The "Tail of the Dragon" is a part of US 129 south of Maryville Tennessee. The portion that is actually the Dragon starts at the lake and goes up the mountain for 11 miles. This 11 mile section contains 318 curves and ends at Deals Gap in North Carolina.
Hugh, have you ever ridden NC State Rd 16. It goes sort of NE from just past Hickory on I40 to Marion VA and beyond. We've ridden the Marion VA to Wilkesboro NC section numerous times. Almost as good as the Dragon and way less traffic.Once you get done, come to Asheville and give me an excuse to take someone brewery hopping
It is a lot, the Dragon is both challenging and intimidating, but most of all it's FUN. It requires TOTAL concentration. Let your mind wander and you can be across the center line, go over the side or both. It is very easy to set up for one curve and overcook the next one. Another, often overlooked, factor is endurance. To the novice the first couple of miles are wow, exciting, I can't believe this, Holy Cow, etc. The next few miles start to become work, arms begin to get tired, concentration slips etc. And for some, the last miles become "Oh my God this never ends". By all means go ride it, keeping in mind this road is way better than we will ever be.
One of our favorite rides is I75 to Knoxville, I40 to Pigeon Forge, Pigeon Forge to Townsend, Townsend to the "Foot Hills Parkway". The Foot Hills Parkway to 129, 129/Tail of the Dragon to Deals Gap, Deals Gap to Bryson City, Bryson City to Cherokee. Cherokee to the Blue Ridge or Cherokee to Maggie Valley to the Blue Ridge. Run the Blue Ridge north past Boone to where SR 16 crosses at Glendale Springs. SR 16 to Marion VA and then home. This is a 7 day ride and can be more depending on weather, side trips and stops along the way.
The map just shows the general course, not all of the curves.Middlesboro, have you been to the Airport to see "Glacier Girl" the WWII P-38 that was rescued from beneath the ice in Greenland? One of our group knew someone that knew someone that knew what days it was to fly. We made it day ride, the weather was great, Glacier Girl flew and on that day there was a second P-38. Seeing and hearing two P-38's in the air at the same time was a thrill.I'll probably try it eventually, since I like that part of the country (in careful doses).
Over the holidays I took this little tour of my ancestral stomping grounds. Most of the second leg was just to get back. The first leg is about 50 mi of twisties. With nobody else on the road. At the very end I climbed what is called Pinnacle Mountain, a bunch of switchbacks where the elevation rises 1000 ft in 3 mi. You do that in 1st, sometimes close to full lock
At Cawood take 987 to 119 and on to Pineville, and 25 to Middlesborough and Cumberland Gap from there. 987 is upper blue line on the map.
