"Motorcycle Journal.com--Ride Days" Dragon's Tail Weekend???

[Trapper]

Teach, how long are you expecting it to take to get there (one way)

[stp1971]

THIS FRICKIN' ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!! I can hardly wait!!!!!!! Sounds like a kicka$$ party !!!!!!!!!!!1

[M50er]

I'm ill! June 3rd is out for me.......I'll be headin' back to Indy from a week in Corolla,NC. I'm sure you all will do it again - I'll have to make the next party.

[MagnumForce]

For me:

Wichita, KS to Kansas City, KS (unless you prefer MO)
191.7 miles @ 2hrs 55mins

Kansas City, KS to Gatlinburg, TN
776.3 miles @ 11hrs 56mins

It's gonna be quite a ride. I may want to reconsider spending a night @ KC and bed down once the trip meter reaches 500 miles or so. Still, those of us from the central US can meet at KC and head east from there.

[The Teach]

Originally Posted by trappercase

Teach, how long are you expecting it to take to get there (one way)

I was looking at that eariler. I think a day to KC to meet up with the guys (says 9 hours) and then either a day or two for the rest of the trip (last 12 hours).

No matter what route we take, I'll need to start taking some long trips as soon as the roads clean up. I plan on taking a trip up to Devil's Tower some time in spring (800mi each way) and that should give me a good idea on my stamina level.

Coming back, I think I might take it easy and visit friends and family. With the distance, I think it's best to play it by ear. No need to over do it on a motorcycle.

TT

[MagnumForce]

Hmm... maybe spending a night at KC may not be so bad after all. It's going to be a long ride for Teach and we need to ensure he's well rested before we continue.

[The Teach]

I'm really interested to see what route Don is planning on taking as well. I might go back the southern route to visit some family in Mississippi.

EDIT: Got some family in Atlanta I want to visit too.

[stp1971]

Good Deal!!!!!!!!! Will start planning routes tonight!!!!! "J" is stoked about it and we will make a run of this!!!!!!!!! I can't hardly wait!!!

[farmbone]

One of my buddies from work wants to go! He's a Harley rider and said he should go so we'll be legit!

[Mavman]

Originally Posted by viper94bite

Sounds like a plan. As it gets closer I'll have a better idea as well.

Anybody else around the central region wanna join up?

Viper, EZ, Teach......SURE, I'd love to!!

I've read all this and it sounds great!!!! I'm currently discussing with the family about how to make this a reality.

Currently the bikes torn down somewhat for my next addition.....more to come on that later.

Hopefully the warm weather will hold up/get better in order to test the windshield-(installed this winter) on the highway and get some riding time in to condition my butt.

I'll know more tomorrow and update ya all after I get off work as to whether I/we can make it.

Mav

[stp1971]

Alright Mavman!!!!! Good to have another Maverick Fan along the trip!!!!! "J" is putting in for the time off today. I will be putting in for my time off today as well. I have plotted a route that leaves Gatlinburg on Saturday morning which will bring us back to Gatlinburg on Saturday evening. The total mileage appears to be around the 180 to 205 mile range.

85% of the route is twisties and scenic overlooks and nice motorcycle roads. The other 15% is still good riding roads. I will post the route in a little while once I work out all the turns and towns. This route even has a waterfall that you can drive behind and take a picture of the bike behind a waterfall. Good photo opportunity for Don!!!!

I am SOOOOoo STOKED about this ride!!!! Looking forward to meeting everyone!!!!

[stp1971]

Here's the latest list:
1. Myself and "J"
2. S2Design
3. drgibson
4. Viperbite
5. EZridr1
6. hutz
7. HammerPete
8. Rae
9. Farmbone and his friend
10. tnichols
11. azoazc (A maybe)
12.The Teach
13. Jerryzuki
14. BlackholeKelley
15. Mavman and the S.O. (all systems go)
16. Intimid8er (maybe Mrs. I too???)
17. Smurf (unless works screws him up)
18. Sunny (she's seriously pondering it)
19. wracing (he's a possible)
20. wracing's brother (he's a possible also)
21. DrBob (putting it on his calendar)
22. TODD0341 (possible,, looking into it)
23. MattC (possible)
24. My brother (possibly)

Great List and growing!!!!!! If anyone knows anyone who would want to join in feel free to ask them. Any riders are allowed as long as they ride!!!!! The more the merrier.

[azoazc]

I am still a maybe. I have to see what kind of coverage I have at the Dealership.

[stp1971]

That's cool!!! Hopefully you can swing it. Would love to have you on the trip!!!

[azoazc]

Originally Posted by stp1971

That's cool!!! Hopefully you can swing it. Would love to have you on the trip!!!

Honestly there is no place else I'd rather be than the GAP.

[S2Design]

Oh man, this is shaping into one heck of a trip. I have several from here who are interested. They are checking into schedules and such (read: checking with the wife). We'll see how it shakes out.

[viper94bite]

Originally Posted by Mavman

Viper, EZ, Teach......SURE, I'd love to!!

I've read all this and it sounds great!!!! I'm currently discussing with the family about how to make this a reality.

Currently the bikes torn down somewhat for my next addition.....more to come on that later.

Hopefully the warm weather will hold up/get better in order to test the windshield-(installed this winter) on the highway and get some riding time in to condition my butt.

I'll know more tomorrow and update ya all after I get off work as to whether I/we can make it.

Mav

awesome man! I was wondering about you the other day. Another omaha person. once its a sure thing me, you, EZ and the teach will have to get the route and all figured out. And of course anyone else is welcome too.

[tnichols]

Is this the waterfall you're talking about?
Bridal Veil Falls

[tnichols]

Found another one in my old pictures. This one you walk behind. It's not to far from Bridal Veil Falls. The place is called Dry Falls. (I think) Although it has been years since I've been up into that area. There is a $2.00 fee to park there and a short hike down to the falls. Hard to take photos around it though, so sorry it doesn't show much. I'm sure I have more so if I can find them I'll post them. I'll make up for the poor photo hopefully. I also included a pic of a dam that is near these two spots.

[stp1971]

We get up early Saturday morning and meet somewhere for Breakfast or we meet after breakfast somewhere in Gatlinburg for the departure.

1. Roll out of Gatlinburg south on US 441 / Blue Ridge Parkway -- 3 miles
2. Turn to the East at the Sugarlands Visitor Center to TN 73 -- 47 miles
3. Take TN 73 to Townsend, TN and take US 321 to the "Foothills Pkwy" -- 10 miles
4. Take the Foothills Pkwy to US 129 -- 18 miles
5. US 129 south to Deals Gap -- 11 miles ----> This is the Dragon's Tail
6. In Deals Gap take NC 28 to Franklin, NC -- 46 miles
7. In Franklin turn left onto US 74 then right onto NC 28 to Highlands, NC -- 18 miles
8. In Highlands take US 64 to Cashiers, NC --- 11 miles
9. In Cashiers take NC 107 to Sylva, NC --- 27 miles
10. In Sylva take US 74 to US 441 to Cherokee, NC -- 15 miles
11. In Cherokee, NC continue on US 441 to Gatlinburg, TN -- 26 miles ---> this is the Smokey Mountain Parkway.

Points of interest:
#2. Sugarlands Visitor Center
#3. Townsend (gas and snack stops), Tuckaleechee Caverns- $9.00 adults (one hour tour)
#4. Another commercial free and lightly traveled road, runs across Chilhowee Mountains ridgecrest, dead ends into Chilhowee Lake
#5. Dragon's Tail and the next stop at the end-- Deals Gap (where ya get the souveneirs)
#6. The Deals Gap motorcycle resort is here. Skirts the North Shore of Lake Cheoah as it snakes its way to Fontana Dam. This is the Highest Concrete Dam East of the Rockies (tours available inside the Dam), continues East along the shores of Lake Fontana
#7. Cullasaja Gorge (road carved out of the side of a cliff, opposite huge rockfaces), 15 mph curves and steep uphill grades, Cullasaja waterfall, Dry Falls(three minute hike to walk beneath the falls), Bridal Veil Falls (this is the one you can ride behind it), Highlands, NC -- highest incorporated town east of the Mississippi (cool little town,,lots of shops and eateries)
#8. Just a patch to get us to the next, Carolina Smokehouse & Barbecue (good prices and alot of food on the banks of a lake--just past Flat Mountain Road on US 64)
#9. Thorpe Resevoir, steep twisty grades, Lulu's bistro (great wine list) in Sylva
#10. Cherokee, NC --- Cherokee Indian Reservation (lots of shops and tourist stuff, trail of tears reinactment outdoor theater, restaurants, casino's, etc.)
#11. Smokey Mountain Parkway- 2 lane commercial free roads, Ocanaluftee Farmstead Museum, Clingman's Dome (highest spot w/ observation deck--seven mile spur road), Newfound gap Tunnel

This is just a overview of the area and the things to see and do. Most of the route has alot of scenic overviews. There are other options to the routes we can take but I think this is a pretty good route for seeing alot. We can plot more if time allows and depending on how everyone's bums are doing.

If you have any suggestions I am open to them. This is my suggested route. If anyone knows any better routes let me know. But this route will be a pretty long one if you figure an average speed of about 35 to 40 miles per hour.

Let me know.