Howdy all!!

It is that time of year again, so who is going? I am heading down on Weds May 26th, returning May 31th. Anyone going to make the trek??

 

I should be pulling in sometime Tuesday.

 

What time you leaving shyguy? Last year I went down Thurs and it wasn't enough time so this year I am aiming for Weds, but I might make it a two day trip and get there early Weds instead of 7-9 PM.

 

I haven't totally nailed that down. Last year I left Maine around 6am tuesday, and took the long way over to west Virginia to meet up with someone coming down from Pittsburgh. I stayed over and we booked it down the next day.

I think I am going to do something similar, I will leave around 5 or 6 ish Monday and get as far as I can and stay over. I want to roll into Fontana from the south of the Smokey mountain park, maybe hit the blue sky highway.

I am hoping for a lot more sun this year, so I can get a ton more driving in.

 

I'll be there, heading out on thursday 5/28 then leaving Sunday 5/28. We got a caravan going, maybe you could join us?

 

Yeah man, the rain SUCKED last year. All good though because we did have 1.5 days of sunlight. More sun will only make it better -- and, gas isn't $4 a gallon (at least not yet!). Would be awesome if I was paying $2.25 for 93 lol.

My plan at the moment is to leave New Haven area at 5 AM on Weds morning, which gets me in Carlisle PA by 9 am or earlier where I rendez-vous with David (davids). From there we head down. I am taking the northern route this year -- its an AWESOME path but a little longer (maybe 30 mins). Whats 30 mins after 13+ hrs though? That is going East on I44 or whatever it is, instead of West towards Knoxville.

 

I will definitely leave with you on Sunday but I am heading down Weds I think. All the PFM guys going on Thurs again?

I guess this means you are going then eh Ray? Definite? (or close?)

 

Yeah I plan on going from 81 west (south west?) to 40 south through the tip of the park, then 276 to 19 west and get on the skyway there and take the back roads in. I can't check in till 4 anyway, so I do not mind taking my time.

 

I-81/78 South through NJ/MD/WV (for 5 miles) and then into VA is the same way I am going. Once I get down to TN / NC is where I am not sure yet. GPS says go to Knoxville, but the construction detours and sh*t SUCKED last year..not sure that is the case this year. We went through Knox on the way back, was not feeling it. The other way is longer but more fun (even in the rain). I love curves with 3 lanes, tunnels, bridges, etc. Below is a pic of the alt. route heading East, on I-40 as you said (I think I said I44 above, sorry!).

 

Yeah we came in through Knoxville last year. The construction was not to bad, it was a pretty simple detour. The GPS was clutch though. The dragon was soaked on the way in. Heck of a way to run it the first time.

 

Yeah man when I went in on Thurs night the dudes in front of me were hauling a$s in the rain -- I was NOT going to mess with that and I ended up 15 minutes behind over like 30 miles lol. This year I am buying a GPS (just have to make sure it HAS Fontana Village Resort it in, because some don't lol).

 

A lot of the older ones do not. I do not think mine does. It costs a tone to update the maps to. I know the Fontana damn is on there, thats what someone else uses as a nav point.

You can always get the Long and latts from google and punch them in manually.

 

I haven't bought a GPS yet, so whatever I get *should* have it. Davids' did not last year, so I led the way once we got down there.

PS, as a note to whoever is going, turn OFF the GPS through VA. lol. Will feel like you aren't even moving and you don't need it for about 250 miles.

 

Yeah it sucked. I just switched screens and popped in a DVD.

 

I guess it is just me, davids, Ray, and you shyguy lol. And I am not going the same day as either of you (going with Dave).

 

yeah ive been out of the loop as to where the this is taking place exactly, can some one provide some info

thanks

 

I'm rolling in with the PFM crew, but I don't think we're coming in the same day as you though.

 

I am going early because it seemed dumb to bomb down there for 3 days then bomb back.

Plus I want more time on the roads.

 

Here that shyguy, hence why I am going a day earlier. This year I will have Thurs Fri Sat to run around instead of just Fri and Sat.

Ray, do you have a room?

 

Yeah, we booked a house a bit off from the rest of the cabins.