Hellbender & The Dragon

[GeorgiaRoller]

I finally got to meet & ride with a forum member TwoWhldTerror(Tom) and we realized that we only live 30 min apart. We did a 500+ mile dayride yesterday across four states (GA, TN, NC, SC) and hit Hellbender & Moonshiner 28 as well as the Tail of the Dragon. The weather was beyond superb and the scenery, roads and ride was equal to the task!

https://vimeo.com/40017289

To view the 16min uncut FJR video of "The Dragon" you can view it by clicking Here

The Mountain Route

Both bikes at the Dragon Overlook

Overlook Pano

Fontana Lake Dam Pano

On top of Fontana Dam looking north

Fontana Lake Pano

The only "Oh Shit!" moment of the ride!

"Yes I have a motorcycle endorsement. It's right here can't you read!"

Getting ready to ride the Dragon from Deals Gap parking lot.

Tom tell's me he's never ridden it before...we're about to change that!

Tom tearing up the Dragon!

Here he is again.

A shot from my bike on the Dragon.

Shot from Moonshiner 28 south of Deals Gap.

When we finally got back into N. GA I had to make a pit stop at a local mountain winery.

This is the real reason why I have a bike with hardbags!!! :yahoo:

I netted 565 miles for the day and rode from 6:30am to 8:30pm. Yes I'd do it again in a heartbeat!!!!

 

[fastpappy]

Nice! I'm jealous. :closedeyes: The dragon in a day. It was 750 miles for me to get there on my trip and that was slabin. But what great time. :coolsmiley:

 

[escapefjrtist]

Great pics, thanks for sharing !

Did your *Oh Shit* moment result in a performance award or off with a lecture?!?

--G

 

[SacramentoMike]

Great pics, thanks for sharing !

Did your *Oh Shit* moment result in a performance award or off with a lecture?!?

--G

Wondered about that too. Was that an official stoppage, or was he just checking everybody for endorsements and stuff? (If the former, mind saying "why" you had the conversation?) Good vid, though. Thanks.

 

[Willie]

Outstanding pics !!!! thanks for the ride along

Willie

 

[GeorgiaRoller]

Was that an official stoppage, or was he just checking everybody for endorsements and stuff?

Just a planned road block in the middle of a 15mph hair pin curve checking licenses. I said "yes sir" and "no sir" and we showed our ID's an away we rode.

 

[SkooterG]

Bastards!

That looks like a frickin FUN route.

Bastards.

 

[wheatonFJR]

Thanks for posting up....that day sounds like a lot of fun. I did 500 miles yesterday out to Galena, IL. Unfortunately only about 150 miles of that ride had any curves in it.

 

[Burnspot]

Looks like a good time! I spent the weekend camped out at Blue Ridge Motorcycle Campground and ran the northern areas all weekend...awesome weather (except Friday night when it was freezing, lol).

 

[phroenips]

Was that an official stoppage, or was he just checking everybody for endorsements and stuff?

Just a planned road block in the middle of a 15mph hair pin curve checking licenses. I said "yes sir" and "no sir" and we showed our ID's an away we rode.

I've come across several of those illegal, discriminatory road blocks (unless they were stopping ALL vehicles, not just those of the two-wheeled variety), and I'm always sure to contact the enforcement agency responsible to express my dissatisfaction. (I'm always cordial to the officer during the actual stoppage, of course)

 

[beemerdons]

Outstanding pics !!!! thanks for the ride along

Willie

+1, Gunny; very nice Ride Report, Thank You!

 

[someguy]

what a sweet day of riding....

GR, you put up incredible videos.... thanks for sharing.

 

[not2shabby]

Nice! Killer pics as usual. :clapping:

 

[TwoWhldTerror]

I will say that it was an amazing ride! Glad I jumped at the opportunity. Nathan (GeorgiaRoller) is smooth on the bike, and definitely knows how to ride, it was nice to ride with someone again that can ride like that and still enjoys taking time to slow down and take some pics and small the proverbial roses.

I must admit to being just a weeee bit sore. LOL

 

[HPTuner]

I'm liking that report! I'll have to get up there to ride with y'all soon.

 

[eFnJustRide]

We must have been right behind you guys the whole time. We did the same loop Saturday, but skipped the Dragon itself. 460 miles of awesome roads, great weather and very little traffic

 

[blrfjr]

Yah , Im jealous!!! but I have been down to that area the last 3 years running and I'll be back there a couple times this year. The pics were awesome, the sky was nice and clear. I used to seeing a haze in the mountains there but Im usually there in there summer months when its hotter. Nice RR thanks for sharing. Just curious, was the road block in TN or ....? I havnt found the cops to be very friendly in TN at all especially if you ride anything that looks like a sport bike!! In fact usually there's one sittin at the dragon overlook.

Bryan

 

[blrfjr]

Yah , Im jealous!!! but I have been down to that area the last 3 years running and I'll be back there a couple times this year. The pics were awesome, the sky was nice and clear. I used to seeing a haze in the mountains there but Im usually there in there summer months when its hotter. Nice RR thanks for sharing. Just curious, was the road block in TN or ....? I havnt found the cops to be very friendly in TN at all especially if you ride anything that looks like a sport bike!! In fact usually there's one sittin at the dragon overlook.

Bryan

Dont suppose you went down 129 in the northern part of GA? Man! thats a nice peice of road too! :yahoo:

 

[GeorgiaRoller]

We must have been right behind you guys the whole time. We did the same loop Saturday, but skipped the Dragon itself. 460 miles of awesome roads, great weather and very little traffic

Well that stinks that we couldn't meet up with you. How many riders did you have in your group?

Just curious, was the road block in TN or ....? I havnt found the cops to be very friendly in TN at all especially if you ride anything that looks like a sport bike!! In fact usually there's one sittin at the dragon overlook.

Dont suppose you went down 129 in the northern part of GA? Man! thats a nice peice of road too! :yahoo:

It was a checkpoint in NC on HWY28 maybe 5 miles south of Deals Gap. He was just checking licenses...he didn't even ask to see proof of insurance. We showed him our license and he looked for the M endorsement then said "Have a good day and ride safe". It was no big deal.

Yes 129 in GA is very nice as well. N. GA has lots of nice motorcycle roads.