This past weekend my wife,and I decided at the last minute to drive to the mountains. We left our home around 11:30 am and started North. We took I-75 to 411 then on into Tennessee. Got to Tellico where we got onto the Cherohala Skyway. I had never been on this road, so it was a first. It was a wonderful ride across the mountains. Weather was great, and so was the scenery. After getting into Robbinsville we decided to go on to Cherokee, and spend the night. After several stops at the motels in the area, which had no vacantcy posted on the front door instead of their marquee, we started calling around and finally found a Comfort Inn. That night I made my donation to Harrah's. The next morning my wife said she had always wanted to see Cade's Cove, so off to Gatlingburg. We finally wound up in Pigeon Forge where we had lunch. After lunch we made a left onto 321, which took us to Townsend. From there we went back into the park to Cade's Cove. Lots of traffic, which made for a 5 mph crawl through the park. At Rich Mountain Road we made a decision to take it back over to Townsend, and this is where my little truck really proved she was worth every dime I paid for it. This road is an old fire road which is maintained regulary, and has fine "pea" gravel on it. No guard rails, no homes on the park side of the mountain. My truck hugged every curve easily with no slippage, and no running hot. Everything worked just as it is supposed to do. Did see a wolve on the road so I had to put up the top to keep my wife from becoming hysterical. I tried to tell her he was more scaced of us, then we were of it, but she wouldn't believe me. After we got back to Townsend we cut south on the foothills parkway to 129. I had been down the dragon's tail before but not in this truck. It performed to a tee. Hugged every curve like it was a part of the road. We took highway 28 off 129 back to Franklin, N.C. and then home. All told we covered about 750 miles of road, and I enjoyed every minute of it. If anyone wants to plan a trip across the Cherohala, let me know and I'll be more than happy to help. I would have had pictures, but I forgot to pack my camera. :cool :flag :leaving