Tail of the Dragon.

[Gary B.]

Received this post of a rock slide. Got the email yesterday. There are some nasty videos on youtube.

Here's the text from the post...
"Just wanted to send you all a note and let you know about a potential
problem. There has been a rockslide on US-129 (aka Deal's Gap, Tail of the
Dragon) down beside the lake on the Tennessee side approximately 1.5 miles
south of Foothills Parkway.

The TN governor has decided not to accept North Carolina's help with law
enforcement and emergency services and instead has decided to close the road entirely from the rockslide south to the state line. In other words, the road is closed entirely. Current estimates are that it will continue to be closed until July or August.

An accident after the slide:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQfK3HFaXFw


When we drove to the Gap we stopped at the store and bought local route maps "Mad Maps" produces. They have a website.

So if you were thinking of going, there are lots of good roads in the area.

[Stuart F.]

Re: Tail of the Dragon.

Gary;

Thanks for posting the video. I could make a lot of silly remarks as well as some critiques of how the situation was handled, but I don't know the place or the circumstances so I'll just leave at a Thank You.

Stu Fox

[Charles P.]

Re: Tail of the Dragon.

I know that the locals (ie LEO's) don't particularly like the sightseers on that stretch of road but 4 months to clear that little pile of stones? Sounds like they are looking for some more TARP money.

At least there wasn't someone already stopped before that bozo showed up. Although apparently not now, Deals Gap is a great place to bring a Corvette. The conditions can test the mechanicals of the car however.

[John H.]

Re: Tail of the Dragon.

The guy couldn't SEE it? He was probably on the phone.

[Gary B.]

Re: Tail of the Dragon.

When I listened to him he said he was looking at the officers to see what they were doing/

[Dick W.]

Re: Tail of the Dragon.

From what I have read, that slide is similar to the one on I-40 near the TN line. Slide will have to be cleared, more blasting on the face of the slope, then the face of the slope will have to be drilled and pinned to prevent it from happening again.

One of the hazzards of driving in the mountains. Like the 65 ton boulder dropped on I -70 West of Denver a few weeks ago..

[Tracy C.]

Re: Tail of the Dragon.

An accident after the slide:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQfK3HFaXFw

I'd take anything he says with a grain of salt. I imagine the poor soul was slapped silly by those "manboobies" of his when he bounced over that boulder...

[Terry D.]

Re: Tail of the Dragon.

Perfect example of what happens when you let people get their drivers license by sending in Wheaties box tops!

[Bruce B.]

Re: Tail of the Dragon.

Terry,
I thought here in Ohio we could get our drivers license by showing up at the BMV with 6 Bud light bottle caps...

[Terry M.]

Re: Tail of the Dragon.

Perfect example of what happens when you let people get their drivers license by sending in Wheaties box tops!

The issue of drivers' testing is a very serious one.

I had occasion to converse with an eye doctor and I was appalled to find out that it is perfectly legal to drive with one eye in many states, Illinois among them. He also told me that many elderly Texas residents, when moving to Florida keep an address in Texas because the licensing rules are stricter in Florida.

Leaving aside physical limitations -- this country sorely needs more strict drivers' licensing rules. We would do well to emulate some of the European countries in this respect.

[Dick W.]

Re: Tail of the Dragon.

The issue of drivers' testing is a very serious one.

I had occasion to converse with an eye doctor and I was appalled to find out that it is perfectly legal to drive with one eye in many states, Illinois among them. He also told me that many elderly Texas residents, when moving to Florida keep an address in Texas because the licensing rules are stricter in Florida.

Leaving aside physical limitations -- this country sorely needs more strict drivers' licensing rules. We would do well to emulate some of the European countries in this respect.

Years ago, before the Feds cracked down on multiple licenses, all you had to do in FL was mail in your renewal and the appropriate fees. They would mail your license to you. I used a P O Box in Daytona Beach. At one time I had 6 sets of drivers license. I did not worry too much about losing one set for speeding Then reciprocity between states and blew that program