Bro Ride 2017

Another successful Bro Ride is on the books and this one served to be just as cool as the others except we saw more wildlife--not wild life.  We took another trip to the Tail of the Dragon and Deal's Gap but we threw in the Cherohala Skyway, the Fugitive Dam, Gatlinburg, Blue Ride Parkway, Foothills Parkway, Cherokee, Tellico Plains, Bald River Falls, Devil's Triangle, and Cumberland Falls.  We saw a monster elk with his harem of 30 or so females, deer, wild turkey, and wild hogs but we didn't see Bigfoot.
Staying in old rundown motels is always a fun part of how we travel.  Yes, we could stay at nice places but crummy motels make for better stories.  We want to stay in the old style travel lodges where they let us put our bikes under the awning. 
On the way down we stayed at the Alcoa Inn which is right across the road from the airport in Alcoa, Tennessee.  You haven't lived until you have airplanes landing right over your head in the middle of the night,  We only found one bug so that wasn't too bad.  We spent the next night in the historic Tapoco Lodge, which was way nicer than where we usually spend the night.  Tapoco is an excellent place to stay, and the setting is gorgeous, but make reservations ahead of time.  We were lucky to get one of their last rooms.    
On the way back home a lightning storm chased us off the slab at Rocky Top, Tennessee.  We pulled in the first place we saw which was The Blue Haven.  We were told by locals that that is where the methheads live because it is so cheap but we didn't have any problems and the people we met were friendly. The décor was hilarious but I'm sure it looked good to whoever picked it out. It was cheap and there were no bedbugs which is what matters to us.
I recommend the Beach Burger at Tellico Beach in Tellico Plains but the best restaurant we ate at was Little Vols in Rocky Top.  Little Vols deserves a post all by itself because of the restaurant, the food, and the friendly people. 
This may be my last trip to Deal's Gap because there are so many good places to ride in the U.S. but this was a memorable 4 day, 1400 mile trip.  Next post will be about the Devil's Triangle and Little Vols.  Now enjoy some pics.