July 29 - Slaying the Dragon and Savoring Route 28

Woohoo! Had an epic riding day today. Not only savored an incredible new route through three states in the Smokey Mountains but also slayed the Dragon twice! I am grateful to be safe and sound after passing one accident scene going north on the Tail and then another accident scene going south. My goal was to keep the shiny side up, stay on my side of the yellow lines, and safely navigate all the curves. Mission accomplished!

Leaving Black Mountain this morning I headed south to Walhalla South Carolina. From there I took route 28 north through Georgia and North Carolina to Franklin. What a ride! I have to say, this route is definitely a must do if you are anywhere in the area as it is both incredibly beautiful and a pleasure to navigate. The thing I liked about this road is that it had tons of curves but because the road was in great condition and the curves were tight but not hairpin tight, it was possible to swoop around them fairly quickly and really lean into the curves. I almost felt like I was dancing, as I was quickly shifting my hips one way and then another to slalom along the course. A canopy of trees covered much of the road, providing a visually stunning backdrop as well as welcome relief from the intense heat.

From Franklin I was able to continue on highway 28 most of the way to the beginning of the Tail of the Dragon on route 129 in Deals Gap. With 318 curves in 11 miles, the “Tail” is a draw for thousands of motorcyclists and sports car enthusiasts each year. Unfortunately, there have also been many accidents on this route as attested to by the sign at the end warning: “Motorcycles: High Crash Area Next 11 Miles” as well as the “Tree of Shame” at Deals Gap where motorcyclists can hang parts from their crashed bikes.

I find the Tail particularly challenging, not only because of all the hairpin curves but also because of the condition of the road and the way it tilts and slants within lanes and between lanes. On numerous occasions I approached a curve at one angle, had to adjust because the angle changed and then had to adjust again to avoid a major rut.

Right after heading up the Tail from Deals Gap today, I saw several motorcycles pulled over, a police car with lights flashing, and motorcycle parts on the ground around me. On my return trip about an hour later an ambulance passed me to attend to another accident on the Tail. Some motorcyclists I met later told me a car had gone over the yellow line and hit three motorcyclists. Suffice it to say I am very appreciative to have safely completed the route twice. I am grateful to my Black Sheep friends for praying for my safety while I was riding.