Just got back from a 10 day dual sport ride from Michigan to the Tellico Plains. The roads around Tellico are great, but have been well covered here already. On trip down and back, I stayed on the backroads and found a few gems that you might like to know about. Just a few pictures here, I was too busy having fun riding to stop and take too many pictures. My new favorite is Kentucky Hwy 89 south east of Lexington. Here is a Google map of the road. <iframe marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=111200366252911235223.0004917fdcedaec816b37&ll=37.460916,-84.058571&spn=0.320481,0.205994&output=embed" frameborder="0" height="350" scrolling="no" width="425"></iframe> <small>View Boone Forest Romp in a larger map At the bottom of the map, the road is only about 12 feet wide, no lane marking, and no traffic. There were a few fall leaves falling when I went through and they sat scattered on the road because no one else had been by to blow them off. The road has a little bit of everything. It starts out along a creek and ends up along the top of a ridge. There are a few communities along the way, so you can't go insane, but most of the time, this road is an excellent exercise in winding, twisting, and road reading. At the bottom, you come out in a pretty little valley and a higher speed road. My next favorite from this trip is down in Tennessee. I took the roads from Jamestown to Sparta, Hwys 52, 85, 164, and 84. It looks like there are lots of other great choices to explore in this area. <iframe marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=111200366252911235223.0004917e3619b86273bee&ll=36.187246,-85.192566&spn=0.483247,0.511551&output=embed" frameborder="0" height="350" scrolling="no" width="425"></iframe> <small>View Monterey, TN in a larger map</small> Hwy 85 actually has some of the tightest hairpins I found on my trip. Definitely tighter than the Dragon (which is over rated in my humble opinion).Hwy 52 is smoother and faster and I almost hated to turn off at 85. Hwy 84 drops of the plateau and winds along a creek. Sorry, no pictures. Having too much fun. And finally, a North Carolina run across the Blue Ridge. <iframe marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=111200366252911235223.0004917fcf88c32107c77&ll=35.335196,-82.877541&spn=0.383704,0.079651&output=embed" frameborder="0" height="350" scrolling="no" width="425"></iframe> <small>View Crossing the Blue Ridge in a larger map</small> This is a really nice, high speed road with a lot of new surface and low traffic. One caution, don't go through Highlands and Cashiers from the south end of 215. Those towns are full of slow, rich people and it will take you forever. I hope you enjoy. </small>
Many great roads there. East or west of your TN and NC route: more great roads. Haven't done enough riding in KY; I have to run 89 it seems. On the south end of 215 go the other direction to Brevard; an easy lower traffic section and then take 276 north. Very nice. 215 and 276 make great loop off the BRP. The BRP from there to Cherokee is my favorite section.
