Big ride coming up, need some suggestions

[The Duke]

You asked about camping apps. I like All Stays Camp and Tent. It's not free, but it is cheap (like me). I'm also trying out AirBnB to find alternatives to hotels. I'm not totally sold on it yet, but it is free and at least entertaining. For hotels, I generally use Priceline when I'm on the bike.

Phil, I'm really interested in the new Chinavasion 5" GPS. I'm hoping someone will have one to show off at NatSTOC. I'm also hoping you get the bugs worked out of the motorcycle skin by then.

 

[Ashley]

http://www.willvillebikecamp.com/

Not quite where you are talking, but a good place near the BRP.

+100 Great spot. Friendly owner. CampSTOC was here a few years ago.

 

[paulcb]

+100 Great spot. Friendly owner. CampSTOC was here a few years ago.

Thanks for the confirmation Ashley, plan on staying there, night 2.

 

[paulcb]

Well, I started my NJ to TX trip yesterday. Camped at Mathews Arm campground just off Skyline Dr. in the SNP. A couple shots from yesterday...

Headed down skyline dr to BRP to Willville Bike Camp tonight. Except for a few spots of rain, the weather's been nice.

 

[gmast1100]

Paul, continue having fun and ride safe!
Gary

 

[paulcb]

Thanks Gary.

Skyline and BRP are great! Overall, BRP is a little better (faster )but Skyline has better pavement... nearly perfect in most places. Saw quite a few bikes, most headed North. One black ST11, one BMW, a few ADV's and the rest Harley's. Heading South, it felt like I had Skyline & BRP all to myself for 90% of the time. Was really a tremendous 5 hours of nothing but curve after curve after curve!

Hanging out at chic-fil-a now before I get to Willville. Gonna get there sooner than expected.

 

[paulcb]

Well, I finally made it back home last night after 8 days and 2200 miles on the road. What a great trip, with only 4 hours on Interstate, the rest on back roads. I did the full length of each... Skyline Drive, Blue Ridge Parkway, Dragon (twice), Cherohala and Talimena. Note, the Talimena is closed a couple miles from the West end... we rode down past the closed signs and were turned away by the workers. Rode back to 259. Will post some pics and a few more details later.

My ST11 did great, my neck not so much. After several days, I was getting quite a bit of pain between my shoulder blades, something I've not experienced before.

Thanks for all the comments and suggestions.

 

[st1300r]

Glad you enjoyed your trip.
Sore neck might be posture. Easy to do when you get tire. Try keeping your shoulders down sit more upright and support yourself with you legs and core don't lean on the bars with your arms.

 

[Mellow]

Sorry about Talimena dr being closed, first I ever heard of that but probably good as you may have come back via 75 and the bridge over the red river was closed for a while with high water - yup - very high water to reach that bridge... Glad to see you had a good trip.

 

[paulcb]

Glad you enjoyed your trip.
Sore neck might be posture. Easy to do when you get tire. Try keeping your shoulders down sit more upright and support yourself with you legs and core don't lean on the bars with your arms.

Thanks st1300r. It probably was posture but I tried every possible position on that bike with little relief. I even used my drybag as a backrest, which was pretty comfortable, but still had problems. Also, I have 3.5" Rox Risers. Heck, it was even a little sore this morning after my 40 minute ride to work.

 

[paulcb]

Sorry about Talimena dr being closed, first I ever heard of that but probably good as you may have come back via 75 and the bridge over the red river was closed for a while with high water - yup - very high water to reach that bridge... Glad to see you had a good trip.

Thanks Joe. It was just the last 2 miles of the Talimena so not really too bad. FWIW, the Talimena road surface is great in AR, gets much worse as soon as you cross the line into OK.

Can't believe the Red got that high to close 75! We crossed on 37 out of Idabel about 5pm yesterday. The Red was really rolling under us... I've never seen it flowing so much.

 

[paulcb]

Congrats on a good long trip.
Without rereading the whole thread, I can say that for me, the ST1100 HeliBars were the best thing since sliced bread.

Yep, I love my Rox Risers. Not pretty, but very functional! Now I just need a better seat!