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Tail of the Dragon
  • Matthew Juhlin
  • Matthew Juhlin

Tail of the Dragon

A 19-day adventure by Matthew Read more
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  • Matthew JuhlinTail of the DragonTraveler

    Chantilly Farm Campground

    May 11, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    Lighting strikes twice. Back up a sec. There are still lots of beef and dairy farms around here. The estates can be pretty big, acres of rolling fields of grass. This campground used to be one. Now it's a campground, hosts weddings, has a gospel festival and a bluegrass shindig, etc. Today there's not many people tent camping... just one!Read more

  • Matthew JuhlinTail of the DragonTraveler

    Life in Floyd VA

    May 11, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    When I come to a place like this I can't help but wonder why people put up with traffic congestion, apartments with street parking only, 2 bed 2 bath for more than you can possibly pay in your lifetime... I know the obvious stuff like jobs and access to specialist doctors, and if you like big cities and all the stimulation they offer then this rant is irrelevant, but I'm just thinking of quality of life. Like what is life expectancy here versus the Bronx, or LA, or New Haven, or living 1 1/2 hours from your job in Boston? How much does aggrivation and frustration shorten your life? Would you like the rest of your life to have repeated and predictable irritations or occasional, unavoidable ones?Read more

  • Matthew JuhlinTail of the DragonTraveler

    Another damn storm

    May 11, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    As I'm leaving the restaurant there's a flash. I'm driving back to the campground in a thunderstorm. I've just about had it with this weather. At noon I was in showers, at 3 I was sweating, at 5 was a downpour, and now the moon and stars are out after a downpour. The rain ran down the tent flaps and was channeled straight in. All the sheets are wet and all my gear, like my rain gear (which are now wet inside and out), my riding shoes (I only have one), my riding jacket (ditto). So tomorrow is probably shot so I can do laundry - something like 2 changes of clothes and 2 washcloths, just because I have to have a dry jacket and blankets. I'm real damn fortunate it's so warm right now. I think I'll be able to get some sleep. Maybe tomorrow will be nice. I'll wipe down the bike so it's nice and shiny again and nap in this giant field in the afternoon sun. I was thinking earlier, when I was sitting at the gas station waiting for that storm to pass, that I don't even mind when things don't go as planned. That's part of the fun in having a memorable time in life. I'm getting to see neat things like the caverns and talk to lots of people, like Bill and Boris from Toronto, or the guy at the gas station with the hearing implant, he also had a big Honda with trailer and was also going to the Blue Ridge Parkway. I think I'm bothered that something I should have anticipated messed up a lot of my plans.

    HOLEY SHIT what the hell is that noise? It sounds like two pieces of metal just scraped across each other. And it's calling again and again. Wow, I've about had enough of this trip. What thing makes a noise like that?    Read more

  • Matthew JuhlinTail of the DragonTraveler

    Breakfast at Lake View Motel

    May 12, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

    Now I hear the southern accent. The customers all around me have a twang. Buckwheat pancakes have a slightly bitter, grainier taste which goes well with pancake syrup.

    The Blue Ridge Parkway is ideal for cruising. It's got beautiful lookouts and seems to not have any stop signs. The weather dictated I ride this morning, then do laundry. I want the break. I'm worn out from last night and my index finger on my throttle hand is tingling.

    I'm surprised how many little brick ranch houses there are around here, all in perfect condition.    Read more

  • Matthew JuhlinTail of the DragonTraveler

    Sun dried

    May 12, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    When I got back from my ride it was still bright sun and breezy so I set everything out to dry. There's still nothing on radar. Which is frustrating. I bet as soon as I leave with my laundry it will happen.

    I laid down for a nap... clouds. Now thunder.    Read more

  • Matthew JuhlinTail of the DragonTraveler

    Dinner at Dogtown

    May 12, 2016 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 19 °C

    Live music here. Their first song sounds like Jonny Reb having a hoedown on the farm. I'm real glad some people want to keep this music alive.

    Found out the tent leaks from anywhere there's a seam. WTF. That's like making a car that leaks wherever there's fixed glass... it's a failed product! Going to toss it and stay in cabins for the rest of the trip. Way more comfortable anyway.

    Tomorrow will be a travel day. I started 2 days late and I've been out 4 days. Starting to get a feel for how much slower (delays) it is to travel by bike. Want to skip some of Blue Ridge and get closer to the well-known rides near Asheville.

    Now checking the radar like I'm paranoid. Have clean (and dry) clothes with me and (dry) bedsheets in the tent. Gotta eat and run, bye!    Read more

  • Matthew JuhlinTail of the DragonTraveler

    Black Jack's Pub and Grill

    May 13, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    Time for gas and breakfast. This town looks nice. Too bad I'm just passing through, I'd like to explore it. There's a bunch of different kinds of businesses in downtown here. This bar has giant burgers and is filled with Panthers banners.

    On the way down here I saw cows everywhere. Cows of every color in town and out. Quite suddenly the cows stopped and Christmas trees started. Like one field after another. Sorry no pictures, was trying not to crash.    Read more

  • Matthew JuhlinTail of the DragonTraveler

    Spruce Pine Motel

    May 13, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    I checked into this motel, the kind that's two floors with parking spaces in the middle. The streets around here are Pine, Walnut, Oak, Balsam, sounds nice. Well its not the prettiest little city. I should have looked around to see what the neighborhood looks like. Oh well. Going to shower and eat at a 50s diner that's just down the road, the guy said. Then ride a bit more, weather is great.

    Edit: the neighborhood seems fine. It's where all the businesses used to be before the big box stores moved in one street over. Walmart is here. They are the harbinger.    Read more

  • Matthew JuhlinTail of the DragonTraveler

    Mountain View Restaurant

    May 13, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    Tonight I'm having - get this - a Pino Noir. And look at the view. Think this is a 4 star resort at a mountain top? Nope, it's a motel on a ledge over a main road. If you like great views and big trucks going by below this is the place for you!Read more

  • Matthew JuhlinTail of the DragonTraveler

    Cold

    May 14, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 9 °C

    It's 45 degrees out. This weather is like pick your poison for motorcycles. Every day I have to change at least 2 time.

  • Matthew JuhlinTail of the DragonTraveler

    Biltmore Estate

    May 14, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    The camera in this phone takes good quality pictures but something about the zoom or field of view or something is too small. I could hardly get any good shots of anything in the house.

    Biltmore is "America's Largest House" (trademark.) The house is 120 (?) acres (house only), 250 rooms, 70 bathrooms, indoor bowling alley, indoor pool, Otis elevators (house had cutting edge amenities from day 1, including central heat and its own phone system.) Vanderbilt (grandson of the train baron) eventually bought 100,000 (?) acres of the surrounding land - land denuded of all trees in his time. Frederick Law Olmsted, his landscaper, was one of the first Americans to realize land needed conservation. Vanderbilt's efforts led to the creation of the US Forestry Service. The drive to the house is 3 miles through magnificent (man-made) landscape. By buggy this was 45 minutes. You were supposed to leave your cares behind. The driveway enters the grounds parallel to the house - so you can't see it till you turn the corner. The grounds are similarly laid out with genius. The compound is so big they have fly fishing lessons, Range Rover offroading lessons, etc. The house is full of Renoirs, Singer Sargents, a Ming vase or 3, Albrecht Durer engravings, etc.

    1 cantilevered giant spiral staircase
    2 where to start? roof is 5 stories up and still is monogramed. House has 50 fireplaces and 16 chimneys, hmm. House has gargoyles but high tech invention downspouts
    3 main dining hall, 3 fireplaces
    4 giant organ opposite fireplaces
    5 two stories floor to ceiling of books, spiral staircase, giant fireplace, door hidden behind 2nd story of fireplace so guests in bedrooms could get a book. Vanderbilt picked every book himself.    Read more

  • Matthew JuhlinTail of the DragonTraveler

    Biltmore

    May 14, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    1 individual changing rooms for ladies to get into their bathing suits
    2 pool. Not pictured: old-timey gym, steam bath box thing, etc
    3 one of several storerooms. House had a walk-in refrigerated room.
    4 turns out this wasn't the laundry room. The real one had industrial sized equipment
    5 this is Joan of Arc. There ain't a lot of female saints to go opposite your males. some of the grotesques were griffins, notable persons, a bear with a honeypot    Read more

  • Matthew JuhlinTail of the DragonTraveler

    Truck stop lunch

    May 14, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

    Always good for comfort food cheap and fast.

    I didn't plan my day today and got bit. I had to leave the Parkway because I was getting low on gas. This was the closest city and it was a ways away, so it's been another delay. The Parkway around here has several tunnels. There's no run up to them of any kind, just a hole with trees around it like a cartoon.Read more

  • Matthew JuhlinTail of the DragonTraveler

    Breakfast and gas

    May 15, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 10 °C

    Even cooler this morning. Sure enjoying the heated gloves I bought before I left. 40 degrees in Asheville in mid may.

    Tons of bikes here of all kinds, and all the fast food restaurants. Wish I had some way to find out what other bikers already know is good.Read more

  • Matthew JuhlinTail of the DragonTraveler

    Rafting

    May 15, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 10 °C

    This area has a pile of rafting shops. It was "the site of the 1994 freestyle kayaking championships" or something.

  • Matthew JuhlinTail of the DragonTraveler

    Bert's hometown grill

    May 15, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    This is Bert's. It's very busy. They have a great location: next door to Walmart.

    Temps this morning was even cooler than yesterday. it's real nice now, so time to change, eat, and get gas. I think I will tackle the Tail of the Dragon today because the weather is good and I can turn home one day sooner.Read more

  • Matthew JuhlinTail of the DragonTraveler

    Dragon done!

    May 15, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    Glad to have another accomplishment under my belt. Incidentally one of the roads I was on earlier was more difficult. This was fun.

    2 time for a break

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