Alas, Birmingham has no MINI dealership, so I've ordered mine from Nashville and will go pick 'er up next week. Any suggestions for a LOOOOOONNNNNNG way home, headed south from there?
Thanks!
Babs in Bham

 

Head East on 40 to Knoxville, then south on 129 across the famous Dragon, back on 75 for about 3 hours to talk about 129! I google mapped it, it's about 525 miles, maybe 9 1/2 hours. I'd plan on running the Dragon (TN/NC border) several times, though, so stay at Fontana overnight.

 

Thanks!

 

Looking at Google maps you may think I'm kidding... but what an absolute BLAST that road is. I have yet to find its equal.

The whole area is pretty cool. Check the MOTD (Minis On The Dragon) area of the forum for more information - you may be able to get some of the folks there to provide their drive maps from this Spring. Remember, though, you'll want to take the revs easy for the break-in period... and the TN police tend to watch US129 ( one part of which is called "the Dragon") pretty well. Check www.killboy.com for photos, also US129.com, and check the threads on running the Dragon.

 

any way you go will be a long way in a MINI...just hope you don't break down

 

There's also the Natchez Trace parkway to the West of Nashville. It angles SW towards MS, but you can cut back across the hill country of Alabama. Some nice back roads there.

 

do the Dragon, then drive the Cherohala Skyway to Telico Plains, then hit 75 around Sweetwater. A day on the Dragon and Skyway cant be beat.