New Year's Day. What better way to start the year off than motoring to the highest point on the East coast. It's our 3rd annual New Years Day Drive. I'm planning a similar, but shorter route to the one we took 2 years ago on the inaugural run. It's going to start off at Old Fort, NC (exit 73 on I-40), taking US70 to US80. Running US80 up to the Blue Ridge Parkway and Mt. Mitchell. From there, we'll double back to 80 and head north to Micaville. There we'll turn right on 19E, then left back on to 80. We'll take 80 up to Bakersville and then head south on 226 and 221, ending up in Marion just north of I-40.

Here's a link to a map:
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/moorlo...c6.jpg&.src=ph

Needless to say, the routing, and the drive, will be contingent of the weather conditions. Starting time will be 12:00 noon. There's a McDonalds and gas stations at the starting point. I'll hopefully have a restaurant lined up at the end of the run where we can stop for an early dinner. Don't forget to bring your radios.

Attendees:
1) Moorlockx
2) Tasomini +1
3) Karen
4) Carol
5) Chris + Lanae
6) Robert
7) Sharon + Dwyan
8) Grilleguy

 

Update -

I've called around and found the Sage Brush Restaurant in Marion will be open and ready to take care of the appetites we work up tooling through the mountains. They're a typical "steakhouse" type restaurant with a wide variety of menu items offered.

One thing I will need is to get an approximate head count of those attending. If you plan on doing the dinner after the run please post here. If the group is large enough they'll need to be forewarned to make seating arrangements for us. I'll get a list going in the first post.

 

I am crossing my fingers that I can make this event. Please add me +1.
Looking forward to it!
Shelley

 

I should mention here that this drive is open to everyone. Sometime between now and New Year's Eve I'm going to take a pre-run of the route to make sure it's driveable in light of the recent weather out there. I'll post the outcome when I do.

 

Bob,

Exactly where are you guys meeting in Old Fort? I won't be able to make it but I want to pass this along to my Chapter members.

Eric

 

At exit 73, there's a Mcdonald's. We'll be meeting there.

I'm going up tomorrow to check the roads out and time it all.

 

I'll be there and Carol. Chris & Lanae Neild are thinking of coming too. Don't leave without us!!

 

Great!! I'll add you guys to the list.

 

Bob,

Please tenatively pencil me in for this event, and let us know if there are any change of plans.

Thanks,
Robert H

 

Got you penciled in Robert. Right now everything's a go. Both Accuweather and weather.com are forecasting partly sunny and a high around 60. If that's stays it'll be a good day for a drive, though the roads may not be completely dry from the rain they have listed on Sat.

I'll post more about the route tomorrow night after I drive it.

 

Just got back in town from my little road trip. Checked out the route and found a couple things of interest. The upper portion of 80N and 226A are both full of twisties! I dare say 226A is as much fun as the Dragon, even though the area's more built up.

The downside was I found that the parkway from 80 to Mt Mitchell is closed. There was a little evidence of snow lingering in some places, so my guess is the 2 tunnels are still frozen over. We'll check it out again on Sunday on the chance it's reopened.

Without the side trip to Mitchell, the run clocked in at 90 miles and took about 2 1/2 hours to cover. Sunday, I anticipate taking a little over 3 hours since we'll have a couple rest/stretch stops along the way. That'll put us eating about 3 or 3:30. This means everyone should be able to get home at a reasonable hour. The route is about a half and half mix of good twisties and more sedate country driving. Being New Years Day, I don't anticipate a lot of traffic except maybe at the beginning and the end.

I've got a route map. I'll try my best to get directions written up and copies made for those that go. Once again, don't forget to bring your radio, if you've got one.

See you Sunday at 12 in the McDonalds parking lot.

 

I wish I could go, but it's Trainmama's and my anniversary.. And I promised, no MINI stuff this year..

 

Sorry you can't make it Ed. You and Donna have a Happy Anniversary!

 

Come on MINI-iacs. Let's motor! Let's enjoy the first day of the new year. Let's show the drivers of those common vehicles what having fun is really like. What'cha waiting for?

 

Yeah!! What Karen said! ..............and don't be afraid to show up even if you haven't posted here. I can call the restaurant from the meeting point to give them a head count and approximate time of arrival. This will be a moderately paced run so don't worry about getting left behind. We're just going to be out enjoying the day and seeing some really nice countryside.

 

my plan is to be there @ 11:30 but it a long trek to get there.

Let's Motor!

 

>>>my plan is to be there @ 11:30 but it a long trek to get there.<<<<

not as long as my trek ..... but I actually plan on leaving out of here tonight and grabbing a room up at Black Mountain. The 11 or 12 hours I spent in the seat during the test run Thursday tells me I don't want to repeat the day.

 

Got the way point already entered into the Nav and me & Tweety are ready to go.

 

I have to say that today was great. What a great stretch of road that I never knew about. Here are some pics.

Chris

 

I'd like to once again thank those of you who came out and helped usher in 2006 with that rousing blast today. Everything was great.... except that women on the lower part of 80.

Thanks for the pics guys. I've got a few to post sometime tomorrow.

 

Looks like you guys had fun... Wish it was closer.

 

It looks like everyone had a fun time. At least Roadodendron didn't have to hang out the window to take pictures like Trainmama does!

 

Here's a few more pics:

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/moorlo...ockx/my_photos

 

We had a great time. Got a little dust in our mouths and left a little rubber on the road. Good fun!

Here is my contribution to the pics. There's 1 of everybody.

http://www.grilleguy.com/NewYears2006.htm

 

A bit late, but what can I say?? Here's our pictures...
http://www.tweetysmom.com/tweety/tra...wyears2006.htm