Saturday Loop Drive
#1
Saturday Loop Drive
I mentioned in another thread that I plan to lead an EPIC run on Saturday for those who are up for it. We'll have to leave *fairly* early to make the loop before the disc golf tourney... Probably need to pull out by 10AM, maybe a bit earlier... but it will be worth it...
Here's the route (click to see the google map)
This will take in the Hellbender (NC 28), the Dragon (US 129), the Cherohala Skyway (TN 165 / NC 143), Wayah Road (also known as "Thunder Road") and more twisty parts of NC 28. It will be a smorgasbord of the finest motoring roads in the known universe, with a few potty breaks and some lunch thrown in, and some scenic vistas. It will avoid most of the general Saturday insanity that occurs on the Dragon... we do it one-way fairly early on Saturday AM, before it gets out of hand (hopefully).
We'll watch the time - if we're running late when we get to Robbinsville, we MAY opt to cut the corner and not do Wayah road if it would jeopardize the disc golf start time. But I think we'll be in good shape.
Shout out if you're with me!
UPDATE:
We will meet at 9:15AM AT THE BASE (NOT THE TOP) Of FONTANA DAM - we're having a photo shoot there, then we're all doing a "parade" drive down the Dragon, then we'll continue for the rest of the drive. This should give us plenty of time to do the whole loop and be back for disc golf at 4PM!!!
Here's the route (click to see the google map)
This will take in the Hellbender (NC 28), the Dragon (US 129), the Cherohala Skyway (TN 165 / NC 143), Wayah Road (also known as "Thunder Road") and more twisty parts of NC 28. It will be a smorgasbord of the finest motoring roads in the known universe, with a few potty breaks and some lunch thrown in, and some scenic vistas. It will avoid most of the general Saturday insanity that occurs on the Dragon... we do it one-way fairly early on Saturday AM, before it gets out of hand (hopefully).
We'll watch the time - if we're running late when we get to Robbinsville, we MAY opt to cut the corner and not do Wayah road if it would jeopardize the disc golf start time. But I think we'll be in good shape.
Shout out if you're with me!
UPDATE:
We will meet at 9:15AM AT THE BASE (NOT THE TOP) Of FONTANA DAM - we're having a photo shoot there, then we're all doing a "parade" drive down the Dragon, then we'll continue for the rest of the drive. This should give us plenty of time to do the whole loop and be back for disc golf at 4PM!!!
Last edited by BlimeyCabrio; 11-01-2007 at 05:52 PM.
#5
#6
#7
Trending Topics
#10
I'm currently thinking about lunch at Sweetwater BBQ in Robbinsville - it's excellent, and they have lots of stuff so it won't be overly redundant with Friday's dinner. We should be in that area around 1ish. The challenge is that we'll be in Tellico before lunchtime, and it'll take a little while to do the Skyway with some stops. After lunch, folks can either continue the route to Franklin via Wayah Rd, or cut back across to Fontana. So there's an easy "out" for folks who decide they've had enough.
#17
That's a FANTASTIC idea - that way my loop drive can continue on after the "parade" and have more time to do the rest of the loop before we have to be back!!!
SOOOO
UPDATE - Everyone is meeting at the BASE of the dam (not the top - two different places) at 9:15 for photos, then the parade, which will continue on as the loop drive - we'll stop in Robbinsville for Lunch and will be back at Fontana before 4PM for disc golf.
SOOOO
UPDATE - Everyone is meeting at the BASE of the dam (not the top - two different places) at 9:15 for photos, then the parade, which will continue on as the loop drive - we'll stop in Robbinsville for Lunch and will be back at Fontana before 4PM for disc golf.
Last edited by BlimeyCabrio; 10-31-2007 at 02:10 PM.
#21
Heh heh... Somebody ALWAYS ends up in the wrong place - it's the same place we do the "official" panoramic photo at MOTD - short version - when you leave Fontana Village, you must turn LEFT on NC 28 and head toward the Dragon. If you turn RIGHT instead and follow the signs to the dam, you'll end up at the top - and you can't get to the "bottom" from there... other than jumping...
#22
WoooHOOOO!!!!
Wow, what a GREAT day I had on Saturday. Thanks to EVERYONE who joined me on my little ole country drive. I'm new to this "lead a run" thing - and I'm still learning - so thanks for bearing with some of my rookie mistakes. I PROMISE to do better next time.
What went well:
* No tickets
* No incidents
* No one got lost (if they did they haven't been found to complain yet)
* Everyone got to eat - eventually
* Lunch was very good
* We made it back in time for disc golf
* We regrouped whenever we got split up or overly strung out.
* Jack and I made some tintop owners respect cabrios.
* Jack made me respect Justacooper cabrios.
* The Photo - Dragon "parade" - loop run schedule seemed to work.
What can be improved:
* My realism. I had CRAZY expectations regarding how many miles we could cover in one day. So I pushed us TOO hard without enough stops. Next time, we'll plan to do exactly the same route we actually did (not the one I planned that's TWO HOURS LONGER...) - and that will make me feel OK about stopping a couple of times on the Skyway for potty breaks and photo opps.
* My pre-drive briefing. I should have briefed everyone on driving within your own comfort level, that we'd not leave anyone, that we'd regroup frequently, on how to find your "proper" place in line over the course of the day based on your abilities and comfort level (i.e. let faster drivers move to the front of the group), that there WILL be folks who drive kinda fast, etc.
* I should NOT have forgotten about MINI_Bee and made him chase us down (but I'm REALLY glad he found us).
* I should have coordinated with specific folks to take turns bringing up the rear to ensure no one got stranded, and to prevent the terrified feeling that you were going to get left in the middle of nowhere, and ensuring that no one felt like they had to drive beyond their abilities or comfort level.
* My handouts. I should have had printed maps and directions for every car. Just in case.
Wow - considering how many things I did WRONG, it's a wonder ANYONE SURVIVED. It's a testament to your intrepid sense of adventure, and your willingness to risk life and limb to keep from getting left in the wilderness alone...
If you have other suggestions on things that would make future drives more enjoyable, please let me know.
If you'd like to see drives with a different "flavor" (e.g. slower, more scenic oriented, whatever) feel free to suggest that. And I'll nominate you to lead one just like whatever you suggest next time. After all, this was MY first time... somebody's gotta do it...
Wow, what a GREAT day I had on Saturday. Thanks to EVERYONE who joined me on my little ole country drive. I'm new to this "lead a run" thing - and I'm still learning - so thanks for bearing with some of my rookie mistakes. I PROMISE to do better next time.
What went well:
* No tickets
* No incidents
* No one got lost (if they did they haven't been found to complain yet)
* Everyone got to eat - eventually
* Lunch was very good
* We made it back in time for disc golf
* We regrouped whenever we got split up or overly strung out.
* Jack and I made some tintop owners respect cabrios.
* Jack made me respect Justacooper cabrios.
* The Photo - Dragon "parade" - loop run schedule seemed to work.
What can be improved:
* My realism. I had CRAZY expectations regarding how many miles we could cover in one day. So I pushed us TOO hard without enough stops. Next time, we'll plan to do exactly the same route we actually did (not the one I planned that's TWO HOURS LONGER...) - and that will make me feel OK about stopping a couple of times on the Skyway for potty breaks and photo opps.
* My pre-drive briefing. I should have briefed everyone on driving within your own comfort level, that we'd not leave anyone, that we'd regroup frequently, on how to find your "proper" place in line over the course of the day based on your abilities and comfort level (i.e. let faster drivers move to the front of the group), that there WILL be folks who drive kinda fast, etc.
* I should NOT have forgotten about MINI_Bee and made him chase us down (but I'm REALLY glad he found us).
* I should have coordinated with specific folks to take turns bringing up the rear to ensure no one got stranded, and to prevent the terrified feeling that you were going to get left in the middle of nowhere, and ensuring that no one felt like they had to drive beyond their abilities or comfort level.
* My handouts. I should have had printed maps and directions for every car. Just in case.
Wow - considering how many things I did WRONG, it's a wonder ANYONE SURVIVED. It's a testament to your intrepid sense of adventure, and your willingness to risk life and limb to keep from getting left in the wilderness alone...
If you have other suggestions on things that would make future drives more enjoyable, please let me know.
If you'd like to see drives with a different "flavor" (e.g. slower, more scenic oriented, whatever) feel free to suggest that. And I'll nominate you to lead one just like whatever you suggest next time. After all, this was MY first time... somebody's gotta do it...
Last edited by BlimeyCabrio; 11-05-2007 at 04:30 AM.
#24
By the way - here's the link to the route we ACTUALLY did - about 144 miles round trip.
The Dragon / TN360 / Cherohala Skyway loop
The Dragon / TN360 / Cherohala Skyway loop
#25