BTW, an event at Townsend would be cool, nice roads and its a neat little town. I heard a lot about the old TN-STAR and other event done there, and did stay at Dock's one time about 10 years ago. One thing I remember was these people telling me about starting their day, riding the the gently rolling corners/hills of the Foothills Parkway, before conquering the Dragon and the Cherohala. Oh and no trip to the area is complete without a stop at Bald River Falls (near Tellico end of Cherohala). Its an interesting site in winter when the spray is freezing on the trees.
Interesting info on the continuation of Foothills Pkwy, I can see on Google maps an area of green (usually forest land) running between Walland and Wears Valley and if I click in there it shows my location as "Foothills Parkway Townsend TN 37882 and the long/lat coordinates.
Last couple times at the Gap we came out through (or stayed in Townsend) the followed 321 to Pigeon Forge area and forget from there, but the idea was to work north quickly in order to make it home in 2 days of back roads. I wondered what the road heading east out of Townsend (thought it was labeled TN72 see it as E Lemar Alexandar Pkwy, then Little Rirver Road, finally Fighting Creek Gap Rd, ends at US441 south of Gatlinburg.)
Yes now my mouth is watering too, the roads of SE Ohio will have to suffice this weekend.
Sorry to hijack the thread