Tail of the Dragon routine?

**type987s** · #1 (**permalink**) 10-22-2007, 12:01 AM

Does anyone have a Tail of the Dragon routine?
Looks like it is about 5 hours from Charlotte?
I thought about doing Home--Asheville--Tail of the Dragon--Asheville--Home?

I just can't stay in a car for more than about 3 hours due to back problems :-(

Any Hotel recommendations?

**suneet** · #2 (**permalink**) 10-22-2007, 12:16 AM

You might want to consider staying at Fontana Village Resort in Fontana, NC, it's minutes from the Tail of the Dragon and a top notch establishment. The stretch of route 28 between the hotel and the Dragon is a blast too. - Suneet

**sapentia** · #3 (**permalink**) 10-22-2007, 12:41 AM

In all likelihood you won't be able to enjoy the "Tail" that much because the highway patrol has really been cracking down out there. They can have 10 patrol cars or more out there and will give you a ticket for almost anything (even having a camera in hand). Check out this website - they are good about keeping activities around the Tail posted. Tail of the Dragon at Deals Gap and Cherohala Skyway, Graham Co, NC

**suneet** · #4 (**permalink**) 10-22-2007, 01:04 AM

As long as you drive the dragon before 8 and after 7 you're fine; as was my case in August when the expanded police coverage had already begun. There are other roads in the area that are better during the day. - Suneet

CMJT · #5 (**permalink**) 10-22-2007, 01:55 AM

Went up on my Harley the weekend after Labor day. Buddy crashed within 3-4 curves on it. Ruined the trip. Broken clavicle and 6 cracked ribs and a messed up bike.

**gfspencer** · #6 (**permalink**) 10-22-2007, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by type987s

Any Hotel recommendations?

I don't have a hotel recommendation but I do have another recommendation: Stay away from Deal's Gap. As sapentia said, the Tennessee Highway Patrol is supposed to be cracking down. And even if the Highway Patrol takes a day off, the place is still packed with people who can't ride/drive. There are much better places to ride/drive.

If you absolutely must go . . go during the week.

_______
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Mercedes E320 Bluetec
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**Hets** · #7 (**permalink**) 10-22-2007, 12:21 PM

Do it very early morning - we did it at around 7:00 in May - we got 2 very clean runs....

Search for more details under Rock'n'Croc on this site.... see below link...

Rock'n'Croc 2 - The Sequel!!

PS: nice place to stay when you are there is the Blue Waters Lodge... (great view's, food and very good service!)

**ARCuhTEK** · #8 (**permalink**) 10-22-2007, 03:33 PM

I would not call Fontana Village Resort world class, or first class, but it was nice. Not breathtaking or anything but certainly good enough for me to go back.

I would recommend that you drive the dragon on a weekday and before 7:30 am.....

I live in Asheville and never go to the Dragon. I have to say that while I was there, you do get the feeling that just because you are safe does not mean you will not encounter trouble.

**gfspencer** · #9 (**permalink**) 10-22-2007, 04:16 PM

Agree 100%!

Quote:

Originally Posted by ARCuhTEK

I would not call Fontana Village Resort world class, or first class, but it was nice. Not breathtaking or anything but certainly good enough for me to go back.

Let's just say that the rooms are clean.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ARCuhTEK

I would recommend that you drive the dragon on a weekday and before 7:30 am.....

If you just have to go, go on a weekday and go early.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ARCuhTEK

I live in Asheville and never go to the Dragon. I have to say that while I was there, you do get the feeling that just because you are safe does not mean you will not encounter trouble.

Trouble is ALWAYS just around the corner . . . a semi that sneaks through, gets stuck and clogs up the whole road . . . a biker who missed his apex . . .

Maybe I won't go back because I remember how good it was fifteen years ago . . . before everyone found out about it.

I know another road that is just as good . . . but I'm not telling . . .

**type987s** · #10 (**permalink**) 10-22-2007, 11:34 PM

Thanks for all the good advice

In2Esses · #11 (**permalink**) 10-25-2007, 01:45 PM

If you take 72 N/W at the top of the lake over to 360, you'll find 360 a great drive, lots of nice sweepers that can be taken with quite a bit of pace, but you can find it well patrolled as well. And, it seems the NC HP has found hwy 28 to be a nice revenue stream too and a nice game with local attorneys in the small jusidictions that will be happy to plea your case down to a lower infraction for a couple hundred bucks.

I've done 2 trips in the spring over the last 2 years, and while it is a great drive, it is becoming a bit too much as noted above. Too many people, too many bikes at both extremes - sport bikes going way too fast, and cruisers going way to slow, and of course too much attention from law enforcement which is probably well deserved.

Will I go up again?, probably, but with a more relaxed pace and enjoy the drive. It's just not worth the worry to drive too aggessively and risk a ticket, or even an accident due to another idiot driving too fast or too slow.

**winchester21** · #12 (**permalink**) 10-28-2007, 05:41 PM

I dont know how the revenue stream works but the NCHP are the worst I have ever seen particulary in the mountain areas. The speed limit in Sparta NC-near the Va line is 20mph. In 45 minutes I counted 14 people pulled over by 2 crusiers for speeding on a nice fall saturday last year. My son slid off the road into a ditch in the ice several years ago in Sparta causing dammage to the suspension- truck not driveable but repairable for a few hundred bucks in parts- no other cars involved. The friendly NCHP officer charged him with too fast for conditions and crossing the center line. He also called his "buddy" who runs a tow service. I went up to get his vehicle a week later and the tow bill and "storage" was over 500.00. The tow yard was 2 miles from the scene.To top it all off the @^%*er turned in an accident report showing 5000.00 dammage to the truck( 4X4 beater hunting truck worth about 3500 with existing sheet metal dammage). Made my insurance go through the roof not to mention the money I paid the lawyer to get the charges dismissed. These guys will screw you every chance they get so watch out when you play in the NC mountains. Don't expect a break if you get stopped.