95 NC 993

Since the TOTD is closed my navigator (wife) plotted out the Cherohala Skyway route and approximate time to complete. Unfortunately due to the numerous rockslides closing the better driving roads, some regular traffic will be encountered on the the way to the Cherohala which is a 2 hour drive after lunch in Gatlinburg. We would be arriving at Tellico Plain, TN at 2:30 or so to start the Skyway run. It takes about 1.5 hours to complete to get to Robbinsville, NC. From there it takes about another 1.5 - 2 hours to finish the loop heading to Cherokee, NC and then back through the national park to Gatlinburg. If you feel like partaking in the Hellbender and part of the Moonshiner 28 it adds another hour to the loop. Of course anyone living on the NC side or going back via the NC side will reduce the time involved. I'm putting this out there because this is now an 'all day event' versus the original plan of just the TOTD. If Chris is unable to see this post I'll call him later this morning to make sure everything is OK with him and these plans.

fpena944

Is the meeting place at 10am still the same?

vincer77

With a 4 hr drive back to Nashville, it'll be a 12hr+ day and I can't stay the night so I'll have to pass. The DE is full also. Oh well.

95 NC 993

Thank you for the responses. I just talked to Chris. Everything is a GO and the meeting place is still the same at 10:00 a.m. The weather still shows sunny and cool near 60 degrees. Sounds good!

95 NC 993

Some good news to report for those coming tomorrow. Just spoke with the Sugarlands Visitor Center in the national park and they advised that the Little River Rd is now open as is the Foothills Pkwy. That makes for some nice driving from Gatlinburg to the Cherohala Skyway.

993inNC

Dave are we talking about having to go all the way to HWY 360 from foothills Pkwy? Since 129 is closed?

95 NC 993

Thank you for a wonderful driving day Fernando and Chris. It was a real pleasure to meet the both of you. What incredible weather! I'll post some pictures soon.

993inNC

I second the motion. Nice to meet you and Claire too. Was just saying to the family how refreshed I was even after 6+ hours of driving in GT3 seats.....LOVE THEM!!!
What a great day we must find a way to do it again sometime.

And for those that bailed out ......YOU MISSED OUT

here's where we went

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sour...,1.352692&z=10

fpena944

It was good meeting up with you guys...I made it home around 7:30pm!

Here are the three photos I took on my phone. They're not the best but at least they're something.

I'm open to doing this again whenever you guys are ready!

Oh and remember to look up the mountain road photographers as I'm sure they'll have some cool action shots of us driving on the road.

993inNC

Wow, you made great time. It took me until 6 to get back! And I was only 30 miles from base, you were a lot farther away. Going to go check the sites right now for picks.

edit: US129.com has great pics of us all! Scroll in a couple of pages. Killboy didn't have anything up yet.

95 NC 993

Fernando, we have the same pictures. Your phone camera is pretty impressive!
Chris, will you be posting your video on-line anywhere? I forgot to ask you yesterday.

These pictures are taken along Little River Rd in the national park, the Cherohala Skyway, and our own parking spaces at Calhouns in Gatlinburg. It was quite cool at the high elevations with snow still on the ground but the lower elevations were very pleasant. The sun (all day long) made it perfect! The Skyway had quite a bit of traffic for this time of year. The TOTD was closed at each end so you can't even drive on it a little bit. The national park was quite full but it was a weekend during the one of the best weather days of the year. Good thing we had our driver's licenses as the NC side of the Skyway had a police checkpoint set up. It was pretty quick though.

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95 NC 993

Thanks Chris! If anyone wants to see the photos go to http://www.us129photos.com. Then click on 'purchase photos', then 'cars' and we are on pages 8 and 9. Excellent photos. I am ordering now.

fpena944

I guess they've finally put a decent camera in these things!

I just checked the photos out and will be purchasing one as well. I didn't have any "butt" shots though

Oh well...I put nearly 600 miles on my car yesterday. Needless to say I slept really well when I went to bed.

Chris if you need a server to host the videos on I have a couple of web servers with free space so let me know.

993inNC

How do I get it over to you? I'll need to wait until I get home to do it, maybe this coming up w/e.

fpena944

I just sent you a PM with the server login/upload information. Let me know if you have any questions.