Day 4

Today was 168 miles through mainly national forests. 168 miles does not seem much but we were all over mountains and the roads were extremely bendy. A new parkway called Foot Hills was just opened  and the roads were perfect and very little traffic. We then went on to The Tail of the Dragon. It is a stretch of road with 318 curves in eleven miles. We had ridden it on previous trips and it was reasonably busy. Four photographers sit on different corners taking photos they hope to sell.
Trucks are not allowed and there is many accidents on the short road.

We then went through the Smokey Mountain parkway. The speed limit is generally 25 to 35 mph but the sweeping bends were great and the whole parkway is safe with no overtaking.

At night we caught Ubers to take us to a steak place down the valley. Good food and good friends.  Last night after dinner the boys lit a fire and had a few drinks. The stories get told of previous trips and why kids aren't what they used to be.  We are all getting old. At the restaurant half the table was "carded" (proving they were old enough to drink.)  The waiter told us that they carded anyone who looked younger than forty. Mark T was very proud that he was carded. The truth be told,  I think the waiter thought he was paying the check and wanted to get a big tip. We didn't have the heart to tell him the truth. He could not wait to call Phyllis and tell her that he was included in the under forty group. (Special hello to Christine, Mark's mother who is reading this blog.  Knowing this I will have to tone down any comments.)

Tomorrow we have another tour of the local area. Hopefully a very special motorbike museum and more parkways.