I will never go through Cades Cove again on a motorcycle. Too much traffic. It is ok to drive to the store but turn around before its too late. You will get stuck on the one way road. We punished ourselves and our bikes for close to 3 hours. We have never been so hot from the heat from the bike. MISERABLE. Never getting out of 1st gear. Any wildlife will halt traffic flow and you are stuck.

 

Your absolutely right that traffic you will melt one down in a hurry it is however a awsome spot

 

NC 80 is a great road! It's one of my favorites and puts the Dragon to shame IMO! It's allot less crowded, more scenic and there are several great routes to and from. I like to take it from Burnsville south towards Marion.

https://www.thedevilnc80.com/directions.html

 

Awsome road I live in Burnsville so I ride it a lot also another good road I especially like is the 226a if you catch it just right you can catch blind Kenny to snap your picture he's usually back and forth between the two 80 and 227a http://www.diamondbacknc.com/

 

Blueridge Mountain BBQ in Blueridge, Ga. Darn good BBQ and fresh made potato chips to go with it.

 

Yesterday was a nice 60 degrees in Dragon Country so I took advantage of having a day off and rode the dragon and the Foot Hills Parkway. Surprisingly, there were not to many bikes out.

Now, it is a balmy 39 degrees with snow showers with the upcoming weather being pretty cold. I am ready for spring.
Charles

 

Mt Pisgah on BRP has a good restaurant, Plus that part of the Parkway is the highest near Mt Mitchell and the most scenic. Fat Buddies in Waynsville has great ribs!

 

There is also a Fat Buddies in Franklin and their BBQ and ribs are excellent.

 

I rode the devils triangle this year for the first time and I didnt care for it. I mean it had some of the sharpest hair pins i have ever seen but besides about a five mile section of state park there wasnt much in the way of scenery.

 

The parkway form Cherokee to boon is hard to beat for scenery.