frustratedpilot | Entries tagged with white lightning trail

Since I had time to burn on Friday evening before the Hackerspaces meeting, I took a trip to Clinton to the comics shop there (Q.V. White Lightning Trail Stage Ⅱ) and found the Macross Guide Book. The owner-operator of the store didn't know what it was, so I was able to name my price and $10 was totally fair to him, in his opinion.

This doesn't complete my set. Don't you know there is no such thing as a "complete" set? ;)

FP

Had this for a couple weeks but today was the first day that I could photograph the installation. Moonshine's reward for surpassing the White Lightning Trail.

Yes, Moonshine crossed the Finish Line today in time for Lunch. We started with fuel at I-75 at Highway 61 between Clinton and Norris, and moved east on 61 to Big Ridge, where the route took us up on Rt. 170 to a segment of Highway 33. Now, I should have taken the left turn back onto Hwy. 61, but the construction in the area confused me, and wound up adding twenty miles to the effort from getting lost, finding a mistake, and doubling back.

Highway 61 between Maynardville and Luttrell is not a lot of fun and only recommended for vehicles the size of Segways.

61 to Corryton, 331 to Harbison, 131 to Halls and then US 441 down to downtown Knoxville.

Last stop: Magnolia Avenue:

This is the north side of the 1900 block of Magnolia. Directly aft of Moonshine's bumper is the building that up to recently was home to Mary's Hot Tamales diner. On the other side is the building that used to be the Pepsi bottler where Mountain Dew was invented. I couldn't get good photos of either, but the block is in serious need of rehab. This same neighborhood has the Knoxville campus of Pelissippi State College and the local PBS station.

Of course, the rest of the trip is practically home turf and I've driven it dozens of times before. Total Distance: 235.5 Miles.

I've promised a nice lil' brown jug souvenir for on Moonshine's dashboard, and likely a front bumper plate. Job well done, my Prizm.

Today we pick up the trail where we left off: 25E at White Pine's Main Street. North on 25E, past the Expo Center, over the overpass for I-81, (now into Hamblen County) over the Airport loop overpass, past Walters State College and College Square Mall, then cross Cherokee Lake out of Morristown and Hamblen County into Bean Station and Grainger County. Going Northwest, it merges with Highway 11W (which goes east to Rogersville) and then splits off of it again (11W going west to Rutledge). Bringing us to the Clinch Mountain Hill Climb. Cross the Clinch River after that...the highway here is still under construction but will likely be finished by Autumn by the look of it...when it happens it will be four lanes from Hamblen County to the State Line.

After the construction zone we're in Claibourne County and going through Tazewell. I wanted to stop at the Tazewell Flea Market, but today it was too busy and there was no parking anywhere. So I continued on to Harrogate and made a flypast of Lincoln Memorial University.

Since we're practically on the Kentucky State Line, I'd thought about crossing the line and visiting Middlesboro, but decided that the weather was too good to waste the opportunity to haul the backstretch of the Trail lap. So from Harrogate, we took Steiner Highway West through Speedwell, La Follette, and Jacksboro. This is pretty country and an okay road; it's likely even better in the Autumn with the leaves changing color because of the good visibility.

I wanted to stop in La Follette or Jacksboro for a photo opportunity but there didn't seem to be a good place handy. Just after Jacksboro, the Trail merges with I-75 South and that takes us to US 441 South at Lake City...the road through Norris Dam Park.

The View From Above Norris Dam:

( More Views Behind THIS )

Moonshine takes a well-deserved breather:

From Norris Dam, the Trail passes the Museum of Appalacia when it connects with State Road 61. I decided to refuel here (because of the proximity of I-75 and its various facilities) and take the "spur" to Clinton, where I made an official "break" in the lap. Distance: 112.5 Miles. Total Distance So Far: 147.5 miles.

The Comics store in Clinton:

It needs a "tidy" desperately but has a multi-million-dollar inventory!

Haven't decided when Stage Ⅲ will happen. This week, and possibly next, may be too busy for another maraud. Watch This Space.
FP

Decided to play it close to "home" for the first stage...

Started the trip odometer at Piedmont Elementary school, where Dumplin Valley Road and 25W/70 come together. That's my official "Start/Finish" line of the route. From there we scoot east on 25W/70 into Dandridge, then take the south turn through Downtown Dandridge on Route 92/Gay Street past the Old Court House (see the Pants, Gray entry and the Court House Museum Weapons entry) across the Hoskins & Jarnigan Bridge and up/down/every which way towards Chestnut Hill.

Chestnut Hill is home to an enormous packing plant for the Bush company. They now have a Visitor Center with a Museum, an eatery (who wants to bet there are baked beans on the menu?) a small theater and other goodies. But I just stopped to get this picture:

From Chestnut Hill the route goes East on US 411 towards Newport. It reconnects with 25W/70 at the Newport City Limit and continues to meet 25E after passing the Cocke County Fairgrounds. Unfortunately, there isn't very much that's particularly picturesque on this side of Newport...for that a visitor is better off looking at Downtown a few miles further East.

We take the left turn at Newport and take 25E North to re-cross the French Broad River and re-enter Jefferson County at Baneberry, and then track further North to White Pine:

(See also the Pants, Black entry.) This is were we end Stage Ⅰ. Distance: 35.0 Miles. Stage Ⅱ will be (if all goes well) Saturday.

FP

PS: New blogger

trixy28 has just Friended me! Welcome! Everybody, say "Hi" to her, please?

Big Honkin' Map Of The Tennessee White Lightning Trail!

Yes, in the coming days I'll get a hardcopy and then take Moonshine round all the bends. Watch This Space.

I've ALREADY DONE Half Of It...And Will Do The Other Half Soon Just To Say I Did It!

( And In A Related Vein, A Coming Attraction )

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Where Very Little Happens

Entries tagged with white lightning trail

Old And Knew

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Moonshine's Lap 'Round The White Lightning Trail: Stage Ⅲ--FINAL!

Moonshine's Lap 'Round The White Lightning Trail: Stage Ⅱ

Moonshine's Lap 'Round The White Lightning Trail: Stage Ⅰ

Geography Lesson

What's Old Is New Again

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