If you have not heard of the Tail of the Dragon, it is a very circuitous route in North Carolina/Tennessee border that is often considered a rite of passage for motorbikers. It is something I have a goal for myself to conquer someday on my motorbike. The 11 mile route has 318 switchbacks – and some very steep hair pin bends. On a bike, you rarely get to sit up. You are constantly pushing your bike down to the left or immediately recovering to push it down to the right. The route, unfortunately, claims one biker’s life every year on an average. There are some interesting statues and structures made of broken motorcycle parts at the entrance.

Since we were in North Carolina already, we decided to enter Tennessee thru the Dragon. Of course, I was much safer in a car. But I wanted to get a feel for the route. It is as demanding and scary as it is billed to be.

Someday, I will make it on my motorbike. For the time being, I slayed the dragon in a car…