Chapel Hill, NC

[Oldodge]

I am planning a ride from State College, PA to Chapel Hill, NC. We will spend a few days there on business and then hope to travel over to ride the Tail of the Dragon and Cheraohala Skyway before heading home. I will possibly have one free day to ride around the Chapel Hill area as well. We plan to dedicate one day to ride to the area of the Dragon with a stop at the museum in Maggie Valley. I have one day set aside for riding the Tail of the Dragon, Cherohala Skyway area. The following day we will head home. My plan for the ride down is to take US-522 to Winchester VA, US-17 to Warrenton, VA and then US-15 to Chapel Hill. Is that a decent route? Any suggestions on a better route? I am familiar with 522 to Winchester but not 17 or 15. Looking for nice roads without Interstate traffic that we can make decent time on without pushing hard and searching for too many route changes. I am also looking for suggestions on a day ride around the Chapel Hill area as well as a nice ride from there to the Tail of the Dragon. I would also appreciate any motel recommendations near the Dragon. What about a one day route back to State College, different from the route we plan to take going down?

[Oldodge]

Trip complete! Plans changed somewhat but we had a great trip.

Saturday 6am left home at 38 degrees F. I met my friend Gene and we rode to Huntingdon, PA where we stopped for breakfast. From there we took 522 South stopping for fuel and to shed a layer of clothes in Winchester, VA.. Continued on 522 South to Front Royal, VA where we picke up 340 South to Luray. At Luray we crossed the Blue Ridge on 211 East. On the way over the mountain we stopped briefly to see a black bear high up in a tree. We took 15 South stopping in Culpepper, and Arvonia, VA for fuel as well as a fuel stop in Stovall, NC. We arrived in Chapel Hill, NC at 5:30 PM. It was upper 70's and sunny. 468 miles.

Sunday morning at 6:45 it was in the low 60's when we left for South Carolina. We rode south on 15 until we entered SC. We then turned around and rode back to the hotel as our conference started Sunday evening at 5pm. It was warm and sunny all day.

Monday thru Wedesday was spent at the University of North Carolina at a utilities conference.

After sitting for three days at the conference we were ready to be home. We decided Wednesday evening to head home Thursday morning.

Thursday morning was 62 deg. F at 6:40am when we left Chapel Hill on 54 West. We picked up 87 North, then 14 North, 87 North again, and finally 220 North which we rode thru Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania till we picked up I-99 North about an hour and a half from home. We split from each other at Tyrone, PA for our final legs home. I arrived home at 5:50pm to upper 80 deg.F temperatures and sunny skies.

[steamer]

We are heading down there June 14th, for several days. Planning on staying in Maggie Valley for a couple of days. Going to hit the dragon, the Skyway and Wheels through time. then ride the BRP back north to see what we see.

[steamer]

forgot to ask. How were the road conditions on the 220? we plan on riding it on our way south.

[Oldodge]

220 was a very nice ride. Enjoy your trip.