Impact of Government Shutdown on Smoky Mountain Bikers

Government Shutdown Predictions for Smoky Mountain Motorcycle Touring

Oct 2, 2013 – so you’ve got your Smoky Mountain motorcycle trip scheduled and you’re wondering “How does all this government shutdown nonsense affect me?” Here’s my best guesses for now –

The main impact will be around Great Smoky Mountains National Park. All the park facilities are now closed at the start of peak camping season. This includes River Road (TN 73). That’s going to displace a lot of people who will seek other accommodations and things to do on the north side of the park. Tourist traffic has already been building in Gatlinburg / Pigeon Forge, this will likely make it worse. It will also disperse those park tourists onto surrounding roads in the area. If you don’t have Map #8,  I’d avoid the area for a while, especially on the weekends. On the south side of the park, I’d expect increased congestion in Cherokee.

Foothills Parkway in Tennessee is Closed – The Tennessee Foothills Parkway is the most common route to approach The Dragon on the north side of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  Most of the traffic will continue on US 321 to Maryville, then come west on 411, and south on US 129. If you have Map #8 look to using Walden’s Creek Road, then work over to Butterfly Gap Road, Flats Road, and Happy Valley Road. You just might find you like this route a lot better than the traditional tourist slog.

The Blue Ridge Parkway remains open for travel, but all facilities are closed including campsites. Some facilities and side roads had already been closed due to the sequester. I’d expect heavier traffic at the south end of the parkway between Cherokee and Asheville. Rangers will still be out, but routine maintenance may be postponed. Things are generally in great shape, so it shouldn’t be much of an impact. Be alert for rocks and limbs in the road with potential  decreased attention to maintenance. The Pisgah Inn south of Asheville is open.

The Dragon will likely see minor impact. I predict a small increase in car traffic as locals take the long way around rather than deal with the traffic on US 441 through the park, and some decrease in bike traffic as riders from the north go to other places rather than deal with the increased traffic on the surrounding roads. Adventurous tourists will look for other places to see.

Suggestions – Focus on the areas south and east of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The Dragon and Cherohala Skyway will still be good options. Cherokee will probably be congested. Expect heavy traffic on US 64 from Franklin to Lake Lure.  It’s a great time to stray into north Georgia.

I have all these roads mapped out for you – http://americaridesmaps.com
____________________________________________________________________

wayne busch - Smoky Mountain Motorcycle Rider.com

Wayne Busch

– Wayne Busch lives in Waynesville, NC, where he produces the most detailed and comprehensive and up-to-date motorcycle pocket maps of the Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountains to help you get the most of your vacation experience. See them here – AmericaRidesMaps.com

Total Rider Tech Logo

Learn Total Control

Wayne is an advanced motorcycle instructor for Total Rider Tech teaching Lee Parks Total Control Advanced Rider Courses. Isn’t it time you looked into advanced rider training to ride more confidently and safely? It can transform your mountain riding experience.  Total Rider Tech

____________________________________________________________________

11 thoughts on “Impact of Government Shutdown on Smoky Mountain Bikers

  1. In the Apple Shop, the delivery time for the Apple
    iphone five is now two to three months. Even some Apple stores are honoring this reduced price on their very best telephones.
    No particular understanding or abilities are required.

  2. It also allows you to change the icons, lock display, track record, font and a lot much more.
    In this post, we will introduce two techniques to assist
    you jailbreak iPad three. She and Mike are planning to
    marry in a year or so.

  3. Acum , nu te miop și spune că semnalul în sine este tot acolo este de dragostea ta .
    Zonele erogene de pe fetele pot fi o sursă constantă de emoție și bucurie .
    Gasiti metode de optimizare a venit de la a face ceea ce iti place sa faci .

  4. Actually if the sim card holder iPhone 2g alternative isn’t any biggie,
    subsequently inquire directly about selling your i-phone for funds, knowing right
    from the start that all you really want will be to do away with your old iPhone.
    It’s probable you’re going to be offered an excellent, in case a straightforward repair is everything that’s wrong with it cost The telephone is then going to be utilized
    and offered for parts to others who do need to conserve their
    old and broken phones, or utilized to refurbish and resell aged
    iPhones that the online company already has in store.

    All this trading approximately of components like sim-card tray iPhone
    2g components is great maybe not only for your own wallet, but the surroundings.
    Electronic items will be the fastest-growing
    type of buyer waste, and are building a horrible damaging impact on the surroundings.
    With dangerous compounds from batteries and additional digital elements seeping
    into ground water and ground soil, it’s never a good idea to just throw aged iPhones
    apart. Alternatively, acquire some direct gain by marketing sim-card tray iPhone other parts
    as well as 2g for money on line!

  5. So you see, now you know how to increase Windows 7! Raleigh Facebook users registered the comments given just below the Facebook notice of change.
    It may simply imply a great deal more than you think.

  6. Heya i’m for the first time here. I came across this board and I find It truly
    useful & it helped me out much. I hope to give something back and aid others like you aided me.

  7. As you learn more and more about the platform, take
    notes and come up with ideas on how to use
    it better. The following are four prime reasons why you should be using Pinterest, including examples of practical applications:
    . It does mean figuring out where your target audience is engaging (social networking sites) and developing a strategy for how you’re going to reach them.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *