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[dooinit2u]

Well, after trusting the Garmin all week to not get lost, it happened !

  After our ride to Clingmans Dome on Friday morning, my trusty GPS advised to follow the group and turn off at Cades Cove Rd which would have brought us to our destination of Deals Gap Store for a few items before we departed for home. This is where the story gets fun...

  As we completed the narrow road – ride, to what appears to be Cade's Cove (we didn't stop), there was a gravel road that my GPS instructed to follow. Hmmmm, I have seen patches of gravel road connecting pavement, maybe this time also...NOPE.

  We started down this 8.4 mile journey with the right mind of being there in 10 minutes or so. About one mile into this journey, we started experiencing 6 – 12 % grades of unruly terrain. Washouts on steep climbs w/ 8-10” ruts, loose gravel & sand mixture, creek covered lower passage road, twisties tha make the dragon look like a straight road and an attempt that should have been made on a dual sport bike.

  With much consideration, we ventured forth, hell it was only another 6 ½ miles or so. That seemed better that the alternative of back-tracking 60-70 miles or so to get back to our destination.

  After losing the luggage twice and breaking all securement for the bag onto the bike, we were approached by a guy on a dual sport bike and asked “what da hell were we doin back here on a Harley”. He advised he had one like mine at his house, but decided to take the Yamaha on this ride. Dammit, not good news for our immediate future. He offered some rope to tie town our luggage and did so with aspirations of heading on.

  The road was treacherous at a minimum, and horrifying to say the least. With my wife so upset and crying, my bike seemed to be falling apart with every jolt, we continued on...

  Meanwhile we were followed by our new friend to make sure we made it out alive. We were also passed by an elderly couple in a sedan that advised that it didn't matter the terrain, that they were in a Subaru.

  Five miles of terror on a motorcycle later we arrived on The Dragon, but did not advise my wife as such, as she had enough emotions flowing thru her that I didn't think she could hanle the Dragon at this time. Needless to say as we approached the Deals Gap store, she asked where we were, and when I said it, She replied” NO WAY”.

  I have personally deemed this Gravel, Washed out, Steep Inclined / Declined, POS road be renamed the LochNess Monster. It can overcome the Dragon anyday.
  

[martys]

Sounds like an adventure to remember for years to come   Glad to hear you made it home safe and that you didn't hear that "Banjo Music" while you were riding the "Loch Nes"   

[FUZZNUTS]

Man , that really sucks. I was in West Virginia at the last GTG. With Scotr and Road Runner and they were following me. And yes I had my 660 on. We were well on our way Through some of W.V.s back country beautiful roads. When it took us on a road that I'm sure was not as bad as the one you were on but, It took us through some of the most remote places that I thought we'd never get out of there. We stopped once and I swore I heard the dueling banjos . I did learn one thing though. Make sure of your settings on the GPS, like shortest route or quickest. At one point we came around a 180 bend on a 1 1/2 car wide road and BAM. There was a big ass log hauling truck comming right at us. Thank God there was just enough room for us to squeak by. I'm glad you made it through with no damage. My wife would have not been that happy either. Next time you get to the Dragon with your wife just go nice and slow , no sparks from the undercarridge. Stay away from that Loch Ness Monster...........................Fuzz   

[MAT]

I did learn one thing though. Make sure of your settings on the GPS, like shortest route or quickest.

Learned the same thing, the wrong settings will put you on the wrong roads!   

[iski]

  I have personally deemed this Gravel, Washed out, Steep Inclined / Declined, POS road be renamed the LochNess Monster. It can overcome the Dragon anyday.
  

The real name of the road is Parson's Branch Road.  A group of us decided to ride that road this past June when Deal's Gap was not open to through traffic.  Went into Cade's Cove (slow going) & then out on Parson's Branch. Most of us were on Harelys & the 4 bikes I went through with were all Ultras.  Probably 20 or so of us did the road.  It was a road from HELL.  Absolutely sucked gnat balls to ride this on a Harley.  On a dirt bike would have been a blast.  Made it through ok, with a LOT of space between the bikes to allow for flinging mud & slinging gravel off the back tires.  Rutted miserable damn mess of a road.  The throttle was our friend & the brakes were not.  Only 1 bike dropped - a guy stopped in the middle of 1 of the water crossings & put his feet down & slid over.  No damage except to his ego.  Will never ride that road again on a dresser & had been told it was not as bad as it was or would have never done it to begin with. The Dragon was nothing after riding that crap road.

[DesertHOG]

Learned the same thing, the wrong settings will put you on the wrong roads!   

So is "fastest" the better setting than "shortest" to avoid these sideroads?

[naitram]

in your settings under avoidances make sure you  have unpaved roads checked

[110tHunDer]

in your settings under avoidances make sure you  have unpaved roads checked

You should do that, but be advised it doesn't always work!  My 660 wanted to take me down gravel road after gravel road in the Badlands in South Dakota when we decided to head toward the interstate to make some time, even though I had the box checked!

[hogasm]

in your settings under avoidances make sure you  have unpaved roads checked

Both Spoiled and Porthole had there Garmins set this way and both led us to a road that was gravel. Porthole took a picture of the road sign informing us of gravel to send it to Garmin so they can change it on their end.

[naitram]

garmin does not make the maps navteq does, you can report errors to them directly

http://mapreporter.navteq.com/

[HUBBARD]

Man , that really sucks. I was in West Virginia at the last GTG. With Scotr and Road Runner and they were following me. And yes I had my 660 on. We were well on our way Through some of W.V.s back country beautiful roads. When it took us on a road that I'm sure was not as bad as the one you were on but, It took us through some of the most remote places that I thought we'd never get out of there. We stopped once and I swore I heard the dueling banjos . I did learn one thing though. Make sure of your settings on the GPS, like shortest route or quickest. At one point we came around a 180 bend on a 1 1/2 car wide road and BAM. There was a big ass log hauling truck comming right at us. Thank God there was just enough room for us to squeak by. I'm glad you made it through with no damage. My wife would have not been that happy either. Next time you get to the Dragon with your wife just go nice and slow , no sparks from the undercarridge. Stay away from that Loch Ness Monster...........................Fuzz   

 

Easy, FUZZNUTS,

That Banjo Picker was my 3rd Cousin, 4 times removed, and once runned-over.  Later--HUBBARD

[TN]

great story dooinit2u, glad you can look on it and laff.

guess knobbies on a harley dresser would be too much.



TN

[smkymtnboy]

does parsons branch ring a bell?

[GregKhougaz]

in your settings under avoidances make sure you  have unpaved roads checked

And "common sense" checked too!  Glad you made it Paul.  Remember,  if Momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy.  Don't scare Sherrie like that.  2010 miles the last two weeks. Google Maps worked great.        

[JR]

Dang Paul! Glad you and Sherry made it out alive! Must have been your guardian angle looking over you! Thank God! God Bless!