| Author | Message | ||
     Rocketsprink |
saw that because of a rock slide, the TN side of 129 will be closed until 9/1! That's nuts as most in the area have seen much worse cleaned up MUCH faster. Wonder what the real plan is for the road. | ||
| No_rice |
that sucks, i was hoping to swing through there again on my way back home in a few weeks | ||
| Brother_in_buells |
It,s not true! that,s false information! | ||
| Rocketsprink |
Tail of the Dragon Just received a clarification for the TNDOT Public Information Officer regarding the September 1 date. The date is an ESTIMATED date. The contract for clearing the slide will be awarded on Monday (3/29), at that time a more accurate opening date will be posted. TNdot DOES SAY it should take several months to clear ... cut from tail of the dragon's web site. I wish it wasn't true. There are, however, still great roads there, which I hope to check out late summer this year. | ||
| Pitcrew831 |
I still want to go with you Rocco. This could be the 2nd Annual GDH memorial. What do you think? | ||
| Rocketsprink |
I think that would be outstanding! There really are a lot of nice roads in the area besides The Dragon. I say we need to plan this! | ||
| Pitcrew831 |
Let's do it. I didn't want to ask you when you were so busy with homecoming. You are becoming quite the event planner  Are you going to be home tonight. I need your advice on selling some stuff. Dana | ||
| Xbrad9r |
another incredible motorcycle road about 2hrs north is "the snake" US421, between Bristol and Mountain city TN www.shadyvalleycountrystore.com | ||
| Rocketsprink |
we will be at Basketball with Jon tonight, Thurs Fri and Sat. I can't wait for this spring league to end!! We will be home Sunday. Shoot me you're phone #(s). I had them, but I switched cell phones and lost a whole bunch. But yes, we will do this ride! | ||
| Etennuly |
The problem with cleaning up a rock slide is not just the pile in the road. As that is cleaned up more slides down in it's place. In some cases they have to go to the top of the mountain to find a stable starting point. This area of East Tennessee ended up about 14 inches above normal for rainfall last year, that after ten+ years of below normal rainfall. Added to that were many days of below freezing temperatures, well beyond what is usually had here. I hate that the Dragon is closed, but there are many other great rides in this area. I ran over a rock last week in a steep short valley at the base of the Cherohala. It was only about six inches square by an inch and a half thick, it finished off my rear tire that was in it's last thousand miles of use. It is beautiful out there, but be ware that loose rocks don't have to be big, and the roads don't have to be closed to potentially be a problem. | ||
| Rich |
http://www.tdot.state.tn.us/US129rockslide/031910/ index.htm | ||
| Ratbuell |
+1,000, Vern. I don't think we hit a bad road in the bunch at Buelltoberfest....awesome country. to be honest, I think the Dragon was probably my *least* favorite road on the trip.... | ||
| Kmbuell |
So the Dragon is "kinda" closed. Go to Killboy and read how to get on it, if you have to. Or better yet, ride the Cherola (sp), 129/28 east or NC1310. Keep in mind interstate 40 has been closed at the NC/TN border since October for a rock slide and isn't scheduled to be open until some time in April, maybe. It's been moved back a few times already because of weather delays. That's a real cluster and lead to many big rigs trying to use US129. Now they have to go north on 81 to 26. I'm amazed that they are getting 129 fixed so quickly. Ride safe, Kevin PS, go to Killboy and watch the video of the guy who drives into the rock. No wonder why we get run over! He didn't see it? | ||
| Etennuly |
Ya also need to remember there was a lot of snow this winter. If you are going up any roads that cross the mountain tops, on a cool evening or early morning there will be a good chance of ice on the roads. It is usually fifteen to twenty degrees colder at the top than in the valleys. The snow base is still pretty deep up there. It is melting. The run off crosses the road in many places, be extra careful in shaded areas. This was on the Cherohala March 18, in a sun exposed area at 5300+ft where it was melting.  | ||
| Redbuelljunkie |
Looks like Deal's Gap Motorcycle Resort is asking for our help... http://www.dealsgap.com/save-the-gap/index.html | ||
| Dragonslayer |
UPDATE Contract will be awarded monday afternoon. Clean up must begin by 5 april but they can start sooner. Finish date is 31 July 2010 however, huge bonus for finishing before that. TDOT has placed what they call a safe date and are not really sure it will take that long but feel that was a date they could live with. The barricade at the state line: It will stay there until we can get a few issues sorted out. Swain and Graham county commissioners stated they would have no issues crossing the state line and emergency management teams concurred there is no legal issues with that. The law enforcement is the big issue as it is not as easy to transfer jurisdiction because of liabilities and the dangerous nature of there business. Congressmen Heath Shuler feels that we can work with other avenues such as federal money to help pay for Blount county or TVA to work the gap if THP feel they can not accommodate. For what I heard in this meeting, most of the agencies will not have a issue moving the barricade back it is THP that will be the hold up. Congressmen Heath Shuler, Sen John Snow and Rep Roger West, all from NC will be working hard to make a deal fast with TN on getting this done. No one wants this to be a free for all but wants everyone to be able to enjoy the Dragon and have a great time in the area. What can you do top help: Ok time to lay off the NC emails and calls other than your letters of thanks and encouragement as they are clearly on our team. We as well as our Congressmen need you to contact the Governors office not by email but please call as emails are not being addressed, email the other TN officials from our save the gap link. We need them to understand that they will lose more tourism dollars as almost all the places to stay are in there districts not western NC. So lets get the emails rocking and burn up the phones. The NC folks said they got a overwhelming response and have heard the call. Thanks Gang, I can not tell you how proud I was to hear that, we have a wonderful community. Brad | ||
| Fierrosc |
And more news about the dragon... http://news.tennesseeanytime.org/node/4837 | ||
| Dragonslayer |
Dragon update from DGMR Good morning and a happy good friday to everyone. Things contiue to move forward on getting the Dragon reopened by Wen next week. Waiting now for all the paperwork to be signed so the barricade can be moved. Key things to remember: 1- It will not be one way traffic, you have to turn around and come back to the resort. 2- Two way traffic will mean crossing the double yellow puts you at risk as well as other motorcycle riders. Will resault in serious injury or a fatality. 3- THP will patrol ever day until the slide is gone, this is for our protection NOT I say again NOT to write endless tickets and use it as a revinue builder. Easy stuff gang, we can have the Dragon for once without semi traffic on it. No word yet when the road will be open for thru traffic that will be up to the rock slide when they bring it down. But just at $2 million for the winning contract I do not see it as taking long or they will be losing money fast. Now for the rumors, hope I can get them all right lol. No the road is not being removed and turned into part of the cades cove loop. No the tree of shame has not been cut down. No TDOT did not cause the rock slide on purpose. No THP is not tazzing folks for approaching the barricades. That is the ones from this week lol. If you have any questions or a funny rumor you have heard send them in to info@dealsgap.com would love to hear them. Hope everyone has a great easter weekend, eat tons of candy or better yet feed your kids tons of candy and see how hyper they get. Brad | ||
| Fierrosc |
The dragon will be opening up sooner than you think. April 12, 2010. http://fontanasites.com/road%20updates/ | ||
| Crackhead |
Is anyone trailering past Maryland with extra space to bring a parts Blast back from Wilkesboro, NC (Cross Roads HD) area? | ||
| 86129squids |
'The dragon will be opening up sooner than you think. April 12, 2010.' I call bullshit- I had 2 guys from the company contracted to work the site in my restaurant the day before yesterday, the contract had JUST been awarded LAST WEEK, and there's an enormous amount of rock to be moved. Unless someone's got Dumbledore's magic wand, aint gonna happen. Fontana Village is on NC28, just below the end of the Dragon, on what's known as the "hellbender". That's what dude's probably talking about. On a positive note- more folks are discovering Tellico Plains and the Cherohala Skyway, not to mention all the other great roads surrounding that part of the state- without the Dragon, peeps are learning about these too, posthaste. Keep the rubber side down- if youn's DO make it over to see Brad and Beth at the Deal's Gap store, be sure to spend a little $$$ and help them out. Fontana Village on 28 aint bad either, all these businesses are hurting until the Dragon gets cleaned up. | ||
| Fierrosc |
As least read this part... KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Department of Transportation will reopen an 11-mile stretch of U.S. 129/SR115 in Blount County known as “The Dragon” on Monday, April 12 at 8:00 a.m. The stretch of U.S. 129 from the Tabcat Bridge to the North Carolina state line will be open to traffic each day between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. The section of U.S. 129 from just past the Foothills Parkway to the Tabcat Bridge will remain closed as crews work to remove a rockslide that closed the roadway in March. BTW...What's the name of the restaurant, maybe I'll stop by on my next trip up. (Message edited by fierrosc on April 09, 2010) (Message edited by fierrosc on April 09, 2010) | ||
| 86129squids |
Whoops- didn't go to your link, cuz my crappy computer rarely digests the more modern HTML... What I've gathered so far is the current conditions MANDATE no squidliness. Hopefully that'll make the road a LOT more enjoyable. At this writing I've got 3 bikes and none of them run- mebbe within the week I'll have the Shovel up and running, I'll be sure to go check things out and post an eyewitness account. Glad to hear you can actually get through- got a buddy I sold a Buell to a few years ago who works at the Fontana Dam, he used the bike to do his commute. Never seen ANYONE go through tires like him. Carry on, nevermind me... BTW, for some good grub stop by Puleo's in Alcoa. Tip your server well.  | ||
| Fierrosc |
I think I met your buddy at Fontana Dam during the Smokey Mountain Bike Week in 2008. Can't remember his name, move up their to work at the dam, or it was moved up there to ride the dragon and got a job at the dam so he could commute back and forth on the dragon everyday, had a very short crew cut, maybe bald, dressed in full leathers, one of only three buells at the event. I think he was riding an XB12SS had recently switched to the Scorpion Sync to get a little more mileage out of the tires. Was talking about getting an 1125R sponsorship from Smokey Mountain Buell with a custom dragon paint job. Man we all thought... He has it made. (Message edited by fierrosc on April 09, 2010) | ||
| 86129squids |
Yeppers- my buddy Joe Fox. Keep the rubber side down, youn's... | ||
| Dragonslayer |
I think there's gonna be a good turnout for Dragon III next week. Can't wait. We've got some good rides planned, plus we will be able to get some Dragon time now. | ||
| Ulynut |
Looking at the pictures, it could be a lot of work to make that section of road safe to travel on. Two options... 1. Rock bolts. Clean off all the loose rock, then drill horizontally and install anchor bolts, then wire mesh over that. 2. Drill a pre-split line at a slope back far enough to be in solid rock, and blast the rock in front of it to leave a stable rock face. Both methods are time consuming and dangerous. Right up my alley. I think I'll send in a resume. |
