Vacation

[LilNinja77]

Sarris, if you really aren't used to the "mega twisties" as I call them, please be careful on that Harley of yours. Cruisers are famous for scraping and then lowsiding on the Dragon and Cherohala.......just be safe. Whatever you do, DON"T sight-see while you're riding. If you wanna look at the pretty scenery up there in the Smokies, pull off the road first. A lot of people crash up there 'cause they try to combine the 2 activities and it rarely ends pretty.

Also........trailering!!??!!?? Eh, it IS a Harley, so can't be too shocked :neener: :lol: :neener:
Seriously, have fun and be safe!
Ride safe

[CANDY]

Originally Posted by Water Warrior

Candy, sounds like a great ride. If you don't already have a place to stay in Tellico Plains you might want to check out Hunt's Motorcycle Lodge. Lori and Jack Hunt are riders themselves with their eyes focused on rider's needs. Nice little cabins and lots of campsites for campers. Was there for 4 days last year and wished I could have stayed longer.

thanks ww,didn't see that the last time we were there. we stayed at the only hotel in trenton georgia and rode everywhere from there. as for the cherohala we rode two up on the goldwing and had a great time.my husband has decided we may take the harley this time.i will definitley get alot of pictures either way.

[CANDY]

Originally Posted by Sarris

Keep a look out for a fat guy with a black half helmet on a black Harley Streetglide riding with a skinny guy on a silver Streetglide. My plate says SARR1S on a Florida background. We'll be out there somewhere on Sunday. Wave me down if you spot me!! You guys ride safe and hope we see you.

will be looking for you guys. if you make it to the dragon there is a place where they snap your picture while you are moving. a co-worker had his and wifes picture taken.i don't remember how they got it to him,but they did. he said there were alot of photo opportunities from safe vantage points.
have a safe trip and enjoy the ride.

[LilNinja77]

Don't forget about Killboy.com either (not sure if that's what you were referring to). They take some really nice photos while you ride through, they are probably the most popular choice.
Ride safe

[Sarris]

Well, I'm home safe and sound. What a superb riding experience. I really was scared shitless the first day, because them there mountains are TALL, and them there roads are nothing but curves.

We arrived last Friday about noon and took our first ride to Deals Gap, which was about 15 miles from where we were staying at Fontana Dam Resort via "The Hellbender". That is an appropriate name because there are 38 severe curves that rise and drop hundreds of feet at a 12% to 15% slope. We logged about 100 miles total the first afternooon and were exhausted from horsing the Harley's around the sharp corners.

Saturday, after we got the crap out of our pants from Friday, We rode the Cheroholla Skyway and the Dragon's Tail in the down direction. Now, as a flatlander, I got to tell you that 318 turns in 11 miles, while dropping 2500 feet at a 12% slope can be terrifying. But we made it through and had the Killboy bunch snap our photos. After completing the Dragon's Tail, we went to the Deal's Gap store for t-shirts and a soda. we the took the Helbender back to Fontana. A couldn't believe I was so exhausted after only a 150 mile day.

Sunday we rode to Franklin, NC via 28 and 1310, and took 129 through the Nantanhala trail. Our final road home was a road called Yellowcreek Trail. HOLY SHIT, this road went straight UP. To make matters worse, the roadway was only 20 feet wide and had a vertical granite face on one side and a 1500 ft drop of on the other. The HD, was straining in first gear at 15 mph to drag my fat ass up the 22% grade to ascend the 2500 ft. rise. Then, it was down at 22% slope under engine braking in first while gorilla gripping the brakes. I refused to do Yellowcreek Trail again. This was a 195 mile day.

Monday we rode to Cherokee, NC and pissed away a few hundred at the casino and had lunch. we then hopped on the Blueridge Parkway for about 90 miles and went up through the clouds. It was the only time we got wet, and that was just from the cloud moisture. The views were indescribable. We whacked about 225 miles on Monday.

Tuesday was a long day, out the Hellbender, up the Dragon's Tail, and out to the HD dealer in Pigeons Forge, TN. From there we went through Gattlinburg, Tn, over the Smokey Mountains via the Great Smokey Mountain Highway and back into Cherokee, NC. We then pissed away another $100 gambling (in Cherokee), and returned back to Fontana on 128. This was a 250 mile day.

Wednesday was another big rider over to Waynesville, NC, to Cashiers, NC, through Silva, NC and then back to Fontana. This was a super road trip with 45 to 65 mph speed limits with long sweeping turns and 2000 feet of elevation changes along the way. We rode 275 miles on Wednesday.

Thursday was maintenance and pack-up day, but we managed to get another 100 mile ride in through the Nantanhala Gorge back up to Deal's Gap and then the Hellbender back to Fontana.

Friday we left Fontana, NC at 7 AM and drove straight through back to New Port Richey, FL (home) in 12-1/2 hours. We did have one small incident where the tiedown hook tore out of the trailer wall and the bikes clanged together. Both bikes got a gas tank chip from the bump, but shit happens.

All said and done, we rode about 1300 miles in 6 days with out incident. The weather and the general climate are wonderful, but you can keep them mountains. The place was lovely to visit and ride, but what a pain in the ass it would be to live there. No cell phone service and 30 miles down a mountain to get to a crappy store at best.

Here's a few photos:


Looking Down From the Hellbender


The Tree of Shame at Deal's Gap


Me and the Bike at Fontana Dam


Above the Clouds at the Blueridge Parkway


Me at the One of the Lower Places


Me At the Deal's Gap Sign


The Beginning of Foothills Parkway

Man I had a great time, but I'm glad to be home.

[alanmcorcoran]

Glad you didn't kill yourself. We'd miss your posts. Welcome back.

[LilNinja77]

Awesome report to what sounds like a wonderful ride Sarris :rawk: Glad you made it back safe and sound, have you checked Killboy.com for your photos?
Ride safe

[Jer]

Yes. We must see pics!

[patrick_777]

Ummm....Jer, you really should look at page 1 of this thread.

[Jer]

Yeah, I noticed that later. The PC I was on didnt show them.....

Sorry bout that.