Back of the Dragon 4.0 (2016)
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This was sent from my non-active iPhone. The newest is the one giving me a fit. Just wanted to clarify since it says it's being sent from it lol.
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Okay!
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Refueling in Marion, still coming! Sorry we're slow.
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We waited, here's the route. Catch us.
The Route
From Best Western/Wytheville
Left on Nye Road, left at the stop sign then an immediate right onto the I-77 North on-ramp. It's an 18 minute scenic cruise up the interstate at 70 MPH to Exit 58 including passing under Big Walker Mountain. (The tunnel is about 4/5's of a mile with two lanes for each direction. The speed limit for the passage is 55 and the tunnel is well lit.)
Exit off to the right at 58 then left passing over 77 to a stop sign at Hwy 52. Left on 52 then first right on Grapefield Road. The lane takes about 23 minutes to traverse and is a nice cruise that starts out easy and ends up twisty. The latter half to third of the road makes for good video.
At the end of Grapefield is a stop sign and it's a left there then several miles westward on 61 to Burkes Garden Road. We had to stop on 61 to let a bear and her cub get out of the road so watch for large brown animals along the route.
Left on Burkes Garden Road and the fun begins; up and over the mountain and then down into the completely encircled valley. This is not a speed run but you may find its the twistiest road you've ever driven: chicanes and switch backs abound including a few that are off-camber as well as a surprise or three like a sharp 90 degree turn into a 180 sweeper ending in another 90. Another good video road.
Once down in the valley, we pause at Burkes Garden Country Store before retracing the passage. They sell homemade breads, quilts and the like so bring cash if you're into that sort of thing. They have a porta-potty for emergency relief.
Goggle maps says it's 20 minutes from Grapefield Rd to the store but that might be pushing it. Regardless, we'll plan on spending about 10 minutes or so there before continuing on toward the Dragon.
We retrace our path back to 61 then left through Tazewell on business 19 to 16 and there left on the Back of the Dragon but we'll stop a mile or two in at Thompson Valley Store for the official "Pee Break." It's about 32 minutes from the Burkes Garden turn around.
The store has gas, snacks, drinks, a hot dog stand as well as Dragon merchandise and a his and her bathroom. This is the last stop before running The Back of the Dragon. Figure 30 minutes or so depending on final group size then we'll form up for the run again - fast in front, spirited in the middle, casual to the rear.
The speed limit on BoD is 55 and that's fast enough to send you flying off one of the 3 mountains we'll be traversing which become increasingly more challenging as we go - easy to hard as it were. Imagine Tail of the Dragon but nearly 3 times as long.
Assuming local traffic doesn't impede us, it's an intense 45 minutes to Hungry Mother State Park.
It's very important that you stay within your ability when driving the Dragon and stay in your lane.
Time from start to finish is about 2:18:00 plus stops.
More driving notes to come.
The Route
From Best Western/Wytheville
Left on Nye Road, left at the stop sign then an immediate right onto the I-77 North on-ramp. It's an 18 minute scenic cruise up the interstate at 70 MPH to Exit 58 including passing under Big Walker Mountain. (The tunnel is about 4/5's of a mile with two lanes for each direction. The speed limit for the passage is 55 and the tunnel is well lit.)
Exit off to the right at 58 then left passing over 77 to a stop sign at Hwy 52. Left on 52 then first right on Grapefield Road. The lane takes about 23 minutes to traverse and is a nice cruise that starts out easy and ends up twisty. The latter half to third of the road makes for good video.
At the end of Grapefield is a stop sign and it's a left there then several miles westward on 61 to Burkes Garden Road. We had to stop on 61 to let a bear and her cub get out of the road so watch for large brown animals along the route.
Left on Burkes Garden Road and the fun begins; up and over the mountain and then down into the completely encircled valley. This is not a speed run but you may find its the twistiest road you've ever driven: chicanes and switch backs abound including a few that are off-camber as well as a surprise or three like a sharp 90 degree turn into a 180 sweeper ending in another 90. Another good video road.
Once down in the valley, we pause at Burkes Garden Country Store before retracing the passage. They sell homemade breads, quilts and the like so bring cash if you're into that sort of thing. They have a porta-potty for emergency relief.
Goggle maps says it's 20 minutes from Grapefield Rd to the store but that might be pushing it. Regardless, we'll plan on spending about 10 minutes or so there before continuing on toward the Dragon.
We retrace our path back to 61 then left through Tazewell on business 19 to 16 and there left on the Back of the Dragon but we'll stop a mile or two in at Thompson Valley Store for the official "Pee Break." It's about 32 minutes from the Burkes Garden turn around.
The store has gas, snacks, drinks, a hot dog stand as well as Dragon merchandise and a his and her bathroom. This is the last stop before running The Back of the Dragon. Figure 30 minutes or so depending on final group size then we'll form up for the run again - fast in front, spirited in the middle, casual to the rear.
The speed limit on BoD is 55 and that's fast enough to send you flying off one of the 3 mountains we'll be traversing which become increasingly more challenging as we go - easy to hard as it were. Imagine Tail of the Dragon but nearly 3 times as long.
Assuming local traffic doesn't impede us, it's an intense 45 minutes to Hungry Mother State Park.
It's very important that you stay within your ability when driving the Dragon and stay in your lane.
Time from start to finish is about 2:18:00 plus stops.
More driving notes to come.
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Glad yall caught up with us! Don't forget to join Mid-Atlantic States Beetle Group on FB.
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Representing:
Ohio
Pennsylvania
Kentucky
Virginia
Tennessee
North Carolina
Georgia
Florida
and the Netherlands
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Great bunch of people!
Had a wonderful time at the BoD and looooved the scenery :heart:
It was amazing to see old friends again and to make new friends as well.
Very well organized Don :thup:
Hopefully 'till next time.
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862 Posts
Time to say good bye to this year's thread. Next year's is posted with the date with details to be filled in during May. Be sure to favorite it so you get the updates.
Meantime, http://newbeetle.org/forums/showthread.php?p=1382241
Meantime, http://newbeetle.org/forums/showthread.php?p=1382241
161 - 176 of 176 Posts
