The only people I really hate this for are Darryl and the folks at Deal's Gap (especially them - they just spent a bunch of money upgrading facilities). I DO understand TN's motivation (they get all the traffic and enforcement and rescue costs - NC gets ALL the money). But it still bites.

But, trust me, we'll find LOTS of GREAT roads on the NC side of the line if we have to... and they like our money and don't want to run us off...

 

How about TGIFridy's in Asheville for lunch on the trip up as a gathering spot for the entire crew? We stopped there in May and they were very ready for us when we got there.

 

That's cool, I guess it will depend on when the majority are leaving. Are most people taking the day off?
jason

 

most from raleigh and winston area are

 

What about the group coming from Charlotte. Are we all taking off Friday?
jason

 

Ok - so I just made a cabin reservation and the hubby and I are all set to be there!

Woo-hoo!

 

Here's an e-mail I got in response to an e-mail complaint about the ridiculous overruse of patrol men/women on the Dragon, and the harm it will cause to the area in terms of tourism.
Enjoy.

As you have noticed, the THP has started an enforcement program in the Deals Gaps Area of Hwy. 129. Some people are very upset with this effort and some people applaud it as long overdue. We are receiving emails on both sides of the issue. I can tell you in the past year, we received calls and emails every few days that ask us to do "something" in this area. The overwhelming majority of people describe this area as "total chaos and lawlessness." When you combine these type of descriptions and the statistical information on crashes and fatalities (three fatalities in one weekend two weeks ago), we felt like we had to do something as a public safety organization. You may not agree with our program but it is aimed at protecting the public who frequent that area and ride in a safe manner. It has nothing to do with "quotas" and driving tourism from Tennessee. Anyone who rides in that area and does so safely is always welcome and will not have any problem with the THP. We will continue to conduct our enforcement program for the near future in an effort to make Deals Gap a safe place for recreational motorcycle activity.

Lt. Colonel Tracy G. Trott
Tennessee Highway Patrol
Field Operations Bureau- East
1150 Foster Ave.
Nashville, TN 37249
615-251-6311
Fax 615-253-8781

 

Dude Tail of the Dragon is all over that one The 3 fatalities apparently occured WHILE the THP was in "Shut-Down" mode and this bit is interesting:

Not to mention the fact that your response appears to be identical to the one sent to Tail of the Dragon... form letter response anyone?

And of course, they spotted this one:

 

It is sad indeed.

 

My biggest pet peeve is a double-standard and that pic above just REALLY annoys the livin cr@p outta me

 

I still don't understand why the THP or any other state and federal legislation is trying to protect us from our own freaking selves.

Lets be honest... if you drive reckless or stupid... its called natural selection... you assume a level of risk when pushing your limits and boundries... we don't need babying and hand holding...

 

Maybe b/c I'm dealing with two terminally ill family pets that are our surrogate children, or maybe b/c I'm getting old, and at any rate, I think we should focus on the positive things about this experience instead of the negative.

I went through something similar when they shut down the Amicalola Falls 4x4 trails in No GA, we were all madder than heck and it seemed entirely unreasonable and we staged a multi-mile 4x4 rally to drive up and drop off individual petitions and guess what? As planned, they shut 'er down. And you know what, I lived to tell about it. I'm just glad we all got up there for one last run, even as certain trails were closed and there was a big NFS presence.

The same here, let's be glad we organized this and we'll have at least slow runs, and camaraderie (sp) and revelry and the like in a beautiful setting with good company. (The 4x4 thing was more about drinking beer and shooting guns--huh, maybe that's why? Nah. ;-0 )

Anyway, I'm still looking forward to this and if you want, I can bring my Macarena CD?

 

Just goes to show there are two sides to every coin. Or something like that. And no Dave, you CANNOT bring the Macarena CD.
jason

 

Custom MINIs Slay The Sleeping Dragon Signature Art is now ready! Until I figure out how to post them all for you to use, send me your Cooper and color, and I will send you the one that matches your MINI! Enjoy! The list I have is below!
jason
Hardtops:
Lighting or Indi Blue, Chili Red, Space Blue, Pepper White, Yellow, the darker Purple color, JCW GP, British Racing Green.
Verts:
Orange, Lightning Blue, the light Purple, Pepper White.

 

Anyone notice how appropriate the name has become for the ride?

 

? Why do I not understand?
jason

 

I think he's referring to the THP presence limiting "Spirited" runs

 

O.

 

Ya know what though, I'm going even IF the cops are all over I've just gotta get myself up into the Mtns a bit. Here in Alabama they call a 300ft hill a "Mtn"

 

 

i've just gotta get back to the south again...no less the mountains.

northern virginia may technically be south of the mason-dixon, but you'd never know it...

and the shenandoah's are near enough, but first you've got to get through the VA troopers and our brilliant new setup of fines they've recently instituted...

 

Plus no radar detectors??? That's crazy!
jason

 

Hwy 28, the portion of the dragon between the state line and Tapoco and other NC roads are still there. The state line would be a good place to turn around. As you are doing so. Stick your tongue out at the THP and say nanny nanny booboo, you can't catch me.

 

Yeah, what he said!
jason

 

It could be worse. In Florida, I believe, driving over a speed bump constitutes as high altitude driving.