CLOSE PROX GA-SMA ACR-WDB OVER STL TCA.

Narrative

I WAS WBOUND ON V44 XING OVER TOP OF STL TCA AT 8500 FT MSL. I CONTACTED STL APCH OUTSIDE OF 30 MI VEIL FOR ADVISORIES. I WAS TOLD THERE WOULD BE NUMEROUS ACFT OPPOSITE DIRECTION AT 9000 FT. THERE WERE CLOUDS AHEAD THAT I WOULD NOT BE 1000 FT ABOVE; ALTHOUGH I COULD STAY ON TOP AT 8500 FT. I ASKED PERMISSION TO CLB TO 10500 SO AS TO HAVE VFR CLOUD CLRNC. THE CTLR SAID NO TO MY REQUEST. I WAS ABLE TO STAY ON TOP AT 8750 FT. ABOUT 10 MI E OF FTZ I TOOK EVASIVE ACTION (L TURN) TO AVOID A WDB AT MY 12 O'CLOCK AND 3 MI. I NOW REALIZE THAT I WAS FLYING AGAINST TFC ON A STAR. I SHOULD HAVE CLBED TO 10500 PRIOR TO OVERFLYING THE TCA. I DON'T KNOW WHY THE CTLR DIDN'T VECTOR ME S OF THE STAR A FEW MI. THE TOP OF THE TCA IS 8000 FT; WHICH I THOUGHT MEANT THAT THE ARRIVING ACFT WOULD BE AT 8000 FT OR LESS WHEN THEY REACHED THE OUTER LIMITS OF THE TCA. I DIDN'T EXPECT ARRIVING ACFT TO ENTER THE TCA FROM ABOVE (WHERE I WAS). I USED POOR JUDGEMENT BY USING AN AIRWAY THAT IS PART OF A STAR; HOWEVER; I WOULD EXPECT THAT THE CTLR SHOULD BE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THE HAZARD I CREATED.