Tiger Adventure Ride September 24, 2005

One of the highlights of the year for us is the annual Triumph RAT Raid held each year in September at the Tapoco Lodge. More than a hundred Triumph riders attend this even each year and Nancy and I always lead the Tiger riders on a back road adventure tour. This year Nancy had to work the T-shirt sales at the Gap so I had to lead the crew. I did have a lot of help from friends Mark and Connie who rode follow-up and took many photos.

We always try to include a good percentage of gravel roads on the tour. In 2004 we took some really challenging sections of gravel/rock, but this year we had a couple of riders who had never ridden on gravel so we decided on a much tamer tour. The 120 miles loop did include some challenging gravel mountain roads, but we broke in the newbies with the easy stuff first. By the time we got the harder sections they we feeling very confident.

The ride began Saturday morning at 10 am . Leaving Tapoco Lodge we turned right on US 129 and the took a quick left onto Meadow Bracnh Road (1247).  After a mile of two we turned right onto Old Field Gap Road (1249) and encountered the first gravel. We continued eastward and got back on pavement at Yellow Creek Road (1242) passing through quaint valley settings. The road suddenly climbs steeply to Tommy Knob where the Appalachian Trails crosses. A quick descent brought us down into Tuskeegee.

We jumped on NC 28 and enjoyed some good sweeping twisties to Stecoah where the 4-land construction is under way. We met many oncoming bikers here heading for the Tail of the Dragon. After a boring 4-land section of NC 28 we turned left onto US19/74 and then took a quick right on Needmore Road (1113/1114) to get back into the woods. Needmore Road winds southward for several miles before meeting the Little Tennessee River and eventually turning into gravel. The Tigers seemed to like this scenic river run.

Meeting Pavement again at Tellico Road (1369) we turned right and headed for a more challenging section of gravel over Tellico Gap (not to be confused with Tellico Plains TN). First we passed through the unique Tellico Trout Farm, a large valley area where Cherokee used to hold their big meetings. In the early 1800s the Ramsey brothers helped run the Cherokee out of the area in exchange for the rights to the land. By the late 1800s Tellico was the center of commerce for the area. It didn’t last and today there are just a few houses, farms, and trout farm.

We were now back on gravel and beginning to climb towards Tellico Gap (1365). The Tigers met their first real trials here as sudden steep switchbacks came at us one after another. I had my doubts about two of the riders from Florida who had never ridden gravel and another rider who was riding two-up. We stopped at the gap where the Appalachian Trail crosses and everyone came rolling in with no problem. These guys were learning fast!

Thanks to the marvels of modern communications I took orders for lunch and called them in by cell phone so we wouldn’t have to waste valuable riding time waiting for it to be cooked.

The downhill heading westerly from Tellico Gap (1365) has a couple of switchbacks, but not nearly as steep as the east side. After a few miles we were back on pavement passing through some interesting mountain farmland. We took a left onto Wayah Road (1310) and after a few miles took a right onto Junaluska Road (1401). This is basically a long straight into Andrews.

In Andrews we stopped for lunch at the Burger Basket on US 19 Business, offering a great homemade burger made by some great ladies who like to see the cycle crowd. After lunch we gassed-up and headed for Tatham Gap Road , what we call the Gravel Dragon.

This mountain route had the most curves and a couple of really steep sections, but the Tigers proved nimble and crossed the old Trail of Tears without incident.

Near Robbinsville we said goodbye to the gravel and took some local roads back to US 129. The route included

Snowbird Road (1127), Atoah Road (1112) past the ostrich farm, IU Gap (1118), Snowbird Road

again (NC 143), Santeetlah Road (NC143), Joyce Kilmer Road (1134), and then US 129.

US 129 gave us all a chance to relax on the way back to the Tapoco Lodge. The Tiger riders were now beaming after tackling roads that many of them had never considered riding. Bet they will be riding more gravel in the future.

We look forward to next year’s Tiger ride. Come and join us.