Modern Vespa

Nice to have a town on the route that is named after you.

Fuzzy, I am officially at a loss for words.

We appreciate the sacrifice from you guys to scout roads.

New dragon store won’t be open in time. May have to come back.

folks get excited as the routes are great we selected. WAY too many roads to choose from in the area.

looking forward to seeing everybody and doing some riding with ya'll.

Put over 1,050 miles on my bike to check out roads with OAD. Around 800 miles of them Gathering worthy. Show up well rested. Roads in area won't take a back seat to any other gathering location. It won't be our last gathering in region.

Park restaurant closes Sep 2, so won't be open. On Saturday and Sunday only breakfast in town will be fast food. Rides will start from Hungry Mother Park so either fix own breakfast at park or 5 miles each way to town prior to ride.

We do have good lunch and supper spots, and there is a breakfast place open Friday for those wanting one.

Saturday's ride will be just over 100 miles to gas station or indoor plumbing. There is one poor option for gas around 70 miles close to route, but can't handle whole group and not sure of plumbing. One pump and no credit card. A couple individuals can detour their if necessary then catch up.

Great advice. Picked up the maps at the Virginia Welcome center and they have them at the Back of Dragon store for free. Some of what is on them we were already aware of from my previous visits and Claw of Dragon map. The maps added value to what we were able to check out for Gathering and Doug and I used them for return riding southern part of 5 more loops that were all great roads. Could do several more gatherings in region without repeating rides.

One major benefit to the area is the roads are equal fun to any other gathering but with very little traffic.

Anyone got a spare bed available in their cabin?

sure

sat gpx route

sat fall 2019.GPX
Description:		Download
Filename:	sat fall 2019.GPX
Filesize:	320.85 KB

Thanks, Doug. We'll be there.

Cool! It'll be great to see you again!

All I could offer would be space in my tent, which is unlikely to go well for anyone...

I'm getting my Indian back today with new rubber, so that's what I'm planning on riding. My MP3 had a catastrophic Variator failure at WisconScoot last weekend. I got it back on the road with some of Madison Sully's used parts, but I also managed to completely burn through my fronts in only 1,200 miles. It's back up on the jack stand until those are replaced

(Fortunately, one of my coworkers is also a Parts Unlimited dealer and has some tire tools, so hopefully he'll get the new ones mounted for me yet this week...)

Mark

Sooooooooo, no MP3's again this year?

we don't know now do we? I am undecided. maybe just keep it a surprise guessing game for you.

Glad to hear you're putting new tires on, I was worried that was the last of your MP3.
I'd be curious to know if the wear on the fronts was due to a loose wheel bearing, or an alignment issue.
I have one side a bit loose (little wiggle in the bearings but not rough), but not an excessively high wear rate.

Let me know, eh?

pull those hubs and replace the bearings, pretty easy to do.

Leave request is in, just spoke to Tim and we should be good to go.

Now I have to learn how to ride again...

Thanks OaD for the xml file, I've converted it to GPX and it looks great. Now to see if I can transfer it over to Zumo 660 and backup Android phone.

OAD, do you have the Friday route yet? I want to get my GPS set up today or tomorrow if I can.

Is anyone planning to be doing any riding Thursday afternoon? I've got Wednesday off, so I'll probably be driving most of the way then and getting a hotel, leaving a fairly short drive on Thursday and maybe some time to ride...

Mark

Fuzzy is leading the Friday route, I will call him and ask if he has it.

fuzzy said he is going to be up there early to do some thurs riding and scutrbrau said something about trying to do some thursday riding as well.

I'm heading down Thursday morning but I don't have a clue what time I'll get there. I think I'm going to take the Parkway and back roads most of the way since I loathe I-81.

No problem if he doesn't.

When OAD and I checked Friday's ride we ran into a significant, steep section of gravel and decided maybe not best for the group. The ride will be something like this.

https://goo.gl/maps/XQASUEDd9KF8GHgt6

I will get there Wednesday to verify the road VA 603 is good and check out the restaurant in Damascus.

Prior to Damascus we will dip down into Tennessee to the northern point of a Little Switzerland ride at the Backbone Rock Tunnel. I'll also check out a loop to add a few miles to we don't miss the Mouth of Wilson.

Everyone has an opinion, but we’ll be enjoying the mouth of Wilson all weekend - not sure we need to add any more.

And here is a calendar of events for The Mouth of Wilson,
Events
Sun, Sep 15
2:00 PM
Rugby Jam
Grayson Highlands General Store & Inn
Sat, Sep 14
9:30 AM
West Jefferson Tour – September 14
Museum of Ashe County History
Fri, Sep 13
5:30 PM
Free Class: Bulbs: Dig, Drop, Done?
Third Day Market

he has a reservation in your cabin BTW

I reserve the right to refuse service to anyone I choose...

I've tried to put both routes (friday and saturday) into a single gpx file. Hopefully this works.

gathering 201909.GPX
Description:		Download
Filename:	gathering 201909.GPX
Filesize:	645.6 KB

Does this mean I have to bring my tent?

I'm planning to bring both of mine, though you'd probably stick out the end of the little Junior Scout tent I've been using...

I’m pretty sure my bunk room is still yours.

Can someone please turn off the heat?

The forecast for Friday through Sunday is low 80s and a chance of afternoon thundershowers. Looks like it's going to remain pretty humid.

I am looking forward to leaving the high 90’s (99 yesterday) of middle Tennessee and arriving at the coolness of low-mid 80’s!

I find it hard to write this message. I will not be able to attend this gathering. I had a "small" heart attack on Tuesday this week. I've been in the hospital since Tuesday evening. Yesterday my cardiologist placed two more stents in my heart ( total of six now ). I am anticipating being released from the hospital today.

I believe I will be good to ride in about two weeks or so. I have been instructed though not to even try to drive over to Hungry Mother this weekend. Of course I've already canceled my reservation and they are refunding my deposit without a holdout.

As Doug already knows, I was so looking forward to this gathering. I have heard how wonderful the riding is in Virgina, so in my absence I would ask for plenty of pictures in hopes to ride vicariously through you and of course being a (remote) part of the fellowship with all of you.

Ride safe, have fun,

Ralph

Yikes , 6 stents !!

Hope you get well soon.
There will always be another ride, maybe not as cool as this gathering. But still hope you get better and back in the saddle again.

We will miss you, Ralph. Get well soon!

Sorry to hear it, Ralph. We'll keep you in our prayers.

I'm planning on running my cameras again while we ride. Now, whether I do anything with the footage or not is yet to be determined (and past history says it'll be "not"), but I'm sure we can work out a way to get you a copy of the raw footage, if you're interested...

I'll likely be coming home through your neck of the woods Sunday or Monday, so text me if you want to try to work something out and we can hammer out the details.

Mark

So sorry to hear, Ralph! As Kilo said, we will miss you!

I'll be sure to bring, "The can", to the next Gathering!

Get well soon!