November 8, 2025 (Sat.) – Riding the Dragon and Beyond!

Finally, the chance to ride again! Kirk has been eager to tackle the legendary Tail of the Dragon (aka The Dragon) for months. This famous stretch of Highway 129 runs for 11 miles, twisting through 318 curves along the border of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Cherokee National Forest. Known as “America’s most exciting 11 miles,” it’s a bucket‑list ride for motorcyclists and car enthusiasts alike.

Normally we avoid weekend rides, but with rain forecast tomorrow and our departure on Monday, we decided to go anyways knowing that it might be crowded. Tom & Chris’s house is only about 30 minutes away, and being so close to this bucket list item, we had to go!

We were up early for a full day ahead—Lynn at 7:00, Kirk at 8:30. After a quick breakfast and coffee, we rolled the bike out successfully thanks to the aluminum panel reinforcing the tailgate (thanks Tom for assisting with the fix and letting Kirk use your tools and workshop!). The fix held, though Kirk did manage to back into Tom’s boat trailer, leaving a scratch on the bike. We’ll call it a scar with a story attached.

By 10:30 we were geared up and on the road. Fog hung low and the air was chilly, but we knew it would clear. Lynn turned on her heated seats and all was fine and warm. The ride to the Dragon was stunning—fall colors, winding roads, lakes, and rivers. Shortly after 11:00 we reached the start, marked only by a caution sign: “Motorcycles – High Crash Area Next 11 Miles.” No grand marker, just the road itself.

The Dragon was busy with riders, drivers, even bicyclists and an RV (Class C) braving the curves. We stopped at overlooks to soak in the views, spotting compact Honda “Street” cars with right‑side steering wheels which Lynn found fascinating. Along the way, spectators lined the road in camping chairs, watching the parade of machines, while photographers captured action shots for later purchase.

By 12:45 we rolled into Deals Gap, North Carolina, the official end of the Dragon. After souvenirs and conversation with riders from West Virginia, Kirk learned about another must‑ride: the Cherohala Skyway. They said it might be even more beautiful than Tail of the Dragon and it’s a longer ride. So we ended up jumping on the bike to find it. Heading south on 129, we saw the Historic Tapoco Lodge, passed it, then smelled it and turned back around. This was going to be our lunch spot! With tables overlooking the river on a sunny day, it was too good to pass up. Their onsite restaurant was closed for the season but the Tapoco Tavern along the Cheoah River was open with outdoor seating. We didn’t even notice the kayakers in the river until we sat down.

The terrace overlooked kayakers and other paddlers tackling the rapids. On certain days, the river hosts “release days,” drawing paddlers nationwide. Water is released from the Santeetlah Dam to balance recreation, ecological needs and hydropower operations. Each release creates 9+ miles of Class IV-V (Advanced-Expert) whitewater rapids making the Cheoah River one of the most challenging rivers in the Southeast. We happened to stumble across this place and it was the only day in November for the release! I guess it pays to do things on the weekends sometimes! Timing worked out for us for once! However, lunch was slow. Kirk had been craving pizza and everyone’s table seemed to have pizza. But the kitchen was backed up. They actually put a hold on all future pizza orders. Ours was still in but may take a while. An hour later, the pizza arrived, delicious and worth the wait, especially with the river show as entertainment.

By 2:30 we were back on the road to find Cherohala Skyway (Highway 143-West). After leaving Tapoco we rode by an impressive dam. Little did we know at the time that this was the dam the movie The Fugitive was filmed at where Harrison Ford’s character jumps in the water to escape the U.S. Marshals. It’s the Cheoah Dam, also called “The Fugitive Dam” (photo below in the Cherohala section). The ride was absolutely gorgeous. Gas was a bargain at $2.88 compared to $4.19 at Deals Gap! Soon we climbed into the Cherohala Skyway, rising from 1,700 (at Deals Gap) feet to over 5,400 feet. The higher we went, the more the scenery changed—trees bare, fog thick, the ride earning its nickname “drive above the clouds.” Lynn switched on her heated seat, cozy against the chill. The solitude was striking; the road was ours alone through the Unicoi Mountains and Nantahala National Forest.

Around 5:00 we crossed back into Tennessee, descending back into sunshine, vibrant fall colors, and solitude. Not a lot of riders on this road. With the sun setting, the colors of the trees really stood out. It was beautiful. For most of the day, our vocabulary had been reduced to just a few exclamations—“Wow,” “Amazing,” “Beautiful”—repeated again and again, yet never quite enough to capture what we were seeing. We have sooo many pictures but photos just don’t do it justice! By 5:30, we rolled into Friendsville just before nightfall, greeted by a beautiful sunset. The evening unfolded perfectly—dinner, wine, another round of Nines with Tom and Chris (we’re getting better!), all by the comfort of a crackling fire.

It was a day to remember—the tailgate fix held, the Dragon was conquered, the Skyway unveiled its beauty, and we stumbled upon both a river release and a Hollywood landmark. Another bucket‑list ride complete.

Photo Note: Lynn started with 846 shots on the Canon, not counting phones or pro photos. After sorting, 403 made the cut to save, but only 216 posted here —plenty of memories to share, even if it took forever to filter them down!

Weather – High 68*, Low 53*. Winds 2-12 mph. No rain, no humidity.

Traffic – None. Other than a lot of cars on the Tail of the Dragon.

Food – Tapoco Historical Lodge Tavern.

Notable – Tail of the Dragon, Tapoco Historical Lodge Tavern, Cherohala Skyway, crossed into North Carolina!