[coyote cruiser]

Saturday, October 6th.

Yep, that time again for 318 curves in 11 miles and some of the most beautiful scenic byways you could ask for.

A group of us from around the Mooresville / Charlotte, etc area will be meeting at the I-77 Exit 42 Wilco gas station and leave there about 5:45AM bound for Asheville.

We’ll meet some more folks at I-40 Exit 44 Cracker Barrel on the west side of Asheville ~8AM. There are a couple of hotels at that exit 44 for anyone wanting to drive in the night before.

We’ll depart Cracker Barrel about 9-9:15 for Fontana Dam (we’ll still do the gas & restroom break after about an hour into it for the Cracker Barrel coffee contingent & gasaholics). We’ll make Fontana by ~11AM & meet up with any others there.

We’ll then leave Fontana about 11:15-11:30AM and make the northbound run on the Dragon. We’ll regroup at the end to cool down, swap lies and take in the scenery.

Just like the past few years, from there I assume the group will probably break off, with some continuing on further north for lunch, some looping around TN to run the Cherohala eastward in its entirety, some running the Dragon southbound to either Deal’s Gap or Robbinsville for lunch & then making a westward run on at least a portion of the Cherohala, etc... before heading back home or staying overnight in the area.

There appears to be some interest in grouping up at a hotel Saturday night to tour a little more of the Smokies Sunday morning. The group rates I’ve found so far around the Robbinsville area require minimum of 10 rooms and only run about 10% cheaper than normal rates, but if anyone has suggestions just let me know & I’ll be glad to check into any options.

It’s an incredibly fun day of fellowship & fun. Hope to see you October 6th!