Showing Q's Colors

Knoxville to Atlanta and back

Memorial Weekend. One of Mr. Q’s holidays. People seem to comment on the American Flag on his roof more during patriotic holiday weekends than any other time of year. As if I’ve put it on just for the holiday. When actually, he has it because it matches a pair of shoes I have. Seriously, it is with a great sense of pride that we ride around in Mr. Q with old glory proudly displayed. As a gift to Q, when my plates were up for renewal this month, I got the Tennessee American Eagle plate. It carries out the patriotic theme.

Dragon Slayer

Deals Gap, NC

Today I am a Dragon Slayer. Highway 129 heads out of Alcoa TN and goes up into the mountains, eventually crossing into N. Carolina. Deals Gap is the start of the Tail of the Dragon. 318 curves in 11 miles. And I drove that sucker. Not at high speed, but definitely a bit more than the posted 30MPH. It was a pretty drive actually. Sport Car and Motorcycle groups from all over come to slay the dragon. Quite frankly I don’t quite get the thrill of it … I mean I went because Smoky Mountain Minis was hosting the Chili Cook Off during a 3-day Mini gathering. I had volunteered to work the cook-off so that’s what took me there.

Will I return next year? Probably not. I can say I did it. Though stupid me forgot to stop and buy a dragon sticker for my car. Damn it. The motorcycle riders on this road have got to be nuts. That’s all I’m sayin.