Tail of the Dragon

[derb]

ekam,
Been there once a year for the past 5 years. Great road.
Saturdays are real busy so get up early to run it before all the traffic hits.
Another great road is Rt 28 from Deal's Gap. There's a power dam along the way that has a visitor's center at the top and a picnic area below. I think it's Fontana Dam.
At Lauada NC, Rt 28 turns south towards Franklin. That road has 55 mph speed limits and is a blast- not as curvy as the Dragon so more speed.
The Cherohala Skyway is a nice leisurely drive- take 143 west from Robbinsville.
The Two Wheel Inn has nice rooms, the are located just south of Robbinsville.
This time of year shouldn't see that much police activity.

Have fun,
mike

[Bob O]

I was on it a couple of days after Thanksgiving last year. Deal's Gap was closed! BUT...there was NO ONE on the road, including cops. I talked to a biker guy who had just come south (we were going north) and he said there were no cops anywhere. Since it was the end of the season we had it all to ourselves....well except for a van I caught up to, but he pulled over at the very first opportunity and let us by. Nice guy.

A great road..even is it only lasts about 20 minutes or so, or did for me since there wasn't any traffic. There's lots of scenery, I guess....I really didn't see much of it since I was pretty well concentrating on the road. But the curves just keep coming. Holy cow. A great diversion from our planned route home. (My wife said she actually kept her eyes open the entire stretch. lol. THAT's a new one)

Sorry I can't offer any hints..other than to watch out for the hwy patrol. If you have a radar detector I'd probably keep it on! And look out for the fools coming at you crossing the lines. The 20mph speed limit on some of the corners is wayyyyyy too high for most cars.

The roads on either side of the Dragon are pretty nice too. Lots of nice scenery (that I actually DID see). Enjoy it.

Bob

[LAP1DOUG]

Originally Posted by derb

ekam,
The Cherohala Skyway is a nice leisurely drive- take 143 west from Robbinsville.
Have fun,
mike

Make sure you take the Cherohala as a "leisurely drive" indeed. It is heavily patrolled - that is the last place I received a ticket on my motor bike. The sad thing is that it is a beautiful, smooth, and wide road with a ridiculously low speed limit.

If you make it further south, Hwy 129 in Georgia at Blood Mountain is outstanding. There are photographers set up there taking photos they will sell you on line just like the at the Dragon: