North Carolina Mountain Leaf Viewing Drive?

[lotsats]

I live in the Raleigh, North Carolina area and I’m thinking about doing a run on the Blue Ridge Parkway for some leaf viewing. I know the dates vary each year, and I’m thinking maybe mid October will likely be a good time. I have done this before in my 1984 Caterham. This time around, I have a recent 1966 Lotus 7 S2 restoration to try out. I did a 100 mile day with it last weekend and am thinking that maybe I trust it’s reliability now. My preferred route would be from Boone to Asheville, or the reverse, or maybe do it both ways. Are any of you interested?  
 

Joel 

[pethier]

A Twink?  That's a restomod.

 

And I suggest you put the flag on the front.  The streets are different than the dunes at Pismo Beach. :-)

[ThatRealCraig]

Woah! That’s quite the selection, Respect!!!

That’s a fantastic idea! Are you suggesting to drive all the way from Raleigh? I live in Raleigh too but I haven’t done longer than ~50 mile runs in mine.

 

[SENC]

Nice!  Wish I could join, but this Fall is going to be busy (culminating in daughter's wedding in November).  Have fun!

[Austin David]

We're all doing a terrible job representing the southeast.  The following is a proposal, all of these are editable -- click to sign in (free for life), make copies to change stuff.

 

Overview: Blowing Rock -> Cherokee -> Asheville

https://route7.austindavid.com/route/QlYEaMKAeTmv
 

1 day to gather, 2 days in the mountains, 1 day home.

 

Day 1: go to Blowing Rock.  Resorts are cheap during the week... or at least, they were in the "before times" when I used to travel a lot.

Wilmington route for SENC: https://route7.austindavid.com/route/fro05kDTO8i6

Charleston route for me: https://route7.austindavid.com/route/DaxxB9cfN1zG

Greenville route for uglyfast et al: https://route7.austindavid.com/route/DgsB6zLJjAh8

 

Day 2: ... is a lot of BRP still closed?  https://www.nps.gov/blri/planyourvisit/roadclosures.htm -- seems to be some significant closure between blowing rock -> asheville.

Blowing Rock -> Cherokee: https://route7.austindavid.com/route/9vPhadSdsw_U 

 

Day 3: Cherokee -> Asheville: https://route7.austindavid.com/route/MmF50JNmMRLf

There's room for Deal's Gap in here.  I've never driven it, I hear mixed things.

 

Day 4: Asheville -> home

Wilmington for SENC: https://route7.austindavid.com/route/-O6uPcRau8GP

Charleston for me: https://route7.austindavid.com/route/rJ-0jxW25_N0

 

 

Again, just a proposal.  I'm tired of working and tired of looking at my garage.

[S1Steve]

Well you guys better get your Shit together. 😆The Bosslady and I are planning on moving down to South - North Carolina in the coming year. When we do move I’ll be well up for meeting up with you guys. Really looking forward to the much longer, warmer driving season. The search is on for were exactly, closer to a beach the better…

Edited May 27 by S1Steve

[SENC]

22 hours ago, Austin David said:

We're all doing a terrible job representing the southeast.  The following is a proposal, all of these are editable -- click to sign in (free for life), make copies to change stuff.

 

Overview: Blowing Rock -> Cherokee -> Asheville

https://route7.austindavid.com/route/QlYEaMKAeTmv
 

1 day to gather, 2 days in the mountains, 1 day home.

 

Day 1: go to Blowing Rock.  Resorts are cheap during the week... or at least, they were in the "before times" when I used to travel a lot.

Wilmington route for SENC: https://route7.austindavid.com/route/fro05kDTO8i6

Charleston route for me: https://route7.austindavid.com/route/DaxxB9cfN1zG

Greenville route for uglyfast et al: https://route7.austindavid.com/route/DgsB6zLJjAh8

 

Day 2: ... is a lot of BRP still closed?  https://www.nps.gov/blri/planyourvisit/roadclosures.htm -- seems to be some significant closure between blowing rock -> asheville.

Blowing Rock -> Cherokee: https://route7.austindavid.com/route/9vPhadSdsw_U 

 

Day 3: Cherokee -> Asheville: https://route7.austindavid.com/route/MmF50JNmMRLf

There's room for Deal's Gap in here.  I've never driven it, I hear mixed things.

 

Day 4: Asheville -> home

Wilmington for SENC: https://route7.austindavid.com/route/-O6uPcRau8GP

Charleston for me: https://route7.austindavid.com/route/rJ-0jxW25_N0

 

 

Again, just a proposal.  I'm tired of working and tired of looking at my garage.

On a Maine road-trip for the next bit (sans 7, unfortunately) - but will explore the links when I can.  I'd definitely like to do something like this - but struggling to prioritize it against other demands on my time (thus my likelihood of selling it on sometime this year).

[SENC]

15 hours ago, S1Steve said:

Well you guys better get your Shit together. 😆The Bosslady and I are planning on moving down to South - North Carolina in the coming year. When we do move I’ll be well up for meeting up with you guys. Really looking forward to the much longer, warmer driving season. The search is on for were exactly, closer to a beach the better…

 

Happy to offer guidance/assistance for the coastal areas of SC/NC - have lived in SE NC for a long time and spent a good deal of time with up and down the Carolina coast.  They're not great areas for your Seven, though.

[Austin David]

as in, "outer banks is cool but mostly straight and salty" ?

[S1Steve]

Thanks Dave, We’ve been to the Outer Banks a lot. It’s a great place to visit, but it’s not a place we would want to live. My wife’s family is down in Hilton Head, so she’s thinking down there somewhere. HH is nuts in the summer with all the vacation traffic.. 

[SENC]

1 hour ago, S1Steve said:

Thanks Dave, We’ve been to the Outer Banks a lot. It’s a great place to visit, but it’s not a place we would want to live. My wife’s family is down in Hilton Head, so she’s thinking down there somewhere. HH is nuts in the summer with all the vacation traffic.. 

 

Yes it is.  Pawleys Island is a great area, as is Wilmington.

[Austin David]

I am off and SICK AND TIRED of not driving around way too much.  Let's do leafs this year for reals.  Who's in?  I'd like to spend a lazy day heading up from Charleston, day 2 drive around at least a day, then back .  During the week (IIRC) the rates and availability are better.  I assume I'll need to pack my weather gear and a cover, both of which are like a 5-10 minute effort I will reluctantly undertake.

[SENC]

When are you thinking, mid-to-late October?  I'd love to, though there are some family health issues that will keep me a maybe regardless of how clear my calendar may be right now.

[Austin David]

Aiming for "leaves" but I know it's hard to predict.  I know it can be hard to navigate family stuff, that's what kept me home last year :/ 

 

Last time I mapped it out I was thinking to stay around Blowing Rock on day 1, but I think a lot of the BRP might still be closed between there and Asheville?  I'm definitely game to run up the coast and catch you on the way.