Virginia to Kentucky for the Dragon Slayer, back to Tennessee

June 04, 2024

Virginia to Kentucky for the Dragon Slayer, back to Tennessee

Disclosure: this is not a live blog and I’m writing it on June 4 back in Dallas

Thursday is time to head back to Maryville. We’re taking the Virginia to Kentucky to Tennessee route so we can do the Dragon Slayer! First part of the ride is on 19 – an four lane highway, but not bad. Then over to Appalachia – my Freeman map mentions Black Bear BBQ (https://www.facebook.com/BLACKBEARBBQANDGRILL/) – and based on our luck in finding places to eat, when we pass it, we turn around and go back. Good call because it was good food – and nothing to stop at for a couple of hours after we do the Dragon Slayer.

I have the “Queso Bear” – a burger with bacon, queso and fried green tomato. With fried okra. It was a tasty burger. Tony and Rick had beef brisket sandwiches. The BBQ sauce was interesting and we asked the waitress about it – made locally and has carrots! That’s why it was a flavor we didn’t know. Tony and Rick said it was different, but wouldn’t need any more.

Off to do the Dragon Slayer (220 curves in 20 miles). Starts off through residential and I’m not thinking we’re slaying anything. But then it starts – lots of curves and switchbacks up the mountain. Hard to get any good photos because the trees hide the good views – can see a mine. And, what goes up, must go down. And at one curve, a juvenile bear crosses in front of us. He is black, with some brown spots. I can’t get my camera going in time, so no picture. Also, I can’t get my camera out in time when we cross the Kentucky state line. We stop at the Dragon Slayer/160 Visitors center (in a train depot) (https://www.facebook.com/DragonSlayerHwy160). But it’s closed. Until the manager happens to stop – and takes our pictures and opens the shop for us to buy t-shirts and signs and patches and pocker chips and stickers! This Visitors center is also for Slingshot – we don’t do this ride since it’s north and we need to head south.

There is a bear in there!

Rick on train at vistor's center

Peeling off layers at the Visitor's Center

Head through Kentucky over to Cumberland Gap (tunnel!) to Tennessee – riding through downtown Knoxville a bit before 129 (traffic) to Maryville. Betty Lou flew in on Wednesday to join up with Rick. Thursday is hotdogs and chili night!