Post by Coyttl on Aug 1, 2009 14:48:46 GMT -5
Wasn't sure if this was best here or in the main forum. As usual, the mods are welcome to move this wherever they want. 
Living so close to the TN/GA border, I do quite a bit of Motoring in Tennessee. While up in Etowah yesterday, I took a very familiar road to me - TN68 - on the way back.
TN68 between Tellico Plains, TN and Ducktown, TN runs through the Cherokee national Forest, and because of this, it's 100% wooded and curvy for 99% of the way.
The farther from Tellico Plains you get, the less and less you'll see farms, and by the time you enter Polk county, it's all downhill to the Hiwassee River. When you hit the Hiwassee River, you'll notice the old bridge - that was built back in the early 70's and was banked. (Admittedly, hitting the bridge is much cooler coming north out of Farner, as you don't hit the flat river before hitting the bridge - you come curving out of the mountains, cross under the old L&N Railroad and then hit the banked bridge crossing the river.) But if you're heading south, that means that you can use the bridge to your advantage - use it to gain speed to get into a very tight curvy area before hitting Farner.
(The river crossing used to be a nice place. Around the time the interstates in the area were being poured down, people took roads like this a lot more. This was the reason for the banked bridge - it was thought that in the years to come, TN68 would become a US highway and be upgraded, allowing faster traffic. At the same time, the road department put a small picnik area right next to the creek and railroad trestle. The table is still there, but the trees have overgrown the small creek falls making them hard to see (you can still hear them!) and graffiti artists have made the railroad trestle little more than a messy canvas.)
But, I digress. Once you hit Turtle Town it's pretty easy going until you hit US64. If you keep going you will end up in Copperhill TN, at the state line. You can keep going south at this point and take GA60. The first 10 miles aren't impressive, but as you near Dalonega, GA, the road becomes a very fun legend.
If you're looking for a day trip, there are plenty of things to do - the Mine tours in Copperhill. You can hike on the old L&N line at Farner and see the "Loop" (the line wraps around a mountain, crossing under itself). You can go down to Blue Ridge and take a short train trip from Blue Ridge to Copperhill and back on the BRSR (I work for them, so I have to mention them). There are plenty of rafting companies available on the Ocoee (thru Copperhill and west on US64 at Nantahalia) and Hiwassee, as well.
Enjoy!
Mike
Living so close to the TN/GA border, I do quite a bit of Motoring in Tennessee. While up in Etowah yesterday, I took a very familiar road to me - TN68 - on the way back.
TN68 between Tellico Plains, TN and Ducktown, TN runs through the Cherokee national Forest, and because of this, it's 100% wooded and curvy for 99% of the way.
The farther from Tellico Plains you get, the less and less you'll see farms, and by the time you enter Polk county, it's all downhill to the Hiwassee River. When you hit the Hiwassee River, you'll notice the old bridge - that was built back in the early 70's and was banked. (Admittedly, hitting the bridge is much cooler coming north out of Farner, as you don't hit the flat river before hitting the bridge - you come curving out of the mountains, cross under the old L&N Railroad and then hit the banked bridge crossing the river.) But if you're heading south, that means that you can use the bridge to your advantage - use it to gain speed to get into a very tight curvy area before hitting Farner.
(The river crossing used to be a nice place. Around the time the interstates in the area were being poured down, people took roads like this a lot more. This was the reason for the banked bridge - it was thought that in the years to come, TN68 would become a US highway and be upgraded, allowing faster traffic. At the same time, the road department put a small picnik area right next to the creek and railroad trestle. The table is still there, but the trees have overgrown the small creek falls making them hard to see (you can still hear them!) and graffiti artists have made the railroad trestle little more than a messy canvas.)
But, I digress. Once you hit Turtle Town it's pretty easy going until you hit US64. If you keep going you will end up in Copperhill TN, at the state line. You can keep going south at this point and take GA60. The first 10 miles aren't impressive, but as you near Dalonega, GA, the road becomes a very fun legend.
If you're looking for a day trip, there are plenty of things to do - the Mine tours in Copperhill. You can hike on the old L&N line at Farner and see the "Loop" (the line wraps around a mountain, crossing under itself). You can go down to Blue Ridge and take a short train trip from Blue Ridge to Copperhill and back on the BRSR (I work for them, so I have to mention them). There are plenty of rafting companies available on the Ocoee (thru Copperhill and west on US64 at Nantahalia) and Hiwassee, as well.
Enjoy!
Mike
