First day on the road

So I have the first two days under my belt, and the trip is progressing nicely. I left Charlotte yesterday and wanted to get some back road miles under my belt. I looked up some scenic drives (book provided by Becca) and there looked to be a good route through the Great Smokey Mountains, called the Cherohala skyway. Took me a few miles to the south, but seemed well worth it.

Back country Tennessee was beautiful. Didn't really get on the back roads until close to the skyway, but it meant that I got there quickly. As I approached the mountains, it was easy to see how they got their name. This ethereal mist rose above them and wrapped around the mountain tops. It was incredibly beautiful. Tried to take some pictures but I'm not sure I did them justice.



The skyway itself was memorable, but not in the sense that I had hoped. The same mist and fog that had been following us for the whole trip (consistently grey and raining from NYC to Charlotte) reduced visibility to about 40 yards. What this meant was the views the skyway was known for were unavailable. What it also meant was that the 400-1000 foot drops off the side of the highway, many without guard rails, were in large part either blocked or at least reduced from my sight. I have what I'll call a "healthy respect" for heights. So perhaps the fog was a blessing in disguise.

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Pulled over at a little burger joint beside a beautiful stream, and had a great cheeseburger for lunch

I pulled into Fall Creek Falls State Park around 4, and set up camp. I had forgotten to bring "food" so I headed back to the store I'd seen, A&H Market on Route 30 West (highly recommended, nice people) and looked for some. Bought a good assortment of Chef Boyardee, Beans and Franks, and was looking for some hotdogs for a little open fire roasting. All they had were 8-packs, and there was only one of me, so I figured I'd see what could be done. Turns out they had loose hotdogs, so I bought two loosies (am I in a bodega on the UES in 1994?) and was on my way.

As it turns out, it is extremely difficult to light a fire in Eastern Tennesse in spring, after 4 days of straight rain, with everything in the woods wet to the touch. I went through two books of matches, half the cardboard box holding some miscellaneous parts, 4 pages from my atlas and some backwoods off before the thing would light enough to cook my hotdogs. I opened a can of Chef Boyardee for good measure, and had my little feast in the woods: Two charred hotdogs, and a can of ravioli that I managed to cook such that it was a mix of scalding and ice cold. All in all one of the best meals of my life.


Passed out at 9 and woke up at 7 this morning. Decided to get some distance so I headed for the highway. Pulled over to wash my truck for the first time in 2 months (she deserves it) and an hour later a bird got me.

Pulled into Memphis around 7, and met up with Cameron and some of his local cruiserhead buddies for some excellent BBQ at the Commissary. Great ribs, great company. After an unsuccessful effort to steal Cam's seats, and a successful effort to stuff myself full of pork, I headed out to find lodging for the evening.

Fun fact:
Waffle house is the largest purveyor of steaks in the U.S.

Less fun fact: 840 around Nashville does not actually connect with itself! Look at an atlas and let me know what you think. Yeah, that's what I thought.

Saw this in Englewood, TN: