It was fun.

Well I am back home. The MINI is unloaded, but needs a good cleaning, funny how driving in the rain does not help with that. My pictures (375) are currently being uploaded to my computer, next step organising. XIEK crashed on the spare bed last night as he was too tired to drive that last leg to Midland. I actually drove most of the way home alone until about midway through Ohio after a meal break and some gas I got back on the road just as XIEK, Ryan's Lotus, and a Michigan MINI caravan were passing by so I joined them.

It was a great trip but I a glad to be home, glad I took Monday off to relax a little. I will miss my friends and those curvy roads. I am also glad the MINI made it back this year unhurt.
I don't know where to start, I had planned on constant updates, but I was busy having fun that I did not feel like sitting in the lodge on a sketchy internet connection.  Here is a link to Colin's blog http://colinswanderings.blogspot.com/ he did a better job at updating as he went. Since I already covered the first two parts of the trip so might as well not repeat that. With US129 being closed to through traffic just before the section known as |"The Dragon" to make our way to Fontana Village we had to go through the Cherohala Skyway, it's a great drive with even greater views but it's a long detour when you want to get to your destination, and it was quite foggy, although at that altitude I think it's just clouds. We made it to Fontana Village safely though, the Volvo wedged between two trees however was not so lucky, we stopped to help but they had already been rescued. My friend Paul actually witnessed it and was the one who called for help, no one appeared seriously injured. Eventually the police put up some yellow tape to let people know they had already been there, it was still there when I left Saturday. We checked into our cabin(506),  our cabin mate Shannah had already arrived. We introduced each other and everyone got along, she actually lucked out he room was supposed to have bunk beds but she got a double bed.
That evening we ended up on a friends cabin for a party because it was raining.

Tuesday it was raining on and off all day. Did some MINI watching and a little exploring, close by. Graydyn and Susan went to Blackberry farm for a wonderful dinner, and decided to spend the night as the drive there was much longer than expected. Colin and I had a spaghetti dinner at the DC metro MINI cabin, it's a unofficial event for all the people who show up early for MINI's On The Dragon. (MOTD) It was a fun evening.

Wednesday is officially the first day of MOTD there were lots of MINI's around before but now they seemed to be arriving by the minute. My friend Aaron and "Kentucky Pete" arrived in the afternoon. We caught up and hung out for most of the day. I attended the welcome dinner afterwards went for my first Dragon run. As already mentioned US129 is closed due to a rock slide, the section known as the Dragon (318 curves in 11 miles) was not directly affected. However since there is nothing between the Tennessee state line and the slide they had closed the road right at the state line. Because of the major tourism created by this section of road The Dragon is going to be open as a dead end for people to enjoy from 8-8 daily. We got there at about 7:45 thinking they would let us do a full run, but we got turned around about 3/4 of the way through, I got lucky though, no idea why but they drive through with a large plow truck at the end of the day, my friends got stuck behind it going very slow breathing in diesel fumes. I actually don't really like The Dragon, it's a very technical road, and because of the switchbacks I get a little nauseous. I much prefer the other roads in the area including the road from Fontana Village to the start of the Dragon known as Hellbender, still very curvy but no as technical. When we got back we made it to the fire pit AKA stone henge for the nightly party.

Thursday hung around a bit, took Colin for a drive up and down the Hellbender, he took some video, although I don't have it yet. Not much else exciting happened other than having fun with friends.

Friday went for a few more drives and hung around the village, even got a game of mini put in, it was a fun course. Friday Brewswap night, see my previous post for what a Brewswap is. We eventually all made it up to the fire pit.

Saturday Colin, Graydyn and Susan left in the morning. I was really looking like it was going to start all day but we only go a small amount late in the evening. Went for a drive again, then met some local friends for lunch at Deals Gap. Being our last night there the party was quieter than normal. I said my goodbyes and headed to bed. I got up early and headed home.

Well that was my road trip over 1600 miles covered, I had the GPS off while in the Fontana area, it was a good one and I am going back.

All pictures can be found on Photobucket not sure why but they are in reverse order.