Turning their back on Deal's Gap

I've ridden Deal's Gap and can vouch for the fact that it attracts a lot of motorcyclists who think it's a place to race. And a lot of them get in over their heads and crash, hence the Tree of Shame at the Crossroads of Time motel and gas station that's festooned with parts from wrecked bikes.

I was there in September of 1993, before it got really well-known and popular. I would not ride there today because the road is full of crazies.

But instead of improving emergency service in the face of more accidents, the morons who provide ambulance service to Deal's Gap, have decided to withhold emergency service. What the hell kind of irresponsible thinking is that?

ROBBINSVILLE, N.C. (AP) - Motorcyclists in western North Carolina should take note. Beginning next year, emergency help on the Swain County part of the route known as the "Tail of the Dragon" may take longer to arrive.

The Asheville Citizen-Times reported that Graham County is ending its ambulance service into Swain County to respond to wrecks on the well-known motorcycle route on U.S. 129.

The road starts in Blount County, Tenn., and packs 318 curves in 11 miles.

It takes about 22 minutes for an ambulance to get to that part of U.S. 129 in Swain County from Robbinsville in Graham County. It can take as long as 50 minutes to get there from Bryson City in Swain County.

County leaders say they used to get few emergency calls for the route but now get about 30 a year, at cost of about $100,000 annually.