Sunset on the Blue Ridge Parkway

"If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent" (essextee)
05/01/2019 at 18:31 • Filed to: None

I accidentally foundy the best/most terrifying driving road ever. NC-694/Town Mountain rd. Connects Asheville to the Parkway. It’s well-maintained but has sheer drop-offs along most of its length and is so twisty you can never see more than 1000ft ahead. In the Chally I was shitting myself just going the speed limit.

Street view does not accurately portray what this road is like. Imagine a touge road, but with a 1-in-4 gradient and the lanes are only a foot wider than your car. The road actually goes up and over the mountain, above the level of the parkway, and then descends to meet it so you have to go downhill on it no matter which direction you’re going in.

I imagine in a much smaller car, and with the road closed so you can use the full width, it could be great fun.

On the plus side I got to run a muscle car through a tunnel with the windows down so that’s one thing I can scratch off my bucket list.

DISCUSSION (24)

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
05/01/2019 at 18:55

I was just on this town mountain 2 days ago! It’s my favorite way to access the parkway from here. I’d imagine it be scary in a big muscle car, but that’s kind of a normal mountain road around here lol. What brings you to Asheville?

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/
05/01/2019 at 18:58

I’m on vacation visiting an old friend of mine who’s living in Asheville. I’ll be here till the end of the week.

I’m actually still on the parkway at a turnout waiting for sunset at this very moment .

wafflesnfalafel > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
05/01/2019 at 19:07

nice - looks like quite a bit of altitude gain

McMike > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
05/01/2019 at 19:19

We need to talk.

Kinja'd!!!

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > McMike
05/01/2019 at 19:31

It's a rental. And I like them.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > wafflesnfalafel
05/01/2019 at 19:33

At that turnout we’d gained 1,2 00 feet from Asheville in about 8 miles of driving.

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
05/01/2019 at 19:38

I was about to say I wish I were up there now, but I just saw a mclaren (I think) 720s. I told the driver nice car, but he just kind of nodded and drove off. I had so many questions dammit

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/
05/01/2019 at 19:47

Any recommendations for stuff to do besides Biltmore? I know there’s an antique car museum but I doubt I can convince my non-jalop traveling partner to go there.

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
05/01/2019 at 20:15

Yeah biltmore is ok, but definitely as touristy as you can get lol. Very packed this time of year. Cool stuff to do would be to hit up some of the breweries. This is beer city for a reason. So much beer. There are a number of rooftop bars downtown. To be honest most of what there is to do in Asheville is drink and outdoor activities lol. If you liked town mountain drive out to black mountain and find the devils whip and take it up to mt Mitchell. Sick camping and hiking up there if they aren’t booked (8 spots). Basically beer and hiking... I can recommend some breweries if interested

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/
05/01/2019 at 20:19

Yes tell me about the breweries pls. I'm right downtown tonight, on Rankin. Anything walking distance would be awesome.

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
05/01/2019 at 20:32

Hit up burial 1rst.

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
05/01/2019 at 20:36

Catawba is right by there as well as a few more. Bhramari is a great brewery and they serve awesome food too. Open later than other breweries too

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
05/01/2019 at 20:38

They are worth the walk. Not right by you

Ash78, voting early and often > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
05/01/2019 at 21:43

Drive up to Mt Mitchell, totally worth it! Good drive and amazing views. 10-15 degrees cooler than the city and lots of easy hikes around there.

Otherwise — food and beer. 12 Bones BBQ for ribs!

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
05/02/2019 at 07:05

Does this car have settings in the touch screen to change it from “Sport” mode to “Track” mode?

If so I would highly suggest switching to “Track” mode and making that run again, it’s a night and day difference in how they drive.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness
05/02/2019 at 09:03

There's just a sport button and a setting for the electric steering, which was already in Sport

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
05/02/2019 at 10:11

Interesting. Any I’ve been in have different settings in the touchscreen to switch modes.

Sport mode rides great, but drives like a sloppy pig. Track mode is like full on race car feel, everything tightens up.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness
05/02/2019 at 10:36

D id some research, the Track Pack is a separate option on top of the R/T trim. This one doesn't have it.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
05/02/2019 at 12:23

Shame, the track pack makes them a joy to push hard.

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
05/02/2019 at 21:56

You make it over to any of those breweries? If so what you think?

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/
05/02/2019 at 21:58

Yeh. Went to Catawba then ate next door at Buxton. Twas mucho g ood .

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
05/02/2019 at 22:35

Nice dude glad you enjoyed. Did you have one of Catawba’s peanut butter and jelly time ales?

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/
05/02/2019 at 23:17

There wasn't anything like that on the menu

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
05/03/2019 at 09:51

Oh damn well that’s just one of the local favs lol, I imagine they ran through the kegs.