| Author | Message | ||
     Racerboy |
BRAG Rally September 13-15, 2002 Ride 1...Cherohala Skyway, Ocoee River, Cherokee National Forest & The Dragon Mileage...194 GAS Feature From Deals Gap Motorcycle Resort 0 L / SE onto 129 R / W onto 143 Cherohala Skyway S / W onto 165 Cherohala Skyway R / N onto 68 62 Tellico Plains TN L / SW onto 39 L / SW onto 315 L / SW onto 30 L / SE onto 64 Ocoee River Site of 1996 Olympics L / N onto 68 105 Ducktown TN R / E onto 165 139 Tellico Plains TN L / N onto 360 R / SE onto 72 164 R / SE onto 129 The Dragon Finish at Deals Gap Motorcycle Resort 194 R = Right turn N = North L = Left turn S = South S = Straight E = East W = West | ||
| Racerboy |
BRAG Rally September 13-15, 2002 Ride 2...Wayah Road & Fontana Dam Mileage...130 GAS Feature From Deals Gap Motorcycle Resort 0 L / SE onto 28 R / SW onto 143 L / SE onto 129 29 Robbinsville NC L / NE onto 19/74 40 R / SE onto 1442 / Wayah Rd L / N onto Maple St 75 Franklin NC R / E onto W Main St L / NW onto 28 Fontana Dam Finish at Deals Gap Motorcycle Resort 130 R = Right turn N = North L = Left turn S = South S = Straight E = East W = West | ||
| Racerboy |
BRAG Rally September 13-15, 2002 Ride 3...Wayah Road, Blue Ridge Motorcycle Campground, Blue Ridge Parkway, Great Smokey Mountains National Park, Foothills Parkway & The Dragon Mileage...293 GAS Feature From Deals Gap Motorcycle Resort 0 L / SE onto 129 L / NE onto 19/74 29 R / SE onto 1442 / Wayah Rd R / S onto Wayah Rd L / E onto 64 60 Franklin NC L / NE onto 1001 / Ellijay Rd R / SE onto 107 L / E onto 64 131 Brevard NC S / NW onto 276 Blue Ridge Motorcycle Campground L / W onto Blue Ridge Parkway Blue Ridge Parkway R / NW onto 441 Great Smokey Mountains NP L / W onto Little River Road R / N onto Line Springs Rd R / NE onto 321 249 L / NW onto Foothills Parkway Foothills Parkway L / SE onto 129 The Dragon Finish at Deals Gap Motorcycle Resort 293 R = Right turn N = North L = Left turn S = South S = Straight E = East W = West | ||
| Racerboy |
BRAG Rally September 13-15, 2002 Ride 4...Tennessee, Georgia and North Carolina Grand Tour Mileage...306 GAS Feature From Deals Gap Motorcycle Resort 0 L / SE onto 129 R / W onto 143 18 Robbinsville...Cherohala Skyway S / W onto 165 Cherohala Skyway L / S onto 68 Cherokee National Forest L / SE onto 60 97 Copperhill GA R / W onto Two Wheels Only 135 Gas in Suches GA L / N onto 60 R / NE onto Wolf Pen Gap Road Extreme Twistie L / NE onto 19 / 129 R / E onto 180 R / SE onto 348 Richard B Russell Scenic Highway L / NE onto 75 Alt R / S onto 17 168 Helen GA...A Germanic culture / N onto 17 R / NE onto 356 L / NE onto 197 R / E onto Burton Dam Rd R / SE onto Rabun Mountain Rd R / SE onto Bridge Creek Rd R / NE onto Lake Rabun Rd L / N onto Old 441 L / N onto 23 / 441 / 15 R / E onto Warwoman Rd 205 Clayton GA L / N onto 28 Several gas opportunities on 28 Finish at Deals Gap Motorcycle Resort 306 R = Right turn N = North L = Left turn S = South S = Straight E = East W = West | ||
| Racerboy |
BRAG Rally September 13-15, 2002 Ride 5...You Say You Like Waterfalls! Mileage...244 GAS Feature From Deals Gap Motorcycle Resort 0 L / SE onto 129 L / E onto 28 L / E onto 19 / 74 / 28 32 L / NE onto Grt Smokies Expy 19 / 74 R / NE onto Ramp to Grt Smokies Expy 74 R / E onto Grt Smokies Expy 74 L / E onto Ramp to 23 R / E onto 23 L / NE onto Grt Smokies Expy 23 / 74 R / SE onto Blue Ridge Parkway Balsam NC R / SE onto 215 L / NE onto Richard McCall Rd Balsam Grove NC L / N onto Shoal Creek Rd R / NE onto National Forest Rd 475 STOP Slick Rock Falls R / E onto National Forest Rd 475 L / N onto 276 STOP Looking Glass Falls / SE onto 276 R / SW onto 64 L / SE onto Chestnut St 117 Brevard NC R / S onto Neely Rd S / SW onto Park Ave L / S onto Parkview Rd L / S onto 276 STOP Connesstee Falls / N onto 276 L / SW onto S Gaston St R / NW onto E Jordan St L / SW onto 64 STOP Toxaway Falls / SW onto 64 STOP Breidal Veil Falls / SW onto 64 STOP Dry Falls / NW onto 64 STOP Cullasaja Falls / NW onto 64 L / SW onto 23 / 64 / 441 R / NW onto 1646 / Wayah ST R / NW onto 1323 / Conley St 188 Franklin NC S / NW onto 28 / Bryson City Rd Finish at Deals Gap Motorcycle Resort 244 R = Right turn N = North L = Left turn S = South S = Straight E = East W = West | ||
| Racerboy |
BRAG Rally September 13-15, 2002 Ride 6...Get An Early Start Mileage...318 GAS Feature From Deals Gap Motorcycle Resort 0 L / SE onto 129 L / NE onto 19 29 R / SE onto 1442 / Wayah Rd R / S onto Wayah Rd L / E onto 64 83 Highlands NC R / S onto 107 L / NE onto 37 413 / Wigington Rd L / NE onto 130 / Whitewater Falls Rd S / NE onto 281 R / E onto 64 124 Rosman NC L / NW onto 276 L / SW onto 215 R / W onto 64 R / NW onto 281 R / NW onto 107 L / SW onto 1001 / SPEEDWELL RD R / NW onto 64 R / NW onto 1646 / Wayah St 259 Franklin NC R / NW onto 1323 / Conley St S / NW onto 28 Finish at Deals Gap Motorcycle Resort 318 R = Right turn N = North L = Left turn S = South S = Straight E = East W = West | ||
| Racerboy |
Just a few thoughts... "The Dragon" is fun...The Cherohala Skyway may be the best run in the US...Haven't been on the Beartooth yet but John (V2WIN) and I will let you know how it compares after this summer... LEO's can be a bit of a problem on the weekend on both the Cherohala and "The Dragon"...That's why a lot of the other roads make sense...Wayah comes immediately to mind as it is as scenic and twistie as anything in Great Smokey Mountains NP with none of the traffic...Ending the day coming up 28 from the east and back to Fontana is a must run... LOTS of DECREASING radius turns...Late apex everything and when the signs start saying 20, 15 and 10 mph BELIEVE IT...I've already lost one good friend and MSF instructor on 28 between Fontana and Deals Gap Motorcycle Resort...You'll know the turn when you ride it and see all the scrapes on the roadway...And we had one rider left paralyzed after miss-judging the turn at the bottom of the hill just north of Fontana...Take it easy at the start of each ride and again at the end when you're tired...Enough said!... I wish I could join all of you for this but John and I are headed for the northwest this summer... Bob | ||
| Rocketsprink |
Racerboy, I very much appreciate you posting these other rides. Sorry to hear about your loss. I've been there before and those roads can bite you in the @ss if you don't pay attention. My brother-in-law is coming on this trip (his first time there) and is convinced he can break the record time on the Dragon. I'm trying my best to tell him otherwise, but I'm sure his attitude will change once he see's what it's like. Buelliedan. Rooms are $60 per nite. I'd say see if you can hook up with some people going. My cabin will be full, but you never know! Also, you may be able to find a cheaper place to stay. www.tailofthedragon.com lists a lot of places in the area that may be less expensive. Dyna, super glad you can make it. All of us leaving from Wisconsin need to hook up and have ourselves a convoy! Hopefully more will join in!! | ||
| Rocketsprink |
 Can't wait. | ||
| Buells Rule! (Dyna in disguise) |
And we had one rider left paralyzed after miss-judging the turn at the bottom of the hill just north of Fontana... Bob, was that the accident in the Brag ride of 02 where the rider hit the sign just outside Fontana? Never did hear how he turned out, sorry to hear it. | ||
| Buells Rule! (Dyna in disguise) |
Oh yea Rocco, your brother-in-law is an idiot.  Newbie Dragon rider gonna set the record?? Thats funny. | ||
| Buelliedan |
So does anybody need a roomate for this event? | ||
| Racerboy |
Yea, Greg, we're talking about the same accident...I still speak with his wife occasionally and it has been tough, to say the least...She has had to run the family business...John and I were about the first at the scene and the first responder was asking him if he could feel this or that and you could see the shock in his face as he realized what had happened to him...I never want to see that expression again... The friend of mine who died on 28 was leading a group in the area over a week long ride...Keith had just stopped his group at that little gas station at 28 and 19 and had reminded everyone that it was the end of a long day and to "take it easy"...They had a great run up 28 to Fontana and then he went wide on that right hander marked 10 mph and head on...His son was on the ride...Reeks of JB and JB2, doesn't it?...And just like JB2, thank God, the son is still a rider... Jeez, Rocco, please tell him to try and break the lap record at your local track...These roads have seen a lot of stupid deaths!... I'll try and put together a list of just great runs and area attractions and you guys can string them together... Bob | ||
| Racerboy |
Here is what I've put together from some saved stuff on the computer from the rallies in '01 and '02...I've tried to make as certain as I can that the information is current...For instance one of my fav restaurants was Cardin's in Tellico Plains...It is now The Bistro and under new ownership so ??? First, please get a copy of William Long’s “Extreme Twisities Southeastern USA”…Whitehorse press sells it, among others…John and I have ridden every “extreme” graded ride in this book and we’d have to agree completely with Mr. Long…Some of these you can hit going to or from Fontana to your homes…Especially if you’re coming in from the south, east or north…Us poor sacks here in the mid-west have to put up with Illinois and Indiana to and fro…VA 16 from Frog Level in the north down to Hungry Mother State Park just outside of Marion VA and I-81 is one of the best sport bike roads east of the Mississippi…John rates it above “The Dragon” and I’d have to agree with him… IMPORTANT…Blount County TN and Graham and Swain Counties in NC are all DRY counties…You have to bring in your own booze except as noted below regarding the Tapoco Lodge…And I’d call the lodge to make certain they still sell beer… Some Selected Runs in Eastern Tennessee and Western North Carolina and Northern Georgia The Cherohala Skyway…TN 165 and NC 143 from Tellico Plains TN east to Robbinsville NC…Simply “The Best” “The Dragon”…US 129 east from just east of the Foothills Parkway to the intersection of NC 28…Looses it’s attraction for me very quickly…It’s almost too technical, too LEO enforced and too many stupid riders, especially on the weekends…They should make this a toll road to help pay for the medical costs to these two counties in TN and NC…That said, I still love to ride it going to and from the area and during the week…In 2001 John and I introduced Leslie Prevish to “The Dragon” at night and in a pouring rain after having ridden down from Milwaukee to meet John and I in Louisville…That gal is a rider!…God, I hope she still has her M2… The Blue Ridge Parkway from it’s southern terminus just north of Cherokee NC and US 441 to Mt. Mitchell State Park north of Ashville NC…The BRP climbs to it’s highest elevations and Mt. Mitchell is the highest point east of the Mississippi River…Be aware that the speed limit is 45 mph…It’s very expensive to ride stupid on this federal road…But this is one of those roads that everyone should ride once in their life…There are no freakin’ TRUCKS!…Or stop signs…And the pavement is, well, you’ll see…Here we need some local knowledge because I know the heavy rains caused by those four big blows last summer (you know, the kind they name) caused some closures on the BRP and I don’t know if they have been repaired… TN 39 and TN 315 south to US 64…Starts just north of Tellico Plains TN…Not too many know about this one TN 68 from Tellico Plains TN south to US 64…Great run through the national forest and where else can you find a Turtletown and a Ducktown? Wayah Road (Wolf Road in the Cherokee language)…Just east of the intersection of US 129 and US 19…South from US 19 to US 64…Bring a swimsuit and take a soak on a hot summer day in the Nantahala River that runs along the northern part…Makes for very perky nips and disappearing nads but boy does it feel good…There are plenty of paved pull outs to drop a kickstand in…This really is as good as anything in the Great Smokey Mountains NP but without the traffic…Be aware there can be gravel in the turns depending on recent weather especially on the southern part… NC 1001, NC 107, NC 281, NC 215 and US 276 that run generally north and south starting from US 64 on the south are great rides…Cruso on US 276 is the home of The Blue Ridge Motorcycle Campground… GA 60 from Copperhill TN south to Suches GA…The famous TWO (Two Wheels Only) motorcycle resort is in Suches… Wolf Pen Gap Road east from Suches GA to US 19…Very technical and I like it much better than “The Dragon” because it is not nearly as popular… And the perfect ending to a perfect riding day is NC 28 from US 64 at Franklin NC north to Fontana…Sometimes very technical and then in the middle from US 19, triple digit sweepers and it ends once again very technical at Fontana… Restaurants Robbinsville NC Phillips Restaurant Main St, Robbinsville 828-479-3332…Great inexpensive home cooked food…Family owned… Tapoco Lodge Resort US 129 just south of Deals Gap, 828.498.2435 or 800.822.5083…These guys used to be the only the ONLY place to buy BEER!…They have very good food but their serving hours are very rigid...A few minutes late and you're not going to eat...Don't ask how I know that... Tellico Plains TN Checkerboard Restaurant - near downtown. Home cooking & inexpensive. The Town Square Café & Bakery 704 Hwy 165 Tellico Plains 423/253-2200 Located in downtown (HA!) Tellico Plains, the Town Square features home cooking and desserts designed to ruin any diet. Daily specials and pizza are available, too. Bistro on the River 1641 Cherohala Skyway 423/253-7800 Formerly Cardin's Landing, the Bistro is now catering to a more refined crowd. They still have parking for bikes and still feature bb-q, but it's served on focaccia bread with a wine list now. Tellico Beach Drive-In 1801 Cherohala Skyway Tellico Plains 423/253-2606 If you want burgers, sloppy hot dogs with all the traditional Southern fixin’s (you know – chili, slaw, mustard…), or ice cream, this is the place to be. Everything on the menu except the ice cream is either grilled or deep fried, giving your heart doctor a conniption fit. What he doesn’t know won’t hurt him, right? Located right on the edge of the Tellico River, they don’t have a dining room. Everything is eaten at picnic tables by the riverside while watching the kids in the water playing or looking for fish in the crystal clear river. New for 2005, the Beach has added a small concrete parking area and a pavillion for bikes. Seems everybody is getting in on the fad around here. Have fun, Bob | ||
| Buelliedan |
Nobody looking for a roomate? | ||
| Rocketsprink |
Don't forget, Rooms/Cabins are "Unblocked" as of March 18th. 4 cabins are rented out that I know of. Hopefully there are some I'm not aware of. Buelliedan. Don't give up! MAYBE someone will help out. If I had the room, you could stay with me. Check around the area. I know there are Motels going for around $40 per nite. Would be nice if you could hook up with someone else and stay at Fontana. Hell, getting a room would cost all of $30 each per nite. Help a Fellow Bueller out.. will ya!! | ||
| Ingemar |
Buelliedan, I just PM'ed you. Let me know oke? | ||
| Ingemar |
How many guys can comfortably stay in one room? Rocket, I asume we need to contact Fontana for a cabin ourselves right? | ||
| Rocketsprink |
Yes, you need to call Fontana. If you go back in the Archives on this thread all the information on how to go about it is listed. The Inn rooms have 2 queen size beds. So you could sleep 2 to 4 depending on how well ya know the other person! They may have rollaway beds too, but I'm not sure. Make sure you tell them you're with the Braggin' at the Dragon 2005 so you get the discount. | ||
| Rocketsprink |
The number to call from outside the USA is 1-828-498-2211 | ||
| Buelliedan |
allright now it looks like I am screwed. I reserved a 2 bed hotel room for the entire event thinking the other person was also going to be there the entire time. Now I just realized that the other pserosn is not going to be there except for a few days. My mistake not his. So does anybody else here need to split a room for the entire event. $30 a night per person is the cost. | ||
| Honu |
Dan, Put me down for splitting the room with you for the entire event. PM me and we will work out the details. Craig | ||
| Rocketsprink |
Good deal. Can't wait to meet everyone. | ||
| Buelliedan |
This is going to rock. Two Texans are headed your way!!  | ||
| Honu |
Dan, Just shot you an e-mail. | ||
| Hellion_hb |
Can't Wait. Period. | ||
| Ingemar |
Dan, I'm glad things worked out oke for you. I'm looking forward to meeting all you guys! | ||
| Rocketsprink |
We absolutely have to pick a night when the most people will be there and have a big dinner either at one of the places on site or make a reservation at a local restaurant. I think we should post as to when we'll be there. I will be there for the whole event, so it won't be a problem for me. That, and we'll have to get something going at nite at our cabins so we can all hang together too. I believe the have a big fire pit we could use. I'm hoping to have some door prizes to give away at the dinner. Tee-shirts, hats...stuff like that. | ||
| Uwgriz |
We'll be there from Saturday through Thursday. Dinner sounds like a good plan to me. | ||
| Ingemar |
BBQ & CRATES O' BEER!! We're there from 3rd or the 4th till the 7th. We all throw a few bucks together and do some shopping and PARTY! |
