April 15th, 2015.
Day 5.

I was up early, just like in boarding school back in W. Africa and not long after a cup of coffee, I headed out for the day at 6:45 a.m. as Albert left for work.
My destination for today was Westpoint, MS where I’d be visiting with family for a day, via The Tail of The Dragon - weather permitting.
My ride experience in the prevailing weather conditions on the Back of The Dragon (VA 16) had given me cause for apprehension. So I decided to remain flexible with my decisions and make them as I went along based on the conditions I’d find myself in.
I left Charlotte along Interstate 85.
It started to rain again!
I motored on, tentatively.
So far the bike had and was handling really well. So well that it was not even a concern to me. I think the concern was more on my personal being.
Everything around me was wet. The wind was relatively cold. Mixed in the rain was the dense envelope of fog that clung to the land.
This was the 2nd day of this and there did not seem to be any letting up.
Of course there was nothing I could do about it. I had no control over this and all I wanted to do was continue my journey westward as the storm moved eastward, hoping to keep my time through it to a minimum.
Either it was a very widespread and massive storm system or it had stalled over this part of the country. Mile after mile went by with no inkling of blue skies!
At King’s Mountain I exited the interstate system of highways and “jumped” onto NC 74 which was to eventually deposit me in Asheville, NC.
Mid-morning and the rain was now steady, the fog still very dense. I pulled off the road into a strip mall parking lot in Shelby, NC to feed myself and take a break out of these conditions, if only for a little while.
Soon afterwards I got back on the road again with a new determination borne of disappointment with the weather, becoming laser-focussed now with my next destination solely in mind.
By lunchtime, after fighting 18-wheelers for a handful of hours, I exited the highway again for a fuel break.
As I rehydrated myself, I looked around and realized that the rain had actually died down to a very light drizzle, getting less and less by the minute.
I was at the base of the Pisgah National Forest.
I began to feel a sense of relief and excitement. I had been in the rain for 2 riding days at this time.
I decided to wait a little while longer for the water to run off the roads a little more.
So suiting up when I was ready, I took off at this now late hour in the day, wondering whether to bypass the Tail of The Dragon and continue westwards to Westpoint, MS.
But I had come so far, endured so much inclement weather and decided at least to just go to the start of it and take an obligatory picture for myself.
No sooner had I suited up, fired up the bike after gassing her up and turning back onto the road out of the gas station, the rain started again!
Talk about frustration!
I kept myself pointed in the direction of Asheville, NC towards US 129 - The Tail of The Dragon, which would then take me towards Robbinsville and then on to Tapoco.
I was so close but yet still so far from it.
This was the long way to get there because I opted to stay close to the major highways so I could have a quick exit from the area in the event that I decided to change plans and course along the way, as would be dictated by the weather conditions.
Around 3:55 p.m. local time, I arrived in Robbinsville - right where US 129 continues northwards towards Deals Gap and begins the Tail of The Dragon.
I dismounted and set up for a few photos just before entering the town.
Quickly loading my gear back up, I made a quick dash through the town and made that final right turn at a 3-way junction that eventually put me onto US 129.
Made it!
But the raindrops were still of considerable size and falling steadily.
I gingerly pulled into the first overlook, a clearing in the dense growth of the forest right by a lake.
On a clear day I have no doubt that it would be a very lovely view/sight. But on this day and at this time, I could not even see the water body or presence of the lake. That’s how dense the fog still was!
My gloves were wet. I must have drained several gallons out of them as I took them off. I needed to get them off so as I could take that picture as documentary evidence to register my presence at this spot - being on US 129, The Tail of The Dragon!
With pictures out of the way, my thoughts now turned towards the rest of my journey towards West Point, MS.
For a brief while, I could not even figure out which way was east or west. I knew though that US 129 at this point ran north to south. North for me being a lift turn out this overlook.
So as I slowly got to grips with my bearings, guess what?
the rain stopped!!
I looked around me. I thought I could make out some faint “blue” trying to appear through the extensive spread of grey in the skies.
I was not confident.
Suddenly I realized that I was at the start of this widely spoken-about road, easing weather and still a couple of hours of daylight remaining for the day.
Why not?
I quickly donned my riding gear, leaving my gloves off, fired up the bike after mounting my video camera on its perch on the bike, headed out of the overlook parking area and made a turn to the north.
At least I could experience this road for myself, if nothing at all.
Arriving at Deals Gap, the start of this fabled road, there were only 3 people there.
I got chatting and got one of them to take a couple of pictures of me, after which I promptly began my ride.
As I motored along, the road started getting less and less wet.
My excitement started getting less and less dampened.
My comfort level on the road started getting more and more heightened!
There was no one here. Up to this point I had seen no one, nor passed any vehicle along the way.
I had The Dragon all to myself!
My Michelin tires stuck to the road so well. I began to indulge.
The curves started to come at me.
I was in a groove.
6 VW Golf/Rabbit cars came by in the opposite direction. I made a mental note of that.
I kept on.
The twists and turns of the road were thrilling but not personally challenging.
I cranked up my speed. The bike gave me great feedback. I had a lot of confidence. She was handling very well. Weight and all.
At some parts I was traveling at speeds I normally would not even dream of plying a road in these conditions. But with each passing curve and twist in the road, the conditions improved.
All too soon 11 miles (17.6 km) went by in what seemed to be the blink of an eye!
So now at the end of this road, I felt the desire to ride it in the opposite direction, back towards where I started out and then take a straight shot towards Mississippi. But it was getting late and I did not want to be caught up here in the mountains after dark.
So the decision was to take the long way around through the valley.
So getting back onto the country highway at this point, I pulled into the first gas station I came to, fuelled up the bike, got a Pepsi and a blueberry muffin for nourishment and prepared for the long ride to my next destination - where I should have been arriving at close to this time in the day as planned.
I was way behind schedule. The rain had slowed my journey and cost me time.
But it also made for a very unique experience on The Tail of the Dragon.
How many can say the literally have ridden it all the way and had it pretty much all to themselves?
With the weather conditions as well, I was able to perform an apples to apples comparison of this road to The Back of The Dragon, VA 16. (I shall be writing about this in another section of the website).
So I motored on, preparing for the long night of riding. I had to make it to my next stop today, at all costs, in keeping with my scheduled meeting of family and friends along the way.
At 10:24 p.m. local time I crossed into Alabama.
Yes, you know the routine - obligatory picture at the state line.
Boy was it dark!
No street lights here whatsoever.
Made it difficult to take a picture for the effect I wanted, but I persevered.
Back on the road.
Hauled a**!
Close to 1:00 a.m. I could hardly keep my eyes open.
I was tired and sleepy.
I had to get off the bike.
I pulled into the parking lot of a closed-down truck stop I came across along the way and took advantage to get some “wake-up” time.
I performed exercise routines to limber up my body and paced the property to help raise my heart rate.
I kept this up for about 35 minutes before setting off.
I needed coffee.
None in sight!

Next - APP Day 6.