Sunday Drive to Little Switzerland via 226A and 221

[ZCP///M3]

Bob, Mike+2, Ryan, and I (I'll be riding with Bob) are going for a mountain drive on Sunday since it will be perfect out.  Wanted to see if anyone is interested in joining?
 
We are meeting at the Shell Station at Exit 119 off of I-40 (near Hickory) at 10:15AM.

Here is the planned route. It's a pretty fun one with 226A and 221. Hopefully the traffic won't be too bad. (Please ignore the Wal-Mart part of the directions/map.)

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=201+Zelkova+Ct+NW+%23+224,+Conover,+NC+28613+(Wal-Mart+Supercenter)&daddr=NC-226+Alt+to:little+switzerland,+nc+to:Blue+Ridge+Pkwy+to:Blue+Ridge+Pkwy+to:blowing+rock,+nc+to:35.708608,-81.356506&hl=en&geocode=FdQnIQId4NAo-yEldAK9BbcUxA%3BFZhwIgIdSq4b-w%3B%3BFXykIwIdcBMd-w%3BFTWCJgIdZ1Af-w%3B%3B&mra=dme&mrcr=3&mrsp=6&sz=9&via=1,3&sll=35.902655,-81.658435&sspn=0.925503,1.513367&ie=UTF8&z=9

Let me know if you can make it!

[BobsElise]

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=35.706935,-81.422939&daddr=NC-226+Alt+to:little+switzerland,+nc+to:Blue+Ridge+Pkwy+to:Blue+Ridge+Pkwy+to:blowing+rock,+nc+to:US-321+S&geocode=%3BFZhwIgIdSq4b-w%3B%3BFXykIwIdcBMd-w%3BFTWCJgIdZ1Af-w%3B%3BFQb_IAIdUpsm-w&hl=en&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=0&sz=14&via=1,3&sll=35.700662,-81.41264&sspn=0.030738,0.059481&ie=UTF8&ll=35.71028,-81.415901&spn=0.122938,0.237923&z=12

Here's an updated map with the start location.  The Shell station is located just north of I-40 off exit 119 in Hildebran, NC.

[Rhythmaker]

Added a highly recommended blowing rock/boone ~30-40 min addition.  Great fun little road, with tight corners and minimal shoulders - challenging and low traffic.

Driving Directions
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=S+Center+St%2FNC-1002&daddr=NC-226+Alt+to:little+switzerland,+nc+to:Blue+Ridge+Pkwy+to:Blue+Ridge+Pkwy+to:NC-1550%2FRuss+Cornett+Rd+to:36.193793,-81.698027+to:NC-1552%2FPoplar+Grove+Rd+S+to:blowing+rock,+nc+to:US-321+S&geocode=FQrYIAIdkJUl-w%3BFZhwIgIdSq4b-w%3B%3BFXykIwIdcBMd-w%3BFTWCJgIdZ1Af-w%3BFcQlKAId3DQh-w%3B%3BFTxzKAIdN0Ah-w%3B%3BFQb_IAIdUpsm-w&hl=en&mra=dpe&mrcr=2&mrsp=6&sz=14&via=1,3,5,6,7&sll=36.193516,-81.705923&sspn=0.035327,0.076904&ie=UTF8&ll=36.156311,-81.704121&spn=0.035343,0.076904&z=14

[S4 Esprit]

I'm jealous!  We can't make it but have fun.  We did 181 down from the parkway a few weeks ago and it was absolutely awesome - large elevation change due to the high starting point.  A little busy, but there are nice passing zones.

[BobsElise]

Added a highly recommended blowing rock/boone ~30-40 min addition.  Great fun little road, with tight corners and minimal shoulders - challenging and low traffic.

I have driven that before several times and it's a lot of fun!  Good addition to the drive!

[JnC]

If you have the time, I'd highly recommend adding 268 and Brushy Mountain Rd to the mix. 268 has some nice sweeping apexes and is scenic. While Brushy Mountain Rd is best described as a twisty downhill slalom.

Of course, it leaves you in the middle of nowhe... Hiddenite. Not sure if it would be better to find a route back to Hickory or double back to Happy Valley.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=S+Center+St%2FNC-1002&daddr=NC-226+Alt+to:little+switzerland,+nc+to:Blue+Ridge+Pkwy+to:Blue+Ridge+Pkwy+to:NC-1550%2FRuss+Cornett+Rd+to:Snaggy+Mountain+Blvd+to:NC-1552%2FPoplar+Grove+Rd+S+to:blowing+rock,+nc+to:NC-268+to:Brushy+Mountain+Rd%2FNC-1001+to:Brushy+Mountain+Rd%2FNC-1001+to:Brushy+Mountain+Rd%2FNC-1001%2FSulphur+Springs+Rd+to:35.900592,-81.091118&geocode=FQrYIAIdkJUl-w%3BFZhwIgIdSq4b-w%3B%3BFXykIwIdcBMd-w%3BFTWCJgIdZ1Af-w%3BFcQlKAId3DQh-w%3BFTNGKAId62Ih-w%3BFTxzKAIdN0Ah-w%3B%3BFRLeJgIdsvMn-w%3BFdRxJgId-oUq-w%3BFVjLJQId6Cgr-w%3BFXTxJAIdttgq-w%3B&hl=en&mra=mi&mrcr=7&mrsp=13&sz=13&via=1,3,5,6,7&sll=35.91825,-81.088371&sspn=0.072708,0.137672&ie=UTF8&ll=35.867908,-81.138153&spn=0.582028,1.101379&z=10

[Rhythmaker]

Here are some pics from the run today.  Sorry about my tire issue holding us back.  I shoul have know they were about shot.  Hope you guys had fun on the rest of your run!  Bob, did you sell your car yet?!  Johnny Cash was trying hard wasnt he...  should have gone for $45k

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=71065&id=769799307&l=8b8c79dfb9

[alilbrit]

SPOTTED!!   Bob & Kat > Ryan > Jared

Hey Joanne and I spotted you guys driving up I-40 about 10:45am yesterday.   We were coming back from a weekend away in Asheville coming in the opposite direction in the Jag.

......could have sworn Bob had a big grin on his face   

We did some cycling up on the Parkway, so had the bikes - otherwise we would have gone in the Lotus and would have turned around to catch you guys up!!

[ZCP///M3]

Had a blast!  Can't wait for the next mountain drive! 

[Rhythmaker]

SPOTTED!!   Bob & Kat > Ryan > Jared

Hey Joanne and I spotted you guys driving up I-40 about 10:45am yesterday.   We were coming back from a weekend away in Asheville coming in the opposite direction in the Jag.

......could have sworn Bob had a big grin on his face   

We did some cycling up on the Parkway, so had the bikes - otherwise we would have gone in the Lotus and would have turned around to catch you guys up!!

Thats freakin awesome, sorry you missed it.  Though you didnt miss much from me other then some oversteering/ bad tire action and a slow trek home... down to the threads on the rear right.  bought new tires today, doubt ill get em on before the Cars and coffee this weekend though... bummer.

[BobsElise]

I had a great time on the drive!

I'll be taking the MINI to Cars and Coffee because I have to take it to the diminished value assessor right afterwards on Saturday.  I'm still looking forward to it though.

[Rhythmaker]

Here are a few videos from the drive...

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embed src="<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/rFE5xwlC23A&rel=0" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/rFE5xwlC23A&rel=0</a>" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed>