Rode the Dragon again

[bagobones]

I rode through the Smoky Mts. from Maggie Valley NC through the Cherokee reserve, to the end of the Dragon (US 139) and back yesterday. 175 miles of the best riding I have ever seen. I was BEAT. More pics soon.

[dt]

Nice photo. Looks like a Harley was parked there before you. 

Looking forward to more photos………..

[bagobones]

It was Friday so there weren't as many folks there this time. Last year I came on a Sunday and it was about twice as many bikes. The weather was great. Truth is, the ride from Cherokee is pretty amazing too, so the Dragon itself is just the same thing only more of it in a smaller space. I checked my tires when I was done and it's about the only time I have leaned the big girl all  the way over to the edge of the tread.

I only rode the Draqgon once and then headed back. I was getting pretty hot, and didn't want to push it with 70+ miles to ride to get back to my home base. It really is sensory overload.

The "Tree of Shame" has a lot of parts on it that weren't there last year.  

[bagobones]

At the end of the ride, you get rewarded with this great scenic view of Fontana Dam. Everyone stops there and hangs out for some air and a meet and greet with fellow riders.

[bagobones]

There are of course all types of bikes and riders there. This was a funny scene. My stripped down, kinda choppered '81 Goldwing next to a completely chromed out second gen. Goldwing. Ugh, UGLY!!!!

[mrbones]

 

[dt]

Wow, awesome photos. Arlen Ness, Mid-Ohio and now the Dragon. How can you ever match that for a summer?

[bagobones]

I may have one more road trip up my sleeve. Maybe a picture of the Oldwing in front of Graceland?

[bagobones]

Last year, this store was empty. Looks like a tattoo shop had taken over the space and repainted the chief. I notice however, that they didn't give him a tattoo.

[bagobones]

A few weeks ago I met Buzz Canter, AMA Hall of Famer. He spoke of a Cannonball race from Kitty Hawk to the west coast on 1915-ish Harleys. Well check this cosmic coincidence....

I pull into a gas station with my friends for a beer run (yes we are 40 years old) and what do I see but a 1915 HD sitting at the pump. Turns out it belongs to Dale Walksler, owner and head honcho of the "Wheels Through Time" museum. We chatted for a bit. He told me that this bike was going to be in a cannonball race. I told him of my meeting with Buzz and Christine Sommer-simmons, the lady with the deal already in place for a book about this race. Dale says "aw, Buzz is gonna shit when he sees this bike- it will do 75 and I think his only does 50!"

Here is a video I shot of him firing up this bike. He hops on and says "Nice meeting you Ryan" before tearing off. It was a cool moment. I wished him luck, and told him I would see him tomorrow, referencing my plan to go to the museum the next day. This didn't happen because we drank too much of the beer we bought. Yet, if we hadn't made this beer run, I wouldn't have met Dale and his awesome HD. Ironic.

I guess I will have to go back soon. From the looks of this website, I'll say it will be worth the trip.


http://www.wheelsthroughtime.com

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wURspXAKo-M" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wURspXAKo-M</a>

[dt]

What a cool old motorcycle!

[mrbones]

WTFF is going on here?!! Who are you going to meet next? Willie G?!! GDFF!!

[dt]

A few weeks ago I met Buzz Canter, AMA Hall of Famer. He spoke of a Cannonball race from Kitty Hawk to the west coast on 1915-ish Harleys. Well check this cosmic coincidence....

I pull into a gas station with my friends for a beer run (yes we are 40 years old) and what do I see but a 1915 HD sitting at the pump. Turns out it belongs to Dale Walksler, owner and head honcho of the "Wheels Through Time" museum. We chatted for a bit. He told me that this bike was going to be in a cannonball race. I told him of my meeting with Buzz and Christine Sommer-simmons, the lady with the deal already in place for a book about this race. Dale says "aw, Buzz is gonna shit when he sees this bike- it will do 75 and I think his only does 50!"

Here’s an interesting article on mcUSA earlier this week about the Cannonball Run that you referred to. Essentially it was a 3,300 mile cross-country race/ride for pre-1916 motorcycles. Of 45 that started, 37 finished…Amazing!

Here's a list of the winners:

1.   Bradford P. Wilmarth (1913 Excelsior)
2.   Alan Travis (1914 Excelsior)
3.   Rick McMaken (1915 Harley-Davidson)
4.   Fred Lange (1915 Harley-Davidson)
5.   Wayne Stanfield (1915 Harley-Davidson)
6.   Steve Huntzinger (1915 Excelsior)
7.   David Kleptz (1915 Harley-Davidson)
8.   Mike Madden (1915 Harley-Davidson)
9.   David Fusiak (1915 Harley-Davidson)
10.   Stephen Barber (1915 Harley-Davidson

^ Re 10…nope not the Barber Museum guy. Checked, the Barber Museum was named after George Barber.

[maureen]

The Dragon is fun but the really fun roads are in the surrounding areas!  The foothills parkway and 28 (Fontana Road) running east from the Dragon are ohhh so much fun! When I lived in ATL, I was doing 400-500 mile days 3-4 days a week up in those areas. Talk about living THE LIFE!  Wayah Road is another one that is fantastic for a brisk run.

Here are some old photos I dug up...

[dt]

Wow! Don't see anything like that around here. Nice photos!

[maureen]

Thanks! And no kidding! I sure miss it up there.