So about those mountains.... (Asheville, Boone: home, live, safe)

[chicagomichauds]

Driving through them really is as "bad" as everyone (ok chicagocubs) said it would be.

I did not like the way my car happily accelerated without effort. And did not like the curvy driving.

Driving by the cliffs did not bother me at all. I thought the scenary was breath takingly beautiful.

And there are people speeding down the mountain! I just stuck literally to the speed limit and crossed my fingers. Figured everyone was laughing at the Illinois drivers following the speed limit (people speed like crazy in Illinois for those who don't know).

Really happy to be here!

[bs13690]

Welcome to the party...

[Orangeish]

Yeah, I have IL plates too and I think people purposely screw with you when they see those plates driving thru the mountains. However, now that I have done the trip from charlotte-->Chicago about 5 times now I am a pro. The first time I did it I was in a Penske towing my fiancees car behind us, that was pretty exhilirating.

We came down 77 thru WV and VA this most recent time and I was going about 70 down fancy gap thinking I was a pro. Then a freaking semi had the balls to pass me in the left lane as he was going about 80. Usually truckers are good/respectful drivers but this guy was a total #$%. A cop ended up pulling him over and I was pretty happy about that.

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by chicagomichauds

Driving through them really is as "bad" as everyone (ok chicagocubs) said it would be.

I did not like the way my car happily accelerated without effort. And did not like the curvy driving.

Driving by the cliffs did not bother me at all. I thought the scenary was breath takingly beautiful.

And there are people speeding down the mountain! I just stuck literally to the speed limit and crossed my fingers. Figured everyone was laughing at the Illinois drivers following the speed limit (people speed like crazy in Illinois for those who don't know).

Really happy to be here!

Yay, you made it!! Welcome home

You must be talking about I40 from the Tennessee border to Asheville - yes, it's a bit hairy.

[Shamwow!]

Luckily you guys made it without boulders coming down! When the boulders come down it gets right sporty.

[chicagomichauds]

Originally Posted by Shamwow!

Luckily you guys made it without boulders coming down! When the boulders come down it gets right sporty.

I'm sitting there reading them aloud to the people in the car. "Ok so if there are boulders exactly how do you dodge them?" I don't think anyone was amused. I also noticed the runaway truck ramps .

::sigh:: Probably will be fine the next time I drive the mountains, now that I know what to expect.

[chicagomichauds]

Originally Posted by lovesMountains

Yay, you made it!! Welcome home

You must be talking about I40 from the Tennessee border to Asheville - yes, it's a bit hairy.

That does not sound familiar. I think we were on I-77 pretty much all the way down after Cleveland. I'll bet those mountains are pretty tame, and now I'll feel really silly :-))

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by chicagomichauds

That does not sound familiar. I think we were on I-77 pretty much all the way down after Cleveland. I'll bet those mountains are pretty tame, and now I'll feel really silly :-))

Oh, you did I77? Then you missed the most challenging mountain interstate driving, lol. If that intimidated you, don't ever go I40 from Asheville to the TN border!!

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

Oh you guys, you haven't seen mountain driving until you come West - The Rockies, the Wasatch Front, the Sierra Nevadas, El Cajon Pass in winter. I've driven from Asheville to Johnston City several times, both ways, and it's pretty but not bad.

[flipster]

Well, I think that stretch of I-77 is more intimidating, in a way. The way the road is cut into the side of the mountain with the valley straight down below you..... and if you're going N, I am thinking 'what is keeping those SBers from barreling down on me?' And when those 18 wheelers go off the side???? But the I40 is curvy.

Then that takes me back to when 421 was only 2 lane to Boone until the late 70's. That's when the runaway truck ramps were sorely needed. How many lost their lives driving off that mountain? Truckers and ASU students?

For those of you not familiar with driving in these areas, don't freak. Speeding for conditions is the most common reason for the wrecks.

In fact, just this week, 2 semi's turned over on exit ramps in GSO because they were 'exceeding a safe speed'....