Could you review this route in the TN/VA area, please

[iXXion]

I know this is redundant, because I've collated the ride reports of this area from many of your great and informative posts, and I'm sorry about that part.  What I'm looking for is the stamp of approval from the locals that this route is all paved, not under profound construction, and doesn't have any hidden pitfalls that I missed.  I'm also open to suggestions for better alternate routes.

Start:
Johnson City--East on 91, south on Cross Mountain Road, east on 67 to Mountain City, and 421 over the playground to Shady Vally.
Then east on 133 to Damascus, 91 north to 803 north..picking up 80 and continuing north in Meadowview.
East on 19 to Tazewell, south on 16 through Marion, VA to Mt Rogers, taking 603 westward through the park and cutting south on 600 to 58 east.  South on 751 to pick up route 194 south, west on 88 just after Lansing, and follow that back into TN, taking 421 south to west on321, then 19E and back to Johnson City.

[sprint_st]

You have an excellent route.  16 from near Tazewell to Marion is killer.  If you get tired of 19 from 80 to just short of Tazewell, zoom in, there is a road, can't remember the number, that parallels 19 and is more in keeping with the theme of the trip(609 to 91 to 16 I think).  I'm not high on the 321 near Watauga Lake because it always has slower moving traffic but I'm forced to use it like last Sunday coming up from Roan Mt to Mountain City.  US58 from Mouth of Wilson all the way to Damascus is wild too and you only get a sample but you can't ride them all.  You'll have a good time.

P.S. If you can program the route into a GPS.  Some of these roads are marked like a major road and they really aren't much of a road at all.  Va 80 south of Meadowview kinda disappears, but you will be heading North so it probably will be OK.

[bpg]

Joe, I've ridden all those (although 16 & 80 in VA only once - you'll love 'em!!!), looks like a great route!

[iXXion]

Thanks, Sprint.

Maybe we'll see you Saturday, Bren.

Its been a long time, right?  

[HappyRiding]

  Watch out for LEO around Shady Valley and don't sprain your grin muscles. You picked a nice route. CAUTION: after months of no rain this week's rain may have washed gravel onto the roadways. BTW  welcome to Washington County, Tennessee - home of Tennessee's oldest town (Jonesborough) and HappyRiding.

[sprint_st]

  Watch out for LEO around Shady Valley and don't sprain your grin muscles. You picked a nice route. CAUTION: after months of no rain this week's rain may have washed gravel onto the roadways. BTW  welcome to Washington County, Tennessee - home of Tennessee's oldest town (Jonesborough) and HappyRiding.

Went through Shady Valley Sunday and no LEO's.  Maybe they have gone into winter hibernation.  The leaves were dropping too.  You're no stranger to this, just like PA they are like snot when wet, so be careful.  I wouldn't mind heading up that way this week end, or any weekend for that matter, but I'll probably be doing yard work.  Gotta do that sometime  

[Chillidog]

Good route. Last weekend I did Damascus-Shady-Bristol.  No LEO's.  Have fun.

[iXXion]

Thanks for your replies.

One of the bikes had mechanical issues and too much time was wasted on that situation.  Returns for investment have diminished to the point of scouring the trip.

I appreciate the input I received...sorry it was wasted.