AdamDZ

So I postponed the Great Allegheny Passage and Chesapeake and Ohio Canal trails for later in the year. I think it'll be too cold next week. I might do that in June, I could ride then all the way from NYC, rather than drive. We'll see, I also want to do the Adirondacks Redux this year too.

Instead I decided to head South! Leaving early on Easter Sunday.

Spring Escape from New York, destination: South Carolina

Any comments and advice will be welcome.

thesearethesuns

Where's your destination city? I've heard good things about the Blue Ridge Parkway, 35 mph speed limits and incredible views of the Smokeys. If you're heading towards somewhere inland, I would give that a go.

AdamDZ

I'm avoiding larger cities and I'll be hoping between state parks. I'll do a loop around the northern part of the state using back roads as much as possible. If you follow that link in my first post, there is a map. The scenic Route 11, a.k.a. Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway) seems to be much like the Blue Ridge Parkway, although lower and it's not connected to the Blue Ridge Parkway.

The Blue Ridge Parkway runs from Virginia as an extension of the Skyline Drive, which runs along the Shenandoah National Park, and ends in North Carolina near the Great Smoky Mountains Natl Park. I drove it twice from Shenandoah Natl Park to NC, it was very pretty and it was like flying! It runs along the top of the mountain ridge, with slops down on both sides, and it would be a blast to ride on a bike, but that part is cold until the end of May, I think. So I'll be going a bit further South.

thesearethesuns

Wow, sounds kind of fantastic! Like The NeverEnding Story, but on a bike...

chiroptile

Hey.. Are you going heavy-loaded? Blue Ridge is very hilly..

AdamDZ

It's not Blue Ridge. It's further South.

chiroptile

Right.. Sorry, didn't read that bit.