NOVEMBER 22, 2001 Tail of the Dragon took a much needed vacation to the Big Bend desert area in southwest Texas during early November. Ron and Nancy covered close to 1,000 miles of back-road dual sport riding in the Park and on the 220,000 acre Terlingua Ranch. This desolate area offered many challenges ranging from sand to rocks to boulders with steep climbs and downhills around every corner. CLICK HERE to see photos and story of our dual-sport trip to Big Bend in Texas.
SATURDAY NOV 3, 2001: Many riders still in the area this week. We saw a cycle vs pickup head-on accident on Hwy 143 near Robbinsville on Wednesday (cycle crossed centerline), rider suffered broken ribs and collapsed lung, but recovering fine. Reports from the Dragon on Saturday indicate many bites including a friend who low-sided into a guard rail and suffered only bruises. A late afternoon wreck near Cheoah Dam on "the Slide" saw the rider airlifted to Knoxville. Injuries sounded severe. We later learned that this rider died from head injuries. We have "closed shop" at the Overlook for the year and would appreciate any news that our riding friends can send us. If you do visit the area...remember to watch for slick roads even on dry days and remember your traction will not be as good as in the heat of the summer. We make it a practice to slow WAY DOWN as the end of October nears, thankful to have survived another year on the Dragon.
SUNDAY OCTOBER 28, 2001: One of the slowest days of the year in spite of warmer temperatures. High was in the low 60's, a great improvement over Saturday. A serious accident in the early afternoon when Kent Davis a local F4i rider found himself 40 feet down a steep bank with his bike another 30 feet below him. The accident occurred near the picnic table at mile 4 on the Dragon map. Witnesses said the south bound rider came into the corner, low sided, and hit the railing sending him and bike flying over the bank. Many passers-by, including an ER doctor and a medic, stopped to help. Injuries included a broken neck, a broken back, broken leg, possible head injuries, and numerous internal injuries. Kent remained unconscious after surgery. Please keep Kent in your prayers. The rest of the day was quiet with only a few bikes and sport cars running the Dragon. One 18-wheeler was seen about 5:00 pm north bound. Road conditions were good for this time of year. This was our last day at the Overlook for the 2001 season. We will continue to report on local weather and road conditions for those who will be coming in the off-season. We will return the last weekend of April....can't wait !!! Watch our website for an end of season summary, special sales from our on-line store, and area rides that we have explored.
SATURDAY OCTOBER 27, 2001: Brrrrrrr We woke up to a windy 30 degrees and by late morning temps were still in the 30's. We decided to stay home and catch up on some web page work. We now have the new SPEEDMADESS video on the shopping page along with our souvenir magnet and key ring. Sorry if we missed you at the Overlook today - if you made the trip you were braver than us. Heard there were snowflakes on the Cherohala this morning - WINTER IS COMING!! We did take advantage of warmer weather earlier in the week - riding the Dragon two afternoons. We found road conditions only fair with leaves and other tree debris on the road - making for some slick spots. This time of year recommend that you make an initial slow run to check road conditions.
BULLETIN: The Dragon saw its second fatality for the year at about 11:00 am on Saturday October 27, 2001. Jeremy Williams, 37, of Cincinnati OH riding a 2001 Ninja 250 low sided into a large RV. Rider was killed instantly. The accident occurred at about mile 4.5 near the "Horns of the Dragon". There are varying accounts of the accident. TNHP states the rider crossed the centerline. Witnesses tell us the RV was over the centerline.
JUST A REMINDER... Cades Cove and 441 thru the park is not the best place to ride because of traffic!! There is also an increased amount of vehicle traffic on the Dragon. Many of these folks are not used to the cycle traffic and don't have enough SENSE to pull over. Sometimes the best remedy is to pull over yourself and take a breather. Passing on the double yellow is always illegal, but this time of year it could prove dangerous.

SUNDAY OCTOBER 21, 2001: Almost the mirror image of Saturday. Large crowds, good weather, and lots of fun. Even with the heavy traffic we managed to get in half a dozen good runs during the day. Some leaves on the road but no real problem because of the dry conditions. A few bites at the sharp corner near the state line that we warned was slick. We slow for this corner which is in the shade and seems to collect crud from the overhanging trees. We have named this "crud corner". CLICK HERE for a video clip of one of the Crud Corner Bites (courtesy of Rob from Knoxville). TNHP came up for one of the accidents and quickly left. Blount County SO paid a visit to the overlook later in the afternoon and found all was well. Enforcement seems to be mostly on the roads that lead to the Dragon - watch your speed coming and going. Watch for Cherohala update tomorrow. We plan to ride some other area roads on Monday and will report on conditions.
SATURDAY OCTOBER 20, 2001: Fun in the sun as hundreds of riders and drivers shared the Dragon. Weather doesn't get any better than today with highs in the low 70's. We saw lots of cruiser groups and equal number of sport bikers. A few minor accidents with no serious injuries. An R6 went over the bank early in the afternoon but was quickly retrieved and back on the road. Traffic was heavy but everyone was patient and enjoyed the day. We did see two 18-wheelers come thru, but both had escort trucks warning traffic. The Cheroahala Skyway saw lots of bikes and the usual law enforcement. We also heard of a group of bikers stopped by the law on US129. We'll once again warn riders that roads leading to the Dragon and the Cherohala are strictly enforced. We heard of a serious accident on the Cherohala in the morning near the TN state line. Cruiser went down with rider suffering facial injuries.FRIDAY OCTOBER 19, 2001: Nanc and I rode the Dragon Thurs. Road conditions and weather look good for this weekend. We did note one slick corner near the state line and pine needles along the outer edges of the road in places. Overall the road is good. Car traffic seems to be a little more than normal - probably leaf lookers. We hope to see you at the Overlook this weekend!
SUNDAY OCTOBER 14, 2001: Rain all night cloudy and windy in the morning. Sun finally came out after lunch, but most of the bikers, including us, had already decided to stay home. Dragon friends Ray & Mary rode and provided our update. Poor road conditions with lots of leaves and pine needles on the road - with heavy car traffic. They saw only a few bikers while they were there. We (Ron & Nanc) road the Cherohala in the morning and later in the afternoon. There was heavy fog in the morning (see picture below). The afternoon sky was crystal clear after the front came thru with views all the way to the Cumberland mountains - approx 50 miles. Road conditions were similar to the Dragon with lots of leaves and debris. We saw quite a few trees that had come down from the high winds on Saturday. Leaves are at their peak color this week. Hunting begins tomorrow in NC so watch for dogs and pickup trucks on the Cherohala. It's usually the time of year when we see wild boar and bear along the roadway - so keep an eye out.
SATURDAY OCTOBER 13, 2001: A blustery day kept traffic to a minimum on the Dragon today. It stayed dry but winds gusting to 40mph plus threatened to blow the Dragon tent off the mountain. Many leaves and pine needles on the road, yet conditions were rideable with the roads dry and winds blowing leaves to the side. A few scraps and scratches to riders and bikes. An 18-wheeler came thru mid-afternoon. Visitors included a number of cruiser groups, a small Miata Rally, a few BMW sport cars, and some scattered sport bikes. Cherohala appeared to be socked in all day. Riding the Cheroahala this time of year can be very unpredictable due to seasonal weather conditions. Sunday looks like a rain out - bummer !! If the weather is really bad we won't be at the Overlook.
SUNDAY OCTOBER 7, 2001: What a beautiful fall day and much warmer than we anticipated. We only know of one R6 that lowsided with no injuries. What a party we had at the overlook today !! We saw lots of familiar faces and met some new friends of all ages riding and driving everything from Cobras to Honda Rebels. We all had one thing in common..... enjoying the Dragon. The show doesn't get any better than this. If you weren't there you missed the fun. We met a father on his way to Fort Bragg to see his son off to war. Another rider was in the USAF and had to cut his leave short after learning about the attack. All of these people who serve our country are in our thoughts and prayers. Graham County Sheriff and the NCHP hosted a different kind of party on the Cherohala - admission was quite expensive!! We keep warning everyone about the cost of attending this party - but they keep coming at HIGH SPEED - don't forget to bring Mr. Green. JUST A REMINDER... Cades Cove and 441 thru the park is not the best place to ride because of traffic!! There is also an increased amount of vehicle traffic on the Dragon. Many of these folks are not used to the cycle traffic and don't have enough SENSE to pull over. Sometimes the best remedy is to pull over yourself and take a breather. Passing on the double yellow is always illegal, but this time of year it could prove dangerous.
SATURDAY OCTOBER 6.2001: Morning was cold and damp with temps around 50 degrees. The brave riders began appearing at the overlook around 11:30am. The roads partially dried but remained wet in spots for most of the afternoon. Leaves and pine needles made the ride even more challenging. At least half a dozen bites with several going to the ER - a broken collar bone and a hand injury. Clearing by late afternoon with a large number of riders finally getting in a good run. Two of the groups spending the day at the Dragon were www.sportbikes.net and www.katanaplanet.com Cheroahala was socked in with heavy fog most of the day making for a slow and chilly ride. Sunday forecast is morning chill and afternoon in the 60's with clear skies and dry roads. Did anybody notice the newly painted white lines on Graham County Roads?? Hint.... 15 seconds equals 60mph.
SUNDAY SEPT 30, 2001: A slow start on a chilly Sunday morning but the day warmed and riders flocked to the Dragon. We saw many familiar faces at the Overlook and a lots of new ones who attacked the Dragon with mixed results. A group of Florida riders left a trail of destruction on their run across the Dragon with at least 4 riders in the ditch. No serious injuries, just a few Dragon teeth marks to brag about. We did hear of one Aprilia RSV Mille which landed in the ditch whose rider was more worried about what his wife would say than his possible broken wrist. Later in the afternoon a GSXR lowsided into an oncoming BMW. Both bikes suffered major damage, riders suffered apparant minor injuries. A regular stunt man on a KLR finally got bit - this guy needs to slow down or find religion REAL QUICK. Saw one ambulance for a possible broken arm at the CRoT. All in all a busy day with injuries and bites to brag about. No oil spills all weekend, perhaps our reward scared the perp!! If he's watching - we mean business. See this weeks photo contest below and win one of our new Dragon fridge magnets and stickers.
SATURDAY SEPT 29, 2001: Brad & Chris from Asphalt Surfer manned the Overlook - giving us a day off. Fall arrives at the Dragon with cooler temps and falling leaves. Riders need to remember that there will be "leaf lookers" in the coming weeks. Cades Cove will be packed - get the pics out from your last visit and do an armchair ride. A number of minor accidents the most interesting was a K12 that crashed on Friday into a hornets nest - some difficulty in retrieving the bitten beemer.
Hunters were present and everybody got along good. We've had calls from hunters expressing their concerns about the oil incident last Sunday. Some even had leads for us. Our $1200 reward still stands for the arrest and the conviction of the person responsible. It is our understanding that hog hunting with dogs ends October 1st and bear hunting with dogs ended yesterday. NC hunting season for bear/boar with dogs begins October 15th - watch for them on the Cherohala.
We rode the Cherohala at 11am and found a NCHP trooper writing a ticket to a Winger for 69mph near Hooper Bald. We noted the following about the speed limit on the TN side of the Cherohala - the only speed limit postings are 30mph near Cardins Landing in Tellico Plains and the Indian Boundary - FS345 intersection approximately 12 miles apart. Oddities include 2 signs which warn for curves ahead safe speed 35 mph and a Reduced Speed sign as you approach the NC state line where the speed limit is posted as 45mph. We were advised by TNHP Trooper Russell that the speed limit is 30mph from Tellico Plains to the NC state line. Seems like TN has a hard time telling riders and drivers what the real speed limit is. Let us know if you have recvd any speeding tickets on the TN side of the Cherohala - we would like to know the details.
We made the return across the Cherohala at 6pm. It was chilly and we found no enforcement on the TN side. We did see two deputy Sheriffs on the NC side who spent the day writing some 40 citations for speeding, passing on double yellow, and wreckless driving. Felony speeding to evade arrest warrants on 4 riders from Lakeland, FL.
Found a new place to eat on Hwy 411 North in Madisonville TN. Reno's Roadhouse has fantastic food at a reasonable price - try it. OTHER ROADS THIS WEEKEND: Several accidents on area roads. One sport bike on the Cherohala hit a guardrail and rider was trasported to hospital. Photo below from Jeff Bathke Wrecks on 28 both east and west of Fontana. Several bikers down on 28 east of 19.
BULLETIN: Received a report that Monroe Co and TNHP had a radar trap set-up on the lower end of the Cherohala Saturday. First time we've seen enforcement on the TN side. Thanks to Troutrider for this tip
SUNDAY SEPT 23, 2001: Another busy day with many people from all over - IL, NJ, NY, FL, GA, TN, NC, OH, IN... Fewer hunters today and less dogs to dodge. Buell Braggers heading home after a great weekend on local roads. We heard a number of positive comments on their rally and stay at Fontana Village - hope to see them again next year. Gave away 4 Asphalt Surfer stickers (along with some duct tape) for a few minor Dragon bites. It really is cheaper to buy the sticker !! It was great to see so many familiar faces returning from far away places - it's starting to feel like family at the Overlook. Late in the afternoon (around 3:30pm) Ron went for a quick run and found an accident just a mile from Overlook, caused by an intentional oil slick. Three additional spills were found in the next mile. In addition gravel had been thrown in the road in several locations. We notified TNHP and warned riders of the danger ahead.
TAIL OF THE DRAGON & RIDERS ARE POSTING A $1,200 DOLLAR REWARD FOR INFORMATION LEADING TO THE ARREST AND CONVICTION OF THE PERSON OR PERSONS WHO POURED OIL ONTO THE ROADWAY ON SEPT 23, 2001 - CONTACT BLOUNT COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPT OR TENNESSEE HIGHWAY PATROL. WE HAVE RECOVERED EVIDENCE THAT MAY LEAD TO AN ARREST.
SATURDAY SEPT 22, 2001: Possible new world record for the most Buell's in one place at one time was set today at the Dragon. Some 200 roared past the Overlook during the day. Even the hunting dogs were staying off the road!! Lots of pickups with hunters lined the road on our way to the Overlook this morning. We had to dodge a few dogs, but no problems throughout the day with the hunters who began leaving the Dragon around noon. The Honda S2000's were back and one was eaten by the Dragon at the Hump - yumyum, burp. check the Dragon Slayer pictures for September 22 page two for more picts. A number of bikes went down including a 929 (and the rider complained to us that all the hunters made the road dangerous!!) at the infamous "WHEELIE HELL" - the first turn above the CRoT. Other accidents were a female rider on 28 riding an R6 who suffered from road rash (no leathers) and broken bike; a bike on the foothills parkway with injuries unknown; and at least 4 other minor drops on the Dragon. Not bad for a day with heavy cycle traffic, bicycles, several hundred hunters and dogs, S2000's ripping the corners, and Buells blasting their way thru the Dragon..
FRIDAY SEPT 21, 2001: Buells, Wings, BMW's, Honda S2000's & Flags flew over the Dragon today. One 18-wheeler stopped at the Overlook looking rather frieghtened and asking about the road ahead. A group of Buells escorted the truck for the next 9 miles warning oncoming traffic. Ron worked the Overlook today and heard of several bites during the week and one serious Buell accident on US28 today. Injuries appeared to be broken ribs (or worse) for the rider and looked like the bike was totaled. We've posted some pictures of last week's action photos (see car bite below), check the Dragon Slayer pictures for Sept 16 - page two. THURSDAY SEPT 20, 2001: Shake, Rattle, & Roll.. The Buell's are coming to the Dragon this coming weekend. Other groups in the area include the BMW's in Morganton NC and Goldwings in Asheville NC. We've had a couple of wet days but the sun is out this afternoon and looks like the weather should be perfect all weekend - check out the weather link further down this column. A quick reminder that hunting season begins Saturday so keep a cautious eye out for hunting dogs and trucks. We were on the mountain last year for opening day and there were no problems - the hunters are a friendly bunch. We've got new long sleeve shirts, stickers, and childrens shirts. Hope to see lots of flags on the mountain again ... and GOD BLESS AMERICA !!
SUNDAY SEPT 16, 2001: Another perfect day on the Dragon ... a lot of traffic even early in the morning. Jim Sheldon from SPEEDMADNESS.com was riding all day filming the final parts for his new video. Many Dragon regulars were filmed for the upcoming video which will be available October 10th. One sports car & several sport bikes wrecked on the Dragon with no serious injuries - a cliff jumper GSXR 1000 went over the bank at the first curve past the CRoT.... one lucky rider but not much left of the GSXR (pictures to be posted later). Six YSR-50's buzzed the Dragon, however the Dragon managed to snag one.
SATURDAY SEPT 15, 2001: Perfect weather on the Dragon today, cool morning and pleasant afternoon temperatures. Lots of cruisers either going to the rally in Maggie Valley, the Trail of Tears Ride, or just enjoying an afternoon in the mountains. Plenty of sport bikes too, but they were definitely outnumbered. Early afternoon found a Ducati 900 FE (number 132 out of 300) sliding down the road on one side with the owner/rider cussing all the way. The Duc made some nice Tree of Shame ornaments as it made a final rest against a tree-trunk, destroying a $1200 tank. Also had a 2-up cruiser down near the state line with unreported injuries. Other drops today but nothing serious. Windy City Miatas were on the mountain too. Lots of scars on the Dragon from recent bites. Flags everywhere !!!
THURSDAY SEPT 13, 2001: We have been exploring the area and find gas prices stable and business as usual. Fontana Dam has been closed to the public for security reasons, but will probably be open soon. Today we rode the Dragon and saw alot of bikes, many of them BMW's heading for the Rally in Morganton. Looks like they are predicting good weather for this coming weekend - moderate temps and no rain. CHECK OUT THE GREAT WEATHER LINK FURTHER DOWN THIS PAGE.
TUESDAY SEPT 11, 2001: Christoffer Carstanjen was killed when the plane he was on (flight 175) was crashed into the north tower of the World Trade Center. He was on his way to the 2001 Pacific Coast Hi-way ride. He was an avid PC800 rider. In July of this year Chris, along with 23 other PC800 (aka Pacific Coast) riders, rode the Dragon. Our condolences to Chistoffer's friends and family and to all those who lost loved ones in this tragic event
SUNDAY SEPT 9: Another great sunny day brought the sport bikers out in force. Only a few groups of cruisers made their way across the Dragon as many were staying in Cherokee for the day. The Busa's were everywhere for some reason. Saw a few Concours' making their way home from the TWO rally. No trucks today. At least half-a-dozen drops, nothing serious. A GSXR 1000 came into the hard right-hander before the "Hump" and lost it, bike didn't suffer too much damage but the rider apparently broke his wrist...OUCH. A Busa laid down in Rocket Corner with road rash to the rider and minor damage to the bike. TNHP was once again pulling riders over on 72. WATCH YOUR SPEED ON ALL ROADS LEADING TO THE DRAGON.... YOU ARE BEING WATCHED. BULLETIN: Abt 7 pm Sunday another motorcycle death on the Cherohala. Twenty-nine year old Ontario, Canada rider Michael Dicenzo on a GSXR 750 hit guardrail between 7-8 mile markers. High speed contributed to the accident on this sharp corner where we have seen a number of other serious wrecks. PLEASE SLOW DOWN ON THIS DANGEROUS ROAD.
SATURDAY SEPT 8: Finally !!!!! Good weather for a weekend at the Dragon - and everybody showed up for the party. The Cherokee Choppers Bike Rally brought lots of riders for a swing on the Tail. But, it was an equal battle between sport bikes and cruisers all day. To mix it up we had two 18-wheelers challenge the riders (not SWIFT & see photo below) and four C-130's do low level flyovers. A number of minor drops with no major injuries reported. Dragon regular "Zee" was bit in one of the tougher corners "the Hump" - her new leathers saved some skin but unfortunately her brand new F4i suffered major damage. We wish her a quick return to the Dragon. We heard of a cycle vs. bear incident on Friday but haven't been able to verify any details. Two groups of bikers reported being ticketed near Robbinsville on US129 - once again we remind riders to watch their speed on the roads leading to the Dragon. Weather looks excellent for Sunday - partly cloudy with highs in the lower 80s.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 2: A lot of bikers braved another dampish day on the Dragon. An early afternoon shower wet the road and it took it's time to dry - but rain held off the rest of the day other than a few sprinkles. Wet roads caused a few minor accidents, a sport-bike side swipped a truck but no serious injuries. Brad and Chris from Asphalt Surfer have been manning the Overlook the past few days giving us some time off. We rode the "Loop" thru thick fog and sprinkles above 3500 feet on the Cherohala. Then the roads were dry until we reached the Dragon about 1pm - we then rode thru Fontana to glance at the Trikers. We saw TNHP shooting radar on 72 just a mile after leaving 129. This has been a routine lately so watch your speed.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1: Damp start to the Labor Day weekend. Lots of bikers in town, but most are hanging out waiting for the weather to clear. Big trike rally at Fontana this weekend - but didn't see many on the damp Dragon today. A small group of Spiders were running the Dragon - staying dry with a roof over their head. We did see emergency units responding to a report of an accident - by the time they arrived the accident was cleared. We later heard that the rider had been knocked unconscious and his buddies helped him from the scene. Watch out for NCHP on the Cherohala this holiday weekend and if the weather is clear the helicopter will more than likely be flying.... remember the speed limit on the Cherohala is 45mph. A KY man was killed Sat night when his motorcycle crashed into a concrete embankment in Alcoa, TN. SEE DETAILS
FRIDAY AUGUST 31: A Rockford TN police officer charged with vehicular homicide in the death of a Knoxville motorcyclist on March 10. CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS
TUESDAY, AUGUST 28: Tail of the Dragon is now working closely with the A.M.A. to see what can be done to limit trucking on the dangerous 14 miles of US 129. Please send us any information concerning accidents, close calls, truck numbers, companies, etc. BTW we have been following several trucking discussion groups on the web and many drivers are advising others to stay off the Dragon. They are watching the Tail and WORD IS GETTING OUT
SUNDAY, AUGUST 26: The day started out slow, and then the sport bikes came....and kept coming. Most of the local crew made an appearance on the Dragon this morning taking advantage of the warm dry roads and little traffic. We set up the second tent at the sound of distant thunder - which never made it to the Dragon. One of the local guys got bit early in the Dragon and was able to relive the incident from the video camera that was mounted on his bike. The camera survived unharmed but his bike and elbows could have used frame-sliders and leathers. Everyone had a few clean runs as traffic was very light for a Sunday. NO TRUCKS !!
SATURDAY, AUGUST 25: The day started out slow, and then the cruisers came...and kept coming. By noon, we had only seen a few sport bikes and hundreds of cruisers. Later in the afternoon the sport bikes finally arrived with the rain. The Overlook never saw a drop, but it poured at the state line leaving part of the Dragon wet for most of the afternoon - and rather slippery as Nanc can attest to after almost loosing it in a corner. Several bites with one rider going to the hospital with a painful collarbone and hipbone fracture. This F3 rider had gone down previously in the day and was only wearing jeans and a T-shirt - SEE DRAGON SLAYER PHOTOS for some great pictures submitted by Dragon regular Mike Viar. Another Honda Sabre rider hit a railing and was uninjured but his bike suffered a hole in the oil pan. An 18-wheeler came through around 11:00am and was escorted by Ron and Karman down to Tabcat Bridge. The truck driver stopped and offered money for the escort. He showed us his trip ticket prepared by dispatch using Expedia.com .... no wonder truckers get stuck on the Dragon. WE HAVE NOTHING AGAINST TRUCK DRIVERS - BUT WONDER WHY THEIR COMPANY'S USE SUCH INADEQUATE MAPS TO ROUTE THEIR DRIVERS. We wonder about the old, unmarked van ambulance with open trailer the size of laying down motorcycle parked at at one of the pulloffs - wish we had got a picture. VERY STRANGE., does anybody know anything about this??

FRIDAY AUGUST 24: Durango tangles with Dragon . Can't make it past the first curve. See the skid marks into rock wall on US 129 at Fugitive Bridge. Occupants not seriously injured. Durango is Dragon meal.
THURSDAY AUGUST 23, 2001: Nancy and I went for a late afternoon Dragon ride at 6 pm. As we rounded a corner near the state line there was a huge oak tree completely across the road. We were the first to stop so it had only been down a minute at the most. The Dragon was telling us not to ride it. EERIE FEELING. Graham Co SO chased speeding biker through R-ville onto gravel road. Biker ditched cycle and hid in woods overnight. He was apprehended Friday. Rider from Andrews NC.
WEDNESDAY AUGUST 22, 2001: Will H. of Knoxville riding his 'Busa reports meeting two 18 wheelers on the Dragon today. He says there were a couple of close calls with the trucks and some other riders. Neither truck was Swift. The weather looks good for this week-end, so change that oil and head to the Dragon.

IN MEMORY of John Dunlap of Maryville TN who visited us at the Overlook June 23 and died August 5 at age 21 from injuries sustained in a head-on crash with a drunk driver.

AUGUST 19, 2001: Another perfect day at the Dragon despite weather predictions to the contrary. Just another example of great weather when the experts say not. Many locals and newcomers had great runs with below average traffic for a weekend. Only a few bites with no major injuries reported. We met some sport bike riders from Florida, groups from Wisconsin and Indiana, a small cruiser "gang" from Texas, and an even larger "gang" from TN.... all having fun. Two free posters to the first person who identifies the occupantion of "Mysteryman Doug" - check out page two of todays Dragon Slayers - SC residents are not eligible. GREAT NEWS - You can now buy beer & wine at the Tapoco Lodge located AT THE DRAGON.... CLICK HERE for more information. Plus it's a great place to stay!!
AUGUST 18, 2001: Brad & Chris from Asphalt Surfer manned the Overlook today. Beautiful weather on the Dragon. Traffic was average with a number of sports cars running the Dragon. Cycles were a mixed bag with many locals and some large cruiser groups enjoying the clear weather. Heard about 4 or 5 bites, nothing serious. One light shower may have contributed to some of these drops - but the roads dried quickly. Sheriff cruised the mountain just to make a presence. NO SWIFT TRUCKS TODAY!! We did see several NCHP in the area first thing in the morning. Ron & Nancy, who took the day off, road the "Loop" and had a late lunch at Cardins Landing in Tellico Plains and then headed over the Cherohala finding light traffic and no enforcement.
AUGUST 12: When it rains it poors!!! On arrival at the Overlook, there was already an accident awaiting us. A Victory rider and his passenger suffered injuries as they left the Overlook with kickstand down and made it 200 feet before getting bit. Just as the roads started to dry from overnight rains the rains came again. It rained heavily for about an hour. We had 2 easyup tents knowing it might rain and soon both were filled. After awhile we noticed there were cruiser riders packed under one tent and sport bikers under the other. ....odd. A large group of sport bikers pulled up in the rain and then took off in the heavy rain doing wheelies. At 12:40 out of the pouring rain appeared the dreaded SWIFT TRUCK. It was only a few mitues later that two riders trailering their bikes back to Chicago stopped to tell us that the truck had run them off the road. A while later another rider reported the SWIFT TRUCK was hanging precipitously over the edge of a bank several miles into the Dragon. We responded - CLICK HERE TO SEE PHOTOS AND MORE INFORMATION. ALSO READ ABOUT THE JUNE 5 CADES COVE INCIDENT. When the rain finally started to let up the cruiser riders (about 12) with "chain clad classic" bikes prepared to leave. It was 15 minutes of noise....crank starting, smoke belching, and engine reving. Then the gang with two chase trucks roared off in the fog. YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN THERE - WE COULD HAVE CHARGED ADMISSION.
AUGUST 11: First timer day at the Dragon. Lots of new faces from as far away as Canada, Montana, and Texas. VMax get together and sportbikes.net were some of the larger groups. Three or four bites, but nothing serious. Two bikes took flight over the edge, but riders OK. Heard of lots of enforcement on the Cherohala. Only a few drops of rain in the late afternoon. Typical weather this time of year, foggy in the morning, clear thru noon, spotty afternoon showers. Don't let the weather keep you from the Dragon.
BULLETIN JULY 26: NCHP and other officers apprehended 3 FL cyclists after an extended chase reaching speeds up to 125 mph. Felony attempt to avoid arrest and other charges with bond at $6,000 per rider. Cycles and equipment seized. Video camera on one cycle, which recorded speeds and chase, will be used as evidence.REMINDER... Do not attempt to outrun the Law or you will pay the price. This is a good example where a speeding ticket turned very expensive. FYI.... There are currently three additional NCHP units working in Western NC.
SUNDAY AUGUST 05: Rain held off until 3:00pm, only a brief shower and the roads dried quickly. Lots of local riders on the Dragon today. An early encounter with some dirt on the road left an F3 slightly over the bank near the state line, no injuries reported. Not as many pavement encounters as yesterday - however we did learn of an accident which involved a TNHP and a ZX6R with some minor injuries.
SATURDAY AUGUST 04: WHAT IS IT WITH SWIFT? We met a SWIFT truck on the Dragon at 10:00am and arrived at the Overlook to learn that the truck had side swiped a car a few minutes earlier and LEFT THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT. Luckily there were NO injuries, but there was several thousand dollars of damage to the car. Does someone have to die before SWIFT stops this madness?? CONTACT SWIFT TODAY.... Swift Transportation, Inc. P.O. Box 29243, Phoenix, AZ 85038 telephone Larry Barons (800) 347-1656 in the Safety Department. CALL AND COMPLAIN. Other than the truck incendent, it was a fun day and the weather held all afternoon. Some dozen VESPAS buzzed the Dragon all afternoon and a great mix of cyclists followed. A number of Dragon bites today, but no serious injuries or damage reported. NC Highway Patrol was active possibly with heavy enforecement on the Cherohala - we will check this information and report. Blount County Sheriff were along the lake and at Rocket Corner most of the day.
SUNDAY JULY 29: Total rain-out for the Dragon. It rained most of the day with some heavy showers.
TUESDAY JULY 31: Female biker in the ditch between mile 5-6 on the TN side, possible broken collar bone. Two 18 Wheeler Trucks - one a Sealy Mattress truck.
SATURDAY JULY 28: The Miatas owned the Dragon today as hundreds toured back and forth. A few sport and cruiser cycle groups came, but the ZOOMERS ruled. The rain held-off until 4 pm and all had a great time on the twisties. One Miata had an accident near the picnic table on Friday night, but no known injuries. A Swift truck came through at 10 am on Saturday and caused one Miata to go off the road ... truck did not stop. TRUCK NUMBER 12553 SWIFT contact information.... Swift Transportation, Inc. P.O. Box 29243, Phoenix, AZ 85038 telephone Larry Barons (800) 347-1656 in the Safety Department. CALL AND COMPLAIN, THIS DRIVER IS VIOLATING COMPANY POLICY.
JULY 22: If you weren't with us at the Dragon, you missed a great day for riding. Bikers helped a Honda Civic off a tree stump after spinning out on a curve early in the morning. Quite the range of riders today, mostly from the south. Couple of minor accidents with no injuries. Many web site regulars showed up to say hello. Great day for us and all the riders. Bikers seemed to riding smarter today.
SATURDAY JULY 21: An overall slower day than usual on the Dragon. Maybe the threat of rain kept many riders away. A close call for a Dragon regular at the entrance to the CRoT repair shop. Rider exiting crossed double yellow causing on-coming rider to lay it down. Frame sliders and full leathers saved bike & rider. Several other minor incidents. Sheriff made a quick pass around 2:30pm. United Van Lines truck came thru at 1:30pm. Watch for updates on contact information. Rain came at 2pm for about 45 minutes, roads were dry by 4pm, more rain at 5:30pm. We heard of possibly two accidents at the whip - mile marker 1.2 (see our map) on the TN side. Both involved cruisers - ambulance transported one rider.
SUNDAY JULY 15: Seemed like the only riders were going to be sport bikes before noon, as many regulars were taking advantage of the slack traffic. Traffic increased in the afternoon with lots of cruisers and the Subaru's making a few last passes. Heard of only a few minor accidents and a couple close calls. Update on yesterday's Duc accident seemed to indicate the injuries were worse than reported. Rider possibly suffered from punctured lung. Law enforcement stayed down by the lake most of the day on the TN side, making a pass up to the overlook later in the afternoon.
SATURDAY JULY 14: Today was a mixed bag... lots of cruisers, lots of sport bikes, lots of tourers, a bunch Subaru brake smokers, and a 1950/60 vintage car rally. A big group of Honda Pacific Coast tourers challenged the Dragon. A couple of accidents. At approximately 9:30am a new Duc 748 went down about one mile from Tabcat Bridge. The bike looked totaled and rider suffered serious injury to his shoulder. Other drops during the day were minor. A couple Sheriff cars made the rounds, but no serious enforcement was necessary. By the way, traffic was extremely light on Friday after 5 pm. Keep this in mind if you are looking for some traffic-free rides.
SUNDAY JULY 08: Not a lot of traffic on the Dragon today and it was a good day to ride if you didn't mind the heat. The usual law enforcement on 129 down by the lake. Sheriff made a couple passes on the Dragon. Only heard of a few drops and one Porsche hanging on an edge of a cliff after a spin-out. A Dragon regular (we won't mention any names) had a rather embarrassing drop at the Overlook....claimed his pants hung up on his foot peg - we've heard that excuse before! The "Biker in the Bank" has mysteriously moved a mile south and is now joined by the "bumper on the bank". We will post pictures next week. Graham County Sheriff reports things were quiet on the Cherohala this week-end. Maybe riders are beginning to believe us about the enforcement up there on Sat and Sun. We've added some new desktop wallpaper designs on our FREE STUFF page...if anything, check out Nancy's favorite naked duc picture. We have a link from a German R1 club and the Dragon is described as"318 Kurven auf 18 km Länge".
SATURDAY JULY 07: It wasn't exactly a beautiful day, but it didn't rain and the overcast conditions kept the temperatures comfortable for riding. Lots of Gold Wings returning from Wing Ding. Four minor accidents with no injuries reported. Some enforcement on the NC side, especially on the Cherohala. We heard there was a serious accident late Saturday on the NC side of the Dragon....more information will be posted.
FRIDAY JULY 06: Brad, Chris, & Jason will be manning the overlook on Saturday July 7th. Ron & Nancy will be there on Sunday July 8th. We have been doing some off-road riding and will be coming out with some great dual sport routes. We will also be posting information on North Georgia roads for those who want to do a little exploring. We've been seeing alot of Gold Wings on the western NC roads this past week. Anyone out there got a report on Wing-Ding for us??
THURSDAY JULY 05: A 43-year-old Maryville man became Blount County TN's third motorcycle fatality of the year Thursday in an accident on Happy Valley Road just a few miles from the Dragon. Rider apparently went off the edge of the pavement. It appears the rider managed to steer the motorcycle back onto the pavement but lost control suffering fatal head injuries.
MONDAY JULY 2: Three rockets clocked at 82 mph in a 45 about 9 pm near Robbinsville by NCHP. Bikers ran and tried to hide behind Popeyes, but were found. Bikes confiscated and felonies pending.....DO NOT RUN FROM THE LAW !!! Enforcement will be heavy in Graham County over the holidays. The copter will fly on the 4th and maybe over the week-end. Obey the traffic laws.
SUNDAY JULY 01: Kyle Petty's Charity Ride Across America came thru at 9:30am and cleared the weather for the rest of the day. Several hundred bikers made their way across the Dragon stopping at Deals Gap on their way to Kyle and Pattie's Farm in Trinity, NC....CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS. All around a great day for riding with no enforcement. Did not hear of any major accidents. Some Wing Dingers stopped on their way to Greenville SC. Cherohala was slow this week-end.
SATURDAY,  JUNE 30: The unseasonable weather has not been cooperating for riders lately. Scattered afternoon showers popping-up all across the south has been the norm. Brad, Chris, and Jason of Asphalt Surfer are at the Overlook this week-end giving Nancy and I a few days off. We made a run on the Dragon in the morning and then rode the Cherokee area. We got wet several times. The Kyle Petty Charity Ride is expected over the Dragon Sunday morning. Pictures of the new Dragon Slayers will be posted Monday.
HONDA HOOT: SUNDAY JUNE 24, 2001: Things calmed down as Hooters returned home. The morning saw a number of riders, but by mid-afternoon it had slowed to a trickle. Good riding for those who were here. TNHP made a trip to the state line and then back to the lake where they watched bikers entering the Dragon. No major enforcement. We did encounter an eighteen wheeler entering the Dragon on the NC side at 4:15pm as we were leaving the Overlook. It came within inches of side swiping our truck. Too busy getting off the road to note the company....but it wasn't SWIFT. CHEROHALA: Increased enforcement on the Cherohala as we had predicted. Troopers with radar wrote a number of speeding tickets....plan on this level of enforcement the rest of the year on the weekends!! The helicopter flew on the NC side Sat. & Sun. targeting US129, NC143, and NC28 watching for speed and double yellow violations. TAKE IT FROM US.... STOP, TAKE YOUR MEDICINE, ADMIT YOUR GUILT, AND YOU WILL GET OFF MUCH LIGHTER. EXCUSES AND DENIAL WILL INSURE THAT YOU GET A TICKET, AND RUNNING WILL PUT YOU IN JAIL.
SATURDAY JUNE 23, 2001: Wild on the Dragon! Some 200 bicyclists came thru around 10:00am, followed by the Tennessee Highway Patrol rally of 8 cars, followed by several thousand motorcyclists - throw in about 10 Mitsubishi 3000GT sport carts, and you can just imagine the excitement!! The Troopers set up a road block near the state line for a few hours and then moved back down to the lake, putting on more of a show than anything else. Rider of the day award goes to the Valkyrie Interstate rider who did an incredible wheelie past the Overlook - receiving a standing ovation from the spectators. Several drops in the parking areas at each end which resulted in much embarrassment (BEEN THERE DONE THAT). One rider went down near the state line at approx 4:15pm, suffering an apparent broken leg. Everybody, including the Troopers, seemed to enjoying the Dragon on a beautiful day.
FRIDAY JUNE 22, 2001: Many riders braved the rain to ride the Dragon. Downpours in the morning changed to misting in the afternoon with several hours of good riding. Several times we had as many as 20 people staying dry under our tent at the Overlook. Traffic had to dodge 2 eighteen wheelers, one of the rigs got stuck at about 3 miles into TN....more about these trucks later. We heard of no accidents in spite of the inclement weather. Thursday evening an incredible lightening strike exploded a tree sending bark some 30 feet across the road....SEE PICS ON TODAYS DRAGON SLAYER PAGE. We heard reports of cycles vs. a truck Thursday evening on the Dragon - DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY INFORMATION?? Saturday the weather is looking better....REMEMBER YOU WILL BE SHARING THE DRAGON WITH BICYCLISTS IN THE MORNING - SEE BULLETIN BELOW.
THURSDAY JUNE 21, 2001: Biggest day yet on the Dragon as Hooters by the thousands challenged the Gap. At least 6 drops during the day, but we heard of no serious injuries other than a possible broken shoulder. We did see 2 eighteen-wheelers passing the Overlook, but we were too busy to identify the company. The SWIFT truck snuck through at 8:00 pm CALL THE COMPANY AND REPORT THIS TO LARRY BARONS 1-800-347-1656. No major enforcement as riders were just enjoying their day on the mountain. Weather cooperated as rain held off - they are calling for showers on Friday - the same forecast predicted for today. Cherohala was made for motorcycles today - no law and few cars. Remember to watch for enforcement this coming weekend.
BULLETIN There will be some 200 bicyclists on the Dragon Saturday morning 10-12 and they will be on the Cherohala later in the afternoon. Please be extra careful to share the road. REJ
Riders need to understand that if you are legal, you will have no problem riding the Dragon. Enforcement is aimed at those who do not obey the law. Come and have a good time. For those who are concerned, stop and see us at the Overlook for more details on the weekends..
Sunday June 17: Enforcement showed up and cruised the Dragon only staying about 45 minutes. Not much other action on the Dragon. Only heard of one minor accident with no injuries. Honda Hooters are beginning to arrive. TAIL OF THE DRAGON WILL BE AT THE OVERLOOK ON THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY, & SUNDAY....COME SEE US. Cherohala saw the hellicopter flying and NCHP had a license check at the beginning of the Cherohala.
Saturday June 16: WARNING All bikers coming to the Dragon need to be sure that they are street legal. This includes proper turn signals, license plate NOT inside wheel well, headlights, NO slicks, approved DOT helmets, etc. Authorities have cracked down and are checking for these details at various locations near & on the Dragon. Be aware that similar crackdowns will be occuring this week and next week on the Cherohala.....watch for double yellow violations and speeding. Enforcement will be strick during Honda Hoot on all local roads. Extra NC troopers will be in Graham County!! Several accidents today, two at the same location on the Dragon approximately 2 miles from the Overlook with no serious injuries. SEE DRAGON SLAYER PHOTOS for pictures. Eighteen wheeler jack-knifed on Dragon early morning slowing traffic for awhile. Weather cleared mid-afternoon. Sunday promises to be clear.
Sunday, June 10: We didn't think today would be busier than Saturday, but the bikes came out of the woodwork. Lots of rockets, several HD groups, and many Dragon regulars. We got to see a Yamaha FJR1300 (see Dragon Slayers) and this is one hot bike....the best looking sport tourer we have ever seen. You won't be able to purchase one here for at least a year - easily the Bike of the Week. One lucky biker jumped before his bike went over the side. Several bikers helped push and pull the bike 50 feet back up to the road - where the rider rode it back to the Overlook. His lucky day!! Another bike went off the edge at the usual spot near the CRoT. We heard he at least suffered a broken leg. Enforcement arrived on the TN side around 3pm. Using radar at the Overlook, Troopers issued a number of tickets 63-65 mph (see photo below). All the better reason to slow down when approaching the Overlook.
Cherohala Report: No major incidents on the Cherohala this weekend, but there was enforcement on Sunday issuing 6 citations and the helicopter was in the air. BIG NEWS ON CHEROHALA ENFORCEMENT COMING SOON. Saturday, June 9: After a week of rain, the weather finally broke to offer some great riding on the Dragon. Morning started slow, but by noon there were hundreds of riders taming the Dragon. A Miata took a roll near the state line, but no injuries. A group of bikers stopped and right-sided the car. The car still needed a wrecker. Several bikes went down, but we heard of no injuries. The overlook was a stopping point in a Tarbutt Rally. The Rally started in Raleigh and included stopping points at Chimney Rock, Siler City, the Dragon, Boone, and Charlotte. The finish for this 24 hour event was in Raleigh. A couple of oddities appeared on the Dragon - check out the Dragon Slayer page for pics.
Photo by Mike Viar
Sunday June 3: Swift truck 87120 came through at 2:45 pm in the rain and forced two HDs off the road, almost running one over. Two CBR600s were run into a ditch as well. One of them was riding two up and the passenger fell off of the bike and into a ditch. A BMW was also run off the road. All of these cycles were going very slow because of the rain. The Swift truck never stopped for any of these accidents. SEE PHOTO BELOW Thanks to Scott Taylor of Columbus, Ohio for these details.
NEW: We have been told by Swift that this section of US129 is restricted to their drivers, yet another Swift truck snuck over the Dragon in the darkness on Saturday morning the 9th at 12:30 am. Call Swift and tell them we are watching. We will report every truck we see violating their safety policy. We saw no trucks while at the Overlook on June 9-10.
SWIFT contact information.... Swift Transportation, Inc. P.O. Box 29243, Phoenix, AZ 85038 telephone Larry Barons (800) 347-1656 in the Safety Department
SUNDAY JUNE 3, 2001 The day started slow but by noon the overlook was packed with sportbikes, cruisers, and tourers. First accident at 8am just a couple curves from the overlook. Same place we have seen other accidents recently. Don't cut this sharp right too close, if you get off the pavement you hit a deep rut and you're going down. Sports car caused another accident by tailgating an HD with father and 12 year old son riding. Car didn't bother to stop. Several other minor drops. No significant injuries in any of the accidents.
SATURDAY JUNE 2, 2001 One of the strangest days we've seen on the Dragon. Everything from Corvettes, bicycles and dune buggies to the Dragon regulars. Actually a very slow day making for some good uninterupted runs from Tabcat to the State line. A few sprinkles wet the road mid-afternoon. Sunshine dried the roads by 5pm. All around lite traffic day. Sheriff stayed at Tabcat. Minor accident on the Cherohala with minimal law enforcement. Sunday looks to be clear with good riding conditions.
MONDAY MAY 28: It was a rain-out for us and most bikers as a front stalled and showers persisted most of the day.
SUNDAY MAY 27: WOW!! The busiest day we have seen on the Dragon. Bikes and bikers from all over the US (we saw plates from Oregon and Alaska!). All riders were having a great time ..... no mishaps of any consequence. A Wing went down first thing in the morning just a mile from the Overlook with no injuries to the rider. It was a dream day for bike watching with spectators at every pull-off. Sheriff stayed at Tabcat with radar most of day.
A double motorcycle accident occurred late Sunday night near the Cheoah Dam on 129. Two marines on two bikes hit the side of Fugitive Bridge. Both were airlifted to the hospital but were released Monday.
SATURDAY MAY 26: A large crowd of riders assaulted the Dragon in perfect weather on the first day of this holiday weekend. There was a great mix of sport bikes, cruisers, and tourers. We even got to see a brand new Honda VTX 1800 with a BIG chrome pipe (see photo below). One wreck with injuries occurred about 2:00pm at Parsons Branch. The rider of a CBR lost control, slid off the road, hit a bridge embankment, and became airborn, landing in the creek some 20 feet below the roadway. He was treated for back injuries but was conscious and had feeling in both legs. This guy is one lucky rider. Witnesses said the bike was traveling about 20mph when it went off the road. This was not a high speed accident. Blount County Sheriff was on the mountain for the wreck but departed after clearing the accident. The helicopter was flying in North Carolina. One accident on the Cherohala involving an 80 year old rider with a prosthetic leg who went off the road and laid it down ..... just suffered some road rash. We wonder if this was the bike we saw at the Overlook with a handicapped license plate.
SUNDAY MAY 20
The Dragon was fairly calm today following last nights downpour. By early afternoon the asphalt had dried giving riders better conditions. Ambulance and patrol car were dispatched to a wreck in the early afternoon near the NC/TN border, but the cruiser rider refused treatment. The rider E-mailed us and wanted to thank all the people who stopped to help him. Dual sports ruled on the Cherohala today. Some even found their way over to the Dragon.
SATURDAY MAY 19
The Dragon was busy until the afternoon rains came about 3:30. Blount County Sheriff deputies patroled the road, but no major enforcement was in effect. Noon wreck on the Cherohala at mile 5 NC. Bike went down in curve, hit guardrail and kicked back into roadway. Following bike hit it and went down too. Neither rider was treated for injuries. Another rider went off the bank at about 1:30 pm mile 2 NC. Ambulance was dispatched.
FRIDAY MAY 18 The weekend came early to the Dragon and Cherohala. About noon some 25 Ferraris began to arrive at the Tapoco Lodge. After lunch they headed out to do the Dragon SEE PHOTO BELOW. There were more bikers here today than last week-end! We did a quick run of the county and saw three bikes down ... one on the Dragon and two on 28 near Fontana. The helicopter is flying the Cherohala this afternoon looking for double yellow violations.
BULLETIN WEDNESDAY MAY 16: Two Harley riders from Michigan were involved in a wreck with a tractor trailer rig on the Dragon at about 2:00 pm. The truck, a flat-bed carrying farm equipment out of Knoxville, was taking up both lanes in a curve. Luckily the injuries appeared to be relatively minor, but one rider was dragged some 10 feet after impact. CLICK HERE FOR WITNESS ACCOUNT.
SUNDAY MAY 13: Perfect day on the Dragon. Temps in the 60's. Lots of great riders with light traffic in the morning. No major crashes but a few Dragon bites. Watch out for that Aprilla 250 buzzing the big boys!! We saw NO SWIFT TRUCK today!!
SATURDAY MAY 12: The day was mostly overcast but many bikers braved the weather to ride the Dragon. One of the more interesting groups was the Kawasaki 2-strokers who buzzed the Dragon most of the day. We heard of no accidents today, but another squid went off the first curve at the CRoT Friday night and had to be airlifted out. Here is an eyewittness account of the accident as posted on the forum at www.sportriders.com After a couple of gap runs, we were piling up at the Deals Gap sign for a picture, and 2 bikes ripped out of crossroads of time in wheelies into the gap. The 2nd bike went up the hill at rev limiter and all of a sudden.. SCRAAAAAAAAAAAPE THUNK CRASH. We jumped on our bikes and hightailed it up the hill and found that a 2001 GSXR1000 had slid off the road and over a 20 ft cliff onto rocks. Bike.. WADDED. Rider.. Guy had his foot almost completely snapped off. (Even though he had full leathers and racing boots. UGH. He was ok otherwise.. but that ended HIS riding for the season I bet. This is why we will be taking it EASY here.... these roads are far too much to mess around on. It made us all think about our own riding and maybe seeing this will calm us down a notch..
SUNDAY MAY 6: A rather slow day which was interupted by heavy rain at 2:00. The "not so" SWIFT Transportation Company once again made an appearance on the Dragon with an 18 wheeler at approximately 11:30am. Truck # 89015
SATURDAY MAY 5: BULLETIN: DEATH ON THE DRAGON A Charlotte NC motorcyclist lost his life on the Dragon today at approximately 3:00 pm. The accident occurred near "The Wall" about 1.3 miles north of the TN/NC state line. The 21-year old Wamon D. Ho apparently lost control of his F4, slid off the road, hit a tree, and landed some 40 feet down the embankment.
Hundreds of bikers ride the Dragon safely every day. Please make sure you are one of them.
One ticket on the Dragon Saturday to a biker who was "learning to ride" without an endorsement. This is not the best place for your first ride. On the Cherohala several tickets were issued. A word of advice .... it is better to admit your guilt and plead for lenience.
There was a 2-up BMW accident near Fontana on Friday May 4th. Cycle came around a corner and hit a car making a u-turn. Injuries appeared to be limited to broken bones. BE READY TO STOP ON THESE MOUNTAIN CORNERS.
SATURDAY APRIL 28: A great mix of rockets, HD's, and Gold Wings on the Dragon today. Had a couple of drops with only minor injuries reported. We were at the overlook for the first day this season. It's great to be back meeting all you riders.
FRIDAY APRIL 27: Looks like the summer is already heating-up on the Dragon. Today the road was packed with bikes of all types and Honda S2000 sports cars. Parking at the overlook was scarce. Saturday and Sunday should be mostly cycles as the Hondas move on to Asheville.
SATURDAY APRIL 21: Big day on the Dragon for both cycles and sports cars. The weather was clear with temps in the 70s. Blount County Sheriff had two cars on the mountain checking licenses at Tab Cat Bridge. They later moved up the mountain to the overlook. There was no large-scale enforcement, but it looks like there will be a presence all summer. Stay tuned for updates.
SUNDAY APRIL 22: Another big day all over western North Carolina and north Georgia. We took off for T.W.O. and had fun on the Georgia twisties. Saw large numbers of bikes on the road. The copter flew on the Cherohala and NC law enforcement was tight. One write-up at 72 mph.
BULLETIN: There have been 2 deaths on the Cherohala this week. The first accident occured on Monday April 16th at approximately 11:15 am on the Tennessee side. The rider went off the road and struck a tree. CLICK HERE for a friends account of the accident. The second death was on Saturday April 21 in North Carolina at mile 10. Both victims apparently died instantly. THE CHEROHALA IS A GREAT RIDE, BUT DO NOT EXCEED THE SPEED LIMIT ... PLEASE RIDE SAFE 
APRIL 19 Just got back from a ride on the Cherohala on my human powered bike. I spent about 90 minutes on the road and saw no cars and only 2 motorcycles who were obviously enjoying the solitude as much as I was. We had snow flurries earlier this week and saw a few patches of snow still in the woods at higher elevations. But the weather warmed to over 60 today and looks like we will see possibly 80 this weekend. Perfect riding weather this weekend. No traffic and clean roads. If you see me on my bicycle, give me a beep - but be forewarned, I can get over 50mph on some of the downhills!! Be safe...SVNanc
APRIL 7-8 found many bikers taking advantage of the great weekend we promised them. We rode some killer back roads on Saturday and the Dragon/Cherohala loop on Sunday. Cycles outnumbered cars at least 5 to 1 on the Cherohala. There were several hundred bikers cruising the Dragon, many making the loop as we did. We saw what looked like a cycle accident at the big curve about ten miles north of the Dragon, but we have no details. This was an awesome spring riding weekend!
March 2001 This has been one of the better Marchs for riding the Dragon and other local roads. There were many more "good weather" opportunities than normal. From what we have seen there will be a continued law enforcement presence on the Dragon this year. We have noted Blount County Sheriff cars nearly every time we have crossed the mountain. Be WARNED, the speed limit on 129 in Tennessee as you approach the Dragon is 40 mph. This is the place they will get you with radar.
March is nearly over and the cycles are arriving in larger numbers. This past week-end (Sat 24/Sun 25) was chilly, but a few cycles even braved the Cherohala. Watch-out for the Blount County Sheriff shooting radar on 129 along the Little Tennessee River as you approach the Dragon from Tennessee.
February 2001 We have hit the road a few times in February which has benn much milder than normal. A couple of back road trips on the KLRs proved chilly but well worth it. Ron took part in the February 17th Graham County Sheriff's Poker Run to benefit an injured Cherokee County Deputy. Temperatures were in the 40s and there was snow on the mountain tops.
We have also managed a couple of runs on the Dragon. The best was on Friday February 23. The weather was clear with temps in the high 50s. We did see about 8 other bikes taking advantage of the riding op. Two of the bikers were from Michigan heading south to Daytona for Bike Week. Traffic was very sparse.
November 2000 - January 2001 The winter has not been great for riding the Dragon. There has been snow cover almost constantly since the middle of November. There have been days with temperatures in the 50s with a dry surface, but those days have been rare. We did get in a couple of good runs in our car and one day our return trip had to be in 4-wheel drive. We're looking forward to better weather so we can fire-up the two wheelers once again. Let's hope for an early spring. We'll keep you posted here. You can always E-mail us for up to the minute information.
apparently died instantly. THE CHEROHALA IS A GREAT RIDE, BUT DO NOT EXCEED THE SPEED LIMIT ... PLEASE RIDE SAFE 
APRIL 7-8 found many bikers taking advantage of the great weekend we promised them. We rode some killer back roads on Saturday and the Dragon/Cherohala loop on Sunday. Cycles outnumbered cars at least 5 to 1 on the Cherohala. There were several hundred bikers cruising the Dragon, many making the loop as we did. We saw what looked like a cycle accident at the big curve about ten miles north of the Dragon, but we have no details. This was an awesome spring riding weekend!
March 2001 This has been one of the better Marchs for riding the Dragon and other local roads. There were many more "good weather" opportunities than normal. From what we have seen there will be a continued law enforcement presence on the Dragon this year. We have noted Blount County Sheriff cars nearly every time we have crossed the mountain. Be WARNED, the speed limit on 129 in Tennessee as you approach the Dragon is 40 mph. This is the place they will get you with radar.
March is nearly over and the cycles are arriving in larger numbers. This past week-end (Sat 24/Sun 25) was chilly, but a few cycles even braved the Cherohala. Watch-out for the Blount County Sheriff shooting radar on 129 along the Little Tennessee River as you approach the Dragon from Tennessee.
February 2001 We have hit the road a few times in February which has benn much milder than normal. A couple of back road trips on the KLRs proved chilly but well worth it. Ron took part in the February 17th Graham County Sheriff's Poker Run to benefit an injured Cherokee County Deputy. Temperatures were in the 40s and there was snow on the mountain tops.
We have also managed a couple of runs on the Dragon. The best was on Friday February 23. The weather was clear with temps in the high 50s. We did see about 8 other bikes taking advantage of the riding op. Two of the bikers were from Michigan heading south to Daytona for Bike Week. Traffic was very sparse.
November 2000 - January 2001 The winter has not been great for riding the Dragon. There has been snow cover almost constantly since the middle of November. There have been days with temperatures in the 50s with a dry surface, but those days have been rare. We did get in a couple of good runs in our car and one day our return trip had to be in 4-wheel drive. We're looking forward to better weather so we can fire-up the two wheelers once again. Let's hope for an early spring. We'll keep you posted here. You can always E-mail us for up to the minute information.