There was a tornado very close to where we stopped on Thursday. We were sitting in the little bar at the hotel waiting for the band to start playing and the sky started turning that weird yellow/grey color that usually leads some bad weather. Then, all hell broke loose - it started POURING! So very, very glad we only rode 100 miles +/- and didn't get caught in the middle of that mess!

The band at the hotel SUCKED! They were so bad that Tim walked out, using the excuse that he had to check his laundry, and he never came back! I left because my ears were hurting! They must've been really bad, since I left a freshly baked chocolate-chip cookie on the table!

Arrived home in the afternoon on Friday. Tim rode with me all the way to Akron, and split off on I-76 to head back towards Buffalo, New York.

We stopped in North Canton and had a very nice lunch at a Cracker Barrel.

Today was an easy riding day; only about 181 miles for me, and the weather cooperated! I am glad to be home, but miss being on the road. I think I am turning into a vagabond.

Addendum - we heard on the road that a gal who rode the Dragon the day after we did lost control of her bike. She was able to jump off, and was fairly un-injured, before it went sailing over a very steep drop-off. It was a fairly new Harley-Davidson Road King, which is now a pile of metal in a valley. Speaking of which, I never did see the "tree of shame", where are the dead motorcycles are piled... maybe on the next trip. UPDATE! My friend, Joe, sent me his pics of the tree, included!

Attaching maps of the Cherohala/Tail of the Dragon area in Tennessee and North Carolina for those of you who are interested. I highly recommend riding the Dragon when the roads are DRY!!!

FAREWELL, at least until we meet again on my next adventure! :)~