| Author | Message | ||
     Uly1080 |
I've got a small group riding down to Deal's Gap tomorrow, and am trying to do some last minute reconnaissance of the area. We're all set as far as gear, tool kits, etc. so I'm wondering more about the area itself. Are the police ticketing heavily? Are there speed limit changes? Recommended Restaurants? I've heard it's a dry county, so do I need a flask (for after riding, of course)? We're only staying one night as the other guys don't have Ulys  ...and can't really haul their own weight for very long. I tried to convince them to trade their rides in on a real bike before the trip, but to no avail. Thanks for any info. Josh | ||
| Hughlysses |
Josh- check http://www.tailofthedragon.com for up-to-date reports. TN highway patrol has supposedly gotten federal money to pay overtime for extra patrols at the Dragon this summer. NC mainly concentrates on 4 lane roads in the area. Enforcement (and traffic) is much less during the week. The town of Robbinsville (~15 miles south of Deal's Gap) is dry but has a few decent restaurants. You can get beer at Fontanna Village (which has a couple of places to eat) or at Tapaco Lodge (~5 miles south of Deal's Gap). Let us know how it goes. | ||
| Tipsymcstagger |
Make sure to ride the Cherohala Skyway. It's a fantastic, fast moving highway with high speed sweeping turns and great scenery. If I recall correctly, there is a decent BBQ joint on the Tellico Plains end of the skyway. Tipsy | ||
| Khelton |
Best place to stay is Deal's Gap resort, great lunches and breakfast too..4 feet from the ride. Best restaurants are Snowbird Mountain Lodge, reminds ya of a small Sundance in Utah, call ahead for reservations ( it isn't cheap), at the end of the Cherohala in Robbinsville, or Blue Waters Mountain Lodge, overlooking Lake Santeetlah, just off 129 between Deal's Gap and Robbinsville, xlnt food and nice people. . At the other end of the Cherohala in Tellico, there is an okay restaurant on the riverside, used to be called Telliqua or something like that. | ||
| Curly |
welcome to the area and have fun. if this is your first trip to the dragon please become familiar with it before you go balls to the wall. the dragon takes the life of at least one rider per year, sometimes more. you have everything from first time riders to pro racers to 18 wheelers crossing the center lane. not trying spoil your fun, we just want you to live to ride another day  | ||
| M_singer |
Josh I'm local. I'll PM you my ph no. | ||
| Uly1080 |
Thanks everyone for the advice and wisdom. We're getting ready to roll and I hope to get some good pictures up later this week. Marty, I appreciate your PM and may just see you there. Thanks again. Josh | ||
| Pso |
I second the Cherahola. I was not overly impresssed with the Dragon. Needed to do it but have found better in Vermont and New Mexico. | ||
| Conchop |
go josh go! imindisneyland - rather be doing the dragon - uncle desii | ||
| Supertoon |
Pso, I have criss-crossed Vermont so many times I think I smell of Maple Syrup, please share this "dragonish" ride of which you speak. | ||
| Hughlysses |
I like Highway 28 from the motorcycle resort at Deal's Gap to Fontana (and on south) at least as well as the Dragon itself. You can actually relax occasionally to look at the scenery but there is no shortage of twisties either. The section of highway 28 from the highway 74 intersection south to Franklin is also awesome, as well as the section all the way south to Walhalla, SC. | ||
| Jwnsc |
When I was introducing my NC riding buddy to Deals Gap a couple of weeks ago, (he had never been) there seemed to be just as many senior citizens in their Mazda Miatas and Mini Coopers as bike riders. And let's not forget the two Blount County Deputies we saw on patrol. I'd have to say I've ridden many roads across the country that are just as exciting as Deals Gap but far less crowded and not on any police agency's regular patrol beat. The difference is they don't have anyone marketing them as something out of the ordinary. (Thank goodness!) | ||
| Pso |
Suprtoon-Coming back from Nova Scotia stopped for lunch with my freidn that rode up to NS with. Talked with a fellow on a GS BMW and he led us through a park that was freshly repaved through some mt.'s I am going for a ride with the same riding friend this weekend. I will ask him if he remembers the road, and get back to you.It was terrific, fresh pavement, no police, through woods and mt.s. | ||
| Pso |
Supertoon-I checked with my friend he said he thought the name of the road is "It was the Kankamangus (sp?) Highway in New Hampshire." Sorry I got Vermont mixed up with New Hampshire. | ||
| Tipsymcstagger |
The Kangamangus (usually called "the Kank" for short) is a nice road through the White Mountain National Forest. If you're going to do that ride, plan to head all the way through to Conway and to the summit of Mount Washington (highest point on the East coast). Tipsy  (Message edited by tipsymcstagger on May 14, 2008) | ||
| Khelton |
Regarding the Cherohala, it is less technical and much faster than 129. If you fancy yourself an aggresive rider, a mistake on the Cherohala is a much bigger mistake. Best not to ride the Dragon on the weekend due to car clubs and police. |
