I can't imagine what you were going thru for those 5 hours. It would have been too much stress for me. I bet you didn't know whether to hug him or pop him up side his head. LOL!

That's a crazy story! Holy Smokes....

I have been on Cherohala 2x. It's one of the roads I like the best, because it has spectacular views, and it's really easy to get into a nice rhythm on it. I also like that is a long road. I'm going back in a few weeks to ride as many, different twisty roads as I can each day!

Being from Florida, I suppose I'm easily impressed, but I found the Cherohala Skyway to be the most amazing 40 miles of road I ever experienced. The scenery, the quality and engineering of the road, the clouds floating by at eye-level...what more could you ask for? My son and I were there last June and I took about 20 trips end to end.

The Dragon was like a crowded public swimming pool warm with urine compared to the Skyway's undisturbed mountain lake feel.

When my 17 yo dissappeard, I wasn't too worried. He's an excellent rider and pretty level headed. I figured he had back tracked to the little town on the Tenn. side. He's quite the survivalist and built a lean too off to the side of the parkway. He was a little bent out of shape that day b/c he wanted to stay at the Dragon and didn't want to do a round trip through Cherohala. I figured he back tracked an went back through the Dragon. After drying out at an overlook, we went back to Robbinsville to the Phillips Motel and waited. After about a total of 5 hours I started back out to retrace my route. As soon as I turned on to Rt 129, there he was. I hadn't been really worried. I knew he would do the right thing. The worst part was calling my wife and telling her that her little baby boy was missing on the mountain. Actually she was somewhat reasonable.

The Dragon was like a crowded public swimming pool warm with urine

that's quite an image!! I've had good luck riding mid-week, and the camping worked out nicely. The hike to Huckleberry Knob on the Skyway can be terrific on a clear autumn afternoon.

Great line!! I completely agree, the Dragon even if it was deserted wouldn't be a great "go fast" road, no sight lines. With the squids overrunning it, it's no fun at all. The Cherohala though is one of the great bike roads in the country.

Interesting, more pirates there than anything else IMHO. The squids move along quite nicely, or they go over the mountain.....either way there are NOT in my way.:mrgreen:

Well, I was there in June 2010, when the landslide had closed it to through traffic. Some Harley guys there, but the overwhelming majority were sport bike guys. I guess it's different at "normal" times.

I roade tHe dragon, mid September on a weekday. Left Robbinsville in heavy fog at 9am in the morning. It broke outside of town and I did enjoy the ride, very few riders at that time although the speed limit is very restricted and enforced ( passed two motorcycle leos even at that time). Cherohola skyway was much better as well as the moonshiner (hwy 28 ). Many great roads throughout the area and I can see why many make this area a destintion. That time of year, mostly goldwing and harley guys.

I ride the Cherohala often, the place is a circus these days and that is a shame. I go anyway, but only ride it in the early morning or the evening before dark. That way I avoid 99% of the bar hoppers and street racers.

I've ridden many miles out west, love CO and such but, the SE is still my favorite. I've found that the roads around Ashville near 215 are less crowded and very nice. I head up through Cave Springs through Rome to Ft. Mt and then head to 68 and do the Cherohala on my way to the BRP stopping at the Blue Ridge Motorcycle Camp Ground and then up to Hot Springs for a coffee break. On to the Marion, VA area up 16 if I have time. And loop back down on the BRP heading back home via the Cherohala or sometimes across 64 in GA. Thats my favorite area to ride in the entire US. I just did a 1400 mile loop recently and I still think I rather spend more days up there than heading out west. But, its nice to change things up every few years, I'll do Utah again some day. :mrgreen: