- LEO SUMMARY 2006: It was a good year as far as enforcement on the Dragon. There was some heavy coverage on a couple of weekends in April and May and then the big bust by the SO in late October. Other than that the Dragon was fairly quiet. In some respects we can understand the over-reaction by LEOs, but we still maintain that a lower profile with regular patrolling and enforcement aimed at the extreme riders/drivers would be more effective and cost less.
DECEMBER 22-26: More great riding weather for this time of year. Temps in the high 60s and clear skies. Saturday and Sunday brought a few riders to the Dragon, but we thought there would be a lot more. Once again only a few cars. Christmas Day (Monday) the weather soured as rain moved in and by Tuesday morning it was sleeting even at the lower elevations.
We took a drive up the Cherohala at noon at found snow and frozen road above 3000 feet. We do not recommend traveling this road for cycling in the winter and car/truck traffic should be very wary of road conditions. Today the road was fine up to 3000 feet, then in the next half mile it iced-up. In another mile it was solid ice and completely covered with snow. The temp at 2000 feet was 37 degrees while above 5000 feet it was 23. And the wind was blowing across the ridges about 30 mph with white-out conditions.
NOVEMBER 3-6: Friday was cold with high temps hovering in the low 50s. Didn't bother the cars any, but the bikers were bundled up pretty good. Saturday was much better and Sunday saw nearly 60 degrees and clear sunny skies.
Overall it was a very slow weekend with only minimal traffic. The car groups especially should be taking advantage of the open roads. It is also a good time for the hardy cycle riders to avoid the crowds
OCTOBER 27-29: Friday was a rainout and Saturday wasn’t much better until mid afternoon when the clouds and drizzle passed. Sunday brought the sun, clear skies, and the Blount County Sheriff’s End of Year Party.
We rode over the Dragon in late morning, had a nice cruise up the Foothills Parkway and on the way back noted some five or six unmarked Blount County Sheriff’s vehicles playing Trick and Treat between the Foothills and the Dragon. We stopped for a mini-picnic along the river and watched some dozen tickets being issued to everything from motorcycles to pick-up trucks. The Trick was that several of the unmarkeds were not the usual Crown Vics, but Explorers that you couldn’t spot even it they were 10 feet in front of you. There was one typically marked patrol unit thrown in here for good measure. The Treat was an invite back to Blount County to see the judge and explain why you were on the way to have some fun on the Dragon. We asked one of the deputies about the increased enforcement and he said that the SO had been getting a lot of complaints and had to do something.
That was just what was happening on the straights along the Little Tennessee. Once we got on the Dragon we met a Sheriff’s motorcycle on the prowl, then another one on the side of the road pointing a little magic gun at us that must have told him something, then two more motorcycle LEOs signing autographs for a couple of bike riders, then two traffic enforcement vehicles with officers looking at us like we robbed a bank, then as we approached the state line there were two other traffic enforcement cars ready to pounce on anyone heading for the serenity of North Carolina.
Blount County went all out for these festivities in spite of being about to run out of funds for the Sheriff’s Department in the next few months. Thanks for the Happy Halloween guys. UPDATE: Blount County SO states that the operation was funded completely by the State of Tennessee as part of their highway safety program. Evidently the state has been getting some grief over the road too. The SO also states that contrary to popular belief they do not receive a penny of the monies taken in from the operation.
For all of you who were unlucky enough to get one of the Treats, remember that Blount County gives you one “Get Out of Jail for $10” option. Be sure to check with the Clerk of Court about taking advantage of this. Call Tom Hatcher at 1-865-273-5400.
OCTOBER 25 BULLETIN: Repairs will begin on Parsons Branch Road at mile marker 4.0 in the next few weeks. Some 7000 tons of gravel will be hauled in from the North Carolina side of the Dragon. There will likely be loose gravel on this section of the Dragon and on US 129 in North Carolina for most of the winter. Plans are to reopen Parsons Branch Road in June 2007. This one way gravel road out of Cades Cove with 19 water fords is a great dual sport ride.
- OCTOBER 20-22: Colder temps on Friday had riders bundling-up, especially on the Cherohala. Saturday was much better and saw a large number of bikers and cars at the Dragon. Really wide mix of bikes .... cruisers, tourers, sportbikes, motards, dual sports, scooters, choppers, and customs. Saw a lot of Vettes from Louisiana and Florida and some classic oldies like my all time favorite the GTO. Sunday brough a cold drizzle keeping many off the road.
- The season is winding down, at least for motorcycles. The Tail of the Dragon has closed shop at the Gap for 2006. You can still purcahse our souveniers at many other outlets in the area. SEE BOTTOM OF PAGE Be sure it says Tail. There will be some good conditions at times, but the winter chill is definitely here. Great time for the car groups to have the road to themselves.
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- BULLETIN OCT 16: High winds close area roads. 90 mph plus winds hit the Smokies late Monday afternoon closing Little River Road and Cades Cove. These roads should be open sometime Tuesday.
- BULLETIN: Tatham Gap Road, the gravel dual sport road from Andrews to Robbinsville, will be closed during October and November for repairs.
- OCTOBER 13-15: Another good weekend with chilly mornings. Some leaves falling should slow you down when wet. Good color at most elevations. Remember that the Cherohala can be cold at higher elevations. Also watch out for the fog. Car groups should plan for winter trips to the area. The Dragon stays in good condition most of the colder months unless we have a rare snow event. The motorcycle traffic is sparse from Nov through March so the cars can have their fun unimpeded.
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- OCTOBER 6-8: The Smoky Mountain Bike Rally at Fontana Village brought many bikes into the area over the weekend. Cruisers and touring bikes were most prominent, but there was also a good number of sport bikes trying to work their way through the traffic. Cars were represented by the Wildhorses Mustangs. Weather was chily in the early morning but warmed up quickly.
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- OCTOBER 4, 2006: Took a day off and rode the Cherohala/ Dragon Loop. Wildflowers are blooming in the lower elevations. There is fairly good color on the Cherohala above 3000 feet and it looks like the peak may be in the next week or two at the higher elevations. Bald River Falls is inspiring as always. Found a great new place to eat as we came into Tellico Plains. The Cherohala Crossing offers great BBQ pork, chicken, ribs, and Cajun roast beef. Grab a beer and sandwich and eat on the back deck over looking the Tellico River. Tell Mitch and Vanessa that we sent you.
Some leaves on the Dragon so watch it if it gets a little wet.
- SEPTEMBER 29 - OCTOBER 1: Just an average traffic week-end with more bikes than cars. There seemed to be more sportbikes than we have seen in recent weeks. The weather was great other than early Sunday morning showers that kept several miles of pavement dampish most of the day. The Big Oak at Shadetree Corner came down Sunday. The interior of the trunk was completely hollowed-out with rot. Luckily no one was standing there! There was also whitewater action along the Class 5 Cheoah River on Sunday. Nancy and I would much rather take our chances on the Dragon instead of getting in one of the kayaks or rafts.
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- SEPTEMBER 22-24: Three days of rain put a damper on riding. there were several hours of clear on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, but the road barely had time to dry before another shower moved in. The S2000s didn't seem to mind too much, but the bikers had to ride carefully. Monday brought clear skies and cooler temps.
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- ALERT: The Tennessee hunting season is open at the Dragon September 25 to October 1. There will be many hunters along the side of the road and many hunting dogs on the road itself. Please ride safe and be courteous.
ALERT: US 441 thru Smokies will be repaved during Sept. Expect lane closures and heavy traffic.
SEPTEMBER 15-17: Another huge week-end for riders with Rally in the Valley and the Trail of Tears Ride taking place. Cruisers and choppers dominated, but there was a good showing of sportbikes, tourers, and cars. A couple of motorcycle accidents left oil on the roadway. Crud Corner was the worst where two cycles met head-on. No serious injuries were noted.
SEPTEMBER 8-10: Thousands of riders passed through the Gap on Friday, Saturday and Sunday heading for the Cherokee Survivors Rally. A number of car rallies in the area too. Great spectating with lots of sportbikes, custom cruisers, choppers and antique cars.
AUGUST 25-27: Friday the women began arriving and they took over the Dragon Saturday morning for the first Women's Sportbike Riders at the Dragon Rally. Saturday was quite busy with a good mix of all types on bikes and some noisy two-strokes.
Rider in critical condition after motorcycle accident on US129 a few miles north of the Dragaon near Chilhowee Dam and the Foothills Parkway. Accident occured around 5pm on Saturday. CLICK HERE to read more.
AUGUST 18-20: Friday was a great day to ride if you were looking for open roads with very little traffic. Saturday the crowds came making it a good day to see the show. Sunday's morning and afternoon rain left only a few hours of good riding mid-day. The North Carolina Highway Patrol motorcycle crew was in Graham County for the weekend. If you were ticketed don't say you weren't forewarned by the Tail.
AUGUST 18 WARNING: We suggest that you keep your speeds down this weekend, especially on the North Carolina side of the mountain. There might be a few extra blue lights on the road.
BULLETIN: The second death on the Dragon for 2006 occurred on Tuesday afternoon August 15 near mile marker six at about 1:15 pm. According to TN HP Carlos Suarez, age 34, veered off the road in a curve and hit a tree. He was riding a 2000 Honda CBR. Riders should know that even a simple low side can have serious consequences on the Dragon. Please slow down and ride safe.
AUGUST 11-13: Friday's rain slowed things down a bit, but Saturday cleared and Sunday was perfect. Good mixed crowd of cruisers, sportbikes, tourers, and cars. Lots of riders came down from the Johnson City HOG Rally and there were plenty of Soltices on hand.
JULY 28-30: The Miatas returned to the Dragon in force for their tenth year and overall we saw drivers and riders sharing the road and having fun. Friday was busy, Saturday wet most of the day, and Sunday another busy day. Good mix of cars, cruisers, sport bikes, tourers and even a few bicyclists. Mid-afternoon Sunday three wrecks brought the LEOs out. We heard there were no life threatening injuries.
JULY 21-23: Another great week-end for riding in spite of the weather forecasts calling for rain on Friday and Saturday. Only a few stray drops fell on the Dragon ... not enough to even worry about. Sunday was once again the busiest day and the Overlook was crowded most of the day with riders taking advantage of free Red Bull drinks. Not very many cars, but that will change next week when the Miatas arrive. Prepare for some 400 or more of the Zooms on local roads.
JULY 14-16: A drizzly Friday and hot Saturday/Sunday moderated the traffic on the Dragon. Temps over the weekend were in the 90s making it a little warm once riders came to a stop. Saw many riders stopping at the various pull-offs to get int he shade and watch the show go by. Temps are predicted to be better for the coming week-end.
JULY 7-9: A rather lazy weekend at the Dragon. Great riding conditions and no crowds. Guess everyone was recovering from Independence Day celebrations. We did see lots of Wings heading home after WingDing. No real enforcement noted on area roads, but you can just about plan on enforcement when some 400 Miatas arrive July 29. This next weekend should be fun with the Evolution Owners and the Mitsubishi 3000GT/Dodge Stealths in the area.JULY 4: Happy Independence Day ..... Let's make it a safe one. The Dragon has been busy over the week-end after a very slow start on Friday. A number of motorcycle accidents recently mainly due to riders not respecting the curves and hills on the local roads. Remember to slow when approaching any area with warning signs and 10 mph curve signs. Many riders are not used to the decreasing radius corners and momentum that builds on the downhills. Overbraking and target fixation will result in an unnecessary accident. Just lean more and look through the corner. Also saw a lot of women riders on the way or returning from the AMA Womens Conference in Athens Georgia. Great to see the women out on their own.
JUNE 21-25: Great week for riders and classic cars. Honda Hoot brought in over 20,000 riders and most of them were Wings and Valks. The MG International 2006 brought hundreds of MGs of all eras to the local roads. Saw a large group of Corvettes too. What a great group of people they all are. It was good to see all our friends at the Hoot and to get another hug from Jessica Prokup the Editor of ROAD BIKE M AGAZINE .
BULLETIN: A 39 year old motorcycle rider from Maryland lost his life on the Dragon Thursday morning June 15. The accident occurred at about mile marker 3.5 when the northbound rider went off the road and struck a tree. This is the first death on the Dragon in 2006. Please ride safe so it is the only one this year.
JULY 5 OR LATER: According to NC DOT road work on US 129 from Fugitive Dam to the NC/TN State Line will begin sometime after July 4. This will consist of widening the road and then repaving of the roadway. Please use caution during that time.
JUNE 16,17,18: Great weekend with less than normal traffic which allowed for some good runs. The Cherohala Challenge bicycle event on Saturday saw several hundred riders crossing the Dragon by noon. Honda Hoot is coming this week and so will the crowds. Come and see the show. Be sure to stop by our booth at the Hoot or our RV at the Tail of the Dragon on the North Carolina side. Good bet that enforcement will be increased on both sides.
June 17 The Cherohala Challenge will be taking over the Dragon for a few hours. Be sure to cheer these bicyclists along on their 120 mile trek. Also on the Dragon this week will be the Latrobe PA Hog Chapter from Z & M Cycle some 160 strong.
JUNE 9, 10, 11: Several crashes on the Dragon and Cherohala kept local EMS and LEO agencies busy on Friday and Saturday. There were no life threatening injuries, but we'd like to remind riders to watch their speed and stay away from the double yellow lines. This week was more crowded than last. The FZ1 and SV650 Rallies were successes and of course the North Florida Peckerheads had their usual fun. The Honda Hoot crowd will begin arriving next weekend, so plan on attending the Hoot in Knoxville on June 21-24. We'll be there so stop in and say hello.
JUNE 2-4: The second annual Wakin the Dragon Rally turned into the Second annual Dragon Flop. Event promoters and news outlets proclaimed how thousands of bikers would parade across the Dragon on Saturday morning. Local and state law enforcement allocated precious resources to control the crowds. Area
EMS
was ready for accidents galore. And the biker parade that crossed the Dragon on Saturday morning was at best 65 bikes and trikes sputtering anemically over the dreaded Dragon.
Overall it was a slow weekend at the Dragon. Seems like many riders decided to ride elsewhere rather than deal with the increased enforcement and over-rated/under-organized event.
BULLETIN JUNE 2-5 Expect increased enforcement, especially on the Tennessee side of the mountain. Make sure your bike is legal, DOT helmets, and have license/registration/insurace ready to show.
MAY 26-29 Wild Memorial Day weekend The holidays brought many visitors to the Tail of the Dragon, other area roads, and the Cheoah whitewater rafting. Saturday and Sunday were two of the busiest days we've seen. For the most part it was a safe, but there were several incidents. Friday a cruiser rider was killed when he apparently veered into an oncoming pick-up truck near Robbinsville. There were several accidents on the Dragon including a serious one at the Gravity Cavity. Saturday a truck pulling a boat leaked oil on the southbound lane resulting in a couple of cycle crashes. On Sunday a touring bike crossed the double yellow on the Hellbender 28 at 10 mph Corner and took-out a sportbike. Monday an oil spill caused at least two motorcycle wrecks on the Dragon northbound near Graces Esses. Riders should pay attention to spills and when you see one corner with a spill expect more and slow down.
BULLETIN TUESDAY MAY 23 -Tractor trailor hits motorcycle on the Dragon. Shortly after noon the north bound Harley encountered the truck in a corner and hit the rear trailer. Rider was flown to UT with multiple injuries. As is usually the case the truck driver did not know how twisty the road was and did not heed the small warning signs posted in Tennessee. Another wreck later in the afternoon invovled a pick-up and cycle. Minor injuries to the rider. PLEASE RIDE SAFE
MAY 19-20 A busy Friday and Saturday on the Dragon and all local roads. Lots of Z cars from all eras, a large group of colorful SSRs, Mustangs and groups of cycles ranging from KLRs to Vulcans. The Group Ride Across the Dragon Led by the Military roared by mid-day with flags flying. Saw no enforcement on the Dragon Saturday, but a couple of North Carolina Troopers were roaming the area and set-up a license check near Fugitive Dam for a while.
MAY 12-13-14: Friday and Saturday saw a major Trooper presence on both sides of the Dragon. We see it as a show of force to get some publicity that will satisfy the segment of the public that complains about our guests at the Dragon. So far this year has been relatively safe and we join with the LEOs in wanting it to stay that way. Don't take the overwelming "show of force" wrong. It is the way governmental agencies such as the HP make it look like they are doing something. We think the 7 or 8 added Troopers from each state is a waste of resources. One or two patrolling units will do the trick and not look as negative. Anyway, the Dragon can still be enjoyed .. just be smart.
MAY 5-6-7: Color in the springtime with some 400 plus uniquely painted Mini Coopers swarming the local roads. We think the Minis might have finally beaten the Miata record for numbers of cars. Wet roads tested their driving skills on Friday but Saturday brought dry roads and clear skys and many motorcycles to share the Dragon, Cherohala, and Hellbender. We heard that NCHP was passing out invites back to the county on the Cherohala Saturday .... hopefully only to those who deserved tickets. Let us know if you have a gripe with enforcement EMAIL HERE There was even more action on the Cheoah River along US129 as whitewater rafters and kayakers demonstraed their skills on this Class IV-V river.April 28-29: Another great weekend on the Dragon ... this time with Cobras, Busas, Warriors, VFRs, old Yamas, Goldwings, hundreds of Triumphs and perhaps a thousand or more mixed cruisers headed for Cherokee and other western North Carolina roads. We led a group of Triumph Tigers on a 180 mile loop through Franklin and onto the backcountry roads rarely seen by most riders. These guys saw more curves in one day than most riders see in a lifetime. On the way to the backroads we met many groups of riders enjoying a day on the road. Stunt rider Kyle Woods entertained the crowd at Fontana Village in the evening. NEXT WEEK THE MINIS RETURN !!!
April 21 - 23: What a mixed-bag week-end. Seemed like all sorts wanted to play on the Dragon from bicycles to antique cars. Friday's rain left some trash on the road, but nothing that you couldn't easily avoid. Saturday belonged to the S2000s that crowded the road and brought out the TN HP in force. The three Trooper cars, one cycle trooper and helicopter patroled with gusto, but appeared to only enforce extreme violations. We did hear about some nit-picking equipment citations, but when you come to the Gap you really need to have your bike ready. You stand a good chance of a ticket for improper tag placement, no mirrors/signals/ headlights, etc. Sunday's enforcement was a little more laid back with two cars from Blount Co SO and one Trooper cycle. Overall a big weekend for all at the Gap
APRIL 16, 2006 - Another Cheoah River white water rafting week-end. Watch-out for slow traffic on US 129 along the River Sunday. Friday and Saturday were the busiest yet . Lots of bikes, cars, kayakers and even bicyclists on the Dragon. Four North Carolina Highway Patrol motorcycle troopers arrived in the area. Watch your speed on the side roads and Cherohala !! Saw a couple of invites back to the county courthouse being handed out on the Cherohala in the afternoon.
APRIL 7-9 A good weekend in spite of a soggy Saturday. Quite a few riders and drivers on the Dragon and Cherohala. Heard a couple of minor incidents and one Goldwing rider was airlifted on Sunday after high siding his bike at the 2 mile marker in NC.The next week or two will be scenic with redbuds and dogwoods in bloom. The red buds were really showing along the Little Tennessee River and on the Dragon. Next week should be beautiful with the dogwoods blooming white.
APRIL 1 Looks like a great week-end for the Dragon. A large group of Wisconsin sportbikers has been warming the pavement all week and the Dragoneeze will be here this weekend. Remember that there are many other good roads in the area. The Cherohala is probably fairly clean after yesterday's rain. Nancy and I ran Wayah Road on Wednesday and it was in good shape. As usual some of the tight corners did have some gravel. We'll be launching a new web site in the coming weeks featuring details of Wayah Road which is also known as Thunder Road.
MARCH 22 The Cherohala was absolutely beautiful today. Sections of the mountain tops above 4000 feet were painted with rime glazed thick on the bare tree limbs and the sparkle was quite an unusual sight. Sadly I didn't have my camera but a photo would likely not have done the views justice. The roadway is pretty bad on the NC side with fresh sand/salt, so bikers should wait until our next heavy rain to venture above 3000 feet.
MARCH 18 Another busy day on the Dragon for so early in the season. Temps were in the 50s with crystal clear skies. Ron and Nancy took the afternoon off and toured the Cherohala and had the road just about to ourselves. There were several control burns by the Forest Service visible in the distance.
MARCH 11-12, 2006 The Dragon was busy on Saturday and Sunday with bikes and cars. Many of the bikes were heading home after Daytona and took advantage of the unseasonable weather with temps in the 70s. We took a few picts posted below.
February 18, 2006 Here are a couple of photos taken on the Dragon about 4:30 pm . The sand/salt truck had just laid down some freeze protection. Oddly there was very little snow on the NC side after crossing the Gap.
 
FEBRUARY 12 2006
- Last night it snowed another 6-8 inches at our house near the Cherohala Skyway. We took a
9 am
trip in the jeep and found it even deeper at 3000 feet elevation. We heard reports of 3-4 feet at the 5000 feet leavel at Hooper Bald. We advise everyone to stay off of the Cherohala Skyway for a few days until it is plowed and sanded.
FEBRUARY 9 2006 - We had several inches of snow last night and the Dragon will be tricky until it is plowed and sanded. We advise everyone to stay off of the Cherohala Skyway for a few days.. There was probably a foot of new snow at the higher elevations.
JANUARY 2006 We've been very lucky and able to ride the Dragon at least one day a week since Christmas.
NEW YEARS DAY 2006 on the Dragon brought out many riders and a few sports cars. The temp was approaching 60, the sun was out, and the road was clean. This New Years Day ride is getting to be an annual event., this year celebrated by some 75 or more riders.
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