by Vic Rola; photos by Lynn Sheeley III
What luck! For several years now, Carol and I have been putting on a winter drive. Every year, we’ve lucked out with the weather. Remember the week of the snow, when Knoxville essentially shut down (and Atlanta actually did…)? Well, that Saturday was just nice!!! Sunny and warming up by the minute.
When Carol and I arrived at Lisa’s Country Kitchen (the starting point of the drive), JD Daniels and David Houston were already waiting for us. Lisa’s had emptied the front room of the locally owned eatery, and we no sooner got seated when the rest of the crowd for the drive began showing up… no less than fifteen cars in total. Included in the drive were Tyler and Julie Hamilton, Bob Hutchins, Dale Biehler, Bob and Jyme Heimann, Lynn Sheeley III, Nick and Pat Imperato, Carol Dockery, Sue Groves, Clyde and Kathryn Peery, Ross and Brenda Spence, Orlando Carrasco, Bruce Klassen, Joshua Klassen (and who could forget three year old Sophia!!!).
After a hearty country style breakfast and a short safety and upcoming events meeting, we headed out… North on 92, past Cherokee Dam. Swinging right onto #375, we hugged the lake heading toward Hwy 25E through the outskirts of Morristown. We picked up the Morristown by-pass (160) and then picked up route 66. We then hooked into Hwy 25W through White Pine, Four Corners, and ultimately to Cardin’s Drive Inn at the 11E and 25E split. We pulled into an empty parking area next to Cardins to continue conversations started at breakfast, 90 minutes earlier.
Yep… a short run. But…neat roads, great weather, and even better… great friends!
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- Porsches lined up outside the restaurant. (Lynn Sheeley III)
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- The group of Smoky Mountain Region members who participated in the drive out. (Lynn Sheeley III)