Heading for the Dragon?

[mglemans86]

Watch out!!

http://www.tailofthedragon.com/

[stinky93071]

ya i am going to be up there on the 20th, i am going to run it once or twice lets see what happens..

[TheNomad]

I used to go there throughout the 80s and 90s. There are so many nice roads in that general area, there is no need to put yourself through "318 cops in 11 miles". I avoid it altogether now...

No matter what that website says, the squids ruined it for everyone. I remember seeing people trailer real race bikes with slicks up there

This "shutdown" has been coming for many years. I'm surprised it took this long.

MD

[Gatorman]

I woudn't care if they just wanted to show their presence every now and then to tame the squids a bit and then leave, but this looks like overkill. There are a lot of other great roads nearby though. We took a nice loop from Tapoco down 28 to 143 into Robbinsville. Had to do the Dragon, but I thought that was really a better ride.

[mick-f]

Not long after Labor Day I plan to ride thru there and on to The Barber Museum in Alabama. I will also go thru Skyline Drive in the Shenandoah valley. I would appreciate any information on motels, camping, good routes
and weather.

The first year I had my 02 Sprint, in 2003, I went up to Cape Breton Island and rode the Cabot Trail. If you can do the tirp you won't be disapointed. We stayed on the west side of the islaned at MacLeods Campground in Inverness.
MaCleod's - Inverness Beach Village, Campground & Inn . It is the cleanest campground I have ever seen, not unusual in Canada. The ocean water is very warm, that was a real suprise.
I would like to take my 75 Norton Commando on this trip, but, you know............

Mick

[Gatorman]

Mick, check out the accommodations link on the Dragon website above. Robbinsville has Two Wheel Inn with a small covered garage attached to each room. Are you going to Barber Vintage Festival (3rd week October)?

[JasonS]

Check out My Trip Report

Camping on the BRP during the week is slick and easy with not a lot of people.

Waynesboro is a great stop over, grocery etc... A nice little camping area just to the north of town, and it sits in between the Skyline and the BRP.

Try to catch a few of the roads that run off the BRP.. Gas upp when ever you can .. not much service up on the BRP at all now.

Originally Posted by mick-f

Not long after Labor Day I plan to ride thru there and on to The Barber Museum in Alabama. I will also go thru Skyline Drive in the Shenandoah valley. I would appreciate any information on motels, camping, good routes
and weather.

The first year I had my 02 Sprint, in 2003, I went up to Cape Breton Island and rode the Cabot Trail. If you can do the tirp you won't be disapointed. We stayed on the west side of the islaned at MacLeods Campground in Inverness.
MaCleod's - Inverness Beach Village, Campground & Inn . It is the cleanest campground I have ever seen, not unusual in Canada. The ocean water is very warm, that was a real suprise.
I would like to take my 75 Norton Commando on this trip, but, you know............

Mick

[roadduster2]

Mick-f,
Here's an idea for you. Go thru Deal's Gap (hwy 129) follow it on South towards Robbinsville, NC. When you get to hwy 143, turn right and follow it accross towards Tellico Plains, TN. Hwy 143 changes numbers when you cross the NC/TN state line and becomes hwy 165. You are on the Cherohola Skyway, a must ride road. Check out the pull-offs for scenery and camera shots. Hwy 165 deadends at Hwy 68, turn right, go a mile or so, turn left on hwy 39. Go to hwy 315, turn left, follow it to deadend at hwy 30, turn left. Check out the Texaco Station at this intersection, old timey. Follow hwy 30 to deadend at hwy 64. If you want, you could go left to see the Ocoee River and the rafting & Kayak people, then turn around and go back west on hwy 64 towards Cleveland, TN. Take the hwy 64 Bypass to I-75. Turn leftonto I-75 South to I-24 West to I-59 South. At exit 11, hwy 136, take exit ramp and turn left on hwy 136 east. Follow 136 east to hwy 157, turn right and go south. Take a right on hwy 117 to Mentone, AL, in Mentone turn left on hwy 89 south to hwy 35, turn left, to hwy 176, turn right. You are in Little River Canyon. The deepest gorge east of the Mississippi River. Its 750 feet deep, and totally primitive and cool. Check out mushroom rock. Take hwy 176 to hwy 68, turn right over to I-59 and go on down to Birmingham and Barber Motorsports Park. There is a motel right there at the intersection of the road to BMP if there's nothin goin on they'll have a room. Get a map and check out my routing. You'll not be disapointed. Have a good trip.
Roadduster2

[jthursby]

Originally Posted by TheNomad

I used to go there throughout the 80s and 90s. There are so many nice roads in that general area, there is no need to put yourself through "318 cops in 11 miles". I avoid it altogether now...

No matter what that website says, the squids ruined it for everyone. I remember seeing people trailer real race bikes with slicks up there

This "shutdown" has been coming for many years. I'm surprised it took this long.

MD

I remember the 90s there. The squids DID ruin it for everyone. But I have found some sweet roads in NW Ga that are nice and most importantly, empty.

Jim T.

[mick-f]

Thanks to everyone for the rocommendations for my ride after Labor day. I have copy&pasted just about everything. I am geting thru JasonS's trip log, it is longer than the wooden Indian Chief on Route 1 mid-coast Maine is tall!
I have ridden the Maine Coast from Kittery to Calais several times, and in between many times. I even know how to pronounce Calais.
This upcoming trip will be 10 days to 2 weeks long. I recently put Convertibar handlebars on my 02 Sprint to try and alleiviate a problem on long trips. Most likely a pinched nerve in my right shoulder. I seems to be working. The bars were expensive, but cheaper than buying something else. Can't take it with you.

Mick F