Day 14 Chased by the dragon

I awoke to find that the tooth fairy had left me a present wrapped up outside.

It turned out not to be a new motorcycle so I left it there.

This end of the mountains appears to draw petrol heads like me, there is one signature stretch of road know as the ‘Dragon’s Tail’ located at Deal’s Gap and as it was kinda on my way it would have been churlish not to. There was a little light rain as I climbed so I let a pair of BMWs pass with their fancy anti-lock brakes and traction control pass, today wouldn’t be a good day to bin the bike. Deal’s Gap is one of those locations that feeds of itself, no one stuck a pin in the map and said that’s where I’ll build a motorcycle resort, people came and then they built it. It has the feel of the Ace Cafe on the North Circular in London, one of my favourite haunts. It was raining so I went inside to wait for the prodigal sun to dry the road.

Fed and watered and with grip returning to the pavement I set off with some trepidation, fortune didn’t favour the brave in these parts. The road was spotted with photographers camped out for the day at the more picturesque curves, or perhaps just where they could set up without too high a risk of collecting a motorcycle. I wasn’t ready for my close up and, having caught up with a pair of Harleys, was content to cruise and survive. I assumed that there would photographs for sale online, and there were.

The road levelled and straightened and after I knew it we were clear of the mountains, I stopped by a lake to reflect.

But not fish.

The road to Chattanooga saw me run into reserve a little earlier than expected, this is always a disquieting moment, the bike has no petrol gauge and simply splutters out like a plug has been pulled. It’s always a relief when, turning the petrol taps to the their backup positions revives her with something over 20 miles of extra juice.

Hot an tired I settled for a ‘Day’s Inn’ and by chance it had a bar and diner attached, I didn’t go far. There was an open mike night and a friendly city surveyor, Cameron, to drink with, the music started late which explains my hangover this morning.

Not forgetting the dragon..