BlimeyCabrio
September 14th, 2008, 08:38 PM
I plan to repeat last year's Saturday run, with a few changes:
* Earlier departure time, so we have MORE time for driving - probably depart Fontana at 7:45AM, and stop for breakfast at Deal's Gap at 8ish when they open. Then hit the Dragon before most of the traffic arrives.
* More stops, but shorter stops, including a couple of scenic potty stops on the Cherohala Skyway.
* Earlier lunch (close to noonish), at the same place (Sweetwater BBQ)
* Optional afternoon run of Wayah Road for the adventurous.
The full run (including the optional afternoon loop) will look something like this:
Google Map (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&saddr=Fontana+Rd%2FNC-28&daddr=Vonore,+Monroe,+Tennessee,+United+States+to:TN-360+to:TN-360+to:Cherohala+Skyway%2FNC-143+to:NC-143%2FSweetwater+Rd+to:NC-1442%2FState+Bicycle+Route+2%2FWayah+Rd%2FWayah+Bald+Rd+to:Wayah+Rd+to:3 5.283743,-83.455582+to:Fontana+Rd%2FNC-28&hl=en&geocode=FYa6HAIdyPAA-w%3B%3BFVOTHAId3PL6-g%3BFUqdGwIdRvf5-g%3BFX_UGgId8mP--g%3BFd0BGwIdbUkB-w%3BFQLtGAIddJwD-w%3BFbSGGAIdLooG-w%3B%3BFQy3HAId-PsA-w&mra=dpe&mrcr=4&mrsp=8&sz=11&via=2,4,6,8&sll=35.283743,-83.446655&sspn=0.258394,0.44838&ie=UTF8&ll=35.357696,-83.802338&spn=1.032614,1.793518&z=9)
We may go out and back on Wayah road instead of looping through Franklin and NC 28... depends on my mood. :yes4:
This will be SLIGHTLY slower than my "Tour of Terror" drives... but only slightly... it's NOT a sightseeing drive. It's a "driving" drive. We'll cover 210 miles of some of the greatest roads in this part of the world, including probably 150 miles of SERIOUS TWISTIES. If you do the whole thing, you WILL be tired of driving twisty roads by the time we get back to Fontana. I guarantee it! :bad:
Please use the poll to let me know if you plan to join me. If we have more than 25ish cars, we may have to split into a couple of groups since parking will be a challenge for a larger group...
Update and details:
I plan to leave the Fontana General Store at 7:45AM, arrive at Deal's Gap for breakfast at 8AM, and depart when everyone is done, approx 8:45-9:00. I've confirmed with Ben at Deal's Gap that they WILL be open at 8AM that morning, and told him to expect our group for breakfast. If anyone oversleeps and misses the 7:45 departure, or wants to skip breakfast, you can just meet us at the Gap before 8:45 and you should be fine.
If you have GMRS radios, we'll be on 20sub20.
We'll regroup at the west end of the Dragon, stop for gas and other needs in Vonore, have one or two restroom and photo stops on the Cherohala Skyway, and have lunch at Sweetwater BBQ in Robbinsville. This first part of the drive will not be *slow*... but it won't be racing speeds either. Everyone will have a good time. After lunch, folks can opt to return to Fontana, or continue with what's left of the group on the Wayah Road loop. Wayah Road is, in my opinion, perhaps the best road in the area for technical twisty driving. This segment of the drive will be more geared toward performance drivers... while all are welcome, understand that some of us will be driving in a more spirited manner (though, of course, safely).
* Earlier departure time, so we have MORE time for driving - probably depart Fontana at 7:45AM, and stop for breakfast at Deal's Gap at 8ish when they open. Then hit the Dragon before most of the traffic arrives.
* More stops, but shorter stops, including a couple of scenic potty stops on the Cherohala Skyway.
* Earlier lunch (close to noonish), at the same place (Sweetwater BBQ)
* Optional afternoon run of Wayah Road for the adventurous.
The full run (including the optional afternoon loop) will look something like this:
Google Map (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&saddr=Fontana+Rd%2FNC-28&daddr=Vonore,+Monroe,+Tennessee,+United+States+to:TN-360+to:TN-360+to:Cherohala+Skyway%2FNC-143+to:NC-143%2FSweetwater+Rd+to:NC-1442%2FState+Bicycle+Route+2%2FWayah+Rd%2FWayah+Bald+Rd+to:Wayah+Rd+to:3 5.283743,-83.455582+to:Fontana+Rd%2FNC-28&hl=en&geocode=FYa6HAIdyPAA-w%3B%3BFVOTHAId3PL6-g%3BFUqdGwIdRvf5-g%3BFX_UGgId8mP--g%3BFd0BGwIdbUkB-w%3BFQLtGAIddJwD-w%3BFbSGGAIdLooG-w%3B%3BFQy3HAId-PsA-w&mra=dpe&mrcr=4&mrsp=8&sz=11&via=2,4,6,8&sll=35.283743,-83.446655&sspn=0.258394,0.44838&ie=UTF8&ll=35.357696,-83.802338&spn=1.032614,1.793518&z=9)
We may go out and back on Wayah road instead of looping through Franklin and NC 28... depends on my mood. :yes4:
This will be SLIGHTLY slower than my "Tour of Terror" drives... but only slightly... it's NOT a sightseeing drive. It's a "driving" drive. We'll cover 210 miles of some of the greatest roads in this part of the world, including probably 150 miles of SERIOUS TWISTIES. If you do the whole thing, you WILL be tired of driving twisty roads by the time we get back to Fontana. I guarantee it! :bad:
Please use the poll to let me know if you plan to join me. If we have more than 25ish cars, we may have to split into a couple of groups since parking will be a challenge for a larger group...
Update and details:
I plan to leave the Fontana General Store at 7:45AM, arrive at Deal's Gap for breakfast at 8AM, and depart when everyone is done, approx 8:45-9:00. I've confirmed with Ben at Deal's Gap that they WILL be open at 8AM that morning, and told him to expect our group for breakfast. If anyone oversleeps and misses the 7:45 departure, or wants to skip breakfast, you can just meet us at the Gap before 8:45 and you should be fine.
If you have GMRS radios, we'll be on 20sub20.
We'll regroup at the west end of the Dragon, stop for gas and other needs in Vonore, have one or two restroom and photo stops on the Cherohala Skyway, and have lunch at Sweetwater BBQ in Robbinsville. This first part of the drive will not be *slow*... but it won't be racing speeds either. Everyone will have a good time. After lunch, folks can opt to return to Fontana, or continue with what's left of the group on the Wayah Road loop. Wayah Road is, in my opinion, perhaps the best road in the area for technical twisty driving. This segment of the drive will be more geared toward performance drivers... while all are welcome, understand that some of us will be driving in a more spirited manner (though, of course, safely).