Redhawk, now that my wife has her own bike I was concerting taking off the back rest but we go on some long rides and camp a lot so it's staying, plus I've got 3 different size bags that work well with it.
I'm gathering parts to rebuild my 77 1000 and that one will be more sporty
Jake, That is a awesome trip, been on some of those roads myself
Have you done the Natchez Trace? We did that one 2 years ago.
Cory, bring some warm clothes, hopefully the Blue Ridge Parkway is open that early, in late June we found that weaving back and forth from one side of the ridge to the other in spots it was cold and rainy on one side of the ridge and sunny and hot on the other.and you are constantly switching plus some of the tunnels are crazy dark and unnerving when you enter them on a sunny day.
My favorite roads were the ones that went from a river road up to the ridge and then back down the other side and there are a bunch of them.
Check out on line for Motorcycle maps, they have the loops highlighted
a lot of bike shops out there carry them too.
North side
South side (I think )