Cherohala Skyway (a haibun)

Destination: Cherohala Skyway. Our morning instructions state it quite clearly. We are to “1) Go to Tellico Plains, Tennessee, find the entrance to the Cherohala Skyway” and then “2) Drive to Robbinsville, North Carolina.” It’s the second day of the Moonshine Mille 2021, a 2-day 1,000-mile road rally that is taking us across five states of the Deep South. The sun is just starting to rise, and all is clear, as we depart Athens, Tennessee. However, we will soon find ourselves in the moment and in the clouds.

The Cherohala Skyway is a 43-mile beautiful mountain road. Winding its way from Tellico Plains, Tennessee to Robbinsville, North Carolina, it was designated a United States National Scenic Byway after its completion in 1996. The area has a rich history, with many stories of moonshiners and bushwhackers. The Skyway provides beautiful scenery, but today, we are in a competition, and the scenery is mostly a distraction.

We follow the Tellico River at lower elevations, then the climb steepens, taking us up into the mountains. Nothing puts you “in the moment” quite like being in a competitive-timed event, on a mountain road, climbing into the clouds, and visibility drops to just a few yards. We are on the edge of our seats, gripping tightly, eyes fixated on any visible road markings. Our heart rates increase with the altitude and the unspoken knowledge of the dangerous conditions we find ourselves.

pulse rate up, grip tight
fear puts us in the moment
sky becomes a cloud

A small break in the clouds provides a glimpse of our checkpoint at Big Junction. Arriving safely, and in the lead, we now breathe a little easier. Back on the road, the clouds once again engulf us. The descent is even trickier, as the downhill coasting camouflages our speed. Eventually, we’re back below the clouds and descending safely into North Carolina.

driving and winning
on Cherohala Skyway
road rally supreme

There is still a long day ahead of us, with two more states and another 900 miles until we reach the finish line.

——

Pictures from the Cherohala Skyway

Image credits: Feature aerial view photo from the Cherohala Skyway website, all others by me.

Linked to dVerse Poets Pub – Haibun Monday: The Present Moment, where today, Frank has challenged us to write a haibun that expresses the present moment.

HAIBUN (hie’-bun, the ”u” pronounced as in “put”) A Japanese form in which a prose text is interspersed with verse, specifically haiku (three lines containing a total of seventeen syllables). A haiku typically appears at the end of a haibun, but other haiku may appear earlier, even at the beginning. Haibun often takes the form of a diary or travel journal. — Definition from the poetry dictionary by John Drury.

Great Race clocks, stopwatches, bezels, and rally accessories for sale.