The race is held going uphill  



I haven't found how far down the foot pegs on the 650 yet , but the weight reminds me of the 883 Sportster , with a lower center of gravity !  

I'm trying to : "Don't ride like a Hooligan'"  , Some times I see a curvy road and forget ... sorry ...  

We should act our age ... sometimes ... at least !    



Being that far leaned over on a 400 pound bike and loosing traction up front  doesn't bother me much , but the thought of being on a 500 pound bike , leaned over to the max , then loosing traction on the front wheel ... that's kind of unnerving .


Time to be down shifting two gears and pouring in the fuel !   Looks like it going to take a lot of power to pull this off  !!  
But
I'd wager this feller has already lost his nerve , and is fixating on that on-coming-vehicle ?  

Here is the schedule for this years Fiddies4Life races at Deals Gap.

Stewmills and I went to one of these races last fall, and it was a lot of fun.

After we are all home and have had some time to recover - we should plan a trip to ride in TN/NC on a weekend when we can see one of these races.

We can try the Kickstand Lodge if you want.  They have clean bathrooms and good rates - the past few years the facilities have been degrading and they no longer cook meals (or even have a grill or oven that functions).
https://kickstandlodge.com/

Stewmills and I stayed in a tent at the Iron Horse last fall.  The campground is in the trees and well shaded - not the best situation when it rains as it takes a long time for things to dry out.  They have a wonderful kitchen that is open for breakfast and dinner, a nice lodge and firepit, clean showers and bathroom, and covered parking for your motorcycle!  More expensive than the Kickstand - but it is much nicer.
https://ironhorsenc.com/rv-%26-tent-camping

MMRanch wrote on 03/31/24 at 21:56:31:


I looked at the web page for Deal Gap, and the tent camping rate is not posted.  It is first come/first serve.

The last time I stayed at the Deals Gap hotel I got a "big" surprise.  For years I have slept in my little 4x8 enclosed trailer in the parking lot, and they always charged me the same as a tent.....last year when I did that they charged me $40 a night for my car being parked in their lot!  Evidently they have become so popular that they run out of parking spaces for the folks in the rooms - and their website now states that campers and RV's are prohibited.  To prevent unwanted parking they now charge extra to park overnight if you don't have a hotel room (the website seems to indicate that tent campers also need to pay $40 a night to use the parking lot......tent rates only apply if you rode in on a motorcycle).

So for me......staying at Deals Gap (Dragon Central) is not likely - unless we got enough people to rent a room or I rode in on a bike and stayed in a tent.  The reason I don't like the idea of getting a room is that you cannot cancel your reservation for free if the weather turns crappy.

MM:

I believe you should give the Iron Horse a try.  It is on the road near Mo's - you and I and Stew road back there once after we washed the bikes at Mo's.

It is a very nice place - affordable in a tent, expensive in an RV at $80 a night for electric/water/sewer!

The food is great!

MMRanch wrote on 04/01/24 at 17:47:04:



It is a bit surprising - but $80 a night for a full hookup to park your camper or RV at a "nice" privately owned place is not all that unusual anymore.  Campgrounds that are located at popular tourist sites are in demand and the prices reflect that.  State Parks are considerably cheaper however - but during peak seasons you need to plan well in advance.  The Kickstand Lodge charges $30 a night for an RV...they are definitely a bargain.

Hotel rooms are getting to be expensive as well in our current economy.  Two Wheel Inn in Robbinsville is $100 a night for the first 2 people, $10 a night for extra people.  Deals Gap is $94 a night for 1-2 people with $10 a person for more than 2.  The Quality Inn at Robbinsville is $110 a night.

Tent Camping is definitely the way to go if you want to hold on to your motorcycle funds.  The Kickstand Lodge is $25 a night for one person and $5 a night for your snuggle buddy.  Tent Camping at the Iron Horse is $35.99 a night for 1 person - $8 additional for each extra person.  Deals Gap doesn't have a camping rate listed on their webpage currently - it likely is $20-$30 a night.

When Deb and I were on 129 a couple weeks ago - we saw a sign at the end of Happy Valley that advertised the Abrams Creek Campground.  When I got home I looked it up.  It is pretty much tent camping only, and they have flush toilets but no showers.  The cost is $30 a night per campsite:
https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/abrams-creek-campground.htm  

It is sad to say - but the $15 tent sites and $40 cabin rental are gone!

That's Sunday the 14th ... right ?  

.....................

verslagen1 wrote on 04/02/24 at 07:36:42:


Verslagen.....I believe yesterday was the proper day for that message.

Hopefully you have enough gas to get somewhere you can hold up until you can get another dollar to get home.