JBlog: June 2013

Blowing Rock, NC at Meadowbrook Inn
June 25 - 28 (second rally on our 1920 mile trip)
Trip Report by Tony and Jill Barcia

This part of our trip was from Georgetown, KY to Blowing Rock, NC
305 miles, 5 hours 45 minutes

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The big mistake was following the GPS onto 221 ... 18 miles 34 minutes. More like an hour of exactly what NOT to do on a K1200 LT pulling a trailer! After Linville on 221 it gets really narrow and twisty (not to mention the road work with one lane closed) - the GS Adventure guys would have loved this. Don't always follow your GPS's directions for the shortest route!!

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Arriving at Meadowbrook Inn

Good timing again. Right after we arrived Bill drove in from a ride and then we saw Becky and Paul.

Meadowbrook Inn is a beautiful resort and we had rooms in the main building. Tuesday afternoon we picked up our t-shirts and another sticker to put on the bike. Tuesday night Bill, Becky, Tony and I had dinner on an outdoor patio in downtown Blowing Rock ... a very short walk from Meadowbrook Inn. We walked to town often.

Main entrance and bike parking area

Lots of Ducks ... everywhere.

Even had a washing station ... the occasional rain did a good job too

Wednesday morning Bill led a ride on the BRP. It was a beautiful day and we stopped on a pullout for pictures.

Becky, Bob, Tony, Bill, Jill

As we were getting close to the Craggy Gardens MP 364 section of the BRP Tony and I decided to leave the group and turn back. We had ridden the part of the BRP south of Craggy Gardens a few days ago and wanted to go to Linville Falls for some hiking.

Linville Falls MP 317

Thursday Tony and I took the day off to hangout in the hot tub and explore (mostly eat ice cream) the town of Blowing Rock.

nice place to hang out and people watch .. right across the street from the ice cream

official town resident

Friday morning Bill, Paul, Becky, Tony and I all rode back to Wilmington. We had great weather (getting a little hot as we reached the coast) despite the warnings of thunder storms (which we did not encounter).

The LT followed by Paul, Becky and Bill

As our LT led the group of bikes Becky commented their bikes were the little ducklings following along.

Asheville, NC at the Biltmore
June 20- 23 First stop on 9 day trip - 1920 miles
Trip Report by Tony and Jill Barcia

This part of our trip was 371 miles, 6 hours to the Biltmore Estates.

We left for the rally on Thursday morning stopping at the Asheville BMW dealer to register.

Then on to the Biltmore grounds. Once you pass the entrance to the Biltmore one has a beautiful 2 mile or so drive to rally headquarters.

Maria and Dick first time to the Biltmore

Barb and Jerry with Lucy and Sugar

Omar and Nora the Motoradder

Jean and John - nice surprise to see them there

Tony relaxing at rally central

Becky at the closing ceremony

Finally got Paul in a picture

Camping was adjacent to rally center and within walking distance of the catering and vendors

A few of us ate dinner at rally central and decided that we would tour the Biltmore house on Friday to miss the Saturday crowds. All the attendees had 3 days of unlimited access to the house and grounds.

Taking a break after touring the house

The grounds won't look this empty on Saturday (look at Omar's 90 pictures)

After touring the house, the two LT's with their pillions decided to take a ride on the BRP going south past Mt. Pisgah and Pisgah Inn (where we hope to stay one day). http://www.pisgahinn.com. Before starting the ride we stopped in front of the mansion for a picture.

Saturday Bill and Nancy (BMWROK) were the ride leaders for our day trip. We took the

BRP to Mount Mitchell via Craggy Gardens where we ran into some fog drifting in.

We quickly drove through the fog and arrived at Mount Mitchell on a beautiful sunny day.

Dick, Maria, Nancy, Bill, Jill, Tony

We had lunch in the dining room of Mount Mitchell visitor center and went to their porch to see the view.

After lunch Dick and Maria wanted to get to the vendors before they closed at 4pm. Bill and Nancy went to the hotel and Tony and I decided to see the gardens (on Barb's suggestion ... Barb works with flowers in the garden department at Home Depot and has a hot house in her back yard).

These are the door handles to the garden shop ... thanks Barb this is a great idea.

Below is an idea of how grand and beautiful the gardens are.

The closing ceremonies started at 6PM so we left the gardens and headed to rally central. We were trying to figure out how 2,000 bikes were going to take the circuitous route (2 miles) over to the lawn at the Biltmore House. Just as we arrived at rally central there was Nora, Omar, Nancy and Bill. How amazing to all arrive at the same time with no planning. We decided we should leave NOW even though it was an hour before the start.

Lots of BMW's

Dick and Maria

Omar and Nora (Omar where is your helmet?)

No more room around the lawn

Many other bikes had left before us and the only parking left was at the back wall. When all the bikes finally arrived there were two rows of bikes in fromt of us!

Becky sent me a text and we found her and Paul. Barb and Jerry were under the trees taking in the shade with Lucy and Sugar. So ended the wonderful RA Rally. We went back to our tent for the night to get ready for our next adventure the Horse Park in Kentucky and then onto the Unrally where we were to meet up with Becky, Paul and Bill.

Below are some interesting people and things we saw at the rally.