Cliff Notes:
- When: Oct 24th - Oct 25th, 2009
- What: Driving the Blue Ridge Parkway from Asheville to Cherokee
- Where: Friday night: Asheville, Saturday night: Smokemont campground/Cherokee.

Ok, I'll finally make a thread, with right about 4 weeks lead time.

Again, I'll be doing my annual run on the Blue Ridge Parkway, from Asheville, NC to Cherokee, NC (approx 90 miles).

The idea is to start off Saturday morning, catch a bite to eat in Asheville and then start the cruise about 9 - 10 am. Stop along the way for pictures and stretch our legs.

I'm planning to camp out in the Smokemont Campground in the Smokey Mountain National Park on Saturday night. Last year I reserved a group site for up to 20 people, but since I don't remember how much lead time I need to do that, nor do I have the time to get out there to do it (can't reserve group sites online), I'm not getting the group site again. You will need to reserve your own camp site for Oct 24th!!! Probably in Loop B. It is $20 a night.. I have reserved site B023 for myself and up to 3 others. Site allow up to 2 cars and 6 people.

If you want a hotel, that will be up to you to find one in Cherokee.

Lodging Friday night in Asheville will be up to you. I can provide a place to sleep for a few people, LET ME KNOW!!! these will be First come-first serve. And I'm not completely sure how many I can support. And I can't promise a bed or couch, just a free roof over your head for Friday night at either my house or my parents. (they are cool with it... those who came last year know...)

I am talking with Kevin (ZGN) about setting up a live feed for this event.

 

I think I'll make it this time. Got a tent too!

It looks like you can reserver the sites online. Did you try yet?

 

i am down for this! already posted in INC!

 

I'm thinking about this. Trying to see who will make it up from the Atlanta area. I may try to begin a trip up north this weekend and do this at the beginning or end of trip. We shall see. Not quite as fun with the Mazda3 though. I'll try to figure it out.

Holly

 

bah i wish i could make it down there... but i think its a little outside my ability to pay for xD not to mention the whole work thing. better be a picture thread for this when you guys get back!

 

if you plan to attend and have reserved a camp site, please PM me so I can start a list. If you wish for people to know where you can be found while camping, let me know to list your camp site.

 

You have my PM.

Who else is going to do this drive? Come on and get with it!

 

List of who's coming - campsite:
1. lt1_rx7/traynham - B023
2. Bryan + 1 guest - B025
3. N.RotaryTech
4. 88turboii
5. t_g_farrell - B021
6. Sand

 

the NOT UP TODATE website: http://www.blacklance.net/B3R/

 

Tray, do you know of any hotels that are inexpensive for staying in Ashville on Friday night?

 

define "inexpensive" and i'll look around for you.

 

List of who's coming - campsite:
1. lt1_rx7/traynham - B023
2. Bryan + 1 guest - B025
3. N.RotaryTech
4. 88turboii
5. t_g_farrell - B021
6. Sandrock
7. ZGN
8. ROTORX7Holly
9. Proxy One

 

I've taken Holly's advice and have asked my boss about extending my vacation so that maybe I can make it to this. I'll try to let you know asap.

 

breakfast!!! starting at 8 am Sat morning at

Cracker Barrel in Asheville
34 Tunnel Rd
Asheville, NC 28805-1230


I am going to ask that we do not try to get one large group of all of us. My reasoning for this it in the interest of time, not only in getting tables, but also for getting food. So pick a handful of people you wish to sit with and get a table. Also it will help if people are showing up at different times.

After breakfast, we will do the last gathering in the Ingle's parking lot across from the entrance of Cracker Barrel. There is gas right there so people can top off before we head out.

 

Was looking for like a Microtel or something around $60.

 

finding one on hotwire for $65 a night... looking up hotels online seems to suck...
another one for right at $70 a night from hotel-guide

the closest one to the house evidently is sold out...

 

Try http://www.travelocity.com, they usually have a good selection.

 

Thanks everyone. I do know how to use the internet to look for accommodations. I had checked the usual ones... orbitz, travelocity, cheaprooms and such. I was just curious if Tray knew of any places near that were cheap. Oh well. Maybe we will wait until the morning to drive up. Gotta work all day Friday anyway.

Holly

 

yeah, i dont really keep up with the local hotels and was at work when you asked... so i failed you holly, i'm sorry =[

 

Its a bad time of the year to look for a hotel. I checked around Cherokee just for kicks and a lot of the hotels were full. I guess the tourism is up because of the leaf action up in the mountains. Probably the same for Asheville too.

I hope you make it Holly and drag some OGTA-ers up with you. Some of the younger OGTA-ers should be able to do the trip. After all thats what you do when your young.

 

actually the leaves changing is why this trip is planned in oct. this is a tourist cruise, maintaining ~45 on the parkway... not the idea of driving people try for on the dragon... so we can expect to get stuck behind some people...and then make bets on how long it will take them to move out of our way.

 

Well if they're smart they won't want to be behind us

 

its too ******* cold to be sleeping outside this time of the year.

 

I reserved spot B028 yesterday. Im coming up friday night after work.

 

List of who's coming - campsite:
1. lt1_rx7/traynham - B023
2. Bryan + 1 guest - B025
3. N.RotaryTech - B023
4. 88turboii/gxl90rx7 - B023
5. t_g_farrell - B021
6. Sandrock
7. ZGN
8. ROTORX7Holly
9. Proxy One/PureMdMa - B028
10. 1twistedrx7