Cherohala Skyway 2025-04-28

Left camp at 0900 for a Telleco Plains lunch stop, via the Cherohala Skyway. Jim finally got the burger that he had wanted for two days at The IronGrill. It is on the river and the food is great. We spent time on the rivers edge, and I found a few snakes sunning on the rocks.

After lunch, we headed up Rt360, down Rt72 to the Dragon (Rt129).

Stopping in Vonore for a cold drink. This time, it was Jim who bathed in his. I managed to get my coffee and Gatorade all in my mouth. Outside we talked with a couple from Colorado on a pair of BMW 1250 GS bikes. The guy had done the full Trans Atlantic Trail (TAT). When I asked about the difficulty of the TAT in WV and CO he said that he wouldn't do a section of the trail in both CO and MI. But he thought the WV TAT was fine.

The Dragon was nearly wide open on a Monday evening. Three vehicles pulled off so that I could pass. The forth wasn't caught until the last half mile. At Deals Gap I bought a requested license plate holder. You're welcome, Tucker.

While riding Rt28 we swung into the Natahala Village Resort. At lunch Jim's brother told a story of his "discovery" of the Dragon. He road in late in the season and found this resort after dark. It's a very pretty location. It would certainly be an oasis in the wilderness.

We rode past our tents on Rt28 to the Natahala Outdoor Center for dinner at Rivers End. Second restaurant of the day on the river. The entire area seemed very empty. A half dozen tables of poeple in the restaurant, and almost nobody visible accross the river. In addition the the chicken sandwich and french fries, waitress' favorite, I ordered a salad. Then ate the sandwich and salad first, leaving some fries on my plate. I just don't leave food on my plate. So I want credit for leaving the worst part of the meal. Thanks you.

After dinner we crossed the bridge and sat river side for a while. When we returned to the bikes a had a lengthy (from Jim's point of view) conversation with a hiker. He was hiking the AT south ME to GA last year when the floods stopped him in VA. He returned to the trail in March, and planned to finish up in the next two weeks. Today he had hiked 16 miles, and on average takes one zero day every two weeks. That sounded a bit aggressive to me, so I asked. He confirmed that it probably less zero mile days than most through hikers do.

Now full we headed for the tents via Rt28. For a change we parked out front and met one of the new crew coming in for the rest of this week. It's a group of BMW riders going by the name "Tame the Tail of the Dragon". They suggested we come by and drink a beer with them. Hmmm.