Well, here's the summary from my expedition to Knox and back. My friend's dad asked me tonight "are you mental?" - I'm starting to wonder myself (it was about 45 outside, I was cruising topless as always).

843 miles to Knoxville (doh!)
453 miles of mountain bliss
764 miles from Knoxville
2060 total miles
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89.856 gallons of dead dinosaurs consumed
$155.34 spent on dead dinosaurs
$1.73 average price per gallon.
$1.89 highest price per gallon (Tail of the dragon)
$1.57 lowest price per gallon (Knoxville/Lexington, KY)
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22.93 MPG Trip average
16.68 MPG Lowest (Friday's 4 runs on the dragon)
27.31 MPG Highest (Knoxville to Lexington, KY on I75)
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Teasers:

Gathering at the Foothills Parkway

Dam on the Cheoah River - view from gathering place on the Dragon

View from ~4000 feet on the Cherohala Skyway

What happens when you take a 45 MPH turn at 60 MPH

All pictures in 1760x1168 resolution are here:
DragonBall 2001 Photos

I had an absolute blast, well worth the 12 hour excursion there and the 13 hour ordeal back. Mack & Raul - awesome job (can't say it enough). The packets were great, the maps/directions especially. Great hanging out with everyone. The hunters, the accident, and my camcorder battery dying at the worst times aside, it was perfect. Had I known it was going to be 40, raining, and windy when I got home, I probably would have stayed for a few more days (work be damned!). Needless to say, I'll probably be back in April

- Jeff (aka "WestSide!")

P.S. To Mack: name suggestion for April: "Waking the Dragon 2002"

 

One by one, with description:

My bumper friday morning
Looking out my windshield
Looking at my windshield (ewwww)
WestSide Honda #1 (great dealer name!)
WestSide Honda #2
WestSide Honda #3
Sweet wheels #1 (forgot whose - sorry)
Sweet wheels #2 (WebGod's I believe)
Wow! A white S2000.
And a bit of yellow to wake you up (Mack's)
Colgan Bra w/ headlight straps and brake duct cutouts
Fog lights (AirGate)
Mack's Interior #1
Mack's Interior #2
My \"little buddy\"
Base of the Foothills Parkway
Foothills Parkway #2
Foothills Parkway #3
Foothills Parkway #4
Head of the Dragon - Lined up by color (we're all so SMRT!)
Head of the Dragon #2
Head of the Dragon #3
Head of the Dragon #4
Head of the Dragon #5
View from the lookout on the Dragon
Cheoah River from the lookout #1 (landscape)
Cheoah River from the lookout #1 (portrait)
Cheoah River from the lookout #2
Cheoah River from the lookout #3
Top of the Foothills Parkway
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
Group gathering at the top of the Foothills PkWay
Group gathering at the top of the Foothills PkWay
Accident #1
Accident #2
Accident #3
Scene of the crime
Scene of the crime #2
Scene of the crime #3
Cortez afterwards
Sumir holding the sacrificial piece.
Tree of Shame
Tree of Shame
Final resting place for Cortez's contribution (we're all glad you're ok!)
Fontana Dam area
Fontana Dam area
Fontana Dam area
Fontana Dam area
Fontana Dam area
Fontana Dam area
Fontana Dam area
Fontana Dam area
Fontana Dam area
Fontana Dam area
Cherohala Skyway lookout #1
Cherohala Skyway lookout #2
Cherohala Skyway lookout #3
Cherohala Skyway lookout #4
Cherohala Skyway lookout #5
Cherohala Skyway lookout #6
Cherohala Wipeout
Cherohala wipeout

 

WESTSIDE!!!!!! <---spoken in true westside style

Awesome post!! Great pictures!! Glad to see you made it all the way back home safe. Much like yourself I can't wait to do it again.

I'll second your suggestion for the name of Aprils possible event.....very cool!

Peace out!

 

Great post, amazing pics...real sorry i didn't make it and I didn't see one white s2000 on the dragon???? Are they that rare.... I should of come

 

man Westside im regretting not going backwards on the cherocola skyway with you =(

 

Westside,
Awesome pics.... I like the name for our next excursion!!!
I can't wait...

Cheers,

 

Great pictures Westside...I am glad you made it home and it was good to meet you. See you again in April.

 

None of the links to the pics work for me, just the posted pics

owell, i had a GREAT time!! Thanks again Mack for letting me ride w/ you, maybe next time I'LL drive, and you can ride w/ me!!

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by funsdead
[B]Great post, amazing pics...real sorry i didn't make it and I didn't see one white s2000 on the dragon????

 

RESALE??? Sacrilege...