 Hell Roads - Tail of the Dragon
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Saddle Sore
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Saddle Sore
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Riding season is in full swing, be careful out there. DRAGON
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Re: Hell Roads - Tail of the Dragon
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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Great video find, Mike!  Only one question though: Surely it wouldn't cost the great states of North Carolina and Tennessee all that much to post a big yellow road sign at each end of The Tail of the Dragon that would say the following... ____________________________________________________ Warning: Absolutely NO vehicles over 5 tons gross wt and/or over 35 feet in length allowed beyond this point! $50,000 fine for each infraction! ___________________________________________________ ...now would it?! (...and then again, maybe they already have one there like that and some of the truckers just choose to ignore it???)
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: Hell Roads - Tail of the Dragon
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Loquacious
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My son and I will be there Wed. & Thur., May 16th & 17th., on our way to the GA. Rally.  I'm feelin' ok for myself, but Steven is only 23, HE & I NEED TO TALK !!! 
And you may see me tonight
With an illegal smile
J. Prine
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Re: Hell Roads - Tail of the Dragon
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Adjunct
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Adjunct
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Time, for an Armored Tank! 
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Re: Hell Roads - Tail of the Dragon
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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TALK???!!! C'mon now erle! You gotta know the kids today are even MORE visually oriented than WE were at their age...and so just show him this video, dude. (...if he has half a brain, he'll get the point...just tell him that this video is his generation's version of that "Red Asphalt" film circa 1955 that we were all forced to watch in our high school Driver's Ed course back in the day!!!)  
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: Hell Roads - Tail of the Dragon
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Loquacious
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Quote:
...if he has half a brain,...
And you may see me tonight
With an illegal smile
J. Prine
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Re: Hell Roads - Tail of the Dragon
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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Quote:
Quote:
...if he has half a brain,...
Ooooh...yeah...sorry.
(...that's right, he is YOUR kid, huh?!!!)
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: Hell Roads - Tail of the Dragon
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Saddle Sore
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Saddle Sore
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Quote:
Great video find, Mike!
Only one question though: Surely it wouldn't cost the great states of North Carolina and Tennessee all that much to post a big yellow road sign at each end of The Tail of the Dragon that would say the following...
____________________________________________________
Warning: Absolutely NO vehicles over 5 tons gross wt
and/or over 35 feet in length allowed beyond this point!
$50,000 fine for each infraction!
___________________________________________________
...now would it?!
(...and then again, maybe they already have one there like that and some of the truckers just choose to ignore it???)
Dwight, while I agree with you 1000% I don't believe it is illegal for commercial vehicles to be on this stretch of hwy. There are warning signs and cautions signs advising against it. Keep in mind most truck drives know where they should be and should not be as they communicate back and forth about road issues.Google map Old Hwy 129, Robbinsville, NC . As you'll see to go around this would probably add three or more hours to their run and these boys are on a tight schedule, my eldest drives for FedEx Freight and their schedules are so tight one small delay and they are over their hours.
Funny thing, when I was a kid we called this old crooked 129 and for the most part didn't care anything about it. Now it's the "DRAGON" and every swinging **** gotta give it a go.
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Re: Hell Roads - Tail of the Dragon
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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Still seems strange to me that semis are even allowed on that stretch of road at all Mike, warning signs or not, and especially after watchin' those scenes in that video where it took the whole width of the road to go around some of those tight turns.
I know here in AZ that the section of Hwy 89 south of Prescott, aka White Spar Pass(you remember that road when you and the SE gang were out this way last year, don't ya?!...nice and tight, and just about as technical as The Dragon there) inhibits semis from using it, and all truckers must use an alternate route up and over the Bradshaw Mtns here...though admittedly those alternate routes only take about an additional 30 minutes or so to get between the two points.
(...but still, considering the much higher risk of a "crossing over a double yellow" accident there in The Dragon by semis, and even factoring in how much longer it takes them to use those alternate routes back there, I would still think a human life or lives would supercede the commerce factor in this whole thing, and I would think the local state Transportation Depts and lawmakers would think so too)
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: Hell Roads - Tail of the Dragon
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Loquacious
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Quote:
...that's right, he is YOUR kid, huh?!!!
And you may see me tonight
With an illegal smile
J. Prine
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Re: Hell Roads - Tail of the Dragon
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Saddle Sore
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Saddle Sore
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Yes I do remember that stretch of hwy, good times for sure.
Again I agree with you, it seems it's TN/NC way of thinning the heard. When ask about the Dragon, I advise to stay away and I'll be glad to show you many roads in my area with more difficulties and a heck of a lot less traffic.
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Re: Hell Roads - Tail of the Dragon
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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Quote:
Yes I do remember that stretch of hwy, good times for sure.
Again I agree with you, it seems it's TN/NC way of thinning the herd.
Yeah, in THAT case, then maybe that stretch of road back there ought'a be named: "The Tail of Charles Darwin"!
(...of course, I'm sure any adherent to the Theory of Evolution would be happy to remind me that the species Homo Sapien, of which Mr. Darwin belonged, never had tails, and thus my above suggestion would be nonsensical in the extreme!)
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: Hell Roads - Tail of the Dragon
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Loquacious
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Quote:
When ask about the Dragon, I advise to stay away and I'll be glad to show you many roads in my area with more difficulties and a heck of a lot less traffic.
Absolutely. The number of great roads along the TN/NC border is amazing. 
The Dragon has w-a-y too much traffic and @ss clowns riding like the road is their own personal track. I avoid it.
Kevin - Luceo Non Uro
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Re: Hell Roads - Tail of the Dragon
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Here in Western North Carolina we have a special name for 'The Tail of the Dragon'. We call it 'Just Another Road'.
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 Re: Hell Roads - Tail of the Dragon
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Thanks for that, Mike. That is worth sharing. Trucks? That's insane! If they can be load-restricted off bridges there has to be a way to restrict them on a road they have no chance to stay in control on. But once they're on, they're on. There is no going back. For the safety of all road travelers, that road needs to be managed with road blocks on each end, assuring that maybe inappropriate vehicles can not contribute to other vehicles or people's demise, but of course in no way assuring that the other legal vehicle's can be controlled by their operators. Accidents will always happen there, regardless. But trucks? That's almost suicide to begin with, not to mention the high probability that another truck, car or motorcycle is likely to hit it somewhere along the route. Crazy. Why? 
Keith
Houston
Ridin'Texas
'04 Speedmaster
AI removed, Pingle, UNI Filter, 1 shim, straight-through slash-cut TORs, Stage 1 DynaJet, 140 mains, 3 turns, 16/42 final drive, 115K
2020 T120 Black
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Re: Hell Roads - Tail of the Dragon
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Learned Hand
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Quote:
Here in Western North Carolina we have a special name for 'The Tail of the Dragon'. We call it 'Just Another Road'.
Indeed it is. And just because a bunch of crazy motorsickle riders have come think we own it, everyone else should be banned. I can assure you No truck driver would choose to be on that piece of pavement on purpose..Speaking as both a truck driver and motorbike rider.
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Re: Hell Roads - Tail of the Dragon
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Loquacious
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Quote:
Quote:
Here in Western North Carolina we have a special name for 'The Tail of the Dragon'. We call it 'Just Another Road'.
Indeed it is. And just because a bunch of crazy motorsickle riders have come think we own it, everyone else should be banned. I can assure you No truck driver would choose to be on that piece of pavement on purpose..Speaking as both a truck driver and motorbike rider.
Agreed. Having driven over The Snake in an SUV, it's pretty unpleasant. You wouldn't do it by choice. On 2 wheels is much more funner! 
Last year we followed a semi through The Snake in TN. It was the first time we saw a long truck on that road. This driver handled it like a pro! He had to take it a little wide in a couple of turns but for the most part he maintained his lane.
Kevin - Luceo Non Uro
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Re: Hell Roads - Tail of the Dragon
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One thing that it is impossible for a semi to do on that road, stay on his side. There are plenty of photos floating around of people wedged underneath a semi that had completely blocked all lanes when coming through a curve. I've even seen traffic forced to back up to allow a big rig to get through a curve.
It's not really safe for anyone else, car, truck, or pumpkin wagon when something that long is on 129.
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Re: Hell Roads - Tail of the Dragon
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Here's one to send a chill up your spine. We had a trial for vehicular homicide a while back, the truck driver took out some members of a high school athletic team and their coach. Seems the driver didn't want to be on I-40 because his truck was mechanically unsafe AND he'd been drinking quite a bit.
He though it would be safer to stick to the back roads.
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Re: Hell Roads - Tail of the Dragon
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Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
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Not as crazy, because there isn't as much traffic, out west we have the Old Spiral Highway. http://www.roadsnw.com/rnw/15
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Re: Hell Roads - Tail of the Dragon
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Quote:
Yes I do remember that stretch of hwy, good times for sure.
Again I agree with you, it seems it's TN/NC way of thinning the heard. When ask about the Dragon, I advise to stay away and I'll be glad to show you many roads in my area with more difficulties and a heck of a lot less traffic.
I am with you Mike. We did the Dragon one time, and that was plenty for me. Lots of other roads to ride with better scenery and less 3rd party danger.
In Between the Dark and the Light..
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Re: Hell Roads - Tail of the Dragon
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Not as crazy, because there isn't as much traffic, out west we have the Old Spiral Highway. http://www.roadsnw.com/rnw/15
Just rode that last summer. It's a great ride.
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Re: Hell Roads - Tail of the Dragon
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Learned Hand
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Even if you were riding safely and within posted speed limits if you met one of those bad boys in a blind curve you would be SOL. Makes me not even want to ride the dad gum thing.
'06 TBA - Black, AI and Snorkel removed, K&N Drop In, Gutted Stock Pipes, 145/42, 2 turns out.
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Re: Hell Roads - Tail of the Dragon
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Member
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On the bright side it mentioned no intersections or houses on the highway. So maybe you might go head on with an 18 wheeler but at least here are no dogs to chase you! Haha
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Re: Hell Roads - Tail of the Dragon
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Loquacious
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Quote:
Even if you were riding safely and within posted speed limits if you met one of those bad boys in a blind curve you would be SOL. Makes me not even want to ride the dad gum thing.
It's been a couple of years since I've seen anyone use the term "dad gum"!
Semis aren't the only problem on busy roads like the Dragon. You've also got sports cars and a preponderance of knee-draggin', wheelie-poppin squids who think nothing of crossing the center line in a turn if you're slowing them down. 
Just because someone is riding a sport bike fast, doesn't mean they are riding it well. I've had my share of clowns on crotch rockets come around turns on my side of the road. Bad news.
Kevin - Luceo Non Uro
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Re: Hell Roads - Tail of the Dragon
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Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
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Truly good roads have the same reputation that killer fishing spots do: NONE!
Blowing gravel off rural roads
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Re: Hell Roads - Tail of the Dragon
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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Good point and well said, Jim!
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: Hell Roads - Tail of the Dragon
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I think today both NC& TN try to restrict trucks from using US-129.
The first time I was on the Tail of the Dragon was in 2003. As I left the Tail of the Dragon gift shop (gas station) I hadn't gone more than a mile up the Dragon when I had to come to a complete stop due to a 18 wheeler coming down the mountain. Because of the switchback I was about to enter, and the one the truck completely occupied I had to stop and pull over as close to the rock face next to the road. When the truck went by me I had less than 12 inches between me and the rock wall on my right and about 12 inches between me and the truck.
For a 18 wheeler to safely transverse the Tail of the Dragon the driver has to move the trailer receiver back as far as it will go, otherwise they run the risk of jackknifing on some of the hairpin turns. The truck that passed me had about 12 feet between the back of the cab and the front of the trailer. There have been a number of 18 wheelers that didn't make it across the Tail of the Dragon because of not doing this. They made it eventually, but usually not with the Cab and trailer together.
A much more enjoyable road and less crowded is US-28 from US-129 toward Bryson City, NC. Continue on US-28 to NC-28 into Franklin, NC and then to Highland, NC. This part is more crowded, but the waterfalls along this part are really nice. At Highland take NC-106 in GA via GA-246. This stretch of road is stunning (not as technical as US-129, but really a nice road. GA-246 ends at US-441, and you can continue south into GA or head north back into NC.
Last edited by tcv; 05/02/2012 7:20 PM.
Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.
Benjamin Franklin, US author, diplomat, inventor, physicist, politician, & printer (1706 - 1790)
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Re: Hell Roads - Tail of the Dragon
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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Those will all go on the ol' Bucket List now, Tom! (...thanks!)
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: Hell Roads - Tail of the Dragon
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Old Hand
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Do they ever close it off and only let in sane people?
Let's hope there's intelligent life somewhere in space 'cause it's buggar all down here. -- Monte Python
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Re: Hell Roads - Tail of the Dragon
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Quote:
Do they ever close it off and only let in sane people?
SANE, YOU ASK, SANE?
Mal: "Y'all see the man hanging out of the spaceship with the really big gun?{ref, Jayne} Man's lookin' to kill some folk. So really, it's his will y'all should worry about thwarting."
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Re: Hell Roads - Tail of the Dragon
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Tom, I've driven the road between Franklin and Highlands many times. You screw up on that road particularly in the twisties leading up to the falls (on a bike) and you're not just hurt... you're dead, absolutely graveyard dead.
'06 TBA - Black, AI and Snorkel removed, K&N Drop In, Gutted Stock Pipes, 145/42, 2 turns out.
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Re: Hell Roads - Tail of the Dragon
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Quote:
Tom, I've driven the road between Franklin and Highlands many times. You screw up on that road particularly in the twisties leading up to the falls (on a bike) and you're not just hurt... you're dead, absolutely graveyard dead.
That part of NC-28 has almost as many twists and turns as the Tail does. Due to all the cars around Franklin, the waterfalls and Highlands you cannot go all that fast. You are correct about if you screw up. The road is narrower and they employee guard rails in that area. So, the bike might stay on the road, but the rider will get creamed by either the rock face or fly over the guard rails into who knows what.
The really nice parts are US-128 from the Tail just past Almond and then NC-106 into Georgia.
Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.
Benjamin Franklin, US author, diplomat, inventor, physicist, politician, & printer (1706 - 1790)
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Re: Hell Roads - Tail of the Dragon
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Loquacious
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Quote:
Tom, I've driven the road between Franklin and Highlands many times. You screw up on that road particularly in the twisties leading up to the falls (on a bike) and you're not just hurt... you're dead, absolutely graveyard dead.
It looks like 28 & US 64 overlap there. Some nice riding down that way. We'll be going through Franklin again in October.
How about Wayah Road?
What's up with Tellico Rd/Otter Creek Rd? That looks interesting!
Kevin - Luceo Non Uro
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Re: Hell Roads - Tail of the Dragon
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Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
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Wayah Road is loaded with major sweepers.
Blowing gravel off rural roads
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Re: Hell Roads - Tail of the Dragon
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There's a spot on HWY 64 where you encounter the old highway. It branches off for a few hundred feet and actually goes behind the cascading water of Bridal Veil Falls. It's pretty darned cool.
Last edited by Smokey3214; 05/04/2012 6:18 AM.
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Re: Hell Roads - Tail of the Dragon
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Quote:
There's a spot on HWY 64 where you encounter the old highway. It branches off for a few hundred feet and actually goes behind the cascading water of Bridal Veil Falls. It's pretty darned cool.
Yep, we rode under that last year. Very cool. Unfortunately, it had slowed to a trickle.
Kevin - Luceo Non Uro
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Re: Hell Roads - Tail of the Dragon
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The motorcycling around here played a HUGE part in our relocating away from Colorado. There are a handful of great roads in Colorado but not many. Road building in the Rockies is quite a task.
As soon as I clear my driveway it's world class riding in every direction. The Blue Ridge Parkway is 4 miles away.
I can also ride my KLR on thousands of miles of Forest Service roads.
If I get a hankering for beachfront Hilton Head is 4 hours away.
On top of all that Asheville has just evolved into one of the coolest places ever in the 27 years we've lived here.
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Smokey, you're talking my language. We're hoping to put down stakes over the TN state line. We love the riding in VA/TN/NC! 
Kevin - Luceo Non Uro
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A benefit of selecting Tennessee over VA and NC is no state income tax!
'06 TBA - Black, AI and Snorkel removed, K&N Drop In, Gutted Stock Pipes, 145/42, 2 turns out.
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