Day Two - Roanoke to Birmingham

 Roanokee is abuzz with talk of a major snow storm that is expected to bring over a foot of snow tomorrow (Thursday) afternoon.  We left a day early on this trip to avoid this storm and it looks like we mede the right choice.  Stayed at a ho hum Quality Inn.  The road from Roanoke to Bristol (I-81) winds through the eastern portion of the Blue Ridge Mountains and is probably the most scenic section of interstate highway I’ve ever traveled.  Its sinewy path winding climbing and falling through hills that were beautiful and inviting despite the leaflessness of the trees and the snow covered ground.  Very surprising to find such beauty on an interstate

As we entered Tennessee at Bristol the road was still clear but there seemed to be more snow, maybe three to five inches, and the plows had only cleared the traffic lanes leaving both shoulders snow-covered.  An older woman with dark brown dyed long hair and wrinkly face received us warmly at the Tennessee “Welcome Center.”   She said that last night weather was terrible around Bristol and that there were many wrecks.  Here’s a pic from the parking lot.  It just didn’t seem like enough snow to cause a lot of accidents. 

Taken at Tennessee Welcome Center in Bristol

Not true.  During the ride between Bristol to Knoxville we saw 10 to 15 abandoned cars off the road in the medium. The worst accident we saw was a overturned tractor-trailer on the right side of the highway.   This behemoth was laying on its side covered with an inch or two of new snow.  The top of the cab a big jagged hole about three feet across.  It looked like the driver had to kick his way out. The people we talked to blamed the high number of wrecks on southern drivers not used to driving on snowy roads.

The rolling hills of east Tennessee were very attractive but the small farms and towns seemed  more run down and poorer than Virginia.  Lots of musical related billboards etc.

Our traveling goal for the day was Birmingham, Alabama via Chattanooga.  Trip was uneventful after the apocalyptic car wreck section near Bristol.  Alabama “Welcome Center” had this “monument” in the courtyard.  

It was surrounded by five flag poles.   Only four the the poles had flags.  I’m assuming the empty pole used to have a Confederate battle flag.

 

People at reception center were very friendly and said that many New Yorker “snow birds” make their way to Alabama.