RTD26 part three

 
By day 2 our 4 cars had turned into 7.

By Friday we finally made it to Fontana Village NC and met up with another 40ish cars.

Our fall trip FDR (Fall Dragon Run) sometimes happens at the same time as CHD (Classic Hondas on the Dragon).

Our standard driver meeting before our Saturday morning group run across the dragon, it usually boils down to "we're all adults, don't do anything stupid".

This group drive was a new one for most of us, turns out there was an accident somewhere in the middle of dragon so we were stopped for 20ish minutes, just parked the cars and got out for photos and chat until it was cleared.

Group photo at the boat launch across from the Harley-Davidson store.

Our group started out as almost all S2000's but over the years as the group and the cars have gotten older many people have switched or added cars to their collection and now we have a variety of rides, we'll take anyone as long as what they drive is fun.

RTD26 part two

The second day several more cars of friends showed up to join the fun.

Our fearless leader and organizer of many of our trips, Ken.

This is the General Store at the top of Big Walker Mt lookout on route 52. If you ever go past this store, stop for the homemade ice cream, it's amazingly good. It's one of our favorite stops.

Time for a quick break and discussion of where to go next.

One of the pull offs on the Dragon Slayer, route 160 between Appalachia VA and Lynch WV,  another of the awesome roads we've found. 
 

RTD26 (Rock the Dragon 2026)

 Our spring trip to the Tail of the Dragon on the NC and TN border. This is the first and biggest group trip we take. It used to be Thursday to Sunday but since so many of us are now retired a few of us start on Tuesday, this time in Abingdon VA and work our way down to NC.

A small group of us meet days ahead of the normal event to drive the fun roads in VA/WV/TN/NC.

The overlook at the VA and WV border, hence the "Almost Heaven" sign.

When we're not driving we're usually eating or stopped on the side of the road for a quick break and chatting about cars and driving.

We found a valley of Amish farms with only one road in and out and among the farms is the most wonderful General Store full of all kinds of treats.

An Amish "scooter".

The Back of the Dragon store in Tazewell VA.

a few more dolphins then head home

 

My last view of San Diego before I sleep most of the way back to Florida.

The sun starting to set as we returned to the pier.

One of the smaller whale boats we saw, the ship we were on was quite a bit bigger.

More Whale (actually bottlenose dolphin) watching.

 Once we found a pod of bottlenose dolphins (I think this is correct) we had some fun watching and photographing them play in our wake.