Modified BRP route

Google Maps has an issue with a portion of the BRP south west of Asheville, NC. The Tunnels are not showing up as tunnels, but dead ends. So I have to break this down.

We enter the Blue Ridge just over 1/3 of the way shown on the above map. 3.5 hours 129 miles to the end point. The end point and the beginning of the next map leaves a tunnel filled gap of about a mile or two.

 Scale changes:

Picking up this takes us to Asheville, roughly where we found the BRP again the last time. 27 minutes, 17.7 miles. We will see if Richie is still up for meeting us for some lunch. He has some good bike stories and was taking motorcycle trips from NY to all over back in the 60's on 400s. I think you'll like him. He's a good guy.

 Scale changed again:

Wandering back to Base 1hour 51 minutes 75.5 miles. Boone highlighted on the screen shot. Possible base of operations for the next trip to the area.

Roughly 2 hours back to base from Asheville. This route gives us about 6 hours of drive time, which knowing us(and the possible introduction of Rich) we can fuck up and add ten hours of being lost or wandering to.

Highlights I think would be great to stop and see:

• 417 Looking Glass Rock is visible from many spots on the Parkway starting at Mount Pisgah.
• 420.2 Shining Rock Wilderness is the largest Wilderness in North Carolina with 18,483 acres (74.80 km²), 25 miles (40 km) of trails and peaks over 6,000 ft (1,800 m). The Wilderness is named for Shining Rock.
• 420.2 Black Balsam Knob is a grassy bald with panoramic views just outside of the Shining Rock Wilderness in Pisgah National Forest. The Wilderness also includes Cold Mountain.
• 422.4 Devil's Courthouse is a rugged exposed mountaintop rich in Cherokee traditions.
• 431 Richland Balsam is the highest point on the parkway at 6,053 feet (1,845 m). There is a self-guiding trail that passes through a remnant spruce-firforest.
• 451.2 Waterrock Knob provides a panorama of the Great Smokies, visitor center, trail, comfort station, exhibits.
• Mile 469 Southern End of the Blue Ridge Parkway intersects with U.S. 441 in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Cherokee Reservation near Cherokee, North Carolina.