great last fall leaves outing

[motoswami]

The fall colors were in their last glow when we spent a few days camping at Ironhorse Motorcycle Lodge/Campground in Stecoah, NC these past few days. This location is immediately south of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, close to Lake Fontana, and in the middle of some truly wonderful roads offering all types of riding. We discovered that some of our old favorite unpaved back roads from the adventure riding days have now become serpentine ribbons of asphalt, thanks to North Carolina's commitment to paving the planet. Now that we're on a Spyder, that opens up some options, as I truly don't enjoy the risk of getting stones caught in the belt, and the suspension on our ST isn't motocross-friendly. Hard to dodge serious potholes with three wheel tracks to keep up with, as well.
That said, the rides along Old Field Gap, Yellow Creek, and Meadow Branch Roads (all between highways 129 and 28) were smooth sailing through canopies of yellow, red and orange. The nights were crisp and the days rain-free. Sometimes you wish you could freeze a moment, and enjoy it in its perfection forever.

 

[DGoebel]

Nice! Thanks for the report! Someday I gotta get my Spyder down there... Thinking about winter storage here in MN

 

[ARtraveler]

Glad to hear that fall is still happening in some places. Our leaves are gone and we got 3 inches of snow this week end. It is pretty out though. :thumbup:

 

[Deanna777]

Nice to hear that there is still some fall colors somewhere.

Here in Vermont the fall foliage is gone, just waiting for the snow( White/Gold Fungus) to get here. So I can start other winter activity.

My spyder is in hibernation.

That picture reminds me of Route 108 ( near Stowe, VT) Smugglers Notch, it is very twisty, several times a year tractor trailers/buses get stuck in the notch. They close the road during the winter months.

Deanna

 

[Chupaca]

We have some.....

somewhere stuck inbetween the Forever green ones...:roflblack: Did enjoy them when we lived in CT and know everyone loves them till the trees let go of them...:banghead:

 

[trikermutha]

We just had our first freeze today :yikes: Snow rain on Saturday :yikes:

 

[bushrat]

me too

Did much of the same rydes as OP this past weekend, Sat/Sun 4/5 Nov. '17. Decided to trailer my Spyder south for winter enjoyment in FL, and made the detour through Maggie Valley, highly encouraged by earlier SL reports of the Spyder gathering there. Weather was great and riding was gorgeous, although I drove through heavy rains getting there earlier on Sat. Arrived with enough time to get in a couple of hours on the Blue Ridge and 441 Saturday afternoon; then rode 19, 28 and 129 Sunday morning, over through Cherokee and back to MV, before heading to FL. Wonderful experience, and full justification for my impulsive Spyder purchase last spring. Everyone should do this. Here are a few of my 'proof' pics (will try to post more on FB). Hope you enjoy the color as much as I did. Cheers.

 

[bushrat]

and just a few more

a few more color pics; regrettably, I saw not even one other Spyder in the two days, although did spot two slingshots (who waved), a couple of beautiful Goldwing trikes, and hundreds, maybe even a thousand other two wheelers, and all kinds of young studs in their 4-wheel German, Japanese and Italian 'rally' cages, all loudly charging through the hills. I wasn't in a hurry, didn't win any race trophies, but, all being said, I likely didn't quite finish dead last either. But, I did finish the Dragon both ways, and alive.

 

[motoswami]

Smugler's Notch

Nice to hear that there is still some fall colors somewhere.

Here in Vermont the fall foliage is gone, just waiting for the snow( White/Gold Fungus) to get here. So I can start other winter activity.

My spyder is in hibernation.

That picture reminds me of Route 108 ( near Stowe, VT) Smugglers Notch, it is very twisty, several times a year tractor trailers/buses get stuck in the notch. They close the road during the winter months.

Deanna:

I have ridden Smuggler's Notch on a 2-wheeler. You folk have some great roads in your neck of the woods.
We planned a camping trip earlier this fall near Burlington but turned around halfway there to visit a friend in-between cancer treatments when she was "up." It was a good choice and we enjoyed some special time. Maybe we'll hit Vermont in fall of 2018.

 

[motoswami]

Leesburg?

Did much of the same rydes as OP this past weekend, Sat/Sun 4/5 Nov. '17. Decided to trailer my Spyder south for winter enjoyment in FL, and made the detour through Maggie Valley, highly encouraged by earlier SL reports of the Spyder gathering there. Weather was great and riding was gorgeous, although I drove through heavy rains getting there earlier on Sat. Arrived with enough time to get in a couple of hours on the Blue Ridge and 441 Saturday afternoon; then rode 19, 28 and 129 Sunday morning, over through Cherokee and back to MV, before heading to FL. Wonderful experience, and full justification for my impulsive Spyder purchase last spring. Everyone should do this. Here are a few of my 'proof' pics (will try to post more on FB). Hope you enjoy the color as much as I did. Cheers.
View attachment 155358View attachment 155359View attachment 155360View attachment 155361View attachment 155362

Bushrat:

Looks like you managed to hit some of the South's finest pavement on your way to Leesburg. We have a place in Zephyrhills, a short distance southwest of you. Let's remember to connect for a ride this winter. I'm trailering the F3 down initially, hoping to sell it in the Tampa market. Then going back home to get the ST to have there for the remainder of the winter.

 

[Pirate looks at --]

Well

We are starting to get some fall colors around here! We are a little slow on the fall uptake out here in California! :roflblack:

 

[Deanna777]

Nice to hear that there is still some fall colors somewhere.

Here in Vermont the fall foliage is gone, just waiting for the snow( White/Gold Fungus) to get here. So I can start other winter activity.

My spyder is in hibernation.

That picture reminds me of Route 108 ( near Stowe, VT) Smugglers Notch, it is very twisty, several times a year tractor trailers/buses get stuck in the notch. They close the road during the winter months.

Deanna:

I have ridden Smuggler's Notch on a 2-wheeler. You folk have some great roads in your neck of the woods.
We planned a camping trip earlier this fall near Burlington but turned around halfway there to visit a friend in-between cancer treatments when she was "up." It was a good choice and we enjoyed some special time. Maybe we'll hit Vermont in fall of 2018.

Yes, the Smuggler's Notch is a awesome motorcycle/car road( in the summer it is very busy, with hikers, walkers, people camping) Yea, If you do hit Vermont in the fall of 2018, send me a pm, I'll give you a tour. Deanna