Friday, May 14, 2010

Day 17 Murfreesboro, TN to Asheville, NC

Asheville, NC is one of the most anticipated stops on the Crawl because it is such an interesting city in a very interesting area. And because we are meeting up with the MogSouth Club for their spring meeting. It is also a very long driving day with almost 300 miles planned, and several optional routes.


Our gang got going before 7. Once on I-40 enroute to Knoxville we noticed many deep cuts in the rocky ground. If its like this all around this area I wonder how the farms cope.


It has become routine that 90 minutes into the run we need to stop to stretch and maybe get a bite to eat. We got to Monterey, TN at the appointed time and discovered the Cup and Saucer restaurant, a cute little home owned and operated diner. Great eggs, toast and coffee!

Our obvious demeaner and clothing labeled us as visitors to this little community. A chap there remarked after he finished his breakfast that he appreciated our stopping by. I asked if he was they mayor to which he replied that "no, he was the president of the Chamber of Commerce".

Ken Hall, it turned was the owner of a minor league professional football team called the Tennessee Central Express, named Ken Hall. Knowing we were just passing throught he pointed out a monument just down the street marking the boundry between two different Cherokee nations. The monument held the original marker stone the indians used and was inscribed with the following:


Every town has a bit of history, and this is significant to the history of Monterey, TN.


We have mentioned Karen Thompson and Sue Dummermuth who are driving the Pub Crawl in Karen's late husband's 1961 +4. Karen's brother in law, and Sue's brother heard we were planning to drive near his home in Knoxville, so he invited us all to lunch at the Knoxville Boat Club.


Jim and his wife Ginger, along with others from the boat club offered a warm welcome for the Pub Crawlers along with a delicious lunch of BBQ pork and chicken, and home made desserts.


Here's Myron Koenig, Ginger Thompson, Sum Dummermuth, Jim Thompspon and Karen Thompson. Thanks Jim and Ginger.... this was a highlight of our trip.


After lunch we were off on a scenic route between Knoxville and Asheville, with the Great Smokey Mountains as a backdrop.

The Mog South gang greeted us with a hospitality suite filled with beer, wine and snacks. Then a pizza for dinner. A good time we Morgan folk call a Noggin'.

Lydie Foster is a native of France so when our route crossed the French Broad River five times during our scenic tour she had to stop and get her picture taken, French Broad that she is. :-)

Here's Bruce and Lydie in a better photo taken at the Noggin'. They hail from Yorktown, VA and are driving a nice 1966 Morgan Plus 4.

Tomorrow we tour and play with the Mog South gang.

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