We will give handouts Friday morning at the CrackerBarrel, and Chip will probably email the entire itinerary beforehand anyway.
However these are the details, so printup as necessary for June 4 drive:
Leaving ******* Barrel at approx. 11:00 am , Friday June 4.
I-75N/I-40E to I-140E (Pellissippi Parkway) towards Maryville/Airport.
Take Exit 5, Northshore Drive, bear to right which is west on Norhthshore Drive Hwy 332. At this point PLEASE SET YOUR TRIP ODOMETER to zero, as the following directions are so presented.
We will follow Northshore Drive until it ends at a stopsign, and at 10.3 miles.
Some Landmarks:
@ 4.4 miles is traffic circle at Concord Road intersection - continue half way through circle to go straight.
@ 5.5 miles ball fields on right
Concord Park on left
@ 8.1miles, stop sign at Harvey Rd intersection - continue straight through.
@10.3 miles, end of Northshore. Stopsign.
Go left up hill. Right at top of hill on Lakeview Rd. (10.5 miles)
@ 11.7 (after cresting hill and starting down) Left on Easter Ridge Rd.
@ 12.3 entering Lenoir City Park from back side- keep straight.
@ 12.5 wind around Tellico Marina
go straight crest hill and enjoy view as begin downhill to bottom of TVA dam
@ 13.6 miles pass giant propeller, and bear right as go uphill. This right is a yield to 321 North.
Merge with 321 North, and go across the dam. Staying on 321 after dam, it becomes a 4 lane (15.5 miles). This is a great time to regroup as we continue.
@ 18.8 miles, turn right onto Hwy 95 South (to Greenback).
(after a few miles on 95 if you are not having fun, go home
)
@ 24.1 miles, open her up, but not for long! After an s curve, you'll see Ness Lane on your left.
The next right is our turn.
Google Maps
@ 25.0 miles, take a right (right after farmhouse on slight hill) on Sinking Creek.
Stay on Sinking Creek until Morganton Road. Do NOT overdrive for the next 2.5 miles - lots of hidden driveways, and the road curves away unexpectedly. Also an occaissonal bike rider or runner might catch you unawares - when you can see - it's FUN, when not, might be treacherous!
(@ 25.3 Morganton Baptist Church on left)
@ 27.5 Stop Sign - end of Sinking Creek - take a right onto Morganton Road (unmarked!)
@ 29.5 Stop Sign - this is junction of East Coast Tellico Parkway- go left (also unmarked)
@ 31.6 miles - junction of 411 and Hwy 72- go Right on 411 South
Google Maps
(At this point, the miles are no longer logged - we will go by road sign/ google maps only.)
As you enter Vonore on 411 South, on the left are a BP and Shell station - between these is hwy 360 South.
Go LEFT on Hwy 360 towards Tellico Plains. 360 will take us to a junction at the Cherohala Skyway. There are only two turns with which to concern ourselves.
After several miles, there is an apparent junction of 360 at Citico Road which continues straight - however, 360 continues to the RIGHT across a bridge across the lake. Bear RIGHT here.
Google Maps
After several more miles (again, you SHOULD be having a LOT of fun at this point), you will come to a stop sign at Ballplay road and County Road 708 and 360 South. 360 (and Ballplay road) goes left here. GO LEFT at the stop sign to continue on 360/Ballplay Road. This ends at Cherohala Skyway - Go RIGHT (Hwy 165/River Road) and convene at the Cherohala Market/Exxon about a mile up on the left.
Cherohala Cottage near the Cherohala Skyway and Tail of the Dragon at Deals Gap
Fill up here.
Total elapsed time to this point - about 1.4 hours
At about 12:45pm we will plan on leaving
Cherohala Cottage near the Cherohala Skyway and Tail of the Dragon at Deals Gap and go East on Hwy 165 to/on the Cherohala Skyway.
[media]http://www.cherohala.org/images/imagespresskit/cherohalamap2.jpg[/media]
The Cherohala Skyway, a National Scenic Byway
We MAY opt for a photo opportunity along this stretch - so don't go to warp speed too soon
We will follow the Skyway into North Carolina (165 becomes 143) and to Santeelah Gap - taking a left to Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest
Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest
Time: about 1:45 pm.
(sitesee Joyce Kilmer??)
About 2:30 pm leave Joyce Kilmer and go around Santeelah lake to merge with U.S. 129 North.
Google Maps
Follow U.S. 129 North to Deals Gap where we will link up with the group from GA/NC.
Time: about 3:00pm.
Time to do the Tail Of The Dragon!
Follow U.S. 129 along the Dragon. 318 curves in 11 miles.
As Dragon straightens out and begins following the lake, after a few miles take a right on Foothills Parkway
Google Maps
and follow to the end, exiting to the RIGHT. This is (Again) Hwy 321 South, and we will follow into Townsend TN, and taking a left at the light to continue on Hwy 321 to Wears Valley and into Pigeon Forge TN. Take a Right on 441 and we will convene at the Shular Inn at:
Shular Inn, Pigeon Forge
2708 Parkway
Pigeon Forge, TN 37863-5256
(865) 453-8422
FYI-
