The roads were good, except for that one out the back of Fontana Village. and Fontana Village itself was a madhouse. They were having a Nissan convention and every place was covered with Nissans with soup cans hung under the rear.
This was the first place we got separated from Tim and Roger. Things progressed well until we had lunch in Robbinsville and headed for the Cherohala Skyway. Someway or other we got separated from Tim and Roger in the FiHero and Scott P. in his Cadillac. Yep, Cadillac, like in big 4-door sedan, and he kept up with us for the most part. See, everyone, I told you we would take it easy.
Anyway, with other vehicles getting into our group, someway we got separated from the Highway Rescue Vehicle and the Cadillac. By the time we realized it and I went back to try to find them they were long gone. I don't know what type cell phones those folks up there use, but none of us had phone signals anywhere in that part of the state.
So, when I got back to the Fiero group, we continued, hoping the separated parties would find their way back home. First time I got a call from them, Pat and I were almost back down to Blue Ridge, Ga. with Greg, Chris, Sharon and Colin having split at Telico Plains to tackle The Dragon from the north end, and Harry and Karin had turned back East toward home just before we got down to Ducktown and Copperhill. At that time, Tim, Roger and Scott were about 14 miles North of Franklin, returning via the route we had taken to get up there.
Sounds like all of us got caught in that big thunder shower that moved across that region, except maybe for the NC folks. There were a couple of times I thought I heard some small hail hitting the car. Got home a little after 9. I think Pat and I may have been the first to get home since everyone else had much further to go.
Thanks to all who came along. I'd be interested in hearing your honest comments about the roads and everything we saw. I promise that the next scouting run will only involve 4 roads and the day should go much smoother.
