Tail of the Dragon ride

[dkdixie]

For those planning to ride the Dragon, here's links to photographers that are there daily taking pictures.

www.us129photos.com

www.killboy.com

www.129slayer.com

www.moonshinephoto.com

Had to check out my new car tire and rode Dragon (twice) yesterday and made notes of photographers so you won't have to try and remember during your ride.

After your ride, pics are posted on their websites anywhere from next day to 2-3 days later. Pictures are on the website for many weeks/months so you don't have to worry time wise to view.

PS: Yesterday was a rather slow day on the Dragon. Probably around 100 bikes at Deals Gap and riding.
For the first time saw an 18 wheeler trying to make it through the curves. Scary as hell watching it well over the center line on many blind curves.
I was right behind him until the first pull off. Give him about 20 minutes before I started riding again.
Also, one bike went down yesterday. Don't know the status of the rider....

[blackdogbrian]

thanks Dick!

[xncrman]

Your 18 wheeler sounds like me back a few years ago driving Route 1 northern California to Crescent City with a 33ft Class A coach. Still got the video with outside dually tire running off the edge around the corners and yes I had to stop and look many times before turning for those that don't know Route 1...Boy was I stupid!

[ringadingh]

Why would anyone even think of taking an 18 wheeler on the dragon. I can see that maybe one time that was the only route to get through, but Id imagine there are better roads nowadays that they could use.

[cnc]

Probably didn't know the area and his GPS sent him that way as the shortest route.

[blackdogbrian]

he was probably saying the same thing about all the bikes!

[Blueraven]

I am very much looking to ride the DRAGON. This will be very scary!

[nomadtom69]

If you think the Dragon in a 18 wheeler is bad they had one actually make it to the Cades Cove loop and was planning on going out Parsons Branch road to hit 129 according to his GPS he messed up traffic for a while it took them about 4 hours to back him out of the Cove while traffic backed up behind him . And there are signs all over the place NO Commercial Traffic

[carolinakid1]

There are some videos on the Internet of 18-wheelers on the Dragon all over the yellow lines. LEO just smiles as they go by...no tickets...but from what I hear, beware speeding motorcycles.

[Blueraven]

Yes, that and the 18 wheelers scare me.

[canedriver]

Originally Posted by carolinakid

There are some videos on the Internet of 18-wheelers on the Dragon all over the yellow lines. LEO just smiles as they go by...no tickets...but from what I hear, beware speeding motorcycles.

Nothing they can do about it as it's a federal highway. I used to have a small trucking company. The problem is that a lot of companies use routing software. If a driver is unfamiliar with an area and only follows the route given it leads to problems. Software updates or route updates on these systems are VERY expensive so your small companies like mine didn't always keep up with them. Luckily I had drivers working for me who when in doubt would call about a potential problem with a route.

Your also looking at an area that can shave a couple hundred miles off a route depending on the address of the receiver.

[unwind2]

Originally Posted by cnc

Probably didn't know the area and his GPS sent him that way as the shortest route.

Yeah that's what I heard....it's a short route for them and supposedly saves them a lot of time.

[unwind2]

Originally Posted by Blueraven

Yes, that and the 18 wheelers scare me.

I hear ya. I have a friend at work who he and his buddies went there last year. He said he rode it one time and that was all for him. Said too many idiots riding too fast. So I've a feeling I'll do the one time thing unless the the traffic numbers are low.