Friday, July 3rd – Maggie Valley, NC to Franklin, NC

What a day Friday turned out to be! The route from Maggie Valley to Deals Gap, which traverses the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Great Smoky Mountains, is home to some of the most spectacular motorcycle riding in the country, including the (in)famous “Tail of the Dragon”, which boasts 318 curves in 11 miles. Although the primary focus of the Trans America Trail is back roads, dirt and “off-road” riding, the sheer beauty and excitement of these roads makes them a “must ride” as part of the experience.

Although the Tail of the Dragon is an extremely popular destination, and can be quite crowded, we were blessed with both an incredibly beautiful day, and relatively light traffic:

Our final destination was Franklin, NC, where we were grateful to have a comfortable room, and a some excellent BBQ for dinner. A great end to a memorable day!