N.E.Georgia, N.C./Tn. King Holiday Weekend Trip 2016

[Jeff Geisen]

The King Holiday weekend is approaching and like the last couple of decades I will be leading a regional VW trip in the mountainous areas in our beautiful part of the country.

Route is still evolving so I have no specifics other than great scenery, State Routes, County roads and some easy Forest Service roads. Primitive camping as always, family friendly and dog friendly as well. There will be children along on this trip as always so be considerate of young eyes and ears please. As usual bring water, ice, propane, groceries and anything else you may need since we will be camping in some fairly remote areas again this year. I will have contingency routes ready in advance so we don't get skunked by a Forest Service road closure like last year. The weather just before and during the King weekend will have everything to do with the route we take and where we camp so be prepared to pay for camping if absolutely necessary. I promise a great route and ample stops like last year's trip.

Anyone is welcome, no need to be driving a Bus or even an air cooled VW as far as I am concerned.

We will leave from Vintage VW Inc., 3900 Camp Rd. just off Hwy 515 in Jasper (Ga.) just like last year. Shop will be open and warm for parts and fellowship at 8:00am Saturday January 16th.

We will pull away for the mountains at 9:00am sharp. Camping Saturday and Sunday nights and about the same amount of windshield time as last year.

This event is picking up steam finally, we had the largest group ever of buses and Vanagons last year.

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I Corinthians 4: 1 thru 5

‘63 ragtop - ‘68 single cab

[richparker]

Nice Jeff, enjoy the weekend.
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’71 Westy build
Adventure thread
’65 Deluxe Build

[Jeff Geisen]

Thank you Buddy, enjoy Colorful Colorado!
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I Corinthians 4: 1 thru 5

‘63 ragtop - ‘68 single cab

[russwiththebus]

Nice way to start off the year with a trip like this. I've made it the last couple of years and have always come home with great photos, friends, and memories. Thanks Jeff for organizing once again, I'll see you in January.

Here are some of my photos from previous years:

http://www.volksfolks.org/gallery/events/winter-bus-trip-2015/
http://www.volksfolks.org/gallery/events/winter-bus-trip-2014/

[ultralite]

I'm in!

Last year was our first time. It was great, awesome folks. Met "old friends" for the first time and camped again with them later in the year. It's that kind of crowd.
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Godspeed

'76 Beetle (sold)
'69 Beetle (sold)
'72 BMW 2002 (RIP)
'69 Westy
'02 BMW wagon AWD w/stick shift(sold)
'67 Beetle (sold)

[russwiththebus]

Spreading the word on Facebook too.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1645723405715326/

I have talked it up to some friends of mine who are interested in joining, they have a 1981 Rabbit pickup with a camper shell on the bed.

[72camper]

[russwiththebus]

You did! That was their maiden voyage and now they have caught the camping bug.

[72camper]

[ultralite]

Took advantage of a day off and this warm weather to get the Bus ready for the trip.

Cleaned the engine (from the dust of my recent off road trip)
Changed oil
Adjusted valves
Cleaned carburetor

Something we made great use of last year that you may want to ask for Christmas: http://www.amazon.com/Tri-Lynx-00015-Lynx-Levelers...x+levelers

I used mine today to get the rear end up a little higher for the oil change. When we camp on uneven spaces, these things are great. Little pricey I know, but worth it. There is one competitor, they're yellow and brittle. Don't buy those.

They will stack under your back seat nicely as well.
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Godspeed

'76 Beetle (sold)
'69 Beetle (sold)
'72 BMW 2002 (RIP)
'69 Westy
'02 BMW wagon AWD w/stick shift(sold)
'67 Beetle (sold)

[russwiththebus]

I have a little bit of work to do as well, just ordered some parts for a tune-up and oil change last night. She's got a little exhaust leak I hope to resolve with new copper gaskets for the exhaust headers and she's leaking a little more oil than I like. I've already replaced the valve cover gaskets, I'm thinking push rod tube seals again. I've got all Christmas break to work on it so hopefully come January I'll be squared away and ready to ride.

[Jeff Geisen]

I have decided to tip off Saturday's route;

Leave Vintage VW, west on 53 to old Hwy 5.

North on 5 through Jasper then east on 136.

136 to 52 then right by Amicolola State Park then 9 to Dawsonville.

Follow 9 NE to Dahlonega, then back on 52 to 115 & 75 to Cleveland.

Then up 75 to Helen, to 356 and on to 197 to Lake Burton and Hwy 76.

Short ride east on 76, cross Lake Burton then left on Persimmon Rd.

We will drive Persimmon to Forest Service 70 and into the Tallulah River Basin/Sothern Nantahala National Forest through the river gorge.

There will be three campgrounds to choose from within three miles, so whichever is most desirable, then there we will spend Saturday night.

I really don't have Sunday's route planned yet turn-by-turn, however I have two or three alternates. I can say we will try for Mt. Albert again this year. I really would like for us all to check out the views at 5,000' along the Appalachian Trail. If the Forest Service has Big Spring Gap pass closed again due to weather conditions we will stay at lower elevations to go north into North Carolina then bend back west through the Nantahala gorge (upstream) to Andrews, Murphy then north on Forest service roads to camp at the N.C./Tn. border on the Tellico River in the Cherokee National Forest on Sunday night.

Monday in Tennessee I plan to follow the Tellico River out to Madisonville and then west to Etowah. Then south on US 411 back into North Ga.
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I Corinthians 4: 1 thru 5

‘63 ragtop - ‘68 single cab

[ultralite]

I'm excited about this route! I've done all these roads at some point.

Jeff, on that first night, are you referring to Tallulah, Tate Branch, and Sandy Bottoms? If so, Tate and Sandy are closed for the season according to the USFS website. But, Tallulah is year round.

Absolutely beautiful area though along that river. I took my Westy on a solo trip up there last summer.

Also, on Sunday when we come out, if we're headed into NC, the Cupboard Cafe just inside GA at the NC state line is a great place for a group to stop for a homemade biscuit and bathroom break. Actually, if we took Betty's Creek Road out of the Southern Nantahala, it will take us right to 441 just south of the Cafe.

Hope you had a great and Merry Christmas!
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Godspeed

'76 Beetle (sold)
'69 Beetle (sold)
'72 BMW 2002 (RIP)
'69 Westy
'02 BMW wagon AWD w/stick shift(sold)
'67 Beetle (sold)

[Jeff Geisen]

Great and merry Christmas here Russ, thanks. Hope yours went well and you are having a productive break from school.

We will drive that road out of the Nantahala National Forest Sunday morning.
_________________
I Corinthians 4: 1 thru 5

‘63 ragtop - ‘68 single cab

[russwiththebus]

I tried mapping it out based on your directions - is this accurate?

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=z4cI1dk8PPdE.kME1N61zt7MY&usp=sharing

[Jeff Geisen]

We will drive east to Jasper from the Vintage VW shop on 53, then north up Main St./hwy 5 alt./Talking Rock Rd. to 136. So that west leg can be deleted from the map.

I have dropped Dawsonville off the route. We will drive 136 to 52 then turn north (left) on Hwy 9, so the south 9 leg can be deleted off the map.

Your map does not show the left turn from Persimmon onto the Tallulah River Rd. to the campground. You have to zoom in tight to see Tallulah River Rd turnoff.

Other than that the map you posted is correct for Saturday's drive.
_________________
I Corinthians 4: 1 thru 5

‘63 ragtop - ‘68 single cab

[russwiththebus]

That makes more sense. Original directions said west on 53.

I've updated the map now, and finished the route onto Tallulah River Road. Let me know if this looks accurate now.

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=z4cI1dk8PPdE.kME1N61zt7MY&usp=sharing

We have stopped at Amicalola Falls on our way to Helen/Tiger for a previous campout. Beautiful park, if you plan on stopping there be advised it's pay to park.

The whole trip looks exciting! I just replaced exhaust gaskets and push rod tube seals on my bus, should be ready to roll come MLK weekend.

[Jeff Geisen]

That map is right on Russ.
_________________
I Corinthians 4: 1 thru 5

‘63 ragtop - ‘68 single cab

[aerosurfer]

Gotta work Sunday, but will try to make the send off and do part of the drive with y'all Saturday if the weather is good
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Rebuild your own FI Harness..My Harness

77 Westy 2.0L Rockin and Rolling Resto!

72 Sportsmobile (sold)
79 Tran$porter... Parts car money machine (gone)

[ultralite]

I recently bought a used AWD wagon and wanted to test it in the mountains. So the other day I went and drove much of this route, mainly for the views but also to see if the FS roads were open after all that rain.

FS 70 is open and one of the 3 campgrounds on that road is open.

The forest service road that leads to Albert Mountain (the one that was closed last year right outside Standing Indian) was OPEN. I was really surprised by this because there was a ton of flooding in the area in general.

The day I went was beautiful, right after that last day of rain. I hiked some of Albert Mountain and Pickens Nose (no, that's not a typo ).

I think I said it earlier in the thread (which I can't see at the moment while typing) but it bears repeating, if your Bus is lowered, you may have some challenges. The Albert Mountain road, if we go the entire length of it, has a water crossing. The Betty Creek road, I was on it last Summer so this is from memory, has a few slightly rocky/rutty parts. Nothing major, but just so you know.
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Godspeed

'76 Beetle (sold)
'69 Beetle (sold)
'72 BMW 2002 (RIP)
'69 Westy
'02 BMW wagon AWD w/stick shift(sold)
'67 Beetle (sold)