I'll be bringing a ramp with the truck so loading/unloading shouldn't be a problem. I'll be unloading the bike in Virginia on the way down to ride Skyline Drive on thursday. I haven't loaded or unloaded the bike by myself yet so that should be an experience.

I will have 4 ratchetting tie-downs and at least one cooler with me.

Food we need to talk about some.  We can go fancy or basic (I tend towards basic easy stuff like spaghetti and jar sauce personally) but that is a group thing we can discuss on Friday before we go shopping.   Who knows, maybe we have a chef among our little group who can cook something for real ???

We need enough coolers and ice to carry drinks and food during transit up on Saturday.  We will have a fridge at the apartment so we can chill more drinks once we arrive and we can store the food in the fridge until we eat it so ice and coolers won't be that important on the way back.  

Once we are on the road we will eat fast food at least once on the way up to the Gap (and we should plan on filling Saturday up pretty good getting up to the Gap as once we are up there there isn't much of anything but the Dragon road itself and the Cafe and the Hotel).  

(plus lots of bikers to talk to and pretty bikes to look at)

Hey, last time we filled up an entire day just getting part way there so it isn't all that hard to kill a full day on the way up to the Gap .... especially if we go by my crazy sideways man-killer road on the way up and stop to go sight see at Fontana Dam and do the other scenic type things on the way.  

Once you actually get up to Deal's Gap and have ridden the Dragon a couple of times both ways it gets old quick as you are NOT allowed to go very fast and there is lots of up and down traffic what with the hot and cold running Tennessee cops escorting you around and all.  

I suspect it will be 8:30 - 9:00 before it gets darkish so we will have TONS of time to kill up at Deals Gap if we don't fill the day up pretty good before getting up there.

Oldfeller--FSO wrote on 06/09/09 at 12:49:48:


Must be the balled headed blond coming out in me
You are so correct.......... I misunderstood
but now I'm not confused, I have some two really good tie downs and some Home Depot special ratcheting tie down if needed.
as far as food goes...... I'm not picky. put it in front of my face and it will get gone, I figure i should arrive In Granite Falls some time in the afternoon around 2:30 or 3:00.

So whats the count now for sure
Toymoaker
AlfromNH
Verslagen1
Oldfeller
Kel30734

I still have reservations for 6/26-28 at Deals Gap and I'm still planning on trailering my bike there. Also, I'll be bringing a small gas grill if Grillmaster skillls are needed. As I posted earlier, if Laura (Better-half/Non-Rider) decides she'd rather visit her mom in Kinston, NC during this time, I'll have 2 empty bunks available to anyone that can handle my "alleged" snoring.

Count me in also. I plan to take most of the day Friday to get to the campground and set up for Friday to Sunday am in the campground.
I'm looking forward to meeting my fellow Savage riders, and picking up my Dragontail/Savage T-shirt Sat.

SAFTEY NOTICE: To yall flatlanders that ain't used to ridin' our Western N.C. hills and curves. We have been having very heavy rain storms several times ea. week. As I've ran into on my last several rides, this rain washes gravel and mud onto the road mostly in blind curves. Be carfull when at full tilt in a curve gravel can bust your A$$ and your bike.  Also this time of year bring your best rain gear! My Frog Toggs never get out of my saddlebgs unless to wear them.

Bigzook

Sounds good to me.  I'll be getting up there by noon on that Friday.