Great River Ride - any recommendations?

[EverydayRiding]

My wife and I are heading up to Itasca today and then will be riding the entire length of the Mississippi down to the Gulf. After that, we intend to ride around in the South. We hope to ride the blue ridge parkway and related nearby roads. On the return trip we will also likely stop at the AMA museum. We'll be gone about 20 days or so.

Does anyone have any good roads or other recommendations?

I will be blogging as I go. If you are interested: http://www.everydayriding.org

Thanks!
-Chris

[flyinlow]

These are some good websites where you can look up roads by state

http://www.motorcycleroads.us/
http://www.tntrailsandbyways.com/
http://www.byways.org/
http://www.motorcycleroads.com/
http://www.openroadjourney.com/
http://www.sundaymorningrides.com/

[Ray916MN]

Sounds like an incredible trip!

If you follow the Mississippi one way, you might want to consider following the Appalachian Ridge the other way. There are so many great roads around the Appalachian Ridge you could easily spend a month just riding around the ridge and never ride all the roads.

There are several notable roads which naturally roughly lead to each other along the ridge. From south to north:

- Natchez Trace Parkway
- Blue Ridge Parkway
- US 212 (VA)
- OH SR 555

All 4 have made Motorcyclist Magazine's 10 best roads list at one time or another over the years.

[Stinger]

Stay hydrated; hopefully you guys have a camelback setup to drink from on the run.

Hint: When done drinking blow the liquid out of the hose back into the bag so it doesn’t get hot.

Soo jealous!

[Powershouse]

You and Vickie have fun!

Barber Motosprots Museum in Birmingham, AL is a must-do stop.

Kevin

[EverydayRiding]

Thanks for the tips all.

Ray, exactly the specific advice I was looking for. We do plan to hit the mountains after getting down to the gulf.

Stinger, we do have camelbacks. Nice tip on blowing back into the bladder.

Kevin, I will add it to the list. If we are in the area, we will have to check it out. What did you like best about it?

[Streeter]

Which bike or bikes do you two plan to ride?

Paul Streeter

[EverydayRiding]

Which bike or bikes do you two plan to ride?

Paul Streeter

I Paul, we're two up on the SV650. I'm posting daily on my website: http://everydayriding.org (for pics and details). We rode from Itasca to Brainerd today... found entirely too much gravel for two-up on a sportbike. Would have been much more fun on the WR250R.

[mngir1]

If you do the Cherohala Skyway, be sure to hit the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest and take the hiking path.

I liked Hwy 28/Hellbender better than the Dragon.

Warwoman Road in Northern Georgia is nice and connects to Hwy 28.

I will email you a file with some routes including OH555, which I didn't get to take due to weather!

~ d

[EverydayRiding]

If you do the Cherohala Skyway, be sure to hit the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest and take the hiking path.

I liked Hwy 28/Hellbender better than the Dragon.

Warwoman Road in Northern Georgia is nice and connects to Hwy 28.

I will email you a file with some routes including OH555, which I didn't get to take due to weather!

thanks Darcy.

PS: riding WI-35 in the middle of the night is exciting!

[gdawgs]

I think it was the devils triangle down around Cherohola Skyway.  That as also better than the dragon.  be safe.   

[EverydayRiding]

I think it was the devils triangle down around Cherohola Skyway.  That as also better than the dragon.  be safe.   

thanks. we have added Cherohola Skyway to the list. Made it to AR today. Should be in Baton Rouge in two days.