December 27, 2003: 42 year old rider on '03 VFR from Texas killed on Hwy 28 near Fontana Village. He and 2 other riders were heading for the Dragon whe he ran off the road and died from apparent head injury. He was wearing full leathers and DOT helmet.
December 19-23, 2003: SNOW IS THE WORD ... We had some 6 inches of snow the other night and road conditions have been bad with ice in places even on the lower elevations. Most of the Cherohala above 3,000 feet is frozen, even on warmer, sunny days. If you do take a romp on the Dragon be sure to wash your bike/car good when you get home. It has already been salted several times and this can wreak havoc on you aluminum rims. The higher elevations of the Blue Ridge Parkway are closed.
Saturday, Nov 29, 2003: Quite the contrast from the near perfect temps we had last weekend. Friday's rain turned to snow and covered the area with 1-4 inches of snow. Saturday morning temps were well below freezing and it was still only 13 degrees on the Cherohala at noon (see pics below). High temps only in the mid 40's today and may break 50 for tomorrow. We are still expecting a hardy group of BMW riders for the weekend.
Friday, Saturday & Sunday Nov 21-23, 2003: We thought we had seen the last of the good weather for the year and then along comes another great weekend. We rode Friday, Saturday and Sunday before we had to rest. There were many regulars on the Dragon and even some newcomers lucky enough to catch the sun and warm temps. Friday and Saturday we made some nearly uninterrupted runs on the Tail and Sunday we guided some first timers on the Cherohala/Dragon Loop. We saw about an even mix of sportbikes, cruisers and tourers. A couple of car groups were also spotted. Oddity of the weekend was a three-wheeled thing that looked more like a cycle than a car. No one had their cameras ready, so if anyone has a snap please send it. Looks like this weekend is a bust unless you're one of the hardy BMW riders headed here from Chicago. GREAT NEWS NCDOT is in the process of repaving US129 from the Joyce Kilmer Road to Fugitive Bridge and should be completed this winter. Hopefully they will continue to the TN state line.... we'll keep you advised.
Saturday, Nov 29, 2003: Quite the contrast from the near perfect temps we had last weekend. Friday's rain turned to snow and covered the area with 1-4 inches of snow. Saturday morning temps were well below freezing and it was still only 13 degrees on the Cherohala at noon (see pics below). High temps only in the mid 40's today and may break 50 for tomorrow. We are still expecting a hardy group of BMW riders for the weekend.
Friday, Saturday & Sunday Nov 21-23, 2003: We thought we had seen the last of the good weather for the year and then along comes another great weekend. We rode Friday, Saturday and Sunday before we had to rest. There were many regulars on the Dragon and even some newcomers lucky enough to catch the sun and warm temps. Friday and Saturday we made some nearly uninterrupted runs on the Tail and Sunday we guided some first timers on the Cherohala/Dragon Loop. We saw about an even mix of sportbikes, cruisers and tourers. A couple of car groups were also spotted. Oddity of the weekend was a three-wheeled thing that looked more like a cycle than a car. No one had their cameras ready, so if anyone has a snap please send it. Looks like this weekend is a bust unless you're one of the hardy BMW riders headed here from Chicago. GREAT NEWS NCDOT is in the process of repaving US129 from the Joyce Kilmer Road to Fugitive Bridge and should be completed this winter. Hopefully they will continue to the TN state line.... we'll keep you advised.
Friday, Saturday & Sunday Nov 14-16, 2003: With the season at the Gap winding down TOD and Killboy took a weekend off and headed to Jennings for a Sportbike Track Time event that promised to be the best of the year. Not only were many of our Deals Gap friends headed that way, but MotoGP Racer Colin Edwards was to make a special guest appearance. We had a private track day on Friday so we all could get in some seat time and the weather was perfect as it would be all weekend.
Saturday was wild. Colin arrived early and stayed the entire day riding four sessions with the proud Aprilia Mille Colin Edwards Replica owners and one with all the women riders in attendance. Another surprise was the arrival of Jamie James, 1989 AMA Superbike Champion. It wasn't long before he was in leathers and matching Collin lap for lap on the track. Spectators cheered as the two riders put on a real show.
Sunday was subdued by comparison, but there was a sold-out group of riders for the final STT track day of 2003. It was quite a year at the track and Nanc and I look forward to 2004 when we will be hosting the southern region track days for Sportbike Track Time along with some of the best Deals Gap riders as instructors. We want to invite you to join us next year whether you are a first timer or a seasoned veteran. Watch for our schedule, which will be posted in late December. A few words of advice ... sign-up early. We sold out early at most events this year and 2004 looks even better!.
Friday, Saturday & Sunday Nov 7-9, 2003: The season seems to be over for most riders even though the temps (high 50s) were moderate for this time of year. There were a few sportbikes, but the majority of riders were on cruisers sightseeing. Sport cars should come and take advantage of the light weekend traffic over the winter months. Remember that the Cherohala Skyway and Blue Ridge Parkway can see extreme temps much lower than the Dragon and other area roads from now through March/April. Looks like the weather will be similar this coming weekend with highs in the 50's and partly cloudy.
Saturday & Sunday Nov 1-2, 2003: The season is winding down, but riders were able to squeeze in another few good days at the Dragon. Saturday was rather slow, but Sunday's perfect weather brought out the bikes and sports cars for some thrills before winter. Lots of bikes and small groups of sports cars crowded the twisties in the unusually warm November weekend. There will likely be more good days in the coming weeks, but you will have to watch the weather and make last minute plans. Next weekend looks like cooler temps will arrive.
Saturday & Sunday Oct 25-26, 2003: After a nearly perfect week of riding weather we were treated to one last nice day before the rain set in. Lots of traffic on the Dragon Saturday. We took a couple of Aprilia Caponords for a tour on the Dragon and saw quite a few familiar faces. Dragon riding in the fall is defintely a test of not only skill, but nerves. Cars stopping without notice, trucks pulling out without looking for traffic, wreckless motorcycle passing.... and that was just on the way to the Overlook. Much to our amazement, our return ride was relatively traffic free. This is about the last week of the fall leaf looking season and the traffic will soon turn to a trickle. If you watch the weather closely, a late fall trip to the Dragon can be worth the effort. Our friends Mark & Connie from Ohio joined us at the Iron Horse Motorcycle Lodge for dinner Saturday night. John & Charlene Powell have done a tremendous job with the resort and we are proud that our motorlcycle visitors have such a fine place to stay in Graham County. Sunday was a total rain out with showers and cool temps. We heard of a another death on the Cherohala last week, a 71 year old rider on the TN side. No other details available.
Saturday & Sunday Oct 18-19, 2003: We were at Little Talladega Gran Prix Raceway (aka Little T) with Sport Bike Track Time over the weekend. The weather was perfect and riders had some great laps on one of our favorite tracks. Temps were in the 70s and the track was dry and fast for the sold out event. We saw many familiar faces from the Gap which made it seem like old home week. A lot of first timers at the track showed-up and turned in some good times before the end of the day. Tail of the Dragon has some exciting news coming in the next few weeks so stay tuned.
We heard the Dragon was very busy with some LEO activity. Many riders made it to the Cherohala and we heard of one serious cruiser accident there.
Escaped Monkey heads for the Dragon... Nearby Campbell County TN residents reported seeing a 3-1/2-foot-tall primate. The monkey might weigh approximately 80-100 pounds. One person who lives in the area had 83 cats. "She's now down to nine." Rumors abound about a mysterious entity that is lurking around the area and how it got there. One theory is that it escaped from a circus that was in town a few weeks ago. We think it is the ape that escaped from a Graham County exotic animal keeper several years ago. Riders in the area should keep an eye out for the ape.
Saturday & Sunday Oct 11-12, 2003: Damp weather made the Dragon a slippery mess on Saturday. Many riders headed for the Cheroahala and one rider on Saturday was not so fortunate. Peter Martin, age 45, of Elko, GA was killed at the 2 mile marker on the NC side. Martin was riding a 2000 Ducati west bound and apparently lost control in a corner (estimated speed by NCHP was 70 mph). Picture posted below is another wreck that occurred shortly before the fatal accident. This rider lost control at Shute Cove and went into the guardrail. You'll find this type of unforgiving guardrail just about the entire length of the Cherohala. Be careful up there.
Sunday riding was drier and the sun managed to peak thru a few times. Lots of traffic both on the Dragon and Cherohala. If you are planning a visit during the next few weeks, remember it is "leaf looker" season with lots of driving tourists. Saturday & Sunday Oct 4-5, 2003: The weather looked iffy, but stayed dry for the weekend. We had our first freeze but daytime riding temps are perfect. Lots of bikes in town and the Dragon was busy with a big group of Suburus, a few Contours, Christian Sport Bikes, Hunters and dogs, and a big beautiful Rune cruising the Dragon (see pic). We are on our way to Kershaw (CMP) to do a trackday with USDesmo and seeing lots of bikes on the freeway too. Guess we are all trying to get the most out of these last few weeks of the riding season. If you are planning a visit during the next few weeks, remember it is "leaf looker" season with lots of driving tourists. Share the road and be respectful to all our visitors, and maybe slow down and take in some of the sights. The color change in the Smoky Mountains is spectacular with the peak colors between the middle of October and the first part of November, depending on the elevation and weather.
Saturday & Sunday Sept 27-28, 2003: Good to be home! The Buell give-away tour was spotted on the Dragon on Thursday. Trip Nobles led a group of 6-8 new XB's thru the Dragon with quite the escort including their own police, ambulance, and a mechanic with plenty of wrenches and spare parts ;) I wonder if they obeyed the speed limit??? For pictures of the new XB and Neale Bayly's encounter with blue lights on the Dragon, make sure you check out MotorcycleJournal.net . The S2000's were in full force on the Dragon and Cherohala for their 3rd annual Dragon Ball Run. We spent the weekend at the Triumph Dragon Raid at Tapoco Lodge. Saturday we led a group of Tiger riders on an all day dual sport ride. We encountered all sorts of road and weather conditions as we led the group thru the Snowbird Mountains, Tatham Gap, Winding Stairs, Tellico Gap, twisty 28, and Rymers Ferry. The Tigers prooved they are a tough group, so we are back to the drawing board for next year's route. So practice up Tigers, your not going to get off quite so easy next year!! The rain showers didn't slow down the other Triumph riders as they had some great route sheets for discovering area roads. Saturday evening began with a bunch of men wearing skirts..... All in fun with the Raid gang, and they'll be back again next year. CLICK HERE for the full story and more pictures.
Sunday morning - FALL IS HERE - beautiful clear sky, cool temps, a bit of fall color, and the leaves have begun to fall. We are expecting our first freeze this week, so if you are planning a trip this fall make sure and bring your cooler weather riding gear. We are also seeing quite a few leaves on the roadways which can make for slippery conditions when damp. Don't forget Crud Corner. This tricky corner (2-tenths of a mile from the state line in TN) got it's name because of it's slimmy conditions found during the fall riding season.
Tuesday Sept 23, 2003: Sorry for the delay in the weekend Dragon report, trouble finding a cell phone connection in the mountains of Utah. I'm sitting on the side of the road along my FZ1 in Red Canyon, Utah (just outside of Bryce Canyon) with a good connection, so if I don't get run over... here's the latest from Killboy.... Friday and Saturday - busy, Sunday - dead. Weather was great all weekend. Friday a small group of supercharged/turbocharged sportbikes rolled through...mostly Busa's. Saturday 40+ Fiero's ran the Dragon. Wheeler was in there playing with them. None caught on fire. =) I few bad wrecks late Saturday brought out the EMS and police. (see how that works?) One was local rider "Monroe" on his custom GSXR 1000 - he shot over the bank and busted up his leg.. Thanks Killboy - make sure you check out KILLBOY for last weekends pictures. And, speaking of Wheeler - from Wheeler's Performance - HAPPY 50th, we'll celebrate for you tonight!!
Monday Sept 22, 2003: Finished up a track weekend at Pahrump Nevada. Saturday was the womens only Femmoto event which brought out 65 women riders to demo bikes from Aprilia, Moto Guzi, and Triumph. Sunday was a open track day with some 80 riders to enjoy the day. It was hot with highs in the high 90's, but with a constant breeze it was tolerable. Many of these west coast riders were familiar with Deals Gap. We also met up with some familiar faces including Lisa from Knoxville who made the long trip - and yes, Nanc does remember you!! Neale Bayle from MotorcycleJournal made the trip to film another segment for Corbins Ride-On and also do a story for MotoEuro maganzine. Besides running around on the track, we made a short trip to Death Valley on the FZ1's where gas prices were $2.65 per gallon. (Gas prices in general are about $1.85-$1.90 in this area, regular unleaded). We are heading back to Utah for a few days riding with Monte, Bonnie, and Jim Bear from SportbikeTrackTime and WE WILL BE HOME in time to attend the annual Triumph Raid at Tapoco Lodge this coming weekend. We are looking forward to leading the Tigers on a fun & scenic dual sport ride on Saturday.
Thursday, Sept 18, 2003: Looks like Isabel will be outahere for the weekend, forecast looks perfect for the Dragon. It's been windy and cool in Utah, heading to Pahrump tomorrow for a trackday weekend, FEMMOTO on Saturday and an open track day on Sunday. Moab was a challenge to say the least. Our KLR 650's proved to be a handful and we pushed them to the limit numerous times. Thanks Wheeler - for the handguards, Nanc would have gone thru a bucket full of levers after dropping the bike numerous times. The biggest challenges were the deep sand washes and steep slickrock ledges. We also found out that a steep climb for a 4wd is a freakin mountain for a big KLR.
Saturday & Sunday Sept 14, 2003: Live from Moab Utah... We are on vacation, so what do we do?? Ride!! Once again we head to the desert to discover the backcountry. Two years ago it was Texas, this year it's Moab, Utah. Southern Utah is home to thousands of miles of challenging and scenic ORV roadways. The picture below was taken while Ron reviews the maps at Hurrah Pass Trail, on our way to Chicken Corners. We'll have a thorough write up on our Moab adventure, so stay tuned. So who's minding TOD while we are gone - KILLBOY !! Killboy reported a busy weekend at the Dragon with lots of traffic on Friday and Saturday, including a large group of vintage bikes on Friday. Sunday was slower and the Dragon was dampened with a few showers. So what's with Isabel?? Sounds like it's heading toward the NC coast. If you are heading to the Dragon this coming weekend, keep an eye on the weather. We usually don't get affected too bad by coastal hurricanes, and they generally move fast. But, non-the less, keep it in mind.
Friday, Saturday/Sunday September 5, 6, 7: Busy week-end on the Dragon and all local roads. The Cherokee Survivor's Rally and the Lean on the Dragon attracted thousands of riders and for the most part it was a safe weekend. We heard of no serious accidents or incidents. Many riders took advantage of the Aprilia demo rides at the Lean on the Dragon Rally at Fontana Village and all raved about the quality of the Mille, Futura, and Tuono. On Sunday we headed for the Dragon on a pair of Tuonos after a serious week-end of work. We want to thank all those who joined us at the Lean this year. We met many new friends and a lot of people we've known for years. Next year it should be an even a bigger reunion. The highlights of the event included the demonstration put on by the pocket bike riders, Killboy's video night, and the many great prizes that were awarded attendees.
Labor Day Weekend: Saturday was busy with cars and bikes ... a lot of BMWs here from the annual SC get-together, a lot of cruisers enjoying the balmy weather, and a lot sport bikers darting here and there. Sunday was probably the busiest day of the year so far on both the Dragon and the Cherohala. We heard of a number of accidents, but the most serious were on the NC side of the Skyway at mile 5 and mile 2. Two riders were flown-out, the worst with a compound fracture to the femur. Monday was a little slower, but still more traffic than usual. Photos will be posted tonight.
Friday August 29, 2003: Seems some of our Canadian friends had their Dragon tickets thrown-out of court. Go Leafs!!!
Thursday August 28, 2003: The Dragon Claims Another ... A factory test Viper came to slay the Dragon and got bit and spit-out while many BMWs made it safely across.
Thanks to Don Bailey from Texas for the photo.

Wednesday August 27, 2003: The Dragon was crawling with Prowlers and BMWs on the way to their annual meeting in SC. There were 110 Prowlers attending a nearby rally and most of them "did" the Dragon. One had to swerve to avoid hitting a stalled car in a blind corner and went off the steep bank some 40 feet. Miraculously the driver and occupant were uninjured. A potential deadly accident turned into a party atmosphere SEE PHOTO ABOVE. The car, with minor damage, was pulled-out with a wrecker and went on its way.

Sunday August 24, 2003: The weekend ended with another great day for riding, a bit warm but tolerable. No rain all weekend - might be a first for the year!! Another accident at the Hump (at approx. DOT mile marker 3). We've seen quite a few accidents here over the years. Most occur heading southbound toward NC. Riders/drivers get sucked into the bowl and are spit out across oncoming traffic and into the bank. The picture above indicates skid marks from an earlier accident. The Hump is a fun part of the Dragon but should be treated with respect. You know you are nearing the hump when you pass Toll Booth, a camping/picnic area on your right. A hard 90 degree right leads you into the Hump. You can see it coming so slow down and stay in your lane. You will get into trouble if you try to cut across the double yellow.
A late afternoon accident left a pontoon boat dry docked on the Dragon. The boat trailer wheels left the roadway and bucked off the pontoon boat into a bank. The boat was quickly righted, but I can imagine is was quite the site - see photo below.
We did The Loop with the Bayly's from MotorcycleJournal.net taking in Bald River Falls. CLICK HERE to read his thoughts.
Saturday August 23, 2003: The smoky mountains were even smokier with a group of two strokers buzzing the Dragon. The Lexus group staying in town made a few runs, and a group of Chysler Prowlers was sighted earlier in the day. We cruised thru in our Focus and came across a Dodge Interprid on it's side along a bank near the hump. The driver, who suffered no injuries, simply lost control, rode up the bank and tipped the car on it's side - see photo's below.
Tuesday August 19, 2003: Good news and bad news.... NCDOT is finally repaving US129 from Fugitive Bridge south several miles, working their way towards Robbinsville. The bad news is there will be lots of loose gravel during the repaving process. Use extreme caution
Saturday August 16, 2003: Fun day on the Dragon with many cruisers and sportbikes. The V-Max's were back and cruisers were passing thru on their way to a rally in Maggie Valley. Blount County SO was on the Dragon with a low-key presence. We spent a couple of hours cruising the Dragon before heading back to the Cherohala Skyway mid afteroon. Typical afternoon showers were brief. We saw a large parade of vintage cars on the Cherohala, and looked as if some were having problems with the steep grades. Robbinsville was packed with cycles and you are always welcome here.
Sunday August 17, 2003: Alot slower with riders reporting good runs with light traffic. Blount County SO making passes on the Dragon keeping everybody well behaved. A good friend of ours went to court and had his Dragon speeding ticket thrown out while others were pleading or taking the school option. Insteaded, he presented his case and the judge thru the ticket out. It might be worth your time to fight questionable tickets.
Sunday August 10, 2003: Another slow day with threatening thunderstorms that never really hit. Blount Co SO on the road.
Saturday August 9, 2003: A rather slow day on the Dragon. A group of Subarus made some passes. TNHP and Blount Co SO car cars were present.
Friday August 8, 9, 10: A vehicle towing a trailer will llamas left a streak of oil on the southbound lane of the Dragon from the Picnic Tables to the State Line.
Thursday August, 7, 2003. 3 pm: Female rider airlifted from the Cherohala Skyway after laying bike down into guardrail at mile 5. Rider suffered sever leg injuries and was flown out by UT Lifestar.
Monday July 28, 2003: Roadracing school at VIR Full Course with Cornerspeed.net, 3.27 miles of breathtaking straights and elevation changes made a fun and challenging day, and we learned something too. CLICK HERE for our report
Monday August 4, 2003 noon: Flat bed semi-truck side-swipes vintage Triumph sports car on Dragon. No injuries, but damage to side of car .... occurred just north of Overlook at mile 2 on Dragon map.
Sunday August 3, 2003: Scattered showers on the Dragon but other areas of the county didn't get any rain at all. Overall a slow and uneventful day. Check out the pictures Killboy took of Parsons Branch. This shortcut out of Cades Cove to the Dragon has 19 water crossings. The spring floods did some major damage to this fun road and it doesn't look like it will be open anytime soon.
On a sad note, friends of Lendry Obanna, returned to the Dragon. Lendry, age 24 of Jacksonville Florida, was killed last year on the Dragon on August 4. His friends visited the site of the accident and payed their respects to their lost friend.
Saturday August 2, 2003: We heard about some new dual sport roads and took off on our KLR's to check them out. We will be posting details later. Killboy was taking photos on the Dragon and reported an average day with plenty of cruisers enjoying the good weather. There were no reports of any accidents and enforcement was low key. There was one sheriff's car transporting someone in the back seat ... we don't know the story .... let us know if you do. A handful of Mini-Coops showed up late in the day. Speaking of the weather.. you cannot depend on the weather channel's green blob that typically sits over this area. Forcasts often indicate rain when the actual chances for rain are very low. If there is an isolated shower, it's usually over in a few minutes and the rest of the day offers good riding. So, don't be confused by these threatening forecasts.
Saturday July 26, 2003: Looked like a record turnout for the Miatas on Saturday. Graham County welcomed the annual return of all the zoomers.... we hope you all enjoyed the perfect weather and the southern hospitality. Remember you don't have to wait until Miata weekend to come back! The Dragon was busy but safe. We know of no serious incidents. In addition to the zoomers, there were a good number of motorcycles on the Dragon and everyone was sharing the road. We did see the Blount County Sheriff and a TNHP bike cop making a friendly presence. Be sure to check KILLBOY.COM to see if he got your photo.
Saturday July 19, 2003: We decided to take a day off from the Dragon due to the "saturation enforcement" and ride our dual sports in NC. It was a good break for us and we found some excellent back roads that may interest others. We call this particular route "Dual Sport Twisties". The route takes you over paved and gravel roads deep into the backwoods. We plan to offer this route to the Triumph Tigers for their upcoming RAID in September. The RAID will be held at Tapoco Lodge - the start and end for this particular route. We consider Tathum Gap Road (one of the roads in this route) to be the "Dual Sport Dragon". CLICK HERE for details and pictures. As for the Dragon, KILLBOY reports that Saturday was an overall slow day, but an afternoon accident at the Hump brought out the LEO's and the usual tickets for improper headlights, failure to use turn signals, improper tag placement, etc. Once again to have your bike legal when you come to the Dragon.
Sunday July 20, 2003: We took a morning run on the Cherohala Skyway and met a group of about 30 WHOREs - West Side Harley Owners Riding Enthusiasts. They caught our attention when we saw the large group with a Park Ranger amoungst them appearing to be in "hot pursuit" with blue lights flashing. We did a quick U-turn and following the group into North Carolina only to learn that the Ranger had turned off another road. This large group had things well under control and were keeping a good pace thru the sweepers of the Cherohala. They make regular trips to the area and we look forward to seeing them again, and we'll ride with them anyday!! On to the Dragon where we found a TNHP Cycle Cop writing more tickets. Such enforcement certainly gives our visitors the wrong impression. We want to welcome riders to our area and the recent LEO activity on the Dragons is doing just the opposite. Watch for upcoming information about who to contact to voice you objections to this unnecessary harassment to motorcyclists on our area roads.Sunday July 14, 2003: The weather wasn't sure what it was going to do today.... sun, thunder, downpours. We stayed indoors where we are wrapping up the deatils on this years annual LEAN ON THE DRAGON motorcycle event to be held September 5-7 at Fontana Village. Plans are solid for a pocket bike challenge, Aprilia Demos (yes, I said DEMOS), Mystery Ride, Video Night, and BBQ. We also are working on plans for a trials bike demonstration and rider obstical course challenge. You won't be at a lost for things to do this year. MAKE YOUR PLANS, call Fontana Village and reserve your room today 800-849-2258. Mention you are attending the Lean on the Dragon and you will receive the special Dragon Slayer discount. Event registration will be on site.
Saturday July 13, 2003: The cruisers dominated the Dragon today. It's typically not too crowded on the weekend following a holiday - remember this the next time you plan a trip. After plenty of hot, humid, rainy weather today was almost perfect for summer riding. We saw lots of Honda S2000's cruising the Dragon and a few of the new BMW Z4's. Late in the afternoon a car vs. sportbike incident occurred at mile marker 5. From what we heard, bike was left of center and hit an oncoming car in a curve. Speed apparently was not a factor, simply rider error. We have noticed recently that riders are turning into blind, left curves too soon and crossing the double yellow which is extremely dangerous. This tends to be the slower, inexperienced riders. We like to take a line in the right half of our own lane when entering blind, left turns which allows a safety margin. You never know what might be coming at you... see truck picture below.Sunday July 6, 2003: Toasted and well done.... final day at VIR and heading back home. Today was less crowded and we had a good time narrowing our breaking points, getting used to the blind downhill corkscrew, and picking up a little speed. We made a visit to North Track where the BMW Car Club of America was holding their own trackday school - which was open to all makes and models. Just like the motorcycle track day at South Track, the paddock was a friendly neighborhood of people enjoying and testing their cars. Some cars were stock and others were highly modified. We tried to talk them into opening the full course (both north & south tracks) to both cars and motorcycles, but didn't get very far.... now that would have been a real challenge. Once again, if you haven't tried a track day - with your car or motorcycle - you are missing out. Expensive?? Not any more than a weekend at an amusement park, and a heck of alot more fun. Will I wreck?? Your chances of wrecking are probably greater driving in your hometown and the priority at any track day is safety. Just about every track day offers some kind of instruction to teach you how to use your high performance vehicle, skills that are applicable to the street.
We'll post the latest news from the Dragon & Cherohala on Monday.
CLICK HERE for KILLBOY.COM action pictures at VIR
Saturday July 5, 2003: We are Live at VIR this weekend and the Dragon Update is courtesy of Wheeler's Performance. Enforcement activity was reported as minimal with few accidents and a high percentage of cruisers. Heard of one bike vs. guardrail on Hwy 28.
SportbikeTrackTime.com VIR track day brought some Dragon regulars for a new challenge on the track without worrying about law enforcement, 18 wheelers, guardrails, and road hazards. Darryl and Keith from Killboy.com are here taking photo's and video. Neale Bayly & Jimmy Wilson of Motorcyclejournal.net were riding and shooting video. Bayly managed to get a new Mille R from Aprilia USA for a weekend test bike which got rave reviews. Friday was hot but the track was uncrowded with less than 50 riders. We managed to ride just about every session. VIR is a fun track with elevation changes and a breathtaking, uphill straight-away that will give a thrill with 130mph+ leading into a hairpin right, known as "The Bitch". Saturday was hot, reaching over 100 degrees for this sell out day. We stayed off the track until later in the afternoon when the sessions thinned out. We haven't seen any serious wrecks other than a broken collar bone on Friday. Sunday, our final day on the track, will be less crowded and hopefully cooler. If you haven't been to a track day we highly recommend it. You meet lots of great people of all ages, you can test and improve your riding skills, and it's the safest way to enjoy the power of your sportbike. Don't be afraid to try it.
You can now find our shirts at the Punkin Center Store, located on US129 - they will be selling our shirts & goodies there on holidays and weekends. Remember, we also sell our stuff at Tapoco Lodge & Wheelers both on US129 in NC.
Sunday, June 29, 2003: Hot ... and a couple of morning accidents brought enforcement. TN HP car and cycle and two Blount Co SO cars. We heard of tickets issued for speed, improper license placement, and other violations. Better come with you bike legal or plan on nit-picking write-ups. Guess this is the way it will be this year with the "saturation enforcement". Remember there are great roads over on the North Carolina side of the mountain and there is less harassment.
Saturday, June 28, 2003: Strange weather today, warm and spotty showers. TNHP bike cop cruised the Dragon for awhile. Z-3's were on the Dragon. Bike traffic was moderate, guess everybody is getting ready for 4th. Speaking of next weekend, we'll be spending the holiday at VIR for a 3-day track day hosted by SportbikeTrackTime.com. The gang from Killboy.com and Motorcyclejournal.net will be on hand too, which means never a dull moment. Come and join us!!
Sunday June 22, 2003: We had a fun week at the Hoot. Bobby Hilliard brought his R6 race bike with a air brushed picture of our Dragon logo on the tank. We handed out well over 1,000 maps of the Dragon / Cherohala Loop ride and hope that many riders had the chance to challenge the Dragon and experience the beauty of the Cherohala. If you didn't get a change to get one of these maps which detail gas stations and other information, CLICK HERE to get your own (printable acrobat file).
The Hoot began on Wed. and wet weather didn't dampen the riding spirit. Thursday began to dry out and by Friday the weather had turned to perfection. Friday was also the busiest day at the Dragon. We only heard of two accidents with the worse being a GW rider with a broken leg.
Saturday was the busiest day at the Hoot, and our booth was swamped. One ambulace call on the Dragon and a few other minor drops. The rumor that 4 riders were killed on the Dragon IS NOT TRUE. However, there was a serious accident in Knoxville involving a church bus and 4 riders.
Killboy was at the Dragon during the hoot and shot over 12000 photos. CLICK HERE to see if he got you.
The TNHP and Blount County Sheriff welcomed riders with a friendly presence and it seemed to pay off with no serious incidents on the Dragon during the Hoot. This IS MORE EFFECTIVE than their "saturation enforcement" methods we saw last weekend. Personally, we find Alcoa Highway along the airport strip MUCH MORE dangerous than the worst days on the Dragon. Bet there have been far more than 10 deaths along that stretch of highway in the past 10 years.
HONDA HOOT 2003: We are looking forward to spending next week at the Hoot. Tail of the Dragon will have an inside booth on the main floor. We will be handing out free maps and you can view and purchase our new video Tail if the Dragon 2003 Vol. 1. Tired of the same old riders on an ego trip? This new video shows much more and features the hard work and combined efforts of Killboy.com, MotorcycleJournal.net, TailoftheDragon.com and a large cast of characters who come to challenge the Dragon....guess who the naked rider is.
SATURDAY JUNE 14, 2003: Blount Co SO and TNHP brought in reinforcements from Knox Co SO (3 cycle cops) to crack down on the speeders/double yellow violators on a slow day at the Dragon. Twelve members of local law enforcement issued some 27 citations to both cars and cycles. Didn't hear of any tickets to bicyclists or trucks though. Seems the law has determined that the Dragon merits more attention than local crime prevention. Odd that after publication of a Knoxville newspaper article featuring the Dragon that the law prepares for battle. Seems they would want to welcome more visitors to the area to help the local economy rather than take steps to deter it. We have always told local authorities that a friendly presence is better than strict enforcement and we have seen it work. We will soon be publishing the names and addresses of people to voice your complaints to.
SUNDAY JUNE 15, 2003: More enforcement by Blount Co SO. Watch out for the instant-on radar from the hard to see black Traffic Enforcement Vehicle parked at the Overlook and patrolling the Dragon. Saw several citations issued to both cars and cycles. Another overall slow day for traffic... so why the strict enforcement? Is this the welcome Honda Hooters are going to get? Asheville would love to have the Hoot back.
Want to ride the Dragon? Here are our suggestions for weekend riding. Keep you speed under 40 mph. Watch for warnings from oncoming traffic (tapping on helmet twirling index finger, or the slow down signal). Make a few runs to scout the road, talk to other riders. Be sure to obey the speed limit on roads leading to the Dragon. Slow down when approaching the Overlook, especially if you are north bound. Be sure to warn others if you see enforcement.
SATURDAY JUNE 14: Cherohala Challenge Bicycle Ride. Expect to see bicycle riders on the Dragon in the morning and on the Cherohala late morning and afternoon.
SATURDAY JUNE 7: Rain, rain, rain..... fingers crossed for better weather Sunday.
SUNDAY JUNE 8: Rain finally cleared but not many bikes. Lots of enforcement by Chillhowee Lake. They were awakened by a report of a minor crash near the state line. Two TNHP, two TNHP motorcycle units, a Blount County Sheriff and two rescue units responded. Bandit rider had minor injuries and didn't require transportation. A local NC sheriff deputy with an attitude was shooting radar in front of the CRoT and issued at least one ticket for 65 in a 55.
BULLETIN: Article in the Daily News Maryville TN June 4: Tennessee Highway Patrol will be conducting driver's license roadblocks this week on U.S. 129 (Calderwood Highway). Recognizing the danger presented to the public by unqualified drivers, troopers will concentrate their efforts on vehicles being operated by drivers who would violate the driver's license laws of the State of Tennessee, a press release said. The THP has found these driver's license roadblocks to be an effective means of enforcing driver's license laws of Tennessee while ensuring the protection of all motorists. SUNDAY JUNE 1: Article published in Knoxville News Sentinel about the Dragon this morning. Good article, but some factual errors both by the author and people he quoted. Started the day out with a ride over the Cherohala, visiting our friends at the new Cherohala Market in Tellico Plains located between US 68 and Hwy 360 on Hwy 165 (Cherohala). This is a really nice gas/market/deli that is motorcycle friendly with covered parking. This is a good stop for gas/food/shelter when you are riding the Cherohala/Dragon Loop. More bikes on the Dragon today and enforcement in late afternoon from three TNHP. They parked at the Overlook shooting radar down Cat Tail Straight, we saw at least two tickets issued. One ticketed rider was snidley asked by TNHP if he was wearing leathers expecting to "fall down". This must be TN's new Tourism welcoming comments. Check out the TNHP license plate number !!
We met two GM Engineers at the Overlook who were test driving Cadillac's new XLR which will not be on the market until later this summer. They saw our TOD website and wanted to be the first XLR on the Dragon. A truely awsome car to rival the Mercedes. CLICK HERE for complete pics of the beauty.
SATURDAY MAY 31: Cloudy but roads stayed dry. Not much traffic, only heard of one accident at Toll Booth. Sportbike rider overbraked and locked his rear wheel causing him to side swipe an oncoming sportbike rider and then hit a second oncoming sportbike. Luckily there were no serious injuries even though two of the riders were wearing no protective gear. Please watch your speed to avoid over breaking on the Dragon, regardless of what you ride or drive. Slowest Dragon slayers today were four horse back riders who became lost and ended up on the Dragon headed for Abhrams Creek. We escorted them and warned oncoming traffic to slow down. TNHP finally put in a call for someone to come pick them up. Tandem bicycle riders needed no escort and probably passed a few motorcycles. New yellow stripes painted on the Dragon. These will be slippery!!
This is an open e-mail to all the riders of the Dragon. I want to thank all of you who helped my son Saturday when he went down and off the embankment. He is in the Trauma Center at Mission St. Joseph's Hospital in Asheville and is doing well. He is expected to be in the hospital approximately 1 week and wheelchair bound for about 2-3 months. He has two broken legs, a broken hip, and a C6 cervical fracture. There is no spinal cord injury nor brain injury. You all did a very good job in assisting and getting him immediate help. He will see you all soon up there on the Dragon again. His Mother Paulla
SUNDAY MAY 25: Cloudy and cool this morning with rain starting around 2pm. Even with the rain, lots of bikes at the Dragon - fresh water squid. R1 went down a few miles in. Rider transported, extent of injuries unknown.
SATURDAY ... HAPPY MAY TWO-FOUR: Last day at the Dragon for many of our Canadian Friends who have been down on their annual vision quest. We always look forward to their return. The Dragon was packed with many Blue Knight groups and one would have a hard time knowing they were police officers if they didn't have their badges on their vests. More tourers and cruisers than sport bikes .... and a passle of Vettes. All were smiling as the Dragon tested their skills. Many have come after learning about the Dragon on this web site. Heard of three accidents. An R1 went down in Parson's Branch corner and landed in the branch some 18 feet below the road. Rider suffered two broken legs, broken ribs, and broken cervical vertibrae - and darned lucky to be alive. A cruiser went down near the Wall ... no reports of injury. A cruiser and a sportbike collided on the North Carolina side. Word is they were both over the center line. Late afternoon there was a truck vs Miata incident near the Overlook. Miata substained some damage. Motorcycles were escorting the truck - when you see bikers (or anybody) signaling to slow down and pull off - pay attention. CLICK HERE for Killboy's up close encounter with the same truck

Photo courtesy of Sara McBride, Miata Driver
Thanks to Jeffry L'H. Tank for sending his Dragon's Realm poem. to read it.

The Editor of our local Graham Star newspaper published an editorial this past week which expressed his personal distaste for motorcycles. We want our motorcycle visitors to know that this is not the opinion of most of the people here in Graham County. We welcome you to our area and want you to return as often as you can.
MONDAY, MAY 19: We attended a USDESMO.com track day at Carolina Motorsports Park in Kershaw SC. This event is sponsored by US Ducati Owners Club charter and is open to European bikes. Aprilia's were well represented and I believe outnumbered the Ducati's. The morning started out on a damp track which was dry after a few sessions. This is our third track day at Kershaw, one of our favorite fast tracks. We look forward to their second Kershaw event to be held October 6th. USDESMO.com is a US Ducati owner's club that caters to all European bikes. Hello to our new friends Jessie and Shelly who helped us decorate Aprilia corner.

SUNDAY MAY 18: A quiet day on the Dragon even though the Canadians are here. All major roads are open in in good condition. Some back roads for dual sports, such as Stewart Carbin road, are still closed. Thanks to Jeffry L'H. Tank for sending his Dragon's Realm poem. to read it.
SATURDAY MAY 17: BIG day on the Dragon with FZ-10A Board, Eastern 2-Strokers, Subaru Wedding, Christian Sportbikers, Fuzzy Riders from Canada, R-1 Forum, a bunch of dual sports, the usual cruiser crowd, and a mix of Miatas and other sports cars. We met one caravan of some 30 Subarus parading thru the twisties. Didn't hear of any serious crashes, but there was a car vs bike head-on just on the North Carolina side and a few drops. The weather, which looked ominous at times, held until nightfall.
THURSDAY MAY 15: Foothills still closed. Watch for gravel on the Dragon at Beginner's End near Tabcat Bridge. Temporary flashing warning sign in TN warns truckers of no thru traffic into NC. Maybe they'll keep it there!
SUNDAY MAY 11: Rain until 1 pm. Skies clearing and possability for dry roads by late afternoon.
SATURDAY MAY 10: Those riders/drivers who decided not to come missed some great weather and low volumn traffic on the Dragon. Only one mishap, a highside GSXR with no injuries. One 18 wheeler escorted over the mountain by bikers - CLICK HERE for video clip (Quicktime 6.0 required). US 129 is now open on both the TN and NC sides. Foothills closed from US 129 to Look Rock. Also posted a video following the CountryRoads.org cruiser group on the Cherohala a few weeks ago, from Hooper Bald to just past the state line - CLICK HERE for video clip (Quicktime 6.0 required).
WARNING: We have been told that the Vonore City Police in Tennessee have been ticketing motorists on Hwy 72 as they approach US 411 which is part of the Dragon/Cherohala Loop. Guess they figured to take advantage of the new traffic flow due to the flooding. What next?
ROAD UPDATE THURSDAY MAY 15: US 129 IS OPEN. Currently it is hard packed crush and run gravel for approximately 200 yards. All types of bikes should be able to navigate this section easily. This section of road should be completely repaired and paved any day. Hwy 28 is open to cars and bikes. A new section of road has been made to bypass the damaged area while repairs are made. Once again it is hard packed gravel for approximately 100 yards and easy for any type of bike. Foothills Parkway remains closed from Top of the World to US 129. No need to cancel or change your plans for this weekend. Thanks to George Allen for the Wet Dragon artwork.
Hwy 28 near Fontana Dam Friday afternoon. Temporary short section of packed dirt around slide area will be paved next week while permanent repairs are made to roadway.
BULLETIN MONDAY MAY 5: We have had several reports of unwarranted citations being issued by the Cherokee Indian Police in the area of Hwy 143 and Business 143 between Robbinsville and the Cherohala Skyway. We suggest that you travel very carefully in this area to avoid being stopped. We will be investigating and posting updates. Please contact us if you were issued a ticket in Graham County NC recently. If you want to complain, write the Eastern Band Cherokee Indians, ATTN: Chief Leon Jones, Asst Chief Dike Sneed, Vice Chief Carol Crow, PO Box 455, Cherokee, NC 28719 and tell them you'll boycot their Casino and tourist areas if this continues. Watch for www.boycottcherokee.com coming soon.
Sunday May 4: Another great day with lots of riders and families enjoying the Dragon. A couple of minor accidents brought 3 TNHP cars and two Blount County Sheriffs responding at high rates of speed. We wonder why such a response was necessary for minor accidents with no injuries. We heard of another accident later in the afternoon which brought the TNHP back to the mountain. We heard that the trooper issued several tickets to the cruiser who went off the road....bad enough to loose your bike down the ravine but then have to take a couple tickets from TNHP. You might want to watch out next weekend for increased enforcement.... posted speed limit is 30 mph. New signs are up. Check out the picture below of the new Blount County Traffic Enforcement Vehicle shooting radar up Cat Tail Straight. TO SEE IF KILLBOY TOOK YOUR PHOTO ON THE DRAGON
Also heard of two cruiser accidents on the Cherohala and radar enforcement by NCHP and Graham County SO. The hellicopter is gone but you still need to be aware of your speed. Remember the speed limit is 45 on the Skyway.
Saturday May 3: A great day on the Dragon with Mini Coopers, lots of cruisers and tourers and even sportbikes being well represented. Add a couple of other sports cars, some dual sports, Subarus, Miatas, Corvettes and even a Maserati. Oddly enough it did not seem too crowded and Nancy and I managed several good runs during the day. Only a couple minor drops, one at the hump and another near the Tapoco Lodge - no injuries. Townsend was crawling with MGs, but they seemed reluctant to try the Dragon. Killboy was on the Dragon taking photos and video. He will be selling prints each weekend on the Dragon and on-line . Check to see if he snapped you at The Hump.
CLICK HERE to see some video clips we shot last weekend. This 3mb file featurs the Z3's at Tapoco Lodge, the Hump, and the Picnic Table. You'll need Quicktime 6.0 to view this vid.

April 29: The Dragon was awakened this morning by an earthquake that we had no trouble hearing and feeling in Robbinsville. The 4.9 quake was centered in northern Alabama, but it sure got our attention.
April 27: Sunday belonged to the sportbikes. If not a thousand, they numbered in the hundreds with only a scattering of cruisers and tourers to be seen. Saw a couple of drops, but nothing serious while we were there. We rode the Cherohala most of the afternoon and did see one minor accident at NC mile 4. The cooler temps and slower pace of the Cherohala made for some relaxing riding. Great week-end of riding for all. Lots of picts to post Monday.
April 26: Full house at the Dragon as a thousand cruisers and tourers tried their skills on the twisties. There were a few sport bikes, but they were outnumbered ten to one. We never saw so many Goldwings and Harleys on the curves at once. Throw in a couple dozen Z-3s, a Mini Cooper or two, and a handful of Miatas and you get quite a mix. All were having fun and enjoyed the clearing weather in the afternoon. No major incidents that we saw and the law was not to be found. CLICK HERE to see some video clips we shot this past weekend. This 3mb file featurs the Z3's at Tapoco Lodge, the Hump, and the Picnic Table. You'll need Quicktime 6.0 to view this vid.
April 24: BULLETIN The Blue Ridge Parkway will be closed for a week north of Asheville between Craggy Gardens and Mt. Mitchell. A huge bolder slide damaged the roadway. Luckily no vehicles were struck. Remember to watch for falling rocks on these mountain roads.
April 21: An FZ1 rider went down at the hump. He took a bad line and ended-up in the bank. When entering this corner southbound you need to stay in your lane .... crossing the double yellow will throw you into the bank. TO SEE SKID MARK The rider was transported, but we have no details on his condition. April 20: Much less traffic on the Dragon today as many riders attended Easter egg hunts. We did hear that the Redliners were active again. We received word of the death of a rider we met at the Dragon last May 19. Chris from Elijay, Georgia (pictured right) was killed in a motorcycle accident today (not on the Dragon). No other details available at this time. Please ride alert and safe.

April 19: Lots of bikes at the Dragon and on all the local roads. Looks like summer has arrived early with the large crowds and warm weather. Several minor accidents and one transport ... a female rider went down in a ditch and suffered a broken hand. Two TN HP units and two Blount Co SO cars patrolled the Dragon most of the day. Tail of the Dragon spent most of the day filming for a new video. CLICK HERE to see some of the video we shot this past weekend. This 7mb file is a run from the Hump to the Overlook. You'll need Quicktime 6.0 to view this vid.
April 18: Tourer down on the Cherohala at mile marker 9 on the NC side. This steep downhill catches many riders by surprise.
APRIL 13: A gathering of enforcement at the intersection of US 129. They were looking for someone on a a VFR who had committed an armed robbery in Tennessee. We don't think they caught the guy. Thanks to George Allen for sending us the photo. CLICK HERE TO ENLARGE.
APRIL 11: Heading to Talladega for a trackday weekend. Picture above taken at Santeetlah Gap, highest point on the Cherohala at 5377 feet. At least 5 inches of wet snow and thick fog, temp was 32 degrees. BUT - weather looks good for this weekend and road should be clear. A trip over the Dragon yesterday found the dogwoods and redbuds in full bloom and trees leafing out. This will be one of the prettiest weekends of the year. Pictured left is a military KLR 650 used in 1991 during Desert Storm. From what we read, the current issue is a KLS 650 modified to run on diesel like the rest of the motorpool. With a maximum speed of 80mph, the 584cc water cooled engine puts out 24hp. and can get up to 120 MPG. CLICK HERE for a great website detailing the Bikes of War.

APRIL 5: What a great day on the Dragon and we had it just about all to ourselves. Bet we didn't see 25 riders during several mid-afternoon passes. Temp was in the high 60s, the road was dry, and there was very little car traffic. Blount County SO was there sporting new colors on their traffic enforcement car. It's black with no exterior lights .... impossible to ID from directly in front or behind. Noted a little trash on the road from Friday night storm.
Looking forward to another trackday weekend at Little Talledega on April 12 & 13th. Sportbiketracktime is offering friends of Tail of the Dragon a nice discount - $100 per day. This is a fun, twisty track. CLICK HERE for a video of the track which MotorcycleJournal.net filmed during our last visit. Trackside camping is available and the clubhouse provides a big room for evening video viewing. Sunday is an Aprilia Demo Day - your chance to try a Mille, Falco, or the new Tuono :) Mention Tail of the Dragon for discount - CLICK HERE for info & on-line booking.
MARCH 29/30: Saturday was rainout and Sunday brought us a couple inches of snow (YUK) !! We've been spoiled with nice weather the past few weekends.
MARCH 22/23: Saturday was cloudy with temps in the low 60's with a fair number of bikers and no incidents to report. Sunday was sunny, temps in the low 60's and many more bikes. We saw a good mix of cruisers, tourers, and sportbikes. Tiny and the gang, regulars from NC, made their first appearance of the year. About 2:30 pm we were at the Overlook and heard an ominous crash. Investigating, we found another Dragon regular known as Bearclaw had run into a car head on riding his well traveled BMW, which he has ridden in 48 states and 5 counties. Bearclaw hit the left front fender, bounced off the windshield, landing on the pavement behind the car. His bike was totaled, his helmet severely scratched, but Bearclaw was walking around a few minutes after the impact. The car suffered major damage to the left front fender and both airbags were deployed. Driver suffered a broken wrist. THP charged Bearclaw with crossing the double yellow. Gravel in the curve may have played a part in this accident causing the motorcyclist to veer from a normal line. We are glad that no one was seriously injured. REMEMBER to stay away from the double yellow. You never know what is coming around the next corner. CLICK HERE for more picts

Dragon regular Frankie reports a Gixxer 1000 went off at Wheelie Hell after popping a wheelie Sunday about 3 pm. Rider suffered a serious broken ankle.
We made the Cherohala/Dragon loop on Sunday. Temps are still very chilly at the higher elevations of the Cherohala, so dress accordingly. Many of Graham County's seasonal accommodations will be opening this coming weekend, including the Tapoco Lodge which will be carrying many of our T-shirts and souvenirs this year.

THE DRAGON WEEKEND REPORT March 15/16: Killboy and friends report that Saturday was cloudy but dry and only a few riders showed -up. Sunday am showers wet the road, but it dried later in the day. Some 24 bikes and a few sports cars challenged the road. One female rider down with minor injuries.
Canadian Team Diablo made a long trek to Jenning GP to test their new bikes in the expert class. Pictured above is Steve Crevier and journalist Neale Bayly - the Canadians put on quite the show.
MARCH 16: Turned out to be a perfect day at Jennings GP. What a sight to see a dozen Mille's and Tuono's to test ride on Sunday. Nanc took the Tuono for a 20 minute session and had a blast.The bike is easy and fun to ride - it would be a HOOT on the Dragon. Besides the demo rides, Speedvision was filming for "Corbins Ride On". What a week-end to start out the riding season. If you haven't tried a track day, take the plunge. STT will be offering Talladega for $125 each day April 12-13th (see sidebar to the right for info). STT offers instruction free to Novice riders if it's your first time. Skills learned at the track will make you a better rider on the road too.

MARCH 15: The Tail attended the first track day of the year for Sportbiketracktime.com at Jennings GP raceway near the GA / FL state line. The weather, inspite of a gloomy forecast, was perfect with temps in the 70's and no rain. Jennings is a fun and challenging track, but they have some local track noice issues with neighboring property owners. We need to help Jennings GP with this issue, more coming soon. We saw lots of familiar faces and everyone had good things to say about their track day experience. Neale Bayly of motorcyclejournal.net had a new Tuono to test ride from Aprilia USA. He prooved to be a real holligan putting this bike thru the paces... CLICK HERE for his comments and pictures. Weekend news from the Gap will be updated on Monday when we return home.

FEBRUARY 27: Minor rock slide at "The Slide" near Deals Gap. Steady rains tend to dislodge the mountains .... remember this when you do the Tail!

FEBRUARY 3: Ron of the Tail and Neale Bayly of MotorcylceJournal.net took advantage of 60 degree weather and rode to Atlanta. Neale picked-up a new Moto Guzzi Le Mans to test for a few weeks. to see the Guzzi.

JANUARY 23: Winter scene of Bald River Falls just off the Cherohala Skyway

for enlarged view

FRIDAY JANUARY 17: This Cherohala photo says it all. TO SEE ENLARGED PANARAMA

THURSDAY JANUARY 9: We drove to Knoxville via the Dragon today and found the road in only fair condition. There was sand/salt put down by DOT to keep the road from freezing and a number of corners were wet in spite of several days with no rain and temps in the 60s with the sun shining. We did see several cruisers and sport bikes .... all were at cruising speeds. It will take a good rain or two to wash-off the sand/salt. Be aware of these problems if you come to try the Dragon in the winter. We came home on the Dragon about 8 pm and didn't see another vehicle for 50 miles.

BULLETIN: We were recently forwarded an E-mail offering a Dragon video for sale. The E-mail stated that TN would be straightening out the curves for 9 months in 2003 to allow truck traffic to pass safely. We have contacted TN DOT officials and they say this is NOT true.