The Bacon Run will "start" at Unicoi Lodge, Helen GA., just a few miles north of the little alpine village replica. The breakfast buffet is plentiful and cheap. And has buckets of bacon. And cat head biscuits for ArmyStrong.
It is a good thing to tank up on breakfast since a lot of miles will be covered.

A group of Atlanta locals will meet at the Shell station @ I-85 and SR120 (1904 Duluth Hwy Lawrenceville GA) at 7:00am and proceed north.
There are a lot of places to stay in Helen and the Unicoi Lodge as well. See list below. Make your own reservations.
Still in the planning stages for now, but a day ride through north Georgia riding a lot of the well known roads and a few roads not well know.

Well, it started out as a day ride, but with so many people lighting up gablackbird's post about riding this snowy weekend, I thought what the heck, make it a two day ride. Saturday will be GA only, with Sunday being the tri state tour of GA, TN, and NC. Riding the Cherohala Skyway, and if we leave early enough (ArmyStrong and cohorts) Deals Gap can be done as well. I have done it, but plan on getting back l-a-t-e. There's a reason it's called Sport-Touring!

These two days will cover a lot of twisty miles and one needs to be in shape for it. When I get wound up and ready to RIDE, 5:00am crew calls are not uncommon. And no, I wasn't in the service!

The Farmer's Almanac is predicting good weather for the last weekend in March, 26-28, so hopefully that will occur.
Southeastern U.S. Long-Range Weather Forecasts :: Farmers' Almanac

My plan is to have a route map with checkpoints along the way, food and gas stops, photo opps, etc. At the very least a text of the route. It will be a ride at your own pace, maintaining "The Pace" as seen here:
The Pace - Nick Ienatsch - Motorcyclist magazine
And here:
Motorcycle Riding Pacing Tips - Sport Rider

I am respectful of others abilities and skill levels, and I encourage anyone interested in doing this ride (or any ride for that matter) to read these articles. You do not want another rider running into you like I had happen to me.

Once my software friend builds the map, I am going to pre run the route and double check everything so hopefully the ride will go smoothly and we will all enjoy it. If the weather will behave.......

Here is a list of places to stay at the end of the day:

Georgia State Parks - Unicoi State Park and Lodge
Welcome to Hofbrau Riverfront Hotel and International Restaurant in Helen, Georgia
Helen, GA Hotel - Best Western Riverpark Inn & Conference Center.
Hotel Overview - Helendorf Inn | Helen| Georgia| GA
Helen Georgia hotels, Quality Inn hotel near the Blue Ridge Mountains, Helen GA 30545
Helen Georgia Hotels - Hampton Inn Helen Hotel & Suites, GA
Super 8 Hotels | Helen Georgia Hotel | Helen, GA 30545 | Near Alpine Wedding Chapel, Anna Ruby Falls & Babyland General Hospital home of Cabbage Patch Kids


I would tag Hotwire or another online vendor for rates in Helen.

These two days will cover a lot of twisty miles and one needs to be in shape for it. When I get wound up and ready to RIDE, 5:00am crew calls are not uncommon.

He ain't lyin!!

Good job, Mike!

Menu for Unicoi:
Breakfast Buffet
7:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Fresh Fruit / Assorted Cereals / French Toast / Southern Style Biscuits
Scrambled Eggs / Crisp Bacon / Sausage Links or Patties / Country Gravy
Creamy Grits / Hash Brown Potatoes / Belgian Waffles
$7.95 per person plus tax (includes one non-alcoholic beverage)

OK dudes, here is the text of the route and hopefully the map link will work. I originally was just going to do a day ride, hence the spur south to SR400 South which will take you back towards Atlanta. Caution must be exercised on 400 as there are always speed traps. And now that the "Super Speeder" law is in effect, anyone with a radar detector is encouraged to ride up front!

I would prefer that groups of six riders be the best way to do this, with all of us meeting at various check points for photo opps, breaks, etc.
Please have ICE info on board in case the unthinkable happens. Cell phone coverage can be spotty at times, so common sense should rule. Up to a point.....


This is going to be called the Bacon Run since the breakfast buffet at Unicoi has about 10 pounds of it ready every morning!!!!

My route will "start" @ 285/85 North at the Shell Station on 1904 Duluth Hwy. Lawrenceville GA. That will be a good place for the guys down south of town to meet and top off. Around 7:00am for them. Usually I am already eating breakfast at Unicoi by then, but most people don't get up at 4am and leave at 5am like I do!

I am going to be as simple as possible with single line turns.
285 to 85N to SR 120 Shell
85N to 985N
985N to 365NE through the thermal barrier (lol)
365NE to 384N
384N to 75NE and roll through Helen to
356NE and Unicoi Lodge for a big honking breakfast
Unicoi/356NE to 197N to
76W to 75S to
180W to 348S to
75SW Alternate to 129N to
180SW to Suches to 60N to
The Blue Ridge Dam on old 76W
Old 76W to Aska Rd S to Newport and turn left onto County Road 5/Dial Rd. then right onto
60S, then turn left onto Skeenah Gap Rd to
Old Blue Ridge Hwy. and turn right to
Mulky Gap then left onto
Owltown Rd (where I ran over a dog--grrr) then right/straight to
Owltown Spur to
129S to Adair Mill S to Town Creek Rd and turn right, then turn left onto
Town Creek Church Rd then left onto Cavender Creek Rd. then right onto
Copper Mines Rd. then continue onto Long Branch Rd which merges straight into 400S.
Instead of this last leg to 400, head back up 75Alt to Helen for over night.

Hope this works......

I-85 N to Long Branch Rd - Google Maps

Works perfectly!

Originally Posted by ArmyStrong

Works perfectly!

FZ6 Rodney is a whiz with this stuff. Free breakfast for him!

Wow. Now THATS a plan. Had no idea the post would contain a full breakfast menu! Dude, youre my hero.

Dude, youre my hero.

I'd second that, but Shewie might misconstrue it.

Originally Posted by ArmyStrong

I'd second that, but Shewie might misconstrue it.

He's AC/DC right?

Here are the day two options:

Sunday, riding the Cherohala Skyway. The Cherohala Skyway, a National Scenic Byway

60N to TN 68N to Tellico Plains or 19/129N to 68 as shown on the map
Ride east on the Cherohala Skyway TN165-NC143 to US129 and
north to Deals Gap. From Deals Gap,
go south on SR28 into Franklin NC and then US441 to slab home.
A good place to eat in Franklin is Fatz Cafe', right across the street from a Shell station.

I try to avoid DG on weekends, to many squids, pirates and LEOs.

Alternate route not running Deals Gap is this:
From NC143 to US129 south into Robbinsville then
to SR19/74 NE at the 180 degree turn. Next turn right onto
Wayah Rd. and follow it to SR64 turning right to SR441South to slab home.
If you live south of there............

Wayah Rd. is a long, winding rough paved road out in the woods where few people are. A good place to test equipment

This entire ride from where I live east of Atlanta will be approximately 750 or better miles. Start getting in shape, or at least bring your own medicine for aches and pains! I have found this to be a useful product as well: Relieve the friction of monkey butt and painful butt rash, when you ride, sweat and sit. | Anti Monkey Butt Powder

Here are the maps:

GA-60 N to GA-365 S/Tommy Irwin Pkwy/US-23 S - Google Maps

And:

Mikes Day 2b - Google Maps

Pop in close on these maps and look at the corners and elevation changes. Fun for all!

Originally Posted by gablackbird

Dude, youre my hero.

Originally Posted by ArmyStrong

I'd second that, but Shewie might misconstrue it.

Originally Posted by X1rider

He's AC/DC right?

eat me

Ontario isn't THAT far away, come on down for southern hospitality. And German hostesses in Helen, GA. Dude.....

Interesting very interesting?!

Originally Posted by X1rider

Ontario isn't THAT far away, come on down for southern hospitality. And German hostesses in Helen, GA. Dude.....

The hostesses sound interesting. It's going to have to be another time - I have a place to stay in Cochran once the weather gets rideable up here.

Anybody looking to share a room with this out of towner. I need to conserve funds since this is not my only trip of the year.