The Blue Ridge Trail....... a work in progress

Yes we rode a 113 mile loop from New Castle over to Mtn Lake and back.

A super fun loop!

We had some downed trees where we could not go around, so we lifted our bikes over the trees, but were able to go around most.

Let me know when you head that way again and we can ride together.

You should have it now! Sorry I missed your first PM.

I love that area and I had to include it. Shoe Creek is a fun ride but like you mentioned very rocky and with some good crossings. Thanks for the photos.

This was from last summer on that trail.

Guys the KML Online Viewing file link I have sent to some of you is a great tool for browsing the route online and on top of 24K topo maps. The link is being a bit finnecky but try and reload it a few times and it should work.

I got the file, thanks. Can't wait to try some of it out!

Said our indian guide....

Got the files, Thank!

hey gediehl4

Built this to ride in the woods. CRF250.
Haven't ridden on the road much, mostly woods and sandhills down this way.

I still have the KLX250 that is plated and want to do some of this BRP when I have time.

JR

Got the files - thank you so much!

JR,

Nice hunda!

I ride parts of the BRT regularly, let me know when you want to ride for a weekend.

Thanks a million for all your hard work Dave! I'll post pics once we've had a chance to ride.

Got the files, thanks!

Thanks Error Cooled, I got the files. Now I just have to figure out how to use it. I'm a GPS newb.

Took a quick ride around the Mountain Lake forest roads this afternoon. Baileys Gap Rd. is still a little wet.



Lookoff Rock on Butt Mt. is worth the short walk from the gate on SR. 714.

TallBob,

Rode those same roads last Sunday. Looks a little drier today.

Had a great ride on the northern portion of the BRT today. Started at Front Royal and headed south through Fort Valley. Took FR 374 from Edinburg Gap - good gravel conditions. Crossed Massanutten Mtn via 730 to Rt 11 then west on 720 which turned out to be a really sweet gravel road through farm land. Encountered a totally unexpected covered bridge just east of the I-81 overpass. The gravel turned into tarmac periodically and esp. in the area of Bryce Resort then back to gravel as 720 zig-zagged up and over Great North Mountain to Mathias. Along 720 there was a bit of soft gravel and some erosion problems from our recent rains, but nothing that a noob on a KLR couldn't handle.

Heading west from Mathias to 820 was straightforward with tarmac along Crab Run to German River and Criders. I missed the left turn on to German River Rd (across a small bridge) and ended up riding up another nice gravel road (826) to the top of Shenandoah Mtn at the WV-VA line - although I turned back, I definitely will head back there some day to see where that goes. Once back on 865 = German River Rd., the tarmac turned to gravel and I encountered the following Private Road sign indicating that there was no thru traffic or Forest Service road access.https://www.advrider.com/advrider-photobucket-images/images/C/ClutchCargo55_IMG_0888.jpg

Not sure what that's all about, but I pushed on expecting a local with a shotgun and a bad attitude to ruin my day, but in a few hundred yards, there is a wooden bridge over the German River and definite indications that the road is indeed a Forest Service road. German River Rd. is an absolutely beautiful, but rough double track through awesome forests with nice vistas along the way. After a mile or so, there was very little sign that many vehicles had passed thru recently. Several water crossings - none deeper than 8-10" even despite the heavy rains we've had here recently. Some sections could be tough on big bore bikes due to softball size rocks buried under wet leaves. https://www.advrider.com/advrider-photobucket-images/images/C/ClutchCargo55_IMG_0897.jpg

Slightly less than a mile from where German River Rd meets FR 87 and 85 near Sand Spring I encountered several trees down across the trail. A few were small enough to ride over, but then I ran into this double tree down.

I was able to bypass them by riding down the bank and around towards the river side without much difficulty, but it would be a challenge to ride the opposite way (south to north) due to the initial steep, rocky bank at the north end. Just beyond that problem I tried to bash through a tangle of downed limbs and dropped the bike - should have stopped and taken the time to move things (oh well:huh).https://www.advrider.com/advrider-photobucket-images/images/C/ClutchCargo55_IMG_0898.jpg

Nearing the above intersection the road opens up and smooths out quite a bit - nice riding and again many great views. That's all I had time for so I headed back home up 259.

Absolutely can't wait to ride further south.
Thanks Error-cooled for your hard work.

Bob -

Thanks again for scouting a few sections of the route I am unfamiliar with. Check your PMs when you have a minute - I sent you some juicy files to check out.

I used paper maps backed up by a non-plotted GPS screen. I haven't figured out how to enter routes into my Zumo 550 yet...Yeah I'm OLD school...or maybe just old

I hate to admit being a total techno-noob, but is there a good tutorial on GPS route loading that you could recommend?

Nice report.

What kind of bike is that?

Do you have a tire recommendation?

What's up with the goofy gas can thing?

Bike is a 2007 BMW G650 XChallenge. It's fuel injected so no reserve. Fuel capacity is 2.3 gals and although it gets about 50-60 mpg, the low fuel light turns on at about 90 miles. Logic says I can keep going a fair piece more, but that yellow light is a bit disconcerting especially out in the woods. So when in doubt about fuel availability, I carry that Rotopax 1 gal container as my security blanket. The nice thing about the Rotopax is that it's thin enough to strap bags on overtop. <img src="https://www.advrider.com/advrider-photobucket-images/images/C/ClutchCargo55_IMG_0868.jpg" /img>

Oh, boy. Don't ask about tires cause if I write anything we'll start a major flame war. Everybody has their favorite I was using Metzler Karoos and they were "OK" but I'm not excited by them.

I should be all caught up with the PM requests. Let me know if I missed anyone.

I wish I could leave work right now and go riding....

Thanks Error, I received the file. Looking forward to taking this trip sometime!