Summer 2010 Great Adventure Tour: 8 States in 10 days
An invitation was offered to all OPHOG members in October 2009 and planning meeting involving eight riders in November set the route and some of the destinations/events along the way. (See the maps below) A second planning meeting for those interested in joining the Great Adventure Tour prior to the January 16 chapter meeting at the Fleet Reserve considered lodging along the route.
The Great Adventure Ride gave OPHOG members a chance to see great sights, enjoy new places, ride spectacular roads, and, most importantly, develop lasting friendships with other Harley-Davidson riders.
Dates: Departed Friday, June 18. Returned Sunday, June 27.
Distance: About 2,700 miles. Some were on highways but as much as possible were on scenic backroads with plenty of twisties to learn why they put tread on the sides of the tires. Out-of-the-way eateries, unusual road side attractions and a great view of America from two wheels.
The interactive map below shows places on the route. You can zoom in to see more detail and click on locations for more information.
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Day 1 351 miles
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Day 2 285 miles
After an early start to get past Atlanta, Interstate through Chattanooga, passing along the foot of historic Lookout Mountain, then a classic American highway--US 41--through some of East Tennessee's rugged mountains. A tour of the Jack Daniels distillery filled the middle of the day. Then Honky Tonkin' in Nashville.
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Day 3 210 miles
A short ride north of Nashville was America's largest cave system is located at Mammoth Cave National Park . Then after lunch headed east across Kentucky to London. (No, not London, England, London, Kentucky.)
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Day 4 232 miles
Some of the most beautiful scenery and riding country in Kentucky and West Virgina made Day 4 a great day to be on two wheels. Lots of twisties made it clear we're no longer in Florida. In West Virginia, when you see a road sign with a curved arrow that says 15 MPH, they mean it.
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Day 5 188 miles
A short ride on Day 5, but we didn't even leave Beckley, West Virginia, until after noon. The group members had their choice of touring the West Virginia cultural center at Tamarac, taking a ride to the New River Gorge or just resting at the hotel. The day's ride had its up and downs, though, as we motored east over four or five ridges that give the Blue Ridge system its name.
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Days 6 & 7 Blue Ridge Parkway 450 miles
The next two days were spent traveling the entire length of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Some curves on the road were testy, but most were gentle, following ridge tops that provide great views in all directions. Even though the distances each day weren't great, we enjoyed 9-10 hours of riding. Rain suits came out twice on this stretch; afternoon mountain showers are common.
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Day 8 Dragon's Tail and Cherohala Skyway
The Dragons' Tail in North Carolina has become legendary among bikers. The Cherohala Skyway in many ways is a better ride than the Dragon because there is actually some time to look at the scenery. The only scenery you'll see on the Dragon's Tail is black asphalt and the yellow center line. A great day of just riding through the North Carolina Mountains.
Day 9 349 miles
A largely interstate highway ride to Charleston, with arrival early enough to take in some of the historic sites in a truly historic southern city. A carriage ride along the battery and through old shops and timeless neighborhoods made our last afternoon on the road as memorable as the other eight afternoons that preceded it. That evening, we enjoyed a special dinner at Jestine's restaurant and reminisced about our Great Adventure.
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Day 10 300 miles
A final group brunch before the final push home. We took plenty of great memories and, no doubt, thousands of pictures back to Orange Park.
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