Super Sherpa on the Dragon

I completed the Smokey Mountain 500 Adventure ride last week on my 2002 Model Year Kawasaki KL250 Super Sherpa. The SM500 is a popular adventure ride that was developed by a group of members on Adventure Rider. I've ridden it a number of times now.

The loop generally requires three days and has three lodging points:

• Two Wheels of Suches, Suches, GA
• Cherohala Mountain Trails Campgrounds, Tellico Plains, TN
• Iron Horse Motorcycle Lodge, Stecoah, NC

Rather than the Iron Horse layover, this year I spent the night at the Deals Gap Motorcycle Resort, home of the famous Tail of the Dragon. It's only 24 miles from Iron Horse and 17 miles of the SM500 track.  Beings so close, I really feel the need to roll over and ride the Dragon and, of course, get my Killboy Photo.

Killboy ... what a great biz idea. Sitting on the side of a road in Tennessee taking pictures of people riding by on motorcycles. Then, charging them $8 a shot. Brilliant! Wish I'd thought of it!

Anyway, one other reason to stay in Deals Gap rather than Iron Horse on the Smokey Mountain 500. That is, Iron Horse has gotten too expensive for the day tripper. I've been staying at Iron Horse for years, usually in one of their cabins (they have tent camping, too) and imo IH is the gold standard in Motorcycle Lodges. It's a great place with lots of amenities that (i) undoubtedly drive up costs and (ii) make for an outstanding base for group rides and events in the area. Unfortunately, just riding through needing only a bed to lay your head, there are cheaper options. In fact, there are cheaper options than Deals Gap, but, as mentioned, I enjoy playing around on the Dragon.

Those riding the SM500 that wish a similar experience should consider my bypass when tracking the loop clockwise from Tellico Plains. Why clockwise? Because the SM500 Yellow Track from Tellico Plains to Stecoah is the shortest track at 134 miles and you can roll out of the Cherohalla Mountain Trails at 8AM and onto the Dragon by 3PM. Lots 'o time to play around.

Here's the bypass:

At Waypoint 1021 where Yellow Creek Road terminates at NC28 (aka Moonshiner28) go left (instead of right) leaving the remainder of the Yellow Track to the next morning. Headed north-west, NC28 terminates into US129, right at the Deals Gap Resort in 17 miles.

You have two options the next day. I do the second.

• First, just backtrack to Waypoint 1021 and finish the Yellow Track at Iron Horse; then start the Red Track.
• Second, backtrack to Waypoint 1021 and cut the Yellow Track off at Waypoint 3364. At Waypoint 3364, begin the Red Track heading South-West on NC143.