SuzukiSavage.com - Tail of the Dragon, 9/24

Karen627

Ex Member

Tail of the Dragon, 9/24
09/17/05 at 22:43:34

(I hope it's okay that I started a new thread for this.)

Who's still up for the Dragon ride on Saturday? I thought we could use this thread to hash out the timing and itinerary. Here's my idea (and it's just an idea):

I'd love to do the Dragon/Cherohala loop, which is about 120 miles total.

Now, the loop would only have us going over the Dragon once, in only one direction. I'd like to ride the Dragon at least once in both directions (because I'm freakin' anal like that Roll Eyes

). Since the Dragon is also the most difficult part of the ride, I was thinking we could ride it once in each direction first, when we're feeling the least amount of fatigue, then do the loop.

So it would go like this:

We meet on one side (let's say the NC side for the sake of this post). We ride from the NC end to the TN end, and then back. Then we start the loop -- we ride over the Dragon into TN again, and continue on to the Cherohala, and ride the Cherohala back into NC.

It'll be a good few hours, and a total of about 150 miles, give or take. But then afterwards there'll still be plenty of time left for anyone who wants to go back to the Dragon for a few more runs.

So that was my idea -- and it's just an idea. If everyone likes it, we can do it. If everyone hates it, then we won't do it. Either way's cool with me. 8)

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Savage_Greg Serious Thumper Alliance Member Offline Don't go around your ass to reach your elbow... Posts: 7844 SW Washington State Gender:	Re: Tail of the Dragon, 9/24 Reply #1 - 09/17/05 at 22:51:24 You go for it. I can't wait to hear. Y'all ride safe. Here we were near the Fontana dam....with a friend on a 1200 Bandit. And here is the Tennessee end of the Tail....
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LANCER

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Re: Tail of the Dragon, 9/24
Reply #2 - 09/18/05 at 16:27:08

Since I have been playing nurse for my wife after her accident and surgury my time has been limited, but I may be able to get a day out for a ride. Last week I was able to do the March of Dimes Ride which made for a really good day.. I will check to see if my daughter can come over and stay with Beverly while I go for a ride...hopefully...

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Paula71

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Re: Tail of the Dragon, 9/24
Reply #3 - 09/18/05 at 18:07:08

Hey Karen,

I am still making the ride down. I will get there Friday late afternoon or early eve. It will be about a 6 hour ride so I plan on taking the whole day. No rush just enjoying the ride. I have no plans other than riding, your route sounds good to me. An early start and the dragon first will hopefully put us there before to many sport bikes show up. 8)

Lancer hope you can join us.

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LANCER Serious Thumper Alliance Member Offline Savage Beast Performance Parts Posts: 10596 Oklahoma Gender:	Re: Tail of the Dragon, 9/24 Reply #4 - 09/18/05 at 18:27:08 Can you give me a specific location where you will be starting the run? Is there a landmark or hotel or "big rock in the turn of the road"?
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Karen627

Ex Member

Re: Tail of the Dragon, 9/24
Reply #5 - 09/18/05 at 21:15:28

Greg, those are some great pics. (I can't wait until we're back and posting shots of our own. Grin

)

Paula, I'm fine with starting early. You're right -- let's try to avoid the sportbikes/squids. Tongue

I've read that it starts getting busy around 11 -- I suppose we should pick a time before 11, then?

Lancer! Welcome back (tentatively, anyway, I'm guessing)!! And a big thank you to your wonderful wife and daughter if they give you a day or two to ride. (Or even if they don't -- I'm sure they're wonderful anyway.

)

So... where to meet Saturday morning. How about Tapoco Lodge, on 129? This would take us over the Fugitive Bridge. Sounds nice.

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Paula71 Full Member 2005 No Login Offline Ohio Rider 'N Luvn every minute! Posts: 161 Troy, Ohio Gender:	Re: Tail of the Dragon, 9/24 Reply #6 - 09/19/05 at 17:49:18 The lodge sounds good to me for a meeting place, now what time? Will there be concerns with fog? May have to wait a bit later than earlier? Have you gathered any info on the weather conditions for that area this time of year? I'll look into it a bit more.
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Karen627

Ex Member

Re: Tail of the Dragon, 9/24
Reply #7 - 09/19/05 at 18:18:16

Paula71 wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:09:

Have you gathered any info on the weather conditions for that area this time of year?

The current weather.com forecast for Robbinsville says mid-80's and sunny all weekend. Grin

The Cherohala, because parts of it are a mile high, is said to get about 10-15 degrees cooler at higher elevations, so I'm leaving my mesh jacket home and taking my textile jacket.

Regarding fog, that's a really good question. I have no idea -- I live in the foothills of the mountains we'll be visiting, and we often get some fog in the morning; it usually burns off once the sun's been up for a while -- figure around 8 am or so.

Is 9 am too early to meet? That'll give us time for a run back and forth on the Dragon, and then we can start the loop and leave the Dragon to the squids. (Of course, I can also see people thinking 9 am on a Saturday is stupidly early, so I'm fine with starting later.)

In the meantime, I'll e-mail the couple that runs the Tail of the Dragon website and ask them if they get a lot of fog in the morning, and what time it usually burns off.

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sluggo Serious Thumper ModSquad Offline big singles lead, twins follow the pack Posts: 4744 moses lake washington Gender:	Re: Tail of the Dragon, 9/24 Reply #8 - 09/19/05 at 18:25:15 now of course while those fine folks do the ride, the rest of us need to find a suitable place to ride the same day, so we all get to ride together.
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Paula71 Full Member 2005 No Login Offline Ohio Rider 'N Luvn every minute! Posts: 161 Troy, Ohio Gender:	Re: Tail of the Dragon, 9/24 Reply #9 - 09/20/05 at 03:52:46 9 A M works here. Great news on the nice weather for the weekend. We may have some showers to deal with on the way down though :'(
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Savage_Rob Serious Thumper Alliance Member Offline Mechanically Inclined Amateur Posts: 6972 Texas (Dallas area) Gender:	Re: Tail of the Dragon, 9/24 Reply #10 - 09/20/05 at 05:43:14 Karen627 wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:09: The current weather.com forecast for Robbinsville says mid-80's and sunny all weekend. Sounds wonderful. It's supposed to be 100 F here again today.
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Karen627

Ex Member

Re: Tail of the Dragon, 9/24
Reply #11 - 09/20/05 at 17:36:25

Okay, now the forecast is saying 88 degrees Friday and Saturday. Don't know about bringing the Meteor jacket -- 88 degrees is definitely mesh jacket weather. (And I bought the jacket last week specifically to get it in time for the trip. Roll Eyes

)

Anyway. Figure sunny and hot. Cooler at the higher elevations of the Cherohala, but still reasonably warm there, I'd guess.

Got a response back from Ron, one of the co-owners of tailofthedragon.com. He said there's been some fog in the mornings, but it burns off by 9:30. Would you like to meet at the Tapoco at 9:30 instead? Or would you rather get to the Tapoco at 9am so we can meet each other and say hi and all of that, and then start riding by 9:30?

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Paula71 Full Member 2005 No Login Offline Ohio Rider 'N Luvn every minute! Posts: 161 Troy, Ohio Gender:	Re: Tail of the Dragon, 9/24 Reply #12 - 09/21/05 at 04:02:40 Between 9-9:30, if it is foggy it will slow my ride down to get there. So I will aim for 9 but could be a tad late.
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Karen627 Ex Member	Re: Tail of the Dragon, 9/24 Reply #13 - 09/21/05 at 06:47:34 Paula71 wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:09: Between 9-9:30, if it is foggy it will slow my ride down to get there. So I will aim for 9 but could be a tad late. Perfect!
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Karen627 Ex Member	Re: Tail of the Dragon, 9/24 Reply #14 - 09/22/05 at 19:41:40 All right. It's 10:30, I'm packed, my bike is cleaned up, gonna check the tire pressure in the morning, and then I'll be on my way to NC around 9:30. I'll look in here once more before go tomorrow to see if anyone needs to change anything -- otherwise, see you Saturday!
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