Tales of the Dragon

[emptysea]

LOL. Yes, I see what you did. Lol

[Pterodactyl_imp]

Motorbikes, people and places. Perfect. Well done, thanks for that.

Cheers

[Cormanus]

Motorbikes, people and places. Perfect. Well done, thanks for that.

Cheers

+1 to that.

I've been trying to track this ride and I think the map looks something like this, http://goo.gl/aJfZB4, although we know the Ferret will never disclose the "secret" bit from Point Pleasant to Paris.

[emptysea]

Motorbikes, people and places. Perfect. Well done, thanks for that.

Cheers

+1 to that.

I've been trying to track this ride and I think the map looks something like this, http://goo.gl/aJfZB4, although we know the Ferret will never disclose the "secret" bit from Point Pleasant to Paris.

+1 to that.

I've been trying to track this ride and I think the map looks something like this, http://goo.gl/aJfZB4, although we know the Ferret will never disclose the "secret" bit from Point Pleasant to Paris.
You're not far off. I plan on posting a Map Addendum at the end of this thread. Not links, just pictures of the maps. Then you can compare it to your tracking.

[PowderToastMan_imp]

That looks like really great riding and a good group of people!

Some day I gotta give it a shot, but there are plenty of very good roads and people here on the west coast, and it's pretty hard to get away for long enough

[Ridem32_imp]

Been to the gap it's fun robbinsville is a very nice place also. We took another road and ended up riding the SNAKE it's fun also then thru Bristol TN and VA. That's a nice ride also. We going in a couple of weeks. We was going the same time you was there but one of our riders had a change in plans so swapped it to another time. We are ready to go. Just another week or 2 and we are off and riding maybe I will have my comet fairing from samurider by then. Great pics and thanks for sharing !! Who ever can go this fall we need to plan a trip there it's very nice in the fall but it's packed with bikes and cars all checking out the trees changing colors of leafs ! The hotels charge double for rooms they call it tree season Sept thru oct is a good time to go. So everyone think about it
Michael

[emptysea]

Early versions of our route included that section of US421, but it was quickly determined that it would take us too far east and keep us too far north to allow us two riding days in the Robbinsville area without having multiple 400+ transition days or extending the number of days. We are already planning another trip to that area for sometime in the future. If you go, make sure you take a little off-bike time in Bristol, really a key location in the development of country music.

Michael is correct that many places in the Smoky Mountains charge more in the fall, but not Two Wheel Inn. More on our stay there in my next installment.

[CBpilot_imp]

Awesome trip! I grew up in Maryville and lived off 129. Miss riding there every day!

TOD Continued:

OK, So Here's The Deal

Woke up to another day with rain forecast. Had the typical Comfort Inn "continental breakfast" and started out on our newly created route to take the long way to Robbinsville and postpone Tail of the Dragon until late afternoon or the following day. Again, Laura and Cheryl insisted that rain would not interfere with our day. Turns out that they were correct again. (well, almost).

We started south out of Clinton along our new route with Glen in the lead. It was dry, but the rain overnight flooded out an underpass which caused a delay and a scanning of maps. Eventually, we got back on the road.




I did manage to catch a somewhat interesting group shot while we were figuring out how to get where we needed to be (I may be the only one who loves the stock mirrors on my bike)..


The washed out viaduct and the related delay turned out to be a major blessing. Somehow, we wound up on US129 and could see the sky above the mountains clearing. It was decided that we would just follow 129 into Deal's Gap and hope that the rain was, in fact, gone. Glen lead and I took the "sweep" position for the last leg, but we agreed that I would lead us through The Dragon itself. Riding Sweep reduced my view of the road ahead, but watching my wife ride provided some visual interest.



US129 south of Maryville is a beautiful stretch of road. Someone in our group may have taken a picture, but I'll have to post it later if one turns up. The road is curvy and there are some elevation changes, but you are riding along a river basin. Eventually, Chilhowee Lake appears ahead of you and then you turn left and follow the water before turning left again and up hill an into the woods you go. Up and around we went, experiencing a few, mostly easy, turns and stopping at the Calderwood Dam Overlook (at least that's what I think it's called) to catch our breath, switch leaders and take a few photos.



Prettiest Gals on US129


And then the fun really began...


Cheryl tossed her CTX around pretty damn good. I love riding with her. :-)


We arrived safely, but breathless, in Deal's Gap and stopped, as most seem to do, at Deal's Gap Resort.

Proof that we made it


There was no shame for me at the Tree of Shame (unless you count being over 30 and taking a selfie). The grin didn't leave my face until half-way through lunch.



Deal's Gap Resort has a decent snack shop and T-shirt selection along with other souvenirs, but Killboy is just a walk across the road and has a more interesting selection of stickers and patches, in my opinion. US129 stops trying to be an asphalt pretzel from Deal's Gap Resort down to Robbinsville, but it still offered some of the best riding of our trip. Fast and beautiful and paralleling a stream. We arrived at Two Wheel Inn without another drop of water falling on us that day. We are starting to believe that Laura and Cheryl have magical powers...(to be continued)

[CA200_imp]

Really enjoyed your pictures ! Took a few trips like this in the 90s.

[emptysea]

TOD Continued:

A Strong Shot of Moonshine Before Another Attack on the Dragon

We loved our accommodations at Two Wheel Inn. The owners are originally from Florida and one particularly hot summer there about 15 years ago, they were invited by friends to visit the mountains of North Carolina to beat the heat. By that fall, they had bought an old tobacco farm and begin transforming it to a motorcycle hotel. The rooms are pretty simple, but they are clean, the shower was hot, and each room has its own bike garage! If you're in the area, really consider staying here.

The CTX got the garage (obviously) but the overhang provided shelter for the CB


A somewhat important note to some of you: Robbinsville is in a 'dry' county. If you want an adult beverage, you need to bring it in when you come or you can pick up some good local craft beer at the general store at The Nantahala Outdoor Center (US129 South then US74/19 north toward NC28). Since this was our route for the day anyway, it worked out perfectly.

Our goal was to do a "Bike and Hike" in the Nantahala National Forest and then take 28 back to Fontana Dam for lunch. The Tsali Recreation Area off 28 of was recommended by Linda, our host at Two Wheel Inn as a nice trail into the forest. We headed down 129 to check it out.

US129 from that point south to US74/US19 is nice enough but fairly mundane. Then we turned left onto74 and WOW! the river roars along most of the left side as you sweep through the woods. After a few miles, we came around a turn and this little "village" opens up to us. The Nantahala Outdoor Center is not, I don't think, an actual village, but there's a general store (with beer), a place to rent kayaks, canoes, and rafts, and a training area for whitewater kayaking. I think it is also where the Appalachian Trail crosses the river. Lots of hikers and kayakers hanging out. Everyone was very social. Very cool place.

My daughter called this our "prom picture". LOL


Next stop was the hiking part of our "Bike and Hike". The girls in our crew like the hiking part of the bike and hike experience. The guys simply tolerate it, although, truth be told, it is a great way to stretch the legs.





Moonshiner 28 is an amazing ride with several places to pull off to see scenic vistas, dams, or to take a hike. The road is not as twisty as 129, but it has has more than its fair share of thrills built in. We were still keeping ahead of the rain and Glen, today's leader, stopped because...well..if you saw this as you came around a turn, you'd stop, too.


Beauty was everywhere we turned




We continued up 28 and we were enjoying our ride when it started to rain a little and it was also lunch time. We stopped at a place called The Pit Stop. A gas station converted into a diner, gift shop, and well, a gas station. Very cool looking place. Don't bother stopping. It looks cool, but the food is average, the souvenirs were boring and the gas was way overpriced. However, we did meet a young man who was hiking the Appalachian Trail. He was trying to hitch a ride to Charlotte to visit his fiance who was in the hospital. Nice guy. On leave from the military. He's going to finish his hike once he checks on his fiance. We bought him lunch. He was able to get in touch with a friend who was going to drive down and pick him up.

The rain cleared out just as we finished our nachos, which were topped with chili squeezed out of a plastic bag. We decided to head up to Deal's Gap, shop for some more patches and the like (I needed my Moonshiner 28 Jug patch), and head back to Two Wheel Inn. Cheryl and I had thought about heading over to Cherohala, but the weather didn't seem right (good call since we found out later it was pouring up there). Instead, Glen suggested that I take a solo run up and back on The Dragon since everyone else enjoyed the less technical roads more and didn't want to get stuck up there if it started to pour. Off I want, dodging Minis (it was the beginning of the Minis in the Mountains rally), and trying to get the rhythm of the road. I'm no Dani Pedrosa, but think I held my own and the CB handled marvelously.





Yeah. I know. I should be pressing with my left...


I had two cars and one bike pull off to let me pass and I didn't have any one catch me from behind, so all in all, 3 pretty incredible stabs at slaying The Dragon.

We made it home before the rain. We hung out for awhile and then went to our dining spot, Lynn's Place. Two words--"fried cheesecake". That should be enough said, but the place has really good food and large quantities and fair prices. Great, and friendly, service. If you go, park your bikes on the other side of the courthouse; it's flatter and there's no gravel. Rode home in the dark and in the rain -- Not as much fun as our earlier rides. From Two Wheel Inn, Lynn's Place is "...down the road to the stop light. Turn left and go up the hill. You can't miss it". Linda was right--we didn't miss it, but we do miss the cheesecake... (To Be Continued...)