A Joust with a Dragon - May 2002

Ever wonder what happens to kids when they grow up into adults and are taken off Ritalen? They take up maniacal motorcycling. Not that motorcycling is hazardous enough, no, we have to push the envelope, ride on the brink of our skills and if you're unlucky like me, ride way beyond the capabilities of your scoot.

There is a place on the Eastern Seaboard where we can satisfy our pagan lust and pay homage to the motorcycle gods, Deals's Gap. I found out about this place while surfing the net one evening and hit on TailoftheDragon.com. This sight, loaded with information on the area wetted my desire. So I loaded up my steed and with my spurs a-jingle, jangle, jingling rode north towards the Appalachian Mountains.

Which ever way your coming from I would suggest to jump off at Cleveland, TN and head east on Hwy 64/74. The Ocoee River will keep you company with it's many twist and turns until Ducktown, TN (town motto-A quacky place to live). Then head north on Hwy 68 through the Cherokee National Forest. I promise you it will be worth the ride. I used Motor Inns of America (423.442.9045 / $35 single occupancy) in Madisonville, TN as my staging area. From there it is an easy jump off to the Cherohala Scenic Skyway (Hwy 143) which will connect you to the North Carolina side of Hwy 129 (the official name of The Gap). Another entry point from Madisonville is to head north on Hwy 411 then south on Hwy 129. But I would recommend you don't shoot The Gap just yet. Instead take a left (north) on the Foothills Parkway then use County road 73 to connect you to Hwy 441 and a ride through the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. If you enjoy decreasing radius curves, then they have a climbing circle that will have you leaning until you are dizzy. After coming out of the Park head south on Hwy 28 to Franklin NC then west on Hwy 64 to either north 69 or north 141. You'll be riding through the Nantahala National Forest. Both of those roads will connect you to Hwy 19/129 which will eventually splits off to Hwy 129. All of these roads that I mention will offer vistas and twisties galore. This recommended ride is an all day leisurely affair with plenty of stops for victuals and libations. I started at 8 AM after a nice breakfast and was at the NC side of The Gap by 4 PM. By now the traffic is lighter and you can start timing your runs without to much hassle from slow moving vehicles. Of coarse I got caught behind a hot roadster moving at the incredible lighting fast speed of 15 MPH. We had some words at the finish when I told him the only excuse for poking along on a high performance machine is when you have the top down, a doobie in one hand, a whiskey in the other and a 22 year old Hooter girl playing your flute (come to think of it, if that was me I wouldn't even be at The Gap). If you decide to take this exhilarating roller coaster remember to bring your own whiskey as the God Squad has made it bone dry and be courteous and move your ass over for the faster riders. You poking cruiser types need to take a more pastoral route and play with the butterflies. All other information you will need about accommodations, roads, weather etc can be found on the afore mention web site and those nice folks at Tail of The Dragon are also out every weekend at the Overlook selling refreshments, T shirts and what nots. Stop by and tell them Paco sent you.

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