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No good reasoning as to why the wife and I waited all these years to take in Deals Gap and it's surrounding routes, but now that we have, it's abundantly clear why it's such a well loved area. The riding there is second to none that I've ever experienced, aside only to track time. Not to mention the awe inspiring views. I spent the first half of last week tuning up the truck, the bike, and overhauling my trailer so the wife and I could trust in it all for this trip. Met up with Granda080 and Oldschoolsdime92 at an eagerly early 345am Thursday morning. We reached the Dragon right about noon to sunny skies and perfect weather conditions, so I got to enjoy driving it first on our way to check into our cabin at Ironhorse Motorcycle Resort in Robbinsville ( for anyone curious, it's a great place to stay, well ran, good people, and plentiful amenities ). Once we got unpacked, unloaded the bikes, and suited up, we went right for Rt129. Took a parade lap the first pass in heavier than expected traffic, but a couple hours later we got a fairly clean run at it and really dug in at a much better pace. I like the Dragon, it's tight and technical turns bring exhilaratingly quick transitions, one after another, in an almost neverending succession. But, I honestly enjoyed a lot of the other routes we'd ridden the following day a bit more. Rt28 is a lot of fun, and better suited for the long gearing of my ZX14. Cherohala is a big favorite too. Even Foothills Pkway was enjoyable as a nice, easy ride of long sweeping turns and sweet overlooks. Friday, we rode an awesome twisty route from NC, to TN, down to northern Georgia, and back. I believe we have Pauly to thank for the coordinates? Blood Mtn was a blast. The beautiful elevation changes where most every corner is so sweetly banked, easily enabling extraordinary entry speeds that eventually shear away at your front tire until it's down to nothing, making you stop at the nearest dealer who gladly helped get me in and out at just over an hour. So, I nod my head with huge props to Union Powersports in Blairsville, GA and their excellent service of a last minute customer. The ultimate culprit was a less than credible tire gauge that had lied it's ass off prior to us leaving the house. Their mechanic showed me the true pressure was at about 22psi, semi-hot. So ambient pressure that morning was likely sub 20psi, but the janky gauge had read around 32-34ish. Needless to say, that turd of a tool went into the garbage to be replaced with an accurate instrument. Sadly, less than 5 minutes after we left the dealer is when the worst part happened. Torrential downpour. For the entire trip back to Ironhorse. I'd wager it was similar to what Noah experienced when the Earth flooded. Water was filling our boots, soaking our buttcracks, and running behind our helmet's visors, rendering us all virtually blind but for what was barely within our headlamp's range. We aren't fair weather riders, we've been caught in the rain before, no big deal. But this storm seemed to follow our every move with a non-stop dumping of buckets, thunder, and lightning. But why stop? Once you're soaked and out in the middle of who-the-fuck-knows, embrace the hate and mush on. Took us over 3 hours to journey back from just outside Blairsville to Ironhorse. We got to see Bridal Veil Falls for all of 3 seconds as we rode past it, Oldschool pointed up, we all looked, wife and I chuckled to one another over our Sena coms that the rain was coming down harder than the falls were, and kept riding. I'm just happy I didn't have to limp it through that storm on a bald front tire in the twisty hills, or I may not be here today to tell this little tale of conquering adversity. Albeit somewhat mild adversity, 'twas still a dangerous mission. Saturday morning we all decided not to ride since the forecast showed rain all day, our gear was still soaked, and our pruned hands and feet had just dried out. So after breakfast we headed into Maggie Valley's famed Wheels Through Time Museum. Awesome place to visit for those that haven't been. There's a ton of history on display in that building, and quite a bit of it still runs. The owner fired up a few pieces to boast his handy work, pretty impressive to see something over a century old start right up and run. Nabbed some lunch before heading back to the cabin. Wife and I went to the Gap store for some keepsakes and took a spin for a bit to take in some more scenery before we packed up to ready our jettison the following morning. Got back to the homestead about 5pm today. Glad to say none of us went down, and we all had the best time. Looking forward to the next trip down there. Pics to follow

Starting with this one.

Finally I am back close to the OR family. No more slabbing and iron butting 700+ miles a day to ride Seo roads. Always felt like ohio has my family near by coz of you guys. This might have been a main reason to keep coming back. Almost all decisions I take is influenced by motorcycling and I don't know if I will regret those in future. Job visa other papers still not ready yet, I hope everything falls into its place soon. Till then have some free time to keep riding Am back in Poland ohio, close to Youngstown. If any one in this area looking to go for short jaunts let me know. The slab down route 9 to good roads seems like a dream after slabbing down from Troy michigan This weekend most will be having family obligations, but if any one free to ride please PM me.

^^^ Thanks! Yes it is the Masterbuilt, I purchased the wireless thermometer but it was only $20 so not sure how good it is...I got the McCormick apple wood rub, any good or bad with that rub in your opinion? I have the Hickory chips and apple chips, suggestions on which one i should use for my first time?

Is it a Masterbuilt? Don't rely on the thermometer in the door. Not very accurate. Get a good thermo that measures BBQ temp and meat temp. Might suggest a maverick thermometer, love mine. Get a good rub or make your own and stay away from salt. Start with a fruit wood, in my experience I've never run in to a problem of too much smoke flavor with a fruit wood.

Going to bump this thread, just got a 30" electric smoker and i am going to try and do a pork shoulder this weekend...if anyone has anything they have learned that i shouldn't do let me know. I just learned i need to season my smoker the day before cooking by watching U tube here at work.

You want to borrow a mobile home too, Clay?

You light them, they go boom.

I don't know if there is any way I can like this post more. you don't want to support it? don't give any money. It's a simple premise. I don't think anybody is confused about this being not charity - but since when do you have to give money only to charity? People think these shows are big budget and have the money to spend to get other people involved but it is not the case. the TV show usually doesn't make any money for the stars directly. They make their money off merch and secondary revenue streams. Most of these TV shops are still shop 1st, and then merch retailers second and TV guys usually 4th or 5th down the list. Point is, If you know them and like them, or maybe you just like the show and want to see a serious import car "race" a v8 car on TV, here is an opportunity to help make something happen. If not, last I checked nobody is holding a gun to your head. People have been "passing the hat" for centuries and not really for the most charitable reason. For all the people that want to just shit on this...think in your life when you had a really good opportunity and couldn't pull it off because you couldn't get the funds together and what you would have done to do that. If you have never hard that experience maybe you just aren't trying that hard at life.