Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Monday Aug 28th Tapoco Tennessee – Braselton Georgia 380 km
So we saved the Dragon for the Monday. We went there first thing in the morning but we were not the first ones. We visited the Deal’s Gap store and bought the obligatory T-shirts and some stickers. (However, later at CCR we realized that we had missed the Dragon figure itself. Luckily there were folks going there from CCR who were kind enough to bring us them afterwards. Thank you all!)
Anyway, the Dragon itself seems to be a well marketed (biker)tourist attraction. Yes, it may be fun but for the weight we were carrying and the slight rain we encountered we firmly decided that our windshields will not end up in the famous Tree of Shame. With half worn Metzelers and wet asphalt we did not feel like scraping pegs or centerstands. But still, it was a nice experience anyhow. I stayed firmly on my side of the road and had the videocam recording all the time. Now I have something to watch in the rocking chair in 30 years…
After the Dragon we took the Foothills road to North and merged to Hwy 321 and later to 441 and from there further to Hwy 74 and 23 towards Braselton. Our EuroNav II worked like a taxi driver, brought us right to the front entrance of Chateau Elan.
So far we had covered about 9000 km (5600 miles) from home. The only incident was my bike drop which actually is considered as “standard procedure” with these bikes. The only technical “problems” were the breakage of my helmet camera connector and the breakage of my helmet microphone cable during the bike drop. Both of these we could fix as we had spare parts and actually I am embarrassed to even mention these as at the same time our buddies from Germany, Tom and Hartmut, suffered from a leaking gas tank gasket and a broken rear drive bearing.
We had also been extremely lucky with the weather. We had gotten a total of max 6 minutes of rain on the American continent. Minimum temperature was 10 C (50 F) in Montana and maximum was 42 (108 F) somewhere in Oklahoma.
Now we were finally at CCR and it was time to get settled at least for five nights in a same room! So no packing and stuffing of things like we had done every morning for the past two and half weeks. Time to meet people in person with whom I have been in touch for over two years…
A hydroelectric power plant in Tapoco.
The famous "tree of Shame
Jouko was looking for a place to hang his CeeBaileys windshield in case the need arises...
Stay on your own lane and beware the trucks...
.
The official souvenir shop and the other early birds of Monday.
Finally reached the top and admiring the view down to Chilhowee Lake.
No way of taking riding pics on the actual Dragon. This one is taken after it.
Anyway, the Dragon itself seems to be a well marketed (biker)tourist attraction. Yes, it may be fun but for the weight we were carrying and the slight rain we encountered we firmly decided that our windshields will not end up in the famous Tree of Shame. With half worn Metzelers and wet asphalt we did not feel like scraping pegs or centerstands. But still, it was a nice experience anyhow. I stayed firmly on my side of the road and had the videocam recording all the time. Now I have something to watch in the rocking chair in 30 years…
After the Dragon we took the Foothills road to North and merged to Hwy 321 and later to 441 and from there further to Hwy 74 and 23 towards Braselton. Our EuroNav II worked like a taxi driver, brought us right to the front entrance of Chateau Elan.
So far we had covered about 9000 km (5600 miles) from home. The only incident was my bike drop which actually is considered as “standard procedure” with these bikes. The only technical “problems” were the breakage of my helmet camera connector and the breakage of my helmet microphone cable during the bike drop. Both of these we could fix as we had spare parts and actually I am embarrassed to even mention these as at the same time our buddies from Germany, Tom and Hartmut, suffered from a leaking gas tank gasket and a broken rear drive bearing.
We had also been extremely lucky with the weather. We had gotten a total of max 6 minutes of rain on the American continent. Minimum temperature was 10 C (50 F) in Montana and maximum was 42 (108 F) somewhere in Oklahoma.
Now we were finally at CCR and it was time to get settled at least for five nights in a same room! So no packing and stuffing of things like we had done every morning for the past two and half weeks. Time to meet people in person with whom I have been in touch for over two years…
A hydroelectric power plant in Tapoco.
The famous "tree of Shame
Jouko was looking for a place to hang his CeeBaileys windshield in case the need arises...
Stay on your own lane and beware the trucks...
.
The official souvenir shop and the other early birds of Monday.
Finally reached the top and admiring the view down to Chilhowee Lake.
No way of taking riding pics on the actual Dragon. This one is taken after it.
