Yes, we did the Diamondback up near Little Switzerland, it was over pumped and not as good as the Dragon by a long shot -- the only fun part of it was the one little section that was falling off the mountainside in three steps/stages with a six inch fall off between sections (on an outside turn to boot).

Eeeeeek !!  Where did the road go ???  I'm flying all heeled over in a turn here you idiots !!!  
And here comes two more just like it !!!  
Eeeeek !!   Eeeeek !!

Other than that, it was forgettable.   Except for this Hurley Sportster dude shelling out his primary crankshaft teeth trying to bust out on a couple of Savages that is.  

Saturday, we go up to the knife store so we can see you part of the way on your way back home.   We will go a way that has 28 miles of near dragon like freshly paved road .....    

So, Mount Mitchell won't be hard at all, we are a lot nearer to it for one thing and we know to take an NC road map with us and NOT to trust the tourist maps at all.   Heck, we could get tricky and just go straight north on the Blue Ridge Skyway getting on it just uphill from the camp ground.

Getting lost is our art form though, we find our very best roads that way.

The only challenge on the trip is trying to find Lancer's road up over the top of that 7 switchback mountain .....

Yep, a good report from the Doc can be downright invigorating !  

Actually its not as heavy as you would think, i'll throw it on the scales after momma gets up, so I don't wake her.
Just doin' it for grocery runs or when ever we wanna do a little shoppin', and I'll probably bring it with me to the dragon meet just to get a look at them hurley guyz faces.  

I'm not gonna make it to this year's gathering.  APPLICABLE CLICHE`S:  I've got "too many irons in the fire" and they're getting hot all at once.  Things I've been trying to "keep on the back burner" have slid up to the front burner and are about to spill into my lap.  I haven't been "watching my pots" and they've all started to boil.

Oh well, maybe my "absence" will make your "hearts grow fonder."  Hope ya'll have a great time.

Yeah, I've got your sprocket, Mike.  My bike is still in process of re-assembly so I don't have anything to ride.  Maybe ya'll can come see me at my Black Mountain property toward the end of the week.  I should have a standing garage by then.

Guy how far are ya from Mitchell ?   How about you put in a fire pit and We'll bring some Dogs and Chips ?

Let's see, required items to bring with you.

Sun block (if you don't put it on your neck and arms you will regret it)

Full face helmet with bug shield if you don't have a wind shield on your bike.   A full face shield sure is nice when a shower starts or the butterflies or the june bugs get bad.     (june bug = death beetle)

Bring a jacket and some long sleeved shirts, you will need them in the mornings as it is still quite cool when we pull out.    You peel them off by lunch time and stuff them into your bags.   Bring riding gloves.

YOU MUST BRING A REAL GENUINE NORTH CAROLINA ROAD MAP and carry it with you at all times.    We have had riders get left at a gas stop before accidentally and they needed that map to get back to home base.


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Let's see, for the new folks going on the trip for the first time some basic understandings that need to be stated clearly.  

We ride strung out with fastest in front and the slowest lagging back behind.   It is your responsibility to keep up with the group, to stay within eyesight of the people in front of you.  

Riding rates change up according to the terrain.  When it gets all knarly & twisty we generally whoop with joy and go faster ....  but on more open roads where cops might be lurking we generally stay within eyesight of the posted speed limit.

At stops, you get gas and get a drink or snack and take a piss.   We stop every tank full, so we don't generally ride but for one to two hours at a lick.   Failure to try to take a piss when stopping can get way past uncomfortable before the next stop comes around, so generally try to take a piss at every stop if you can.

Drink stuff.   You can get dehydrated from the constant wind and the joy of the mountain roads without thinking about it ....

If you start hurting, say so.   I will be saying so if I need to, so you can too if you want to.   We have cut jaunts short when 2 or more got to hurting pretty good, enough so to say so anyway.  We can also split the group up and let a couple limp home if need be, so understand that cutting it off short is in the cards when you ride with a group of old creaky people.

Riding skills are learned by watching others ahead of you.   If you think you ride well now by the time you finish the trip you will ride much better.  

Don't ever follow someone you can't keep up with too closely in the tight twisty stuff, as you will get sucked into turns that they just breeze all easy like into that you simply can't do at that particular pace.

Example:  don't follow Dave at full speed in the tight twisties.   He rides better than I do.   I can keep up after a fashion, but I have to cheat to do it while he always keeps cutting these nice neat riding lines that never ever drift over the double yellow.  

When we go up to the Dragon, you are in flat danger from the other riders.  They can't stay in their lanes and want to use half of yours ....  so expect it.    We have never gone up to the Dragon without there being at least one wreck while we were up there (outside our group of course) so don't let crazy johnny road racer take you out with him.