on the entire trip -- it wuz simply wonderful peacefully riding about in the mountains.
And we found roads !!! Lots and lots and lots of great riding roads !!!One was the equal or better to the Dragon, especially if they finally get around to paving the last little section of it up at the very tippy top. In addition to Dragon tight paved curves it has like 10 repeated 360 degree switchbacks going up a really steep mountain side. Impressive to say the least.
Really good riding roads !!!
Now, to those of you who said you were coming and didn't show up, I think you owe MMRanch some money for the cabin reservations he ate because you chickened out on the trip.
('nuff said on that topic)