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Old 10-06-2010, 06:40 PM
 
Location: Virginia-Shenandoah Valley
7,670 posts, read 14,238,039 times
Reputation: 7464

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Another MC rider will understand what I'm looking for but all answers will be appreciated. I am leaving in the AM for 2 weeks on my motorcycle touring numerous states to include TN. I'll be in Kingsport on Friday and will be there for several days. I'll be working Sunday night thru Tuesday leaving Saturday and half day on Sunday to ride. I'm looking to stay out of cities and ride the country, in particular the mountains. Any suggestions on areas and roads to visit?

Thanks
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Old 10-06-2010, 08:33 PM
 
Location: Sullivan County, Tennessee
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A popular ride with locals is US 421 between Bristol and Mountain City over South Holston Lake and through Shady Valley. Go from Kingsport to Blountville by several routes and get on TN 394 which will take you to US 421. There is a store (The General Store- I think) at the crossroads in Shady Valley (you can't miss it) that is a favorite gathering place for weekend riders. US 421 doesn't get nearly as much auto traffic as many of the other mountain roads. Motorcycles are not real popular with some of the local folks in Shady Valley due to the "crotch-rockets" and the death wish antics of those riders but they are the minority.

As an alternative to returning on 421, Highway 67 from Mountain City into Elizabethton by Watauga Lake is a nice ride but there is much more auto traffic. Since it is supposed to be warm, the ride from Elizabethton to the top of Roan Mountain is a very scenic winding road. Take US 19E to the town of Roan Mountain and turn right toward the Roan Mountain State Park following the signs. A lot of riders from North Carolina come over to the Roan Mountain area from the Piedmont and beyond.
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Old 10-07-2010, 06:54 PM
 
Location: Virginia-Shenandoah Valley
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Thanks. Big help.
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Old 10-08-2010, 08:40 AM
 
Location: Limestone,TN/Bucerias, Mexico
1,452 posts, read 3,191,009 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim37680 View Post
A popular ride with locals is US 421 between Bristol and Mountain City over South Holston Lake and through Shady Valley. Go from Kingsport to Blountville by several routes and get on TN 394 which will take you to US 421. There is a store (The General Store- I think) at the crossroads in Shady Valley (you can't miss it) that is a favorite gathering place for weekend riders. US 421 doesn't get nearly as much auto traffic as many of the other mountain roads. Motorcycles are not real popular with some of the local folks in Shady Valley due to the "crotch-rockets" and the death wish antics of those riders but they are the minority.

As an alternative to returning on 421, Highway 67 from Mountain City into Elizabethton by Watauga Lake is a nice ride but there is much more auto traffic. Since it is supposed to be warm, the ride from Elizabethton to the top of Roan Mountain is a very scenic winding road. Take US 19E to the town of Roan Mountain and turn right toward the Roan Mountain State Park following the signs. A lot of riders from North Carolina come over to the Roan Mountain area from the Piedmont and beyond.
I would second this great advice! We had a friend come from Connecticut specifically to make these rides. Hope you have a fun and safe weekend!
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Old 10-08-2010, 12:26 PM
 
Location: Sullivan County, Tennessee
510 posts, read 1,387,189 times
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Oops!

Not that this should have any huge impact on the overall route, but Shady Valley is having the annual "Cranberry Festival" this weekend (Oct. 8 & 9) with the center of activity at the elementary school which is about 1/2 mile down from the US 421 crossroads toward Backbone Rock Park and Damascus, VA. I don't think this will pose any major traffic problem except I just saw in the newspaper that the Cranberry Festival Parade will begin at 10 AM on Saturday. I have no idea of the route but it may affect traffic through the intersection on US 421 briefly.

http://www.johnsoncountychamber.org/JCChamber/events/cranberryfestival.html (broken link)
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Old 10-10-2010, 11:11 AM
 
Location: Virginia-Shenandoah Valley
7,670 posts, read 14,238,039 times
Reputation: 7464
Just a follow up. I didn't have but a few hours as I have a meeting to attend soon but I did make it out this AM. I started on 93 then hit 11W to Bristol. From here I started on 421 south. At first I was wondering "Is this it?" But then I went a little further and things changed. Very nice road indeed. A few of the switchbacks had gravel on them but this is to be expected on roads like these. I drive easy any way so it wasn't a big deal. I stopped at the Shady something country store where a couple riders were present including one rider who came in on a Norton. Pretty cool. I didn't go any further due to time. Great road suggestion.
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