Headed out for Sunday drive; returned 8 hours later. Left Knoxville with temps in the 30's, and headed thru lightly trafficed Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg to the Smokys. The Park uses gravel on roads so the front wheel wanted to wash-out a few times.
Got to Cherokee, NC safely and grabbed some coffee. This place serves the best in town:
Drove thru Bryson City then over to Robbinsville and on to the Skyway.
The roads are dry but it's bitterly cold at elevation. For those of you planning a visit to the area, 165, the TN side of the skyway, is breathtaking. It was too dang cold to stop for pics, but there's a wide rushing river along the road then you head into some sweepers thru the trees to Tellico. A definite not-to-miss ride.
The only rough spots were the graveled roads in the Smokys and a really ratty portion of Santeetla Road between Robbinsville and the Skyway. Other than that it was a great day.