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This is
the grand daddy of all week long cycling
vacations. The genesis of this tour happened
after completion of the first Epic and under
the influence of a few
adult beverages. The group was discussing
what's our next great challenge and after
deliberations we came up with the idea of
adding the Skyline Drive to the Epic which
made it an astonishing 600 miles with more
than 55,000 feet of climbing!
This tour is for those
cyclists that really want to test themselves on what
could possibly be the toughest tour in
America.
Tour Itinerary
Day 1 - Asheville to
Front Royal, VA
We leave Asheville at 10am
to shuttle to Front Royal, VA. Shortly after
checking in we will head to dinner
so that we can get to bed early for some much needed rest before
tackling the challenge ahead.
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Day 2 -
Skyline Drive
We
set off from the hotel in route to the
northern terminus of the Skyline Drive
and continue through the Shenandoah National Park. The
Skyline Drive is a marvel of engineering and
introduces you to the magic of cycling these
wonderful scenic byways!
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Mileage = 115 Miles
Elevati0n Gain = 9000
feet
Day 3 -
First Day on the Blue Ridge Parkway
We roll
out from the hotel for a short ride through
Waynesboro and up the escarpment to begin our
journey on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The first
day on the BRP is a good introduction to the
cycling and challenge ahead on this incredible
470 mile gem of the National Park system.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Mileage = 95 Miles
Elevati0n Gain = 9000
feet
Day 4 - Peaks of Otter to
Rocky Knob
Today we
will cycle 103 miles to our Doe Run Inn at
Groundhog Mountain. We descend from the Peaks of Otter into the Roanoke
River valley, climb out of the river valley,
then roll along beautiful farmlands
climb through the scenic Rocky Knob
recreational area, pass Mabry Mill (one most
prominent destinations on the BRP), and then
tackle one last climb, Groundhog Mtn before
arrive at our host for the evening.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Mileage: 103 Miles
Elevati0n Gain = 9500
feet
Day 5 -
Ground Hog
Mountain to Blowing Rock
The second
in a series of 3 consecutive mountain
centuries...it is the Epic after all! After
breakfast we head out for Blowing Rock
entering North Carolina at milepost 217.
The cycling today will be a mix of rolling
terrain with numerous short climbs and
includes incredible scenery as we pass through
Doughton Park and approach the "High Country".
This evening we will not only enjoy the
comfort of our lodge but we will have an
opportunity to explore one of the highlands
most popular destinations.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Mileage = 105 Miles
Elevati0n Gain = 9,000
feet
Day 6 - Blowing Rock to
Asheville
Today we
cycle from Blowing Rock to Asheville, my
favorite city along the Blue Ridge. There will
be many reasons to get off the bike
and stretch your legs today as we cycle past
some of the most notable highlights along the
Parkway such as the fabled Linn Cove
Viaduct, Grandfather Mtn., Mt. Mitchell, and
Craggy Gardens. Our home for the balance of
the tour will be at the wonderful Haywood Park
Hotel in the heart of downtown Asheville.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Mileage = 105 Miles
Elevati0n Gain = 10,000
feet
Day 7 - The Final Glorious Day Along the Blue Ridge Parkway
This is it, the final day, 81 dramatic miles through some of the most beautiful
but challenging terrain of the entire tour. We
begin with the strenuous
climb up Mt. Pisgah, continue climbing along the Ridge,
plunge down one of three glorious descents
today, climb the last of the big parkway
climbs, Waterrock Knob, before eventually finishing with a long descent into the
town of Cherokee. To celebrate everyone's
accomplishment of finishing this challenging
tour we will explore the city of
Asheville where we will enjoy a great meal and
as much camaraderie as we can stand.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Mileage = 86 Miles
Elevati0n Gain = 9500
feet
Day 8 - Final Farewell
After our
final group meal
you are free to depart at your leisure. The
trip home will be a time to reflect on the incredible accomplishment
of completing the Epic and the new friends you have made along the way.
Meals: Breakfast
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