"The Gorge" closed by rockslide - again!

[golfhobo]

Well, here we go again! This will screw up my daily run for awhile.

Rockslide closes both directions of Interstate 40 | Charlotte News, Weather, Sports | WCNC.com | Local News

Anybody wish they were a certain John Christner driver?

WCNC.com | Slide Show

(there are other pictures. click just above the pic.)

[Jackrabbit379]

Good grief! That is nuts! It's gonna be several months of cleaning up, before it can be re-opened? Wow. I bet that detour is a wonderful drive.

[golfhobo]

Good grief! That is nuts! It's gonna be several months of cleaning up, before it can be re-opened? Wow. I bet that detour is a wonderful drive.

I remember last time it took a couple months at least. Eventually, they will open the eastbound lanes and split them to allow both directions, but that causes one heck of a backup!

The detour, IIRC, adds about 70 miles to the trip. VERY steep hills to climb on I-26 from Johnson City to Asheville. I think it added an hour and a half to my run last time I did it.

[Just checked my old logbook. It was 60 extra miles and about ONE hour more.]

Oh well..... I've been getting frustrated by the slow and rookie drivers going through there lately. Lucky I haven't gotten a ticket yet for passing them!

At least I finally get some variety!

[Jackrabbit379]

I can just imagine the hills, and curves. I've never been over to that part of the country, but I don't reckon it's flat.

[golfhobo]

IIRC, at the top of the biggest hill, right at the VA/NC border, the sign says you are crossing the Eastern Continental Divide. From there it's quite a downhill run.... with a cop just over the hill by the sign that says "Welcome to North Carolina."

[geeshock]

depends on where you are headed. If 40 is closed down I usualy could take I-77 to I-81 back to 40. from charolate I'd take us 74 to I 26 to I-81 to 40 but I rarely made any stops in that part of NC

[geeshock]

Oh well..... I've been getting frustrated by the slow and rookie drivers going through there lately. Lucky I haven't gotten a ticket yet for passing them!

At least I finally get some variety!

Not a rookie but since I don't usualy pass 50 mph through there I might have been one, oh well, to each thier own.

[Syncrosonix]

oh, cool, that means super truckers can play on the tale of the dragon!

[geeshock]

oh, cool, that means super truckers can play on the tale of the dragon!

Heh, you do it if you wanna but I'll pass

[Syncrosonix]

Heh, you do it if you wanna but I'll pass

c'mon man, where's your sense of adventure? while going through it, you can scream, "FOR THE ALLIANCE!" to your heart's desire. while going through a tight, blind curve, you can shout it at the 4 wheelers that are stopped.

[golfhobo]

Not a rookie but since I don't usualy pass 50 mph through there I might have been one, oh well, to each thier own.

You know? It's difficult, but I can LIVE with 50 if you can just MAINTAIN it! Fact is, there's not a curve in there that can't be handled at 55 at least.

Now, I don't usually get upset with tankers, cuz you know..... the slosh affect. And occasionally I see a reefer and think he MIGHT be loaded to the roof and be a little topheavy (although I did that for years and could maintain at least 50.)

But..... riding your brakes and barely managing 35 to 40 or MAYBE 45 for about 25 miles.... with 10 - 20 trucks lined up behind you.... and NOT PULLING into the rest area to let the rest of us go by..... well..... just be glad I can't GET TO YOU! [ESPECIALLY if you're an empty FLATBED!]

Like I said.... it's not ALL the other guy's fault. It's the fact that I have to do it EVERY DAMN DAY!!! The gorge, I mean. Some days I get to breeze through at 50 to 60 mph. Other days, I get bogged down and have to shift into the basement because someone is afraid of a curve.

Belpre can say what he wants, but sometimes the variety of "irregular route" OTR is a blessing. It keeps your blood pressure down!

[Kevin0915]

I can just imagine the hills, and curves. I've never been over to that part of the country, but I don't reckon it's flat.

its not. lucky for me i'm on great lakes dedicated, and the last time i was thru that part of the country was 4-5 mo. ago.

just got a message across my qualcomm from the company about that. they say 50 extra miles, but i sure wouldnt want to be taking that detour in the middle of winter. think i might have to go clear down 85 to 20 and just go thru Dallas. =)

[golfhobo]

think i might have to go clear down 85 to 20 and just go thru Dallas. =)

Of course that would depend on your point of origin. When I drove out of Lexington, NC., the weather often dictated whether I took I-40 west thru the gorge, or down 85 thru Atlanta. If you are GOING west of Dallas, taking 40 to Little Rock and then 35 down to Dallas is actually 35 miles longer than the "southern" route.

However, if you need to turn north at Nashville and jump up to 64/70 on your way to the Northwest.... there is no option. The Gorge IS the shortest route from (central) NC to MOST points out west.

My brother drives out of Mt. Airy, NC.... so, He takes 77N to 81 down to 40 anyway. Lucky him.

[geeshock]

But..... riding your brakes and barely managing 35 to 40 or MAYBE 45 for about 25 miles.... with 10 - 20 trucks lined up behind you.... and NOT PULLING into the rest area to let the rest of us go by..... well..... just be glad I can't GET TO YOU! [ESPECIALLY if you're an empty FLATBED!]

Like I said.... it's not ALL the other guy's fault. It's the fact that I have to do it EVERY DAMN DAY!!! The gorge, I mean. Some days I get to breeze through at 50 to 60 mph. Other days, I get bogged down and have to shift into the basement because someone is afraid of a curve.

Belpre can say what he wants, but sometimes the variety of "irregular route" OTR is a blessing. It keeps your blood pressure down!

Heh, then it wasn't me, most curves are 50 a few 45 but I stay at 50 and even sometimes catch myself doing 55. I usualy hit 45 around the tunnels but I think thats more something my brain tells me to do, and yes, once I see the rest area, if I have a string of trucks behind me, I pull in, if for no other reason then to get them off my backside, lol.

[geeshock]

c'mon man, where's your sense of adventure? while going through it, you can scream, "FOR THE ALLIANCE!" to your heart's desire. while going through a tight, blind curve, you can shout it at the 4 wheelers that are stopped.

And how do you know I won't growl lok' tar? lol

[geeshock]

oh, cool, that means super truckers can play on the tale of the dragon!

Besides, I had my share of fun taking us 64 through lake lure and by the bat cave. That was super trucker enough for me, lol. by the time I got to hendersonville, I could have kissed the road I was driving on. Thats an interesting road.

[VPIDarkAngel]

IIRC, at the top of the biggest hill, right at the VA/NC border, the sign says you are crossing the Eastern Continental Divide. From there it's quite a downhill run.... with a cop just over the hill by the sign that says "Welcome to North Carolina."

I didn't know I-40 ran into VA

I've only traveled that stretch a few times, but it's not bad at all. I also get annoyed at the guys who can only go 40 on that stretch, but more annoyed by the lane control that we have to endure.

[Syncrosonix]

And how do you know I won't growl lok' tar? lol

[geeshock]

lol, off subject i know but I do have an orc hunter alt

[Syncrosonix]

lol, off subject i know but I do have an orc hunter alt