John from Asheville leans into a turn on the Dragon on our Saturday group ride across the Cherohala to Deals Gap and the Dragon..

The ride to Tellico Plains on Friday was mostly uneventful, with some dodgy weather as I crossed through the mountains on the south shore of Fontana Lake. By the time that I reached Lake Cheoah, the next impoundment below Fontana, the weather was warmer and the clouds were lifting. The bridge in this shot crosses the Little Tennessee River just below the Fontana Dam. There was a Concours rally going on at the campground by the river, with a lot of the Kawasakis in attendance.

Friday morning, and the Gap was packed. This was one of the biggest crowds that I've seen at the Gap, with a lot of folks pouring in from all over the country to ride the famous twisty road around the west end of the Great Smoky Mountains.

This is a popular spot near the Tennessee end of the Dragon, high above Lake Caldewood.

Punkin Center, at the intersection of Hwy. 72 and Hwy. 129 is a popular gathering spot for the cruiser riders. There is a campground, store and shop there that serve bikers. For me, it's a good alternate route to Tellico Plains, avoiding the stormy crest of the Cherohala Skyway.

The Cherohala Motorcycle Resort, just a short distance from the small town of Tellico Plains, is a great destination for riders who plan to ride the Cherohala Skyway or the Dragon over on Hwy. 129. It's a clean, well-managed campground that caters exclusively to motorcycle clientele. In addition to providing an abundance of tent sites, the resort also offers these small cabins, complete with beds, linen, air conditioning, and power. The pavilion on the right side of the photo is available if it rains to provide a dry gathering place. The resort provides firewood for a communal fire pit, ice chests, along with clean showers and bathrooms.

The inside of the simple cabins - it's hard to beat for only $45.

The fire pit - where we swap tales about riding and life in general.

A view of the shower/bathroom facilities. A store is on the other end of the building. Beyond the store is a large enclosed shed - I think that it's available as a motorcycle shelter when it rains.

The Pavilion.