This will be our first MOTD... and seeing how I don't know the area at all... any suggestions on how to GET to Fontana Village's Campgrounds from the Ohio area?? Which route in would be ideal in YOUR opinion?

 

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...a-village.html

Are you going down 75 or 77 -- if 77 I'd just get to Asheville and Head west, if 75 -- consider the routes about or look at 441

In my humble opinion !! ;-) see ya there !!!

 

THIS LINK will answer your question

 

FYI: the traffic between Seveirville and Gatlinburg in always horrible.

When coming across the Skyway, it would be faster, instead of going up to the Gap (left onto 129) and over to Fontana to take a right onto 129, go thru Robbinsville (fill up on gas and get groceries) and take 143 over to 28 and up to Fontana.

 

The Dragon is open! I was there at 8 AM when it opened. Did some video of the gates being unlocked and then I was the second car in (not counting US129 Photo and the Leo) behind a GTI. Did six runs this morning, four of which were all the way through with no one else on the road. It was awesome!

MINIBee at the re-opening of the Dragon on Vimeo

 

 

I am heading down from Cincinnati. This is the route I am planning on.

75 South to Maryville.
From Maryville head into Tellico Plains.
From Tellio Plains into Robbinsville.
And then from Robbinsville to Fontana.

I'll have to program it into Nigel's brain in sections since he keeps taking me through the closed Dragon. By the way, Nigel is my MINI and his brain is my Garmin GPS.

The road you take from into Robbinsville from Tellico Plains looks like a lot of fun. Off hand I can;t think of the name of it but it looks like a great warm up
for the Dragon.

I would advise against going through Sevierville to Pidgeon Forge to Gatlinburg. My inlaws have a condo in Gatlinburg and the traffic is nasty most of the time. You may get lucky and not hit major tie ups but I would rather not try it since my lucj is always bad.

For those of you in Queen City MINIs, is there a kick off event at Cincinnati MINI this year?

 

The road to Robbinsville from Tellico Plains is The Cherohala Skyway, which is also on one of the MOTD drives list. If you have never been on it, it it quite impressive...sweeping curves instead of Dragon curves, and one heckuva climb and descent along the way. Watch out for bikers and sightseers, as they love this road, too. In a lot of ways, some can enjoy it even more than the Dragon, namely because of the numerous places to pull off and take pics of the spectacular scenery.

 

Seriously folks, watch your speed on the Skyway and the Parkway. The speed limits are strictly enforced.

 

My Mini has a governor.

Her name is Barbara.

 

US 64 in Polk County, TN reopens today!!

http://www.newschannel9.com/news/hig...day-slide.html

 

 

Anyone else heading over from the Nashville, TN area on Wednesday? If interested in heading over together let me know. There are two of us so far (three if you count my dog). Looking forward to seeing everyone again this year. Hope these sunny days persist.

 

Our plans are to drive to Nashville Tuesday night and then finish the trip on Wednesday, and we're always looking for more MINIs to run with. These plans are still tentative, but it's what we've done in the past and works pretty well for us. Which route are you taking from Nashville to the Dragon?

 

DBD! Howzit going buddy! Sorry I've been such a horrible friend

I'm not going to MOTD this year () but I have a friend (FutureMini) coming in on Tuesday from OKC staying with me, who's heading to MOTD on Wednesday. I'm sure he'd LOVE to drive out with you- We should discuss this- Do you know about what time you're heading out? I've got kid duty that day, running all over creation getting everyone everywhere, and thought I'd take FM with me (kind of a pre-Dragon jaunt thru the twisties out where I live).

Email me- we can get a convoy going!

(over and out rubber ducky!)

 

Unless the rockslide is cleared we'll pobably take 24 to Chattanooga. I'm not real familiar with east TN so I'm following the suggested route avoiding TN 129. Let me know if you have another idea/plan. Ran over last year with 9 other cars and enjoyed it. I'll have my dog so may need to give him a p-break along the way.

 

You're not a bad friend - just a busy Mama. No firm departure time - was kind of waiting to see what others were doing. We finally got new tires and wheels on both MINI's but still haven't gotten the windows tinted. Wish you were going to be there. We're in the same cabin so if you decide to sneak away let me know...we'll make a space for you. Shoot me an e-mail or PM. Give Mochalatte a rub and the kids & hubby a hello from us. Talk soon...

 

Photos taken today of the rock slide clean-up...

 

hey vivi,

won't you come by and at least say hi???

 

We were looking at that route or possibly taking the Cherohala Skyway but haven't really looked at it in detaill yet. Drive time for both routes is roughly the same (Cherohala Skyway was a little longer time wise, but shorter distance if I remember correctly.)

As for the dog's needs, not a problem for us. We don't expect him to keep his legs crossed that long!

We were thinking of leaving around 9, but that's flexible for us. We usually like to get there around mid afternoon to unwind for a little bit before the Welcome Dinner.

 

Hi Ox & DBD, I would LOVE to come, but (and this is a big but) my husband & our farm manager are both going to be away, leaving me to be super Mom (kids in different schools in different parts of md tn) and here to take care of the farm manager's very pregnant wife. She's 26 weeks out with twins, but she's a high risk pregnancy and is very close to being put on bed rest for the rest of her pregnancy. She's got a son that's about the same age as my kids, and goes to school with my daughter, so I would suddenly have 3 kids plus a pregnant woman... plus animals and other things to deal with.
I am hoping to make it up for MSSD this fall. Possibly with my family. And maybe I can get back next spring.
Y'all take lots of photos and have a blast. Maybe if I get inventive, I can do a "Flat Vivi" like I did "Flat Mike" last year, and send "me" up with Mike, so at least I can be there in spirit!
That said, if everything is peachy keen and life is good, DBD don't be surprised to see me at your doorstep

 

Sounds like an episode of Bonanza...where's Hop Sing when you need him? I'd be honored to drive flat Vivi around...a much lower risk for up-chuck than my 103# (lost 9 lbs) yellow lab "Jackson". Come on...the more the merrier. We'll miss you but we'll do a middle TN MINI run somewhere fun one of these days.

 

If DBD can't make it. Deb and I will get with you so we can take your "Avatar" to the Dragon.

Make sure it's water resistant, as we'll probably take to the gem and gold mining event.

 

I'll go get Foam core today so I can make me... oh that doesn't sound right...
(giggle)