…and drove 20 miles into David Boone National Forest to check out the Cumberland river…

In Bryson City, while they were rearranging the coaches for the train, I noticed something. Growing up in India, every coach of a train used to have two huge buffers on either end. Looked like two big cylinders with two large plates in front (of course, with some humongous springs inside). I remember watching as they would attach one coach to the other how the train driver would back the train at very slow speed to the coach to be attached. The buffers from either side would eventually make contact with a large noise, the springs would give in and then eventually recoil.

I noticed that the coaches in the train in Bryson City had no buffers. In fact, as the driver backed in slowly, the trap mechanism eased into the vault that looked like a rack and pinion joint and almost seemed to autolock. There was no recoil whatsoever. More interestingly, when the driver pulled forward, there was no “give”. You know – like the first compartment would move a second earlier than the second one (till the springs got elongated enough to make it a taut connection) etc etc. Here the whole train moved simultaneously when it started as if it was one solid body.

I assume these connection technologies have changed over the years? In India, do we still have the “buffers?”. Were they ever in use in US?

Are there any train experts in this group?

For the second night of the trip, we swing by our good old friend Budhu’s house in Knoxville. Ranjan-da came over too. We missed both Arpita (in India now) and Nita-di (in Davidson right now). A good relaxed evening on Budhu’s deck over some wine as he kept himself busy with the grill…

The water behind (if you can see it) is Little Tennessee river, I believe.

… and straightening out in the last stretch…

Someday, it is going to be me…

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…

Right in the middle of Fontana lake. A clear half mile away from any shores…

A very cute little house in a rare opening in the mountainside. Apparently, this is one of the oldest houses around in the state. Built in 1865.

After dinner, we came back to the hotel and instead of going to the bar, I got the wine out and sat on a bench next to the hotel. After Facetiming both the daughters, I settled down to feel the light breeze and watch the people going by. Sharmila got busy ordering food from Amazon and getting it delivered to Nikita (apparently, she has run thru her stock of snacks for three weeks within half that time !!)