Tail of The Dragon Robbinsville, NC Mountain Trip

[Maverick]

Nice, I hope you go out with a bang! Good luck to ya in your last two semesters 

Yessir thanks Yogi forget the bang and give me the Cha Ching$$. With this double major I better have something but I have things lined up so I think I'm good!

[Yogi]

Next year can't get here fast enough. I am game as long as $ is right.

[Maverick]

ok for those that are for sure that they are going and for those that aren't so sure.  Need to know what is good with the spots to stay.  Please let me know your suggestions so i can look into them I would like to have this done and set by the end of the year

[Jdsjunkyard]

Im so ready for this. cant wait

[Dirtrooster27]

Wow excellent write up about the area! You described it to a "T".  I try to travel up there once or twice a year and believe it or not, my favorite way to go is to actually camp there at the Deal's Gap resort.  This is especially true if you are going up there alone or with a small group (2-3 people) as the night life and camp parties are a separate adventure in and of themselves. Of course it always does seem to rain on you at least once while you're there so if your not prepared, that can be a problem. But it is an affordable alternative for anyone who can't afford lodging or doesn't really care about that stuff and would rather ride all the time anyway.

 But with groups this size (and in my case - if I'm taking the family) its  best to rent  Cabins at Fontana Village. With 4 plus people it can be an affordable alternative to lodging at the Deal's Gap Resort (expensive and always booked) with the added benefit of being larger. (multiple bedrooms) and having a full kitchen. Plus I actually love the 15-20 minute mountain road warm-up ride getting to the Dragon. It takes you right past the Fontana Dam! The web address should be www.fontanavillage.com . Anyway just thought i'd share what I know of that area. No mater what, the scenery is georgious - pure heaven - and with the great roads any nice people, its sure to have a great trip! - Even if you ARE unfortunate enough to come home with one of those expensive PINK souveniers that reads: 62 in a 30!!!

[GixxerGurl]

Man, I sure do miss the NC/TN mountains. With Mark and I having a baby we obviously won't be able to make it up there this year. We are going to do everything we can to get back up there next year though...probably sometime in May or June. As long as if we can find a babysitter that we trust, we will definitely be back up there next year....It really is Heaven on Earth up there... 

[Mark]

We ate at the restaurant in Fontana Village on one of our trips up there last year. Definitely a nice place to stay. They had just gotten a Verizon tower recently, too, so it was nice to have cell service for a bit to catch up on missed calls and voicemails. You don't get cell service on most parts of the mountains. I can't recall if you get cell service at the Deals Gap Resort, but I'd think not.

[Dirtrooster27]

Thanks Mark, nope, no reception at the Gap. That's great to know about the Verizon tower they put up. I was unaware of that at all. Great to know, I was there last October and the reception was a joke.  As a matter of fact there is only one place in that whole region where I am able to get reception (verizon) and that's actually at the peak of a mountain near the top of Fontana Dam.

You know, another good thing about finally getting a cell tower installed there is the safety factor. Speaking with locals up there, most people who crash on the Dragon while riding  at night aren't even rescued until the following morning, mainly due to the fact that at night all the buisness are closed, there is less potential witnesses, and even if an accident does happen there is ABSOLUTELY no cell phone reception to call for help anyway. Maybe the cell tower will at the very least make the drive to reach the cellular service shorter and the reception more reliable? Of course when the officials do show up... good luck finding a place to land your helicopter!!

[Maverick]

Dirtrooster27 - yeah man things up there can be crazy and you have to look out for stuff like that as I know you know. Thanks for the info about the traveling, that place is nice and a good suggestion for those that just want to ride. I think everyone got a nice ticket being up there they tend to not be nice.

[Maverick]

Update was thinking of doing this partnering with Florida sport bikers.

They are going in June how does that sound or do we want to go earlier like May...?

[Maverick]

Check first post to place name on list so we can start getting prepared to see what cabin sizes will be available.

[Maverick]

check first page date has been set so mark your calendars and REQUEST to be placed on list so we can have a feel of who is going so we can get a good rate on a cabin lounge around Robbinsville. The sooner you let me know that better.

[GixxerGurl]

Has anyone ever ridden the Diamondback Route that is shown in Maverick's original post? Looks like a good ride, but I've never ridden it before.

[Maverick]

yes ridden it two years ago and it was cool but i think we went during a bad time do to the misty mornings we encountered. Hopefully, it will be nicer to travel on next year with www.Floridasportbikers.us.

Haven't recieved any responses to going from anyone so gotta do what i have to do. Things are already booking up for next year for groups so this is why i am doing a joint trip with them and for those that want to go last minute can figure out lounging on their own i suppose. Either way hope to see some people up there indeed.

[Maverick]

2012 GAP trip spots and confirmations
In the words of Snow FSB
Edit: Maverick

    Guys hope all is well. I wanted to reachout to you because as you know some of you have already confirmed for the 2012 June Gap trip and I was following up with the rest of you. I want to make sure that I capture the folks that are going / want to go to ensure that I place us together. This will be a huge trip with multiple cabins. There are several cabins / locations picked out which have ride up access for the bikes as well as trailer space. I need to get close in the head count department and I want to make sure no one is left behind that may be on the fence.

    I'm sure some of you will pass (I hope not) but I understand if you do but if you can make come on out and have a blast next year will even better than last year. if you recall in 2011 we put on an average of 1100 miles so we are there to ride and relax. last year a few folks brought the family along same this year bring the wife, mother kids, dog what ever you want. It is a vacation.

    So let me know so I can update the list if your name is not on it or update it if you need a private room or are bringing a plus 1 or 2....

    June is right around the corner.

Thanks,
Snow
--
OK to all if you are planning on going please let me know. This will be a fantasitic trip and hope that some of you can make it.

(footnote)
Further details about March Track Event later this week