Hello everyone,
Local guy finally posting. I guess I would start off by asking people what type of driving they want to do, as there is a nice mix of roads in the area? Most know the Dragon of course, but what about the surrounding roads? I for one cannot drive up and down the Dragon all day. A great road no doubt, but I like to stretch my car's legs a bit and add a little more speed to my drive. If the Dragon is your main goal, the map MJK posted might not be your speed. I for one have not taken this route before, but it looks like something I would enjoy. There are too many great roads in the area to truly enjoy them all in 1.5 days. We just need to come up with a game plan (or not) and try to get the most in as possible.
As for a central place to meet I’m not 100% sure. I do not know how long it takes to get from say Cherokee to Townsend. Those of you staying on the Tennessee side, there are many options IMO to meet. Alcoa (near airport), Maryville, Walland and of course Townsend. There is a Cracker Barrel, IHOP, Shoney’s and other breakfast type places all within 10-15 minutes of the above mentioned cities (most in Alcoa/Maryville area). Is breakfast something we would all like to do as a group, or do we just meet up at a certain time and place and start our journey like that? I’m game either way. Maybe an option would be to group the TN side folks together as well as the NC drivers and meet up at 12 at Deal’s Gap?? This could give each side time to do what they want regarding breakfast and central meeting place and then meet up for a larger group drive a little later?
Like the map MJK posted, I also know a nice 4 hr + drive that starts at the Dragon and takes us north and then west ending in Tellico. A nice mix of straight but mostly curvy roads. Lunch is possible at the Tellico Café also. From Tellico, we would then head back east across the Cherohala Skyway into the Robbinsville area before heading back north thru the Dragon. This is a very complete drive IMO. Local country roads followed by the higher speeds on the Cherohala ending back at the Dragon. Throw breakfast and lunch into the mix and you have a very nice day. Skippy and Mirror have driven this and might want to give their $0.02 on the route.
Anyway, just a few ideas for now as it is getting late. I’ll be happy to help if I can, so feel free to PM me or simply continue to post your thought and ideas and I will provide more feedback as it is really getting close now.
James
