Tail of the Dragon - GET ON BOARD NOW!

[C.J]

Shawn, glad you can make it! BTW, how did you get such a screaming deal on the room rate?

[BigBadViper]

Shawn, glad you can make it! BTW, how did you get such a screaming deal on the room rate?

Just asked. They said the renovated queens were the $98 and $107. These were old doubles for the cheaper rate. They don't have internet in the rooms, but I have a wifi hotspot, so not concerned.

I did get a lift, now just figuring out how to get it home.

[C.J]

Good deal. You're going to love having a lift. Assembly isn't difficult except for the power runway. So heavy you'll need something to lift it...an engine hoist will do if your trailer is low enough.

[Brian GTS]

Brain, so we'll have an opportunity to do the Dragon 129 Friday afternoon and Sat noon? What does this mean "Leave for Gatlinburg no later than 12:30 pm. Possible stop at Deal’s Gap. " So they'll be running the Dragon on their way to Gatlinburg? and maybe stopping at Deals Gap for a break but will be by there nonetheless? Also does this mean a group will be heading to the Dragon Sat morning also? "Tail of the Dragon Round II group to leave at 10:00 am."

Awesome Shawn! Added....that's 16!!!

Some additional info to answer Rich's question. There will be 2 options on Saturday. Members can either take part in a second Dragon run and a scenic drive in the moutains....or take "The Ackley" tour.

As per Joel of AL/TN:

"The Ackley's are planning for their Saturday cruise ending at their house for lunch - our treat. They have been very gracious to invite everyone and we were trying to get an idea of how many might be interested. Total trip is about 150 miles - lots of backroads. They have tennis courts, boats, and swimming available and Jennifer has a wolf sanctuary on their property. I know the weather is hard to predict but if you can pass this along to see who might be interested, it would help with food head counts. The Ackley tour will leave at 9:30 am - fill up gas tanks the night before."

Here is the route the Ackleys have planned:

Leave Gatlinburg on hy 321 to 339 =20 miles
339 to I 40 =6 miles
i40 to exit NC exit 15 =25 miles
exit 15 to 209 = 7 miles
209 to hot springs =45 miles
hot springs to Newport = 20 miles
Newport to Ackley House = 6 miles

Feel free to let me know your preference. I know Patrick and Brittany won't be rolling in until Friday, so he will probably want to do the Dragon on Saturday. However, I'd be game for the Ackley run on Saturday....sounds like fun.

NC/SC Members attending:

Angel & Eli
Bill & Elaine
Craig & Kiera
Paul & Joanie
Mike & Terri
Jeremy
Rush
Patrick & Brittany
Seth & Bob
Jeff & Donna
Kristian
Al & Kristy
Dave
Rich
Shawn
Brian & Janelle - Ackley

[No hemi]

I'll do the " Ackley" run on sat.1

[Mreeves]

We will do the Ackley run on Saturday also.

[Ninjakris]

Count me in for the alkey run as well.

I'm still a little confused with the plans for friday. Are we all meeting up outside the Greystone Lodge hotel friday morning and doing the tail of the dragon as a group? I just need to know where and when to meet on friday.

[C.J]

Kiera and I are in for the Ackley trip.

[Joel]

Some of us will leave from the hotel early to catch the convoy from Knoxville. We will have to leave about 6:30 or so to get there with time to spare. Another group - the folks coming in from Ohio with Stretch - will probably run the route in reverse and meet up with the Knoxville group in Tellico Plains. That way they can leave a bit later and still get there. It is just over 100 miles to Tellico Plains and you can run the Dragon and the Cherohala Skyway twice in the same day. It just depends on what you want to do. The run to Knoxville will be back throught Pigeon Forge and the interstate through Knoxville to the Campbell Station exit. It won't be scenic but it will allow you to run the whole cruise which is a bit over 200 miles. Going in reverse to Tellico Plains will definitely be more scenic - even in the morning - and you'll still have about 200 miles of cruising. If you leave Gatlinburg and go back to Knoxville, the trip approaches 300 miles. Hope that helps you understand what is going to happen Friday morning.

Count me in for the alkey run as well.

I'm still a little confused with the plans for friday. Are we all meeting up outside the Greystone Lodge hotel friday morning and doing the tail of the dragon as a group? I just need to know where and when to meet on friday.

[Brian GTS]

Some of us will leave from the hotel early to catch the convoy from Knoxville. We will have to leave about 6:30 or so to get there with time to spare. Another group - the folks coming in from Ohio with Stretch - will probably run the route in reverse and meet up with the Knoxville group in Tellico Plains. That way they can leave a bit later and still get there. It is just over 100 miles to Tellico Plains and you can run the Dragon and the Cherohala Skyway twice in the same day. It just depends on what you want to do. The run to Knoxville will be back throught Pigeon Forge and the interstate through Knoxville to the Campbell Station exit. It won't be scenic but it will allow you to run the whole cruise which is a bit over 200 miles. Going in reverse to Tellico Plains will definitely be more scenic - even in the morning - and you'll still have about 200 miles of cruising. If you leave Gatlinburg and go back to Knoxville, the trip approaches 300 miles. Hope that helps you understand what is going to happen Friday morning.

Thanks for the clarification Joel. This is helpful.

[Stretch]

Brian, right now we are thinking meet in the parking lot at the Greystone Lodge at 8:30am (gassed up), then wheels up at 9am sharp. Then we will drive 321 to the Dragon, across the skyway and to the Exxon in Tellico Plains.

[C.J]

Tellico Plains...had a friend get married there and we stayed at these cabins at the end of the Skyway. There was a restaurant there that had a killer breakfast as I recall...and a room full of folks riding Harleys.

Driving the Skyway and the Dragon twice in a day will be a blast!

[Brian GTS]

Brian, right now we are thinking meet in the parking lot at the Greystone Lodge at 8:30am (gassed up), then wheels up at 9am sharp. Then we will drive 321 to the Dragon, across the skyway and to the Exxon in Tellico Plains.

Sounds good....your talking Friday morning, right? Just making sure...

[Stretch]

Yes, Friday morning.

[Brian GTS]

Yes, Friday morning.

That sounds like a plan to me...can't wait.

[Ninjakris]

Brian, right now we are thinking meet in the parking lot at the Greystone Lodge at 8:30am (gassed up), then wheels up at 9am sharp. Then we will drive 321 to the Dragon, across the skyway and to the Exxon in Tellico Plains.

Thank you for spelling it out for me. I'll be there friday ready to roll.

[PatrickB]

Feel free to let me know your preference. I know Patrick and Brittany won't be rolling in until Friday, so he will probably want to do the Dragon on Saturday. However, I'd be game for the Ackley run on Saturday....sounds like fun.

Brian, mark us down for the Ackley run. We are going to miss the Dragon run on Friday, but I think we're going to go back and run it on Sunday before coming home - that probably means we'll be running it by ourselves and won't be caravan'ing home with the rest of the group, but it's a fair tradeoff I think. I'd like to stay with our group on Saturday and the Ackley run sounds pretty cool.

[SUB SONC]

I will be on the Ackley run with the group. Unfortunately Bob can't make it because of jury duty.

[billp]

Elaine and I are in for the Ackley trip.

[Brian GTS]

Dan from SC is attending too! We're up to 17 cars folks!

Angel & Eli
Bill & Elaine
Craig & Kiera
Paul & Joanie
Mike & Terri
Jeremy
Rush
Patrick & Brittany
Seth & Bob
Jeff & Donna
Kristian
Al & Kristy
Dave
Rich
Shawn
Dan & Tanya
Brian & Janelle - Ackley

[No hemi]

@Brian, if im not mistaken Ron from the SC area will be joining us too, with his wife.

[Brian GTS]

@Brian, if im not mistaken Ron from the SC area will be joining us too, with his wife.

Okay, thanks for the info Angel! Do you know if his wife Marcy is also attending? Just trying to get solid numbers for the restaurants.

18 cars!

Angel & Eli
Bill & Elaine
Craig & Kiera
Paul & Joanie
Mike & Terri
Jeremy
Rush
Patrick & Brittany
Seth & Bob
Jeff & Donna
Kristian
Al & Kristy
Dave & Marcia
Rich
Shawn
Dan & Tanya
Ron & Marcy
Brian & Janelle

[No hemi]

I think she is too.

[Brian GTS]

I think she is too.

Okay, appreciate the info! Ron just e-mailed me a few minutes ago and confirmed you are correct! Thanks again.

[PatrickB]

Brian, did you see my note earlier about putting us down for the Ackley run?