The Tail of the Dragon NC and Tennessee Border

by Annette
(Randleman, NC)

I guess I should have titled this "What We Did on Our Honeymoon"

Another on line group that my husband belongs to planned a ride in to Maggie Valley for the weekend after we were married. I will be honest with you any ride in the NC Mountains is a thing of beauty and I certainly did not want to pass up this chance to go.

We took off from Maggie Valley and rode to the Dragon on Sunday morning. When we arrived we stopped at the Motorcycle resort at the bottom of the Dragon in NC for some lunch. I really had no idea what I was getting myself into when we pulled out and started to make our way up the Mountain.

You really don't have much time to look at the beautiful views while riding this road. Staying on top of lining up for the curves and being in the proper gear to make sharp turns and continue the steep climb is a great challenge. You are rewarded when you get to the top of the Tail with the view of a beautiful lake and a pull off area.

Coming back down is just another challenge. I am no fan of break neck speeds while doing this type of riding, but the sport bikes have other ideas. Coming down I actually pulled off the road in safe area where I could see back up the mountain and let 5 rather speedy younger ones go by. My husband got worried when he lost sight of me and pulled over too. He waved me on when he saw me and fell in behind me. Having him back there keeping the faster bikes from rolling up on me let me relax a bit more and get into the road with one less thing to worry about.

When we pulled back into the resort area and I got off my bike I was pumped it was by far one the most exciting things I have done in a very long time.