For Let’s dream a bit. To help with that, below is an itinerary for the Waynesville N.C. Tour.
Day One, Thursday 1 Oct:
Features ~ Escape from Atlanta. Rural north Georgia. Appraoch to the Southern Smoky Mountains. As the day progresses we will encounter increasingly more scenic vistas. Yes, it’s hilly, but we continue to leave the city and the traffic behind us.
09:00 Leave Bicycles Unlimited at a civilized hour
10:30 12.9 miles board MARTA at College Park
11:30 Depart MARTA at Sandy Springs
13:30 27.9 miles Lunch in Cumming, GA
14:30 Depart Cumming
17:00 32.0 miles Arrive Dahlonega, GA Rally Point
Total Day Milage = 72.8
Dinner and overnight lodging individual responsibility
Day Two, Friday 2 Oct:
Features ~ We’re traveling through the mountains, but not over them. We do encounter some significant climbs. The run along Seed Lake and Lake Burton is spectacular. After Tiger, we are in decidedly more rural and more scenic country.
09:00 Assemble at Dahlonega Rally point
09:15 Depart Dahlonega
11:45 30,0 miles Helen, GA Break
12:45 Depart Helen
15:15 31.0 miles Tiger, GA Break
15:45 Depart Tiger
17:00 11.0 miles Arrive Dillard Rally point (The Dillard House)
Total Day milage = 72.0
Dinner and overnight lodging individual responsibility, but strongly suggest Dillard House
Day Three, Saturday 3 Oct:
Features ~ We enter North Carolina. Several significant climbs today, along with an honest gap climb as we cross Balsam Gap to reach Sylva. It’s a pretty good descent from there into Waynesville. We’re enjoying the beauty of the Highlands and Cashiers mountain region.
09:00 Assemble at Dillard Rally point
09:15 Depart Dillard
11:00 (Approximate) Franklin, GA Break
12:00 Depart Franklin
14:30 Sylva, N.C. Break
14:45 Depart Sylva
16:45 Arrive Waynesville, N.C. Rally Point
Total Day milage = 62.0
Dinner and overnight lodging individual responsibility
Day Four, Sunday 4 Oct (bonus ride):
Features ~ We leave Waynesville and ascend Balsam Gap. Once in the gap we turn onto the Blue Ridge Parkway and go south to Water Rock Knob. “The Knob” is the highest point on the Parkway. This is a fifteen mile climb. At the “Knob” we have a 270 degree view of the Smokies. We break here. From here it’s fifteen miles of quality descending back to Waynesville. Wow!
09:00 Assemble at Waynesville Rally point
09:00 Depart Waynesville for Water Rock Knob
11:00 15 miles Arrive Water Rock Knob, Break
12:00 Depart Water Rock Knob
13:00 15 miles Arrive Waynesville Rally Point
Total Day milage = 30.0
13:15 Split up and and motor vehicle return to home. (Trip back is approximately four hours.)
NOTES:
· All times are approximate. These will depend on our actual, on road progress. It should be noted that we’re allowing ample time for the terrain.
· We can stop as needed to replenish supplies, but we really need to keep stops to a minimum.
· Carry at least two water bottles, three would be better.
· Be prepared to dress for a little cooler temps. It will not be as warm at the higher elevations, and the descents can make temps feel kind of brisk.
Lodging & Dining Information:
Dahlonega, GA
Use this site to find hotel and dining. http://www.dahlonega.org/
Navigate the “Where to stay” and “Where to Dine” buttons
Dining opportunities abound. I recommend Caruso’s for some great Italian post ride food. (Their fettuccini al fredo is superb!)
I strongly recommend the Dillard House. Use this site to find out more…
http://www.dillardhouse.com/ Their restaurant serves both dinner and breakfast. You won’t need a menu, and you won’t go hungry. It’s an experience. One of my favorites.
Use this site to find lodging in Waynesville. http://www.waynesville.com/ Navigate the “lodging” button. I suggest that you keep your lodging choices near the center of town, say within a few miles of the intersection of US-276 and Main St.
Dining is readily available all over Waynesville. The choices range from modest to spectacular. One establishment you might otherwise miss is Maggie’s Galley. The locals eat there. It’s often a bit crowded but well worth the short wait. They have great sea food, an absolutely killer chowder, and their twice baked potato is to die for. Oh yes, and absolutely deadly deserts.
Tomorrow, I’ll post info on specific locations for rally points in each of the lunch/break, and overnight stops.
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