Historically speaking John Hallstrand, aka "Hoss" has always been the weather guru for this trip. Appropriately Lane should take over that responsibility & of course suffer the consequences................................
Bump
So far we have about 9 or 10 reservations at the hotel. That's a good size but we have plenty of room for more. Three days of cruising in the mountains. C'mon. Ya know ya wanna!
Lane,
I've been away from the site for a bit, flipped through these posts but haven't found an agenda for the weekend. Can you post one here or point me to one?
Thanks, ECB
Well Sonoma Beach! You're absolutely right although I was sure I had put one in here. I guess it just sort of evolved through the thread since the planning was pretty much an ad hoc thing. Here's a quick summary:
- Thursday, 28 SEP: Arrival in Maggie Valley at the Creekside Lodge. As far as I know we’ve all been able to get a rate of $99/night when mentioning the Speedster Owners Club.
- Friday, 29 SEP: Cruise a 100+ mile loop that includes the Tail of the Dragon, the Cherahola Skyway, and several other lovely roads - Led by Phil "Fear the Yorkie" Luebbert
- Saturday, 30 SEP: Cruise of the backroads in Brevard county - Led by Carlos G
- Sunday, 1 OCT: Cruise of The Rattler, a twisty set of roads that we preferred to the Dragon last year on Don’s cruise - Led by yours truly
- Today, 2 OCT: Sadly we all depart for home
I'd love to see more of y'all. The weather that time of year should be perfect.
EDIT: The Maggie Valley Creekside Lodge is at http://creeksidelodge.com/
Should they be full there are other hotels nearby: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Ho...Carolina-Hotels.html
As to the schedule, you left off: lunches, dinners, drinkin' and schmoozing, to say nothing of banjo pickin' and some down home mountain music.
That should all come naturally. There are a bunch of restaurants nearby but it won't be like Carlisle. I haven't planned to make group arrangements as this group is small enough for us to extemporize. I can always call around in the evenings before supper time. I really expect this to be a relaxed, low stress gathering. As for evening adult conversations, there are several fire pits lining the creek behind the hotel. That's what we did last year and it was great.
On Saturday, I'll be meeting everyone at the Creekside in the AM, we'll drive up and over the mountain to get to my neck of the woods. Then tool around on some back roads, with some piss and gas stops, views, possible lunch or snack spot, more driving, piss stops, views, and make our way to Sierra Nevada in the most curvy and scenic way possible. And yes, you might hear banjo music in spots, and your cell phone will probably not have service for most of it.
So far, I've got a 140ish mile route. I will need to drive it to get a realistic time frame and adjust the route accordingly.
Got out for a quicky tonight.
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Got it Lane, just sort of yankin' your chain. So we pack our own PB&Js for lunch??
Carlos G posted:On Saturday, I'll be meeting everyone at the Creekside in the AM, we'll drive up and over the mountain to get to my neck of the woods. Then tool around on some back roads, with some piss and gas stops, views, possible lunch or snack spot, more driving, piss stops, views, and make our way to Sierra Nevada in the most curvy and scenic way possible. And yes, you might hear banjo music in spots, and your cell phone will probably not have service for most of it.
So far, I've got a 140ish mile route. I will need to drive it to get a realistic time frame and adjust the route accordingly.
Got out for a quicky tonight.
Oh gee whiz, you'll have to run it just to check the mileage....life is tough huh Carlos? LOL
First world problems at their finest.
There are two gas stations on route that serve 93 octane ethanol free gas though. As far as food for us, I haven't figured that out completely yet. A man's gotta have priorities.
Carlos G posted:First world problems at their finest.
There are two gas stations on route that serve 93 octane ethanol free gas though. As far as food for us, I haven't figured that out completely yet. A man's gotta have priorities.
I'm the outlier here. I LIKE ethanol in my 93.
... as far as food, now that's time to get serious...
I'm figuring that breakfast every day will be roll-your-own. In the evenings we can try to go somewhere as a group with the decision as to where being made that afternoon. Lunch will have to be a "play it by ear" thing as I am not near the area and don't know what the choices are.
So yeah, Kelly, bring some PB&Js. 
OK, as Stan is so fond of saying, forewarned is forearmed. So be it.
We just reserved the last single room on the first floor. Creekside! Stumble out, stumble back in!
Sweet! This is gonna be a great time! 
It has been 10 years or so since the first fall outing for the SOC, organized by Lane and Hoss. I fondly remember those two guys, myself, Jack, Corey, Marty, Gordon, Nolan, and others cruising the Cherahola Skyway and it's fabulous views. Things have changed a bit. I drove the entire Cherahola today as part of a photo scouting trip. The vegetation alongside the road has grown considerably. All of the Armco is rusted to a deep brown. Apparently the Park Service and the Forest Service have not had the $$$$ in their budgets to keep down the undergrowth. The only vistas available are at about 2/3 of the pull out parking areas, and several of those have grown trees in the foreground. The road surface remains in great shape, and the air at 5300 ft is fabulous.
"...and the air at 5300 ft is fabulous."
I can't wait!
Folks, we have 8 weeks/56 days/1344 hours until arrival in Maggie Valley. Yeehah! That's southern for "Woohoo!"
Who has made reservations and who is still on the fence? So far I know for certain we have:
- Me
- Stan Galat (and his lovely wife?)
- Cory and Jeni Drake
- Danny Piperato and Michelle Parisi-Moran (did I get that right?)
- Carlos G
- Kelly Frazer and ??
- Phil Luebbert and ??
- Jack (and Alice?) Crosby
- Tom Boney
- Marty and Sandy Grzynqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmwicz
- Tom Raymond
Did I miss anyone?
Lane Anderson posted:
- Stan Galat (and his lovely wife?)
Jeanie. Mrs. Galat's first name is Jeanie, and she'll be there as well.
Pretty sure you've told me that before, but I cannot remember names worth a darn until I meet the person. 
Lane, you won't forget Jeannie after you meet her. You won't find a nicer, classier Midwestern lady. How Stan ended up with her is still a mystery.
And Lane, it's just Michelle Parisi now.
Thanks for the update. Hopefully I (whose memory is like a sieve) will remember.
DannyP posted:Lane, you won't forget Jeannie after you meet her. You won't find a nicer, classier Midwestern lady. How Stan ended up with her is still a mystery.
I found her when she was 17 years old and didn't know any better.
I heard from Leon Chupp a few days ago. He plans to join us. Woohoo!!
We're putting the band back together.
You'll never get Hoss and Nolan out of them high paying gigs
Oh really, we 've got a deal with the Lord
Yeah, we're on a mission from God
Sorry guys, I won't be cruising with you, our daughter just passed away suddenly with a brain aneurysm.
Nolan- I don't know you but wanted to say how sorry I am for your loss. As a father myself I can only imagine how devastating this is for you and your family. My prayers/thoughts are with you and your family.
Nolan, I am so sorry for your loss. I know what you are going through. My daughter died in July.
God speed to you and your family.
Nolan- there are no words. So very sorry for your loss.
Nolan, I haven't met you either but know that prayers are heading up right now to cover you and your family and many grieve alongside you.
So sorry Nolan. God speed
You and yours are in my families prayers.
Nolan, I'm praying that our God of peace will give you and your family a great measure of His peace and comfort, I'm so sorry to hear of your loss.
Will
So very sorry to hear about your loss. God speed.
Oh Nolan I am so sorry. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Nolan, this is awful news. Can't imagine the shock and pain. It's not supposed to go this way. I'm truly sad to hear this; pls accept my condolences.
Prayers and condolences for the family. Really tough to learn this.
Nolan,
This is terrible news. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
Nolan....and Mike, too. Wow. Never expected to read that from either of you and, as someone already said, it's not supposed to happen like that. I know it's hard right now, but try to be strong, my friends. Maybe this group can be a source of strength for you as it has been for me from time to time over the years. Please let us know here is anything we can can do to lessen your burdens.
Gordon