Carlisle SE Caravan

Are we doing the standard Bristol lunch? Lane, Jack,  Hoss?

Such a fun event. I'm glad I made one before moving back home to Hawaii.

I don't see why not, Ron.  I'm planning to spend the night before at Tom Raymond's again, so lunch would be good.

I won't be making the trip again this year due to family obligations later in May that would make the trip unworkable.  My part of the journey will begin and end with dinner on Tuesday night at Aubrey's Restaurant in Lenoir City, if there is one.  

Sorry to hear that, John.  You'll be missed.

Lane Anderson posted:

Sorry to hear that, John.  You'll be missed.

X2.  I was looking forward to seeing you this year, John.  But enjoy the time with your family.

OK, Maddie and I will be joining up in Bristol @ 11:00 AM, Wed. the 18th. Maddie will be driving the ERV (emergency response vehicle), which will be available for members of the SE Caravan. 

Does it have A/C and would there be room in the trailer for my Speedster?  I'm sure you wouldn't want her getting lonely in that big ol' thing.  I'd be happy to ride in comfort, er, I mean to keep her spirits up.  Yeah, that's it.

I have first dibs in the event of no breakdowns and have to transit torrential rain. Otherwise, you are free to woo the ERV pilot at your discretion. I hear she's high maintenance, beware. Strike that, be very very afraid. 

Ron Mullis posted:

Are we doing the standard Bristol lunch? Lane, Jack,  Hoss?

Hey Ron--Brooklyn Grill in Bristol, VA is a top place for lunch, as you already know.  We stumbled into it 4-5 years ago and have stopped there every year since on the Lenoir City (Knoxville)  to Christiansburg, VA .  I know Hoss will be missed and maybe Nolan but usually Lane and Tom Raymond meet us there about noon each year. Hey Scottie D---is Bristol convenient for you to join us?

We'll meet there at noon Wednesday, May 19 .

Directions---going North on I-81 take the highway way 421 going East a short distance to Euclid Avenue.  It's the first 4 klane street you come to off 421.  The address is 2125 Euclid Avenue, Bristol, VA   (276/669-1900)

Looking forward to seeing you, Maddie, lane and Tom and hopefully Nolan.

This is a great meet-up location for any other Speedster / Spyder folks going up I81 on 5/19.

Jack

Hoss posted:

I won't be making the trip again this year due to family obligations later in May that would make the trip unworkable.  My part of the journey will begin and end with dinner on Tuesday night at Aubrey's Restaurant in Lenoir City, if there is one.  

John---durn tootin' we'll have our annual din-din at Aubrey's Tuesday May 17 at about 6 or 6:30--let us know your druthers.  You, Sarah, Nolan and Jan, Alice and me and anyone else who wants to join us.  Sorry to miss you and Geraldene  this year but at least we'll enjoy seeing everyone before we launch for Christiansburg, VA the next morning

Jack.

Jeeze, all this party-before-the-party stuff sorta makes me wish I lived in Arkansas, and so could partake of the whole she-bang.  Will settle for just the last little bit.  See you guys Thurs, covered with three days worth of road grime and red eyes and buzzing ears.  Gotta love it.

Gonna miss Hoss.  He needs to sort things out a little better, and figure a way to join in.

I'll be there in spirit, Frazoo, or maybe that's with spirits.....I dunno, but my ten year streak was broken last year and now with the Red Man soon departing, I will really have to push myself to make the gig again.  

Hoss, sorry to hear your car is going away. Always loved those gauges !

Brooklyn Grill it is again, except for the year they were closed and we had lunch at The 

Virginian. SOC folks should note we now have two new shopping complexes at exits 1 and 5 off of I81 in the Bristol, VA area. Exit 1 has a Bass Pro Shop, and exit 5 Cabelas.

Lane, I hope my new ride is in by the time you get here. 

New ride, huh?  Do tell. 

Hoss posted:

I'll be there in spirit, Frazoo, or maybe that's with spirits.....I dunno, but my ten year streak was broken last year and now with the Red Man soon departing, I will really have to push myself to make the gig again.  

Did I miss something. Where is the redman going?

Yes, John.  What's up?

I will let y'all know about the Red Man as soon as a deal is done, probably later this month.  

That's ok, John.  You're still welcome to hang out with us cool people. 

Marty Grzynkowicz posted:

Hoss posted:

I'll be there in spirit, Frazoo, or maybe that's with spirits.....I dunno, but my ten year streak was broken last year and now with the Red Man soon departing, I will really have to push myself to make the gig again.  

Did I miss something. Where is the redman going?

You guys missed the reference to Hoss possibly selling the Red Man. He made the comment back in February when he was talking about moving and having to downsize.

Here's the excerpt:

We will have to downsize, of course, and some of the things we have accumulated, including the Red Man, will have to go.  It is bitter sweet, but with advancing age and deteriorating joints, the warmer climate and the safety net of the aforementioned continuing care is, we believe, a prudent step.

Yeah, I remembered that, too.  I can totally dig the warmer climate - in the winter, at least.  We were in Beaufort, SC in late August the year we bought the house there and it was WICKED HOT and HUMID!  I don't know how Lane stands it there between July and the start of September.

Anyway, I remember John mentioning that they were buying a home in Florida, partly for the health amenities nearby, partly for the climate and partly to downsize.  I'm still in denial of all that stuff, but fully expect to be doing something similar in five years or so.

Keep us informed, Hoss.

We're not buying a home in the traditional sense.  We are buying into a continuing care facility and are awaiting our turn.  I hate to think of being a "vulture" but waiting for people to have to move into extended care or passing away is what makes units available to those of us on the waiting list.  It may be six months or perhaps two to three years, who knows.  We decided we liked the idea of the safety net of a place like this and also being young enough to enjoy Florida for a few years.  We rediscovered a favorite restaurant and a church (our denomination - fancy that).  New discoveries include a fine arts museum, a shooting range and a cool brew pub.  Life is good.  Life will be good.  

What city John?

St. Petersburg Marty.

John:  My late mom-in-law worked for Pratt and Whitney in West Palm Beach, and after she retired she joined a community like yours for all of the same reasons as you.  

She started in just a regular apartment in the complex for some years, then moved into a different wing for assisted living for about 15 years, then another wing for more intensive care for the last few years - 23 years at the place in all and she LOVED it there.  Great care, lots of friends, plenty of things to do (she had been a tech writer while working so she edited/produced the community newspaper), lots of organized travel and lots of shops and restaurants nearby (although the resident's restaurant was outstanding).  It was a great life and we loved visiting.  I was ready to move in! 

Re the Briston lunch at Brooklyn Grill----Hoss, what time did we usually meet up there??  Thanx.

Jack, I think we usually made it there between noon and 12:30.  Do call there to make certain that it is open the day of your travel to avoid the disappointment we had one year, remember?  If it's closed, maybe Tom will treat you all to lunch at his golf club.  HE HE HE!

It looks like Tom DeWalt will be coming up I-64 from Richmond to I-81.  Just north of the junction in Staunton, at mile marker 232, there is a rest stop on the northbound side.  We will meet him there, probably between 10 and 1030. 

Hoss---thanks---I believe we will shoot for 12:15 for Brooklyn Grill +/- 15 minutes and have lunch at 12:30 latest.  Thanks for the suggestion about calling ahead to be sure they are open and have space for us.

Gonna miss you, John.

OK--I just got off the phone with the Brooklyn Grill and they are making sure that they have enough room for 8-12 of us on Wednesday May 18 at about  12:30.

Going North on I-81 take exit 1 right after you enter VA from TN.  Going South on i-81 it's called exit  3.  Just head towards Bristol, take a right onto Euclid ave and you is there.

Looking forward to seeing everyone.

OK, we will meet everyone at the Brooklyn grill at 12:00. 

We will be taking the mountain route from Ellijay Ga to Ashville via I-40. Then I-26 to Johnson City. 11E for the short remaining distance. We can meet up with anyone coming through Atlanta or Ashville. 

We will have a 16' trailer available for road support!

Hoss, I missed the gist of all of this moving stuff, and downsizing the Red Man.  Really don't know what to say, besides I'll miss both of you.  Maybe you could rent a nice garage for the Speedster?  How hard could that be?

Meanwhile: anybody else from DC area planning to hook up w/ this mad bunch for lunch at the Cracker Barrel and then the last push to Carlisle on Thurs??  If so, Pls say.

Folks - Tom Raymond (FRESHAIR1) will not be joining us at the Brooklyn Grill as he is having a medical procedure done that day.  I will be staying in Asheville the night before rather than nearby at his place, so I will get an early start and plan to meet y'all there by noon.

Hoss - Any chance you and Nolan could just meet us all for lunch?

Lane, tempting, but I don't see my adventure extending past Lenoir City at Aubrey's with Jack and Alice.....Nolan and Jan too, I hope.  I am thinking that I can make Carlisle next year, but I would at that point most likely be Red Man-less and be looking for some right seats for the runs.    

Hey Hoss, I accept that you can't join us this year but could you pleeeeeeeease do your no-rain dance anyway?  Right now it looks like Wednesday and Thursday are gonna be wet.  I'm trying not to be tempted to drive the BMW even though it's the one I registered.  Can ya he'p a brutha out?

Could everyone that plans to join this caravan please PM me your cell numbers?  I want to make sure we all have contact info for the drive.

Lane Mine is   501/620-3831   

SAee you at Brooklyn Grill---I know Ron and Maddie will join us.  Any thers?

We'll see you at noon at the Brooklyn Grill!

Currently relaxing in Asheville.  I'll see y'all at the restaurant tomorrow.