#zeromotorcycles

One of the Zero guys from South Carolina, Austin (the tall one in the above photo), decided that we should have an Electrics at the Dragon meetup June 25-28th. He rented a small cabin and still had some space left, so I said I’d be there! It would be the first time I’d take a motorcycle down US-129 - bka The Tail of the Dragon.

I decided to make this an epic trip with my new 2021 Energica EsseEsse9+ by going to Rabun Gap, GA before making my way along Highway 28 to Robbinsville, NC where we would be staying. I left Wednesday after work and rode to Charlotte for the night (stopping to charge in Asheboro and again at the rapid charger in Charlotte to 80% and 120v-charged at my friends house to 100% overnight). The next morning I left Charlotte and road down to Rabun Gap via stops in Boiling Springs, Greer, and Anderson SC and a stop in Clayton, GA.

All was fine and well until I got to Clayton. Clayton’s charger needed its CCS cable replaced, and it only worked if you held it a certain way. I managed to charge up for maybe 15-20 minutes before the station said “nope, not gonna do this at all now” and I plugged into the Level 2 next to it and went to a restaurant for a leisurely lunch. After eating I had the range to make it to my friend’s home, and once I arrived we ran the extension cords and plugged my bike it to charge. I wasn’t leaving until Saturday, so I spent all day Friday hanging out with my friends and their children. These are my friends who the wife was the officiant at my wedding, for those of you who attended it.

My friend lived in Rabun Gap, and it is a beautiful area. After a lovely visit, I headed to the Dragon by way of US28. My friend said “oh, that’s a fun road!” and I looked at him, he said I’d understand as I got going. I left their home and soon understood what he meant. This road was fun if you’ve got guts and confidence, I had neither at the time. I remember being white knuckled nearly the entire time from the time I left the Ingles about half-way from their house to the Dragon and getting to the Dragon itself.

I do not like heights. I do not like not being able to see around bends. I do not like rocks jutting out into the road way on blind bends. All of these hit me, in fact every single fear I’ve ever had would hit me on this trip. I had to pull over many, many, many times to catch my breath and shake out my hands. By the time I got to the Airbnb that the host rented, I was spent and needed to lay down for a little while. When I got there there was only one other guy there, Christian, and he let me unwind a bit before we headed to the T-Shirt shack (the Killboy tshirt shack across from Deals Gap Motorcycle Inn). 

When we got to the tshirt shack, we found Austin and the others. Someone suggested we go down the dragon, even though it was a tad bit wet. Reluctantly, I said OK. I encountered rain, fog, a snake in the road, a vehicle passing in my lane, and being passed because I was going to slow all within the first 5 miles of the Dragon. I don’t remember if we went to the last lookout point before the Dragon ends, or if we stopped at the mid-way point and turned around. I just remember that I was petrified most of the time. But I did get some good shots!

When we got back to the house, Rick and Sabrina and my buddy from Wilmington, Paul showed up to hang out. Paul brought his van with him, and after we got to talking he offered to trailer my bike back home for me so I didn’t have to ride it. I was pretty worn out and very thankful for this kind offer. I’d done 600mi and was pretty much spent. 

We hung out for one more day and then we loaded up the bikes at the tshirt shack and headed back East to Raleigh. 

Here’s a video of me “slaying” the dragon: