Carlymac,
This comes from pure memory, but I think a simple trek east along I-40 should bring you pretty close to Uwharrie.
From there, I think the National Forest is located between the Queen City (Charlotte) and the Capitol City (Raleigh) somewhere south of the Winston/Salem/Greensboro area.
Actually, I think the forest is not to far south of Lowes Motor Speedway at Concord. Hmm, I wonder if we can go multi-modal on our outing?
Any Floridians or Jawga folks care to rendezvous en route north?
As soon as I get back from up here in Lake Placid (sans VX ) I'll start laying-in a course.