How many trips/runs on the Dragon?

[rough road]

As for us, five trips down; two passes each time-haven't had to hang anything on the tree yet, two runs at night-very interesting, different and alot safer (very little traffic and you know well in advance when someone is approaching by the lights); others ??

[RustyJC]

4 runs over 2 days. Sounds like the State of Tennessee's rigid enforcement of lowered speed limits has pretty well slain the Dragon.

Rusty

[Brigadoon]

Two trips for us.

[Arch Hoagland]

As usual, I'm confused. What on earth are you talking about?

[Midniteoyl]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arch Hoagland As usual, I'm confused. What on earth are you talking about?

Tail of the Dragon at Deals Gap and Cherohala Skyway, Graham Co, NC

Quote:

TAIL OF THE DRAGON AT DEALS GAP, with 318 curves in 11 miles, is America's number one motorcycle and sports car road.

[rguarin]

DW and I are up there every October and drive it 2 or 3 times in the 3 weeks we are there. But we are in our Jeep. Gave up bikes a long time ago.

[Wayne M]

Once, down, on the way back from Run For The Wall, and Rollin' Thunder. A great experience.

Unfortunately later on, not at the Dragon, I was doing 50 mph down the highway and a pickup truck pulled out and broadsided me, then ran. That was #2 down. Family begged me to give it up - so I did. But I can tell you that I miss it.

Oh! And my 830 pound bike pulled his license plate off the front bumper. They caught up with him the next morning when he came home. He's serving up to 4 years in prison.

Did I say, "I miss it." (the lifestyle)

The old quote: "There are two types of motor cycle riders. Those who have gone down, and those who will go down."

Stay safe everyone.

Don't Drink And Drive.

Happy New Year!

[Arch Hoagland]

Hmmm looks great for a Miata run.

[mahon1993]

Once down in a Jeep.
Greg

[Lorna]

I remember when that was the main road for traveling to TN. It was before it became a "popular" motorcycle route... That was when the semis were running it all the time, not just by accident. Of course they keep it up better now. Now it's for the tourists.


Hey wow,I'm not "local" anymore... I'm a "tourist" now!! Than means I can drive on it and act like an idiot by driving far too slowly!

[InPursuit]

Too many to count.
First trip down there was in the early 90's.

I'm on the far left in this pic. Guy next to me did the Iron Butt a couple years later and came in 3rd place. We were all part of a group of Honda V4 riders.

[rough road]

Anyone who has not been there really should make the trip but you really do have to be very, very careful if you choose to ride the dragon-we have come to enjoy hanging out at the overlook as much as the ride, perhaps more so.
Let me throw this out for those of us who have done it; the big risk seems to be from riders themselves AND the greatest risk is from those on rice burners-how many times have YOU been passed (on either side, take your pick) on a corner by an ultra moroon living out some fantacy on a Ninja. I am not discounting the errant cager/rv'er/pickup or semi however those, are or rather; should be expected-some of those boys on the rockets though are simply nuts, don't get me wrong, really good riders its just that they are psychotic.

As for the leo's, mixed feelings-should the limit be ten mpg higher? probably, should we be able to count six troopers during a single pass?, no- they should have more pressing duties to perform: and we have gotten really tired of those cops that not only will not wave back, but refuse to even smile-it really tells alot about -who- they are, and more importantly -who- they think we are.
A heads up for those who get to the Dragon via the Foothills Prky; we like to stay at Look Rock Campground-in the National Forest-its very close to the Dragon and there ALWAYS seems to be sites available, its a nice quiet place but beware Ranger Andy, or 'batman' as the dw likes to call him (loads of crap on his duty belt-guess you have to be ever vigilant for the bear that will run amuck) as with all the 'tree cops' he is very bored-enough said ? - there is no doubt that they enjoy writing tickets for velocities just barely over the limit, its sad really.

[Wayne M]

I cannot fathom an 18 wheeler on that road making those turns. That's idiotic.

[Lorna]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wayne M I cannot fathom an 18 wheeler on that road making those turns. That's idiotic.

What you don't realize is it used to be the only road to take and I 40 gets lots of rock slides in the Gorge (Pigeon River gorge) so truckers tend to take it when the slides are happening in I40 (road can be closed for hours or months). Why do the motorcycle riders and sports cars driver it???? Same reason a few of the truckers take it. They hear stories about the road. It used to be a popular moonshine run as well. There are better roads in the area to use but some truckers (and others) just look at a map and decide to take that route because it looks shorter. I have seen maps that show the road to be a decent road with few tight turns. Reality is much different. Other folks have driven the road most of their life and will put a truck anywhere they choose. I have told RVers not to take the road... and they still do. I wouldn't recommend Hwy 129 to most folks (actually I tell folks to stay away from it... people can't drive). I learned to drive on roads like in the next county over that so to me they are fun. There are a few roads in SW NC/SE TN that I believe should be turned into one-way roads because of the inexperienced tourists that end up traveling on them because they have heard about them, etc. That section of Hwy 129 is one. I think the views on the Cherohala are far, far better and the road is in better shape... at least it used to be. There are also a couple of NF campgrounds along the way. I would use care if traveling the Cherohala in late fall, winter & early spring. It does get snow (lots of it) when no place else in the area gets snow. We drove it about a week or so before Christmas one year (2005) because we were staying at Fontana Village and it was very cold but no snow. There was almost a foot on the upper elevations. BEAUTIFUL but cold... drove on into Maryville to eat lunch. The road below the snow line was clear. We were in a 4wd jeep with snow tires on it... like I said... I lived in the area, I know what the roads are like in the winter.

Cherokee National Forest Campgrounds

Nanatahala National Forest Campgrounds