• Can't post after logging to the forum for the first time... Try Again - If you can't post in the forum, sign out of both the membership site and the forum and log in again. Make sure your COG membership is active and your browser allow cookies. If you still can't post, contact the COG IT guy at IT@Concours.org.
  • IF YOU GET 404 ERROR: This may be due to using a link in a post from prior to the web migration. Content was brought over from the old forum as is, but the links may be in error. If the link contains "cog-online.org" it is an old link and will not work.

First Annual Rhododendron Tour June 2-8 2024

2

2andblue

COG Executive Director
Member
COG members, see below, Carol and I are starting an annual ride invite that we will host. Carol, Blue (our 2017 C-14) and I have taken this roundtrip tour annually for 6 years and would like to share this amazing trip with you!

More details to come by April 6, giving you ample time to decide if you want to join the entire tour, (more than 1,000 miles) or hop on or off at day start / stop points or even just join days with certain points of interest or within our region you live.

This will be an exhilarating multi-day Blue Ridge Parkway tour riding through some of the finest roads in the United States. Mountain views are breathtaking, road conditions are consistently excellent; you will see wildflowers in bloom everywhere (see chart below), access to waterfalls and nearly 300 overlooks right from this closed to commercial traffic road! Atop the Blue Ridge Parkway tour ~one day will be dedicated to the Smokey Mountain region where we'll treat you to the opportunity of seeing Elk and even Black Bear. Elk we have seen 100% of our trips, Black Bear about 25% of our trips.

Watch for coming details, and seize this opportunity to enjoy many smiles to the mile on this extended pre-planned worry-free motorcycling trip. If you have never been to this area, see this Blue Ridge Parkway Travel Planner for a sneak peak.

Wayne, Carol & Blue

1712926509711.png​
 
Last edited:
Awesome!!! Great opportunities to meet new people along the way. When are you arriving in Cherokee NC? (Definitely watch for wildlife)
 
ron203 said:
Awesome!!! Great opportunities to meet new people along the way. When are you arriving in Cherokee NC? (Definitely watch for wildlife)
Click to expand...
@ron203 edit arrival time: With the expansion of the trip to include more Smoky Mountain favorites the arrival in Cherokee will be ~12:00 Tuesday June 5th.

Regarding meetup opportunities:
  1. We will look to keep the lunches primarily for the registered tour group for that day's ride event, thus keeping this extended RIDERS trip moving, on plan and on schedule. There is a lot to see and do that will become rushed if we fall off track.
  2. Dinner locations will be communicated in the overall trip package where timing is more conducive for meetup opportunities.
Wayne
 
Last edited:
By request we are extending the trip and adding some popular routes and points of interest to the ride, will be modifying dates and itinerary accordingly.

Very likely the ride will now be the first full week of June and we'll keep it like that moving forward. Dates will be firmed by this week's end and accommodations / start and stop times shared.

Stay tuned, this will be a fun full week ride. Blue Ridge Parkway will have many pull offs and amazing sites to be seen - such as:
  • Scenic Overlooks
  • Waterfalls, stretch your legs for a few minutes:
    • Linville Falls Visitor Center, easy walk to a observation deck. More adventurous take the steps down to the base
    • Looking Glass Falls (just 10 miles off the parkway) - will make both these waterfalls stops on the ride.
  • Exhibits - such as Mabry Mill, definitely worth a stop and walk through
  • Clean Rest Stops plenty of picnic tables for a quick grab & go sandwich or a restful view of the scenery off the bike
  • Drive up Mt. Mitchell (tar road) highest peak east of the Mississippi River, views are breath taking and cool crisp air inviting
Couple day addition, to the Blue Ridge Parkway ride includes (not limited to.. ;)).
  • Cherohala Skyway - (Most beautiful views in the area, perfect road conditions)
  • Hellbender 28 - Northern NC Hwy 28 (Fun road, in places roller coaster like roads, beautiful, forests, rivers)
  • The Dragon - NC / TN 129 (Twisty, low speed limit road with challenging curves)
  • Foothills Parkway - (Great Views, nice road conditions)
  • Newfound Gap Road - US 441 (great road, elk all but guaranteed to be seen from the road)
  • Wayah Road - (Twisty road, whitewater river rapids, picturesque mountain top lake, observation tower available / amazing views)
  • Moonshiner 28 - Central/Southern NC Hwy 28 (Twisty roads, forests, mountain views)
  • Waterfall Byway - NC Hwy 64 (Section of NC Hwy 64 - easily accessible falls visible from road or only need few minute walk)
    • Walk behind Dry Falls (awe inspiring walking behind / underneath this waterfall
    • Picturesque Bridal Veil Falls
    • LOOK at Bust Your Butt falls (no busting allowed!)
More to come,
Wayne, Carol & Blue
 
COG the dates are now solidified, first full week of June - registration will be required and will be opened by April 20th.

2024 tour dates will be Sunday June 2 - Saturday June 8.

The tour beginning / final ending location will be the Northern most access point of the Blue Ridge Parkway in Waynesboro, VA 😉.

The Rhododendron Tour will be similar to a ‘rolling rally’ that will be organized with 7 unique daily registrations.

This 7 day registration format will allow participants to signup for all days, or only certain days as the tour goes through your region or segments of the tour. Each registration day will have start and end points, points of interest, roads to be traveled an evening dinner location and our planned lodging.

Registration will also be used for ensuring adequate dinner reservation space is secured.

Stay tuned for the Open Registration.

Wayne
 
Hello Everyone,

The First Annual Rhododendron Tour June 2 – 8, is on the COG Event Calendar (and the COG Event Map) and is open for registration. Each day of the tour has its own registration page. Register for the day (or days) that work for you, or register for all seven days.

Rhododendron Tour – Day 1 – Sunday, June 2

Rhododendron Tour – Day 2 – Monday, June 3

Rhododendron Tour – Day 3 – Tuesday, June 4

Rhododendron Tour – Day 4 – Wednesday, June 5

Rhododendron Tour – Day 5 – Thursday, June 6

Rhododendron Tour – Day 6 – Friday, June 7

Rhododendron Tour – Day 7 – Saturday, June 8

TCARS!

Mark
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top