In general I haven't done much route planning for this trip, so when I left Nashville I just pointed my bike toward the Mtns figuring that I like Mtns and there should be something interesting there.  Firstly, I discovered that people plan entire vacations to visit the roads around the Smoky Mtns.  Secondly, there is this road called the Tail of the Dragon - 300+ curves in 11 miles.

Last night after watching a bunch of movies on that road I had worked myself up to the point where I couldn't sleep, or when I did fall asleep I would wake myself up again.  In the morning I had a nice chat with a guy named Rick who was from Oklahoma and was also going to brave the roads, so I figured I could do it also.

I think the number of motorcyles at the gap was the largest that I have ever been a part of ... it really gave the whole experience the feel of a theme park.  Unlike the sport bikes (they may ride that hill all day) I took the corners easy, hit the bottom and turned around to do it again from the other direction.  Also adding to the themepark feel was the photographers camped at a couple of the corners shooting all the bikes and then selling prints online (not a bad gig really).

 After the crush of all the traffic I excaped onto the Blue Ridge Parkway.  The parkway is epic!  The picture above is just one example of the many outlooks.  I stopped taking photos because I would still be up there otherwise.  But mostly I just focus on the corners and keeping my lines good, because ... well let's just say this isn't a good road to be distracted on.

Anna/Bri - I saw a very puffy cayote
Natalie - saw a very cool blue jay, and an enormous soaring bird with splayed wing tips
Megan/Joe - I miss walking down to the elysian
Lisa - I need some tea!  My shoulder is killing me.
Carl - video of what it looks like with the fall colors http://youtu.be/ys1GytM3KLc
Everyone - I'm missing you all today.