Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Pics and Videos The SVT in the Great Smokey Mountains

The weekend before last my wife and I headed down to the Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg area. I got a few good pictures of the SVT. I would have gotten more, but I had some serious health issues right in the middle of the vacation. It's going to be a long recovery.

I washed it right before we left, but 600 miles of bug guts are on the front bumper. I did not get a chance to add more coats of Zaino, but I have my oppotunity now.

Overall, a beautiful place to visit.







And my favorite, although the low lighting caused the picture to be a little fuzzy. It's better scaled down, though. All pictures were 2160x1440, about 1MB ea original form.




Aaron

I love the one on the bridge. Simply gorgeous...

LOOKS GREAT!

Excelent pictures Aaron. Hope you get better soon. Anything we should be worried about?

Thanks, guys. When we were n that 1-lane road and came around the corner to see this bridge, I thought it would make a sweet-ass picture. It's a little far away and the tree branch was in the way a little. My wife took the picture as I blocked the bridge for a little bit. So, I didn't get to see the setup and the little display doesn't show the details for a perfect shot. Anyway, I was already starting to fell the pain.

Brad, it actually was life threatening for me. The short story is that my appendix ruptured. By far the worst pain in my life. After it ruptured, the pain was only when standing or moving (like walking or hitting bumps). Then I survived the trip home (575 miles) for which I even drove 250mi. The next day I went to see the doctor and he sent me straight to ER. The doctor called my cat scan extrodinary. Surgen took it out and cleaned it all up in there. God was with me. Anyway, no driving for me until at least next Wednesday, probably off work until the 15th. If only I had this time off when healthy. I have all kinds of things to do. Guess a clutch for the RX-7 is going to have to wait until spring.

Aaron

Wow! Ruptured on vacation and drove home... holy cow! Glad to hear you went in and got it taken care of in time. Are there any other tell tale signs of a ruptured apendix other than the pain? I'll have to go check it out on line... I just know something like this would happen to me too. Good luck on the road to recovery.

EDIT: Just read up on it, looks like pain is the only real suspect until it bursts, then things get messy... Good luck getting back on solid foods Aaron, we feel for ya man.

The bridge pic is a keeper.

The road looks like it could be the Blue Ridge Pkwy (?), but I don't recall the bridge (i travel portions of the BRP fairly regular). Maybe I haven't traveled far enough south?

I wish you a speedy recovery.

Aaron,

definitely glad to hear you made it home okay. The pictures are excellent. Nothing beats the mountains.

Looking forward to our Tail of the Dragon run in 2 weeks, that's for sure.

Thanks again for the Zaino Carwash!

John

Dude!!!! Awesome pics!!! Hope you get to feelin better man!!! I forgot how nice the Great Smokey Mtns look!! You were right in my stompin grounds dude!!! I live like a hr. from Pigeon Forge Gatlinburg area!!! I can't believe you drove that far to see our Mts.!!! I guess when you live some place all your life you overlook the beauty!! I've got a friend comin from FL. next weekend to see the Autumn colors of the Mts. and thats where we are going and another place thats about 25 min. from me thats apart of the Appalachians!!! Anyway the bridge pic is a keeper!!!

Too far South, I think. We didn't make it to the Blue Ridge Parkway. The only time we had to make it to the NC side was for a Casino run in the late evening. The bridge shot is on the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. It's right off US-321 on the North side. It's a very cool 1-lane first gear road. Steep roads up and down and sharp curves. A few old buildings to stop and look at including an old miner's setup where they used to pan for gold.

The other shots were just along side of the raod up to Clingman's Dome. All throughout the area are flowing rivers with car pull-offs. It was a little early for fall colors as they were just starting to change. My wife wants to go back in mid-June to see all the bloomiing Rhododendrums (sp). They are everywhere!

The trip only took 9 hours incuding all the stops for food and rest rooms. Considering it's about that far from Detroit to the Upper Peninsula to get some other kind of really good nature walks, the Great Smokey Mountain Nat'l Forest Park has far more to offer, plus cabins are cheap there. And, I like to drive.

Once you get out of the major turist traps (Pigeon Forge & Gatlinburg), the city just stops and you're surrounded by trees and mountains. The raods are just sweet. I used 3rd gear a lot, but if the roads were closed to traffic 2-3 gear corners the whole time. Most slower cars even pull over to the side when they start backing up. That's unheard of!

Well, enough about my experience. If you live within 5 hours of the area, you should go there. Take a 3-4 day weekend and rent a cabin (of which there are thousands to choose). Split it with another couple and it's even cheaper.



Thanks to all.