Rainy day on the Dragon

[yamagrl]

Anyoneelse ever ride the Tail of the Dragon in the Rain?

 

Sunday August 21 I was riding Big Red from Knoxville to Ninety Six, SC and my options were to take I 40 through Asheville and down or to take 129 down to Deal's Gap and then over to Ashville. It was a very stormy, stormy weekend. I had rain.. real rain almost the entire trip from the Paducah, KY to Knoxville on Saturday.

 

So when I got up on Sunday and checked the radar there was the current storm front that was almost past and there was another storm front that was coming in right behind it, maybe an hour and a half in between the two storms.

 

So I kind of timed my arrival at the Dragon to be between the storms. It wasn't raining when I got on the Dragon but the road was wet and it started raining about 10 minutes in. It didn't rain very hard but it was RAINING.

 

When it stopped raining a little I stopped and took a pic of Big Red. You can see the rain on the windshield.

 

Big Red loves the rain. Here's a link to more pics of Big Red in the rain at Podunk Last year.

 

Here's a couple on the Dragon

 

Edited September 2, 2016 by yamagrl

[djh3]

Glad you made it off there alive. My last two attempted trips almost killed me. The last in particular. A HUGE Semi from the north bound met me in MY lane at first curve after the Deals Gap restaurant. Ran me off the road, never stopped or cared if I went off the side a couple hundred feet and died. Until they forbid large trucks, semi's and for that matter fifth wheels from this road I will not ride it. One side has signs "recommending large trucks not use" but nothing stops them.

This looks familiar http://dcclassiccycles.dynamitedave.com/trips/dragon2012/dragon5.JPG

http://tailofthedragon.com/wp/wp-content/gallery/trucks-on-the-dragon/Truck61011-1.jpg

[yamagrl]

Glad you made it off there alive. My last two attempted trips almost killed me. The last in particular. A HUGE Semi from the north bound met me in MY lane at first curve after the Deals Gap restaurant. Ran me off the road, never stopped or cared if I went off the side a couple hundred feet and died. Until they forbid large trucks, semi's and for that matter fifth wheels from this road I will not ride it. One side has signs "recommending large trucks not use" but nothing stops them.

This looks familiar

Heading south there are signs that says "No Trucks with Trailers longer than 30 Ft"

 

There was not a lot of traffic. Maybe I passed a dozen vehicles. Even though it was wet and rainy it was kind of lame.

 

 

[djh3]

Yea we see how well the signs work. I guess you dont have to actually read to get a CDL. Just match shapes or something. Thing is the couple times I have been on there I always see police. So why dont they fine the heck out of these guys. Word would get around "dont go that way"

[yamagrl]

Yea we see how well the signs work. I guess you dont have to actually read to get a CDL. Just match shapes or something.

 

​... or maybe colours!

[DblTrbl]

Yea we see how well the signs work. I guess you dont have to actually read to get a CDL. Just match shapes or something. Thing is the couple times I have been on there I always see police. So why dont they fine the heck out of these guys. Word would get around "dont go that way"

 

It is not illegal for trucks to use that road. They are trying to pass a law to restrict or block semi's from using it as a shortcut from what I have read.

Truckers see the map or their GPS tells them the road is there so that take it. Once they enter, there is no turning back.

[stroker ace]

Anyoneelse ever ride the Tail of the Dragon in the Rain?

 

Sunday August 21 I was riding Big Red from Knoxville to Ninety Six, SC and my options were to take I 40 through Asheville and down or to take 129 down to Deal's Gap and then over to Ashville. It was a very stormy, stormy weekend. I had rain.. real rain almost the entire trip from the Paducah, KY to Knoxville on Saturday.

 

So when I got up on Sunday and checked the radar there was the current storm front that was almost past and there was another storm front that was coming in right behind it, maybe an hour and a half in between the two storms.

 

So I kind of timed my arrival at the Dragon to be between the storms. It wasn't raining when I got on the Dragon but the road was wet and it started raining about 10 minutes in. It didn't rain very hard but it was RAINING.

 

When it stopped raining a little I stopped and took a pic of Big Red. You can see the rain on the windshield.

 

Big Red loves the rain. Here's Big Red in the rain at Podunk

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]107147[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]107148[/ATTACH]

 

 

 

 

Rode it in the rain, rode it in the rain at night. The worst was in a very dense fog, been riding that rode 38 years now. Speed Limit was 50 mph for some time then 45 even had passing zones, now its popular and now its 35 mph with double yellow the whole way.

[WildBill1]

I just wish it wasn't so far from Mooresville NC. Would like too ride it more often it's an illegal race track full of thrills.

[djh3]

I know, make it a toll road. Dollar a tire. Then truckers will look for a different way around.

[Venturous Randy]

It's a shame you did not stop by the KOA East in Asheville on Sunday as Woody, Katrina, Linda and I stayed over and left Monday. We would have loved to have been able to meet you.

Randy

Edited September 3, 2016 by Venturous Randy

[yamagrl]

Rode it in the rain, rode it in the rain at night. The worst was in a very dense fog, been riding that rode 38 years now. Speed Limit was 50 mph for some time then 45 even had passing zones, now its popular and now its 35 mph with double yellow the whole way.

 

That's cool! I suppose if I lived there I'd be using the local hwys a lot also.

[yamagrl]

It's a shame you did not stop by the KOA East in Asheville on Sunday as Woody, Katerina, Linda and I stayed over and left Monday. We would have loved to have been able to meet you.

Randy

 

I had no idea but I was on my way to see son and was already behind schedule due to the weather. I'll be heading back to SC this weekend once Hurricane Hermine finishes his trip. I will likely chase Big Red's front tire.

[cowpuc]

Yep, daughter lived in Greenville SC for 8 years - didnt take long for the I-40 trail around Ashville and then down 25 to get really boring so the cut across thru Dolly Wood, Severville, Smokey Mtn NP and east on 129 became the mainstay - lots of water down yonder I tell ya and diggin on the fog too - would MUCH rather ride wet than fog myself.. Slept on the picnic tables on the west end of the Dragon by the lake pull off many times and survived rainy nights by tossing the bike cover over the bag on the table cause it was pouring rain..

 

WOW ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ WOW WOW WOW Yamagrl - BIG RED IS GORGEOUS:178::banana::bowdown: = THANK YOU for the 's sister!! Wowzy,, seeing lots of goodies on the Big feller!! Got an old Niehouse paper with most of those parts listed in it = small fortune in bling right there I tell ya!!

I still LOVE the looks of the MK1's!!

[DblTrbl]

I know, make it a toll road. Dollar a tire. Then truckers will look for a different way around.

 

Of course 2 and 3 wheeled vehicles are FREE as long as they are Yamahas!!!!

[Dragonslayer]

I had no idea but I was on my way to see son and was already behind schedule due to the weather. I'll be heading back to SC this weekend once Hurricane Hermine finishes his trip. I will likely chase Big Red's front tire.

I'll be going that way tomorrow to Pigeon forge. Won't be on the scoot but sure hope it ain't raining cause I'll have the top down.

[djh3]

Puc man you sound like my brother when he was alive. I was stationed out in Oklahoma. One day I get a call and he's on the line. "Whats shakin?" Told him just working etc. "Hey my buddies and I are laid off for a couple months, and we are taking the bikes out west wanted to know if we could stop by?" what am I going to do tell my brother I aint seen in like 12yr or something no? I said sure man give me a heads up. The lived in Detroit and I think was at DANA then. Few days later I get a call and the are about 3 hr away and coming by. He tells me they have been camping your style there. Rest areas, picnic tables road side parks etc. Man I dont think today you could do that, someone would stab you or something and film it for you tube.