Modern Vespa

As agreed at last Gathering, the next gathering is May 17 to May 20 in Monteagle, TN with the Smokehouse Lodge as hotel.

Attached are details of hotel for making reservations. It is just south of I-24. We have rooms 101 to 110 set aside for "MV Gathering" event. Theses rooms are in back over looking pool and adjacent to dedicated motorcycle parking. Also close to back parking area for those pulling a trailer.

This is close to time of Scooter Cannonball so one or two regulars may not be able to make it.

I reserved a room with O.A.D. He will be there but may leave early to get ready for cannonball.

Reservation made!

We're looking forward to it, as always!

Is it May yet?

Kilo and Nor

hope not May already, I have a lot of things to do between now and then.

Reservation made. Looking forward to it.

This place is not organized. I called this morning and they said 'we have no group under that name". I was rudely told to call back Monday for group sales.

Rick - can you circle with them and get this straightened out?

I have started scoping out some routes. I will haul my NC to Tennessee in January to get more serious on learning roads while I am up there on weekends.

Monteagle is on top of the Cumberland Plateau. Like the Blue Ridge Parkway, the roads up and down either side tend to be good twisties.

Two potential destinations under consideration. let me know your thoughts / desires.
1. George Dickel Distillery. We toured Jack Daniels on previous gathering in area and have been told George Dickel has an even better tour. https://www.georgedickel.com/distillery-tour-information?utm_source=iProspect_Bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=%20Distillery%20&%20Tours&utm_campaign=B-USEN-Brand-TM-Exact

2. Unclaimed Baggage Center in Scottsboro, AL. Good routes down and back. Possible to score some good buys but inventory constantly changes. I scored a $2,000 surface laptop for $400 on one visit. Lots of electronics that I believe get left in seat backs. Jewelry, sporting goods, more clothes than major department store etc. https://www.unclaimedbaggage.com/

Plenty of good food in Monteagle for dinners. Hotel restaurant for breakfast. I will investigate stops for lunch.

We posted at about the same time so figure you missed this Rick. No bueno on being able to reserve for me.

I think there is an issue that only the manager books these. I'll stop in on my way through Tuesday and check.

So that's where my Surface wound up ?
I'm hoping to be Retired by this time...

Keith,
Marietta, GA

Red or blue keyboard?

Just Kidding...
I had to reply with something to follow the post.
Have a good Year, the house is looking good.
I have been wanting to go over to that place and browse through the stuff.

Keith

Okay.. I am gonna try and make this happen for us. I just resigned from the job that was eating my weekends and life in general. Back to a semi normal schedule at my other job.

I was calling your bluff. My keyboard is black.

KennyD will not be coming this year so I have a Queen bed available if anyone wants to share a room. Let me know via PM.

Well that didn't take long. I will be sharing the room with LM15.

Stopped by the hotel this morning. Clerk pulled the reserved rooms up quickly with name of "MV Gathering". She had no explanation as to why some had trouble with another desk clerk. All I can say is try again on a different shift.

It was 4F in Monteagle this morning. Rock walls going up I-24 had turned to ice.

Also got my first 2018 look at my new house.

I called back to reconfirm my reservation today and received a similar "no group reservation under MV Gathering" or any name for that matter. The clerk went to look under my name and found me. During the conversation she was short with me too.

Well, I think I have a reservation. But Alicia needs customer service training. Not the courtesy that I would expect from a monteagle rustic hotel.

I called these people yesterday, Dam are they Rude...
It's as if they don't want us to stay there.
I gave them all Conference Number provided by Rick.
They pulled up all the information, and I had a very simple question.
I am probably going to book a little later as we get closer and I can see if I am going to take the time off, or be Retired from Home Depot.

Keith,
Marietta, GA

We've made our reservation for a room.

Boy, with temps the last week or so hovering around 0, this feels so far away...

Mark

See you guys then. Stay warm everybody.

Philip

I am still planning my May, but with the Scooter Cannonball starting in California on May 25, it looks like that will keep me from coming to the Spring Gathering.

I left Vanessa, my 2016 Cannonball scooter in Seattle after the finish. I have to go there to pick it up, then ride down to Morro Bay for the start of the run. That is 1300 miles just to get to the start, so I will be starting on around the 17 or 18 of May, unless I choose to break it up and ride it down on a separate, earlier trip.

This one sounds good (they all are) but the Cannonball has precedence this year.

I might be able to come in the fall but Spain is on the agenda for September.

Bill

If the fall gathering is in Spain we might want to start planning now.

Now that is an option I would really like. I have already planned a trip to Cuba but it has been put on hold due to Govt policy issues.

[Heavy sigh]



I'm heading for another surgery. The humorous bone I broke last year never healed fulled and now the rod that was inserted is hollowing out the bone at my elbow. So, surgery to remove existing hardware and replace with a plate on the bone. Also some rotator cuff repair ("not torn bad enough for standalone surgery, but we're gonna be In there anyway...").

Hopefully can get the surgery done next week. Possible to be riding again in May, but we'll have to see.

Geez Tn Sooner, I am disappointed to hear you need more surgery. Do you think you will make the Spring Gathering?

Sorry to hear that. Hope all goes well and of course get good drugs (I will buy any leftovers).

This stinks. A masochist must have named that bone. Nothing humorous here.

Praying for you and pray this surgery is successful and heals quickly.

Thanks. This sucks, but it is ultimately good news, because the arm currently sucks and hurts. Hopefully we'll fix it this time. I have fired my old surgeon and found a new one.

I'll be at the gathering, whether it be 2 wheels or 4.

Wow. That really blows. Let's hope that your next set give you better results than the last ones did!

Mark

So sorry to hear that it begins yet again. Hopefully it gets fully fixed this time. Best wishes on a full recovery. Spain is two weeks with the Vespa Club del Mediterraneo, the same group that my wife and I have spent two weeks with in Tuscany (2016) and Greek Islands (2017). These are the two best vacations I have ever taken. Highly recommended.

Bill

Well, saw the dr today. Arm and shoulder doing very well, but no permission to ride for now. Next appt is april 25. Arm feels good. Shoulder still stiff. He wants me to continue limited activity for 2 weeks and then start doing more.

So 2 wheels by the spring gathering remains possible. Think good thoughts...

Allrighty then! Let's get ready to ride!

Glad to see that you are on the mend. I will be heading to Seattle on May 17, so I will miss seeing you on two wheels.
Bill

Glad to see you are waving again.

I'm glad you are on the mend. It has been a long journey. When you are allowed more "activity", I recommend that you take your RV to warmer climates, and exercise your arm by waving at everyone on the beach! Or perhaps getting an NCAA tourney ticket and starting the "wave". Or get an advance tour of the Dickel distillery and raise many toasts.

It does not look like I will be able to make this one, too much other stuff going on.

I am sure you are going to have a great time and I will be drooling over the pictures.

Hate to hear that Adrian. Hope you get your arms around it all and it's nothing serious.

Arm/shoulder is doing great. I feel a lot better now than last fall when I did a little bit of riding. Dr follow up is not until 4-25, but the devil on my shoulder is already tempting me to ride!

Will, that is good to hear! I hope your shoulder is all back to normal soon!!

Nothing serious at all on my side, I would just be out of the classroom a little too much in May as I "have" to go on a beach field trip as a chaperone so I will be missing 3 days then.