Heading down the Carolina side of the Cherohala Skyway.

We had agreed to meet at Deals Gap later in the ride so that everybody could ride at their own pace. 4 of us were riding together when we reached the end of the Cherohala Skyway. The Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest is in the valley in the background.

And then... we're in the madness of Deals Gap, the southern mecca of motorcycling.

The restaurant at Deals Gap has some pretty good food. The ceiling is decorated with dozens of biking shirts from all over the world.

We rode on across the Dragon to the overlook above Lake Calderwood. That's a popular gathering area for riders on the Dragon.