Good decision. Put a smile on my face remembering the run you, Howard and I made on that road a couple of years ago. Remember the cheering bikers we passed at the turn out on the return leg? Jeff, fastfunfor2, owns Howards car now and is hoping to make it up for the Saturday run.

 

We have had over 60 inchaes of snow and there are 6-10 more on the way this weekend. I did manage to get the XF out from under the cover for a quick 15 degree drive yesterday, we are really looking forward to the Dragon run and getting away to see great friends...

 

You are assuming that the snow will stop by then ?

 

Nick...This run sounds like a challenge... heads up please when your post the particulars...Thanks Carl...

 

I look forward to seeing what you come up with. Taking "Michael's Dragon" on the way back may fun as well. It stops by Bridal Veil Falls.

Bing Maps

 

I know no one reads it, but posts 1, 2, 3 and 4 have been updated with what information I have.

Just FYI.







EDITED - first four posts updated.

 

Evan what am I looking at? I don't know Michaels route :/

 

Evan didn't check his link!

 

13Dog (Nick) - Aggressive group - Friday: "Road to Nowhere" run and short hike (see post #4) Saturday: "Moonshiner" run

Pizzaguy - Moderate group - Friday: (So far, I plan to go with Nick above) Saturday: Cherohala/Bald River Falls/Tail of the Dragon Sunday: Devil's Triangle run via the Dragon both ways

PaceMaker (Jonathan and Murfi) - Tourist Class - Route(s) and Day(s) TBA by Jonathan

SRQfun (Micheal) - New Tourist Class - Saturday: Cherohala/Bald River Falls/Tail of the Dragon Sunday: Dragon & Waterfalls tour w/lunch at Bogart's in Sylva (3/1/2014 - I just learned that SRQfun probably won't attend this spring - Tourist class runs are now in PaceMaker's hands. We may need a second Tourist Class leader.)

==============

We will have a LOT of first-timers and I have no clue how many are "Aggressive" or "Moderate" or "Tourist".

For Nick's run on Friday, he will lead up front and I or someone else can lead the slower ones in the back, Nick says he will be stopping from time to time for us/them to catch up if needed. BUT, I sure don't want anyone trying to keep up with Nick who does not want to try, and when people THINK they are being pressured to drive faster than they feel good about, they have less fun and tend to not come back.

As to Saturday and Sunday I guess we will see what develops at the Friday night driver meeting.

 

Friday is a pretty easy run, just a quick trip down 28 and a couple of turns into Beautiful Bryson City. We won't head out until mid morning (10 to 11 AM), so sleep in and enjoy the peace and quiet of the lodge. It will be the only chance you'll get to relax until the end of the weekend.

 

I'm feeling a combination of tourist class (I can still enjoy a laid back run and tourist stops) and follow Mark. Guess Friday's run will let me know just where I rank in driver ratings..

 

I think you'll do just fine. If you find that things are moving too quickly pull off and join the back. You would have to try to get lost to actually get lost on this run. Plus I'll go over it Thursday night with you if you'd like. I'll be in the lodge enjoying a few adult beverages.

Edit: If you are at the Lodge Friday morning I definitely suggest going on this run. Friday runs tend to be the best runs of the weekend.

 

MapQuest Maps - Driving Directions - Map
Waterfall Tour and Michael's Dragon!! Waterfalls are between Franklin and Highlands. with one edit needed in Franklin. Gather at the station on town. The one before town is HORRIBLE (The bathrooms were covered with ticks) :P

 

Plan on being there Thursday night.. and I like the idea of "catch up stops".. gives me the option to "upgrade" to aggressive class if the wife can hang.. LOL.

 

Shawn is riding with me Friday, but my seat is open on Saturday if she want to ride with me She can even put her hands up and pretend she's on a roller coaster. LOL

 

Let's see.. your leading the aggressive group.. do you have replacement interior? I suspect there would be claw marks in the leather after she rides with you..

And for those who may not be aware.. we scarfed on these today for the trip..

Motorola MH230R 23 Mile Two-Way Radio with 22 Channels, 121 Privacy Codes, NOAA Alert - Walmart.com

 

Mark: Is it necessary to "sign up" for these runs or is it "run where you want to"?? Carl

 

Well, maybe PaceMaker will take SRQ's run on Saturday - sounds like a GREAT "Tourist Class" route to me - altho I admit that leg from Highlands to Bryson City is something I've never driven. I came home thru Highlands once, turned there and headed into Georgia...

Or... maybe he will do a skyway run and I'll lead on SRQ's route ---- I should be able to navigate that.

+1 to Nick's remark about Friday runs - I learned several Dragons ago to get up there Thursday - the place is still kinda vacant on Friday, roads are just so quiet!

 

No, Carl - and to all first-timers - we kinda get our heads together at the Friday night driver's meeting (well, mostly AFTER the meeting is over) where you can talk to Me/Franc/Nick/BigKid/Pacemaker and others and get an idea where you want to go and what you want to see - as well as how you want to drive it.

I want to do the friday meeting a bit differently - I'm gonna TRY to make the meeting last only 15 minutes and encourage everyone to break up and talk to leaders where you can get your answers to questions way faster than ONE person at a time asking about a run, etc. There is really little to say that is crowd-specific. We have a LOT of first timers, with Nick, Pacemaker(Johathan), and myself leading, I'm thinking we'll need one more leader and we should be good.

I THINK we will have a lot of "tourist class" entries and I'm fine with leading a tourist group so that Franc and those who drive like him can (try to) push Nick thru the curves!

We DO try to limit groups to about ten cars - any more and you have too many to handle in the little towns and restaurants along the way. Gas stops get to be long as well... But fact is, you go with who you want to!

DONE EDITING NOW

 

Cant wait , tension is building, i will be arriving Thursday afternoon ready for a good evening session with Nick , Shaun, Max and others.