^^^^ FYI Most people do not drive Hellbender or the Dragon on Saturday because of high traffic, police.
No, not planning on being on the Dragon on a Saturday, lots of other great roads in the area, a few I have not driven, yet! I agree, bumper to bumper with popos is not a great combo. :sosp: Don
Early morning both of those roads are fine. Hellbender doesn't seem to see the same traffic that the Dragon does. At least that has been my experience. I tend to only use those roads when I have to. There are so many roads great roads with little traffic to enjoy.
Yep, I'm getting there the MOnday before to run the bikes for a few days on Hellbender(my favorite road there, all the way in into SC-love it) and all the others, before the crowd gets in on Wed/Thu. Carolyn will drive Checkers down Wed afternoon. I figure most of the runs from Wednesday through the weekend will simply be following the Mini in front of you and I'm sure there will ALWAYS be a Mini in front of you
signed up for donuts and leading one drive. Rest of the time, we will find a drive to join in on with friends.
Yup that's what our groups does. A few of us leave the Philly area around 9- 10 PM Sunday night and drive through the night. We come in from the TN side of the Dragon to Hellbender. It's a great feeling when you turn onto 129 and get past the houses and on the lower slower end of the road. After a long overnight road trip you know it was all worth it. For the drive in with the sun coming up I turn off the radio, open the windows, sunroof, fell the warn sun on my face and listen to the sound of my SC and exhaust and smile from ear to ear because I have arrived for another fun week at the Dragon with all my MINI friends. We show up Monday around 7:00 am Monday and do our drives until it gets real busy. All the local roads are a blast on Mon - Tues.
Welp, it looks like the one drive I had planned to take while at MOTD filled up within 10 minutes of the site opening, so I am down to just hosting the Cigar Salon before heading back home. An "up and back" this year is gonna be a real PITA.....:frown2:
Some times it is better to take any run with a few friends at your own pace rather than a huge follow the leader run. (Just me)
I hear that and agree with it, but, I normally just go down, do the Cigar Salon, sit around and smoke, do some drives either by myself or with a few friends, and then go home. I'm not much for crowded drives, but though I might take in this one this year, since it IS my last hurrah.
You mean you can't find any good drives? The area is chock full of them Jeff. No reason you & a few cronies couldn't do a drive. I enjoy finding my own way places, it is like being on a mission of discovery. Remember the old saying (Discover America get lost on a rally). :cornut:
So what road are you calling Hellbender? Not sure I'm going to make it down as I absolutely hate the dragon on Saturdays and I have plans for a week in June down there with the SV group. Signing up for rides is a bit confusing to me though....especially in cars...
Hellbender is 28 from Johnson Gap to Deals Gap. Johnson Gap is where 28 and 143 meet. Deals Gap is where 28 and 129 meet. It's about 22 miles in length. The road is very varied, from sweepers to real tight stuff. Lots of elevation changes too. Named after a giant Salamander that is indigenous to the area.
I thought maybe that's what it was but I've never heard it referred to as Hellbender.....knew the pit stop was called that but not the route. Guess I might need a new map. Then again last time I was there I mainly rode roads that the coops only dream to go down...
Unfortunately, my "forever" ends with this MOTD, Chuck. It's been a fun ride and I've met a lot of people who have become good friends, as well as a few "bumps in the road" that the world can do without...lol.
Thursday morning on the Dragon. Then Brewery run Friday Donut run and Rivers End Saturday Cherohala just on our own. So who ever wants to come along.
Hey, does MA have a list of member's favorite roads in the area? Yep, I'm familiar with probably every website dedicated to the Dragon, but I'm wondering about MA folks that have roads they have run they really like. I want to make sure I'm not missing anything since I am getting there several days early. The few I already have run, other than the Dragon, of course: RT. 28, from Deals Gap, through GA, all the way into SC-incredible(have done this 90+ mile trek 8 or 9 times....can't get enough of it) Wayeh(?) Road-I don't get the attraction. Road has been in pretty awful shape the 3 times I have run it. Goes through lots of residential areas with driveways. Cherohala-nice site seeing road thanks! Jeff
Wayeh is a road for dual sports....certainly not your bike...not even sure I would fly through with the car. But beautiful scenery nontheless.. I am going to have to pull out my good maps that I have in my tank bags tonight. There are sooo many good roads.
What I have done a few times is just take off usually in a east or south and go until you are totally lost then set Garmin to return to Fontana and see where it takes you. You can find some interesting roads that way.
Santeetlah is a fun one to run up. Nothing at the other end, other than a nice view to soakup for a while. But it's a good fun climb with low traffic. And relatively close in. Out past Franklin is Ellijay Road, and from there you can connect to Cullowhee Mtn Road. Certainly closer than humping it all the way to GA and the Six Gaps area (though that is worth doing.)