Friday, July 7th 2000
Commerce, GA to Cherokee, NC; 110 miles, 6,700’ climbing
by Arend-Jan Koning
A true PAC Tour style breakfast is served in the parking lot of the Holiday Inn Express, making for the best possible start of the day, though a lot of people would regard a 6.00 am breakfast as being rather early. We’re used to it by now.
It’s supposed to be a hilly day but not yet the real stuff, which will start day later.
The problem of today is to face the traffic on route 441, which is going to be our artery for today. To start with, traffic isn’t too bad. In Homer I recognize the park downtown, where we had lunch one day during PAC RAAM 1998. To start with, I hadn’t realized we were on the same road. It explains the ‘P’ arrow on the pavement, two miles further down the road, that marks a right turn, where we are supposed to go straight ahead. The arrow must be two years old.
Before we reach the first sag stop in Baldwin, we get some pretty tough climbing, but not for very long stretches on end. Route 441 is getting busier by the mile, though it turns into a 4 lane after a while. We are pleased to get off this main road to take the old historic Route 441, leading through Chatahochee Forest; for a short while, traffic is quiet.
The second sag stop is at the Tallulah Falls overlook, where a gorge some 900 feet below makes for an impressive sight. Everyone takes some time to have a look.
After this things are turning for the worse when we get back onto route 441. Traffic is pretty busy, while the shoulders aren’t that great. From Tallulah to the finish in Cherokee every town has many antique shops and fleamarkets, making you wonder if they maybe make the antique just down the corner. It must be for the many tourists that pay a visit to the Great Smokey Mountains.
Our lunch stop is in the parking lot of the Great Smokey Mountain visitor center, about 7 miles into the state of North Carolina. No need to tell that lunch was great.
Back onto route 441 we know that we’re facing a serious climb, since the first sag stop is only 11.5 miles after lunch. It seems like a hard struggle getting up this hill, on top of which the Gold City Ski Area is located. What goes up must come down again and the downhill is great, though traffic is still too heavy. Despite the fact that it is still another 25 miles or so to the motel, life seems easier after the climb; it’s mostly downhill to the Best Western motel in Cherokee.
Cherokee is filled with tourists, admiring the traditions and crafts of the Cherokee Indians. The town looks like a major tourist trap, and we try to be a part of it by eating out in the evening and buying tourist like stuff. Even Indian headgear is on the shopping list…..