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

[sunny]

80 mile stops for gas is good.

thanks.

[stp1971]

Ok,, here is the ride highlights as best as I can remember.
1. Leave out of Gatlinburg and ride about 13 miles to the ghost town of Elkmont. That is the first shut the bikes off spot for a quick hop off and check it out. No more than 15 minutes there.


2. We then ride all the way over to the Foothills Parkway and there are at least one or two pull outs that we are going to do for a group shot and scenic overlooks.


3. At the last overlook before we descend down the final part of the Foothills parkway we will move the faster riders to the front and then we ride down to US129 and to the Dragon. Once everyone rides the Dragon and completes it we ALL stop at Deals Gap for a rest break, souvenier, and re-group stop. We will hang there for a little bit to make sure everyone made it to the end with no problems. The slower riders back to the front and we leave out NC 28.


4. About ten minutes after leaving we will make a quick stop for a photo op at the base of the Fontana Dam. Then we will ride around to the top of it for another quick stop to check out the sights.


5. We will then be making a fuel stop in the area and heading down NC 28 towards Franklin. Depending on the time we will either stop in Franklin or we will head straight to Highlands to eat. But between Franklin and Highlands we will be doing alot of really cool riding along the Casalouga(sp) gorge and making a stop at one of the waterfalls to check it out. I wanted everyone to stop at another fall where you can ride behind it but as of yesterday there was a massive boulder that dropped on the road we would need to use to pull that way,, so unless it is moved by then we will just have to go slow by it.


6. Once we head out of Highlands we will be riding about fifty miles back towards Cherokee where we can stop for a little bit and do some sightseeing.


7. After departing Cherokee we will ride north through the Smoky Mountain Parkway back to Gatlinburg. The distance between Cherokee and Gatlinburg is about 33 miles. So in all reality the longest distance without stopping is about 60 miles and that is the point from the Ghost Town to the first pulloff on the Foothills Parkway.


8. Sorry,,no iron butt long distance riding here. If it make you feel any better keep in mind my low fuel light comes on at 80-90 miles and at 130 I'm out,, so I am planning on trying to get fuel at about the 80 to no more than 100 mile mark. More along the lines of 80.

[Trapper]

Added spaces for ease of reading.

[stp1971]

Second thing is we will be using Road Guards and TailGunners. Even though we have Road Guards make sure that you look yourself before entering and/or crossing any highway. Never trust the Road Guard to protect you,, it is more of a backup thing. When using Road Guards there is certain procedures that we must follow until the Road Guards get back up to the front.

SO PLEASE check out the website the Misfits has on group riding. We will go over things again at the safety briefing. It is MANDATORY that you be there for the safety briefing. If you do not attend the 8:00 briefing then you will not make the ride with us. If you are drunk or buzzing, etc as I said earlier you will not ride with us. I don't think this will be a problem just want to stress this to everyone,, keep the Friday partying light and get a good nights rest.

Here is a copy of the email that our primary Road Captain sent out today to the Misfits. I am hoping we get a few more of my group to come along that way we can do all the police work and have you guys just enjoy the trip. The three of us all said we want you guys to get the most bang for your buck and walk away thinking this was the best trip!!!! But here is the Misfits blanket email that went out this morning.

Hey ya'll,

Last Guy, Gumby and myself just back from the recon for the June 2-4 run to the Smokies. We laid in routes for the trip up and the Saturday morning tour and...wow....this one is going to be fun! Here's some of the highlights: Suches, GA - Hiawassee, GA & Lake Chatuge - Wayah Rd - Nanatahala - Cherokee, NC - Smokey Mtn National Pk. & Gatlinburg, TN.

The Saturday tour will include the Elkmont ghost town - Foothills Parkway - Deals Gap (tail of the dragon) - Fontana Dam - NC 28 (very scenic rd) - Highlands, NC & if we've got enough time - a part of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Last Guy did an excellent job of picking the hotel for the tour as it's right on the river that runs through the middle of Gatlinburg and next door the aquarium. He's also got some very nice patches made and ready for this ride.

All told, this should be one of the big highlight trips of the year. We're going to pack on quite a few miles, but we've got 3 days to do it in so we can take our time and make enough stops for photos and breaks to keep things enjoyable. Please make sure your bikes are in top shape before June gets here as this one has enough turns and mountain climbs & decents to put a fair bit of wear and tear on a motorcycle.

Please make your reservations at the hotel sooner rather than later as this ride is only about a month away now.

Regards,

Rainman


I hope you all will have a blast,, I know I had a blast just riding in the car the past two days and I know it is going to be great riding it. The Road Captain "Rainman" commented that this is going to be one of the best ries he has done in a long time and he rides almost everyday and does alot of long trips. So be ready for some great riding Saturday.

[Pinhy]

Originally Posted by sunny

so pinhy, you gonna smack him? or should i?

youre the one with the "clue x 4"....hes all yours!

Originally Posted by dragbar

save it up Sunny..you both can smack me for good measure when i buy shots..haha

maybe wait till AFTER he buys rounds though! (or at least till we know where his wallet is)

[sunny]

Originally Posted by Pinhy

maybe wait till AFTER he buys rounds though! (or at least till we know where his wallet is)

sounds like a plan.

[Pinhy]

Originally Posted by Trapper

Added spaces for ease of reading.

you moderators are so useful


.

[sunny]

they have to do something to earn their keep...

[stp1971]

How's the maintenance going on everyone's bike???

I called Suzuki and requested that they call the dealership tomorrow and patch up my tank with some JB Weld. I really want my Intruder on this ride. Comfort factor alone.

[sunny]

i still am severly lacking in motivation to even remove the tank to change the stupid plug.

the rest is all cosmetic. well, if it turns over after replacing the plug...

[stp1971]

Ok,,, here is the update. We have only 7 rooms left in the block of rooms Susan has set aside for us. A total of 18 rooms booked. After May 2nd they are released back into their inventory. Right now they only have 42 rooms left outside of our 25 block. After May 2nd when they release the balance she doesn't anticipate the remaining rooms lasting very long.

As you can see in the earlier post the mesage that was sent out to the riding group I am in,, there might be a few more of the remaining rooms taken. I know there are about three different people tossing around the idea. If that happens then there is only going to be a couple left.

So in other words,, if you are thinking about it then go ahead and reserve the room and you can always cancel a week prior. I need to go ahead and block off a few more rooms if I can if we are goiong to fill them up.

[stp1971]

Oh by the way,, drinking around the pool is ok as long as it is in a solo cup so no one will be able to see what you are drinking. That is only at the resort I believe,,, I may be wrong. it does seem like I have walked around town with a solo cup in the past drinking and it was ok.

Hutz,, are you still going to be a hospitality suite???? Our unit is on two levels. The first floor rooms face the pool. There is some parking spots outside the door, then a tiny driveway, then the pool, and next to that is the river. The second floor the parking spots are around back on ground level with the rooms. There are balconies overlooking the pool and the river on the other side.

Great location,, less than ten minute walk to almost everything. There is a bar called Hogs and Honeys which is a take off on Coyote Ugly. Below it there is a bar called Puckers which has a dance floor. Across the street at an angle there is a bar called CrawDaddy's,, there is also a few more around too.

All within about a five minute walk of each other. The hotel has a lounge with enough room to seat about 25 at tables and some at the bar. They have a pool table and darts. The next hotel down has a lounge with Karaoke.

All the liquor stores close at 11:00 pm on Saturday so stock up early. The main bars in the town will stay open until 1:00 am but they think last call is at midnight. So if you are planning on some late night partying we may need to make our own bar at the pool.

Susan siad that it was ok to drink at the pool as long as we didn't throw trash in the pool and trash the area. Also the solo cup rule.

It's coming together nicely!!!! Going to be a blast!!!!

[Rainman]

Hey folks,

Looks like it's about time that I introduced myself since I'll be your road captain for this little shin dig. My name's Rainmain, otherwise known as Jeremy Whitehead. I ride an army green Honda VTX 1300 Retro that I call "Miss Angie" after my wife. I'm a regular Road Captain and Road Guard for the Georgia Misfits that Last Guy (that's what we call Sean) is also a member of.

Looks like this one is going to be a good one. Sean's put some serious time and effort into planning a nice trip for ya'll and recruited myself and another fellow we ride with into helping him with the routing and such. I've got the routes laid out into Garmin GPS v2 format so if you want the route info, send me your E-mail address and I'll send you the route data.

I was pretty impressed by the Hotel he's got picked out. Yeah...their's fancier and newer places in Gatlinburg, but for a bunch of bikers who want to hang out and have a good time for good price - he's got this one nailed. The Hotel is right on the river and just one block from the main drag so regardless of what you want to do - you're pretty well covered.

If you're into Comedy theater, I'd recommend getting some reservations at the Sweet Fanny Adams theater in Gatlinburg (only about 2 blocks from the Hotel). It's a small, family owned and operated theater that is seriously funny. Me and the Mrs. will probably be making reservations here soon to take in a show like we usually do when we hit Gatlinburg.

Anyway, I just wanted to introduce myself and say hey to ya'll. I'm really looking forward to meeting ya'll and having an enjoyable, safe riding weekend.

Regards,

Rainman

[hutz]

Originally Posted by stp1971

How's the maintenance going on everyone's bike???

I called Suzuki and requested that they call the dealership tomorrow and patch up my tank with some JB Weld. I really want my Intruder on this ride. Comfort factor alone.

Yes, I am quite hospitable and yes we can use my room for coolers, cups, snacks,beer, booze,beer, booze,beer,CAPTAIN,and soft drinks. (sorry, just got excited)
I will take some coolers, ice and STUFF up on Friday and be sittin by the pool.

Hope you get the big dog running!

[sunny]

CAPTAIN? is that for me????

[Rickster]

I'm still playing with the idea of going on this shin-dig, but I really don't want to ride all the way from St Paul by myself. Is there anybody from my neck of the woods that's planing on riding there bike down?
The only one on the FLAPER map that's close to me is RowdyRed, and so far I haven't heard him say anything about going.

[hutz]

Originally Posted by sunny

CAPTAIN? is that for me????

The private stock will be waiting!!

[stp1971]

Welcome Rainman!!!!! Glad you dropped in to say hello and introduce yourself. Look around and check out the forum,, some really great people on here to be a part of.

I definitely want to thank him and Gumby for helping me out with this. Just got off the phone with a fellow about thirty minutes from here that rides a Wee-Strom from the V-Stromn forum and he is stoked about trying to swing this ride. So it looks like we will have quite a commanding group running down the Dragon and the streets of Tennessee and North Carolina.

Is It June Yet????

[stp1971]

Hey,, talked to BlackholeKelley and he is wondering if there is anyone who wants to split a room with him. He was going to split with my brother but looks like my brother doesn't know for sure or not right now. If there is anyone pm me and let me know.

[Trapper]

Originally Posted by Pinhy

you moderators are so useful


.

A lot more useful than your stupid comments. Try using one of these instead of one of these when you TRY to make a joke.