Modern Vespa

We're home, too. That's a LOOOOONG day in the truck, though I don't think it'd be any more fun doing over 700 miles on the super slab on the bike...

Mark

It was nice to see everyone again. I got home yesterday afternoon. The hip wasn't bad as it was on Saturday of course I didn't ride as many miles on Sunday. Thanks again Fuzzy for leading and coordinating.

Hungry Mother has no cabins available for the Sep 8-11 dates, so the park is out for a place to stay. I'll check for other accommodations in area, or we will have to pick alternate location. Following weekend is no better.

Last edited by Fuzzy on Mon, 23 May 2022 15:21:21 +0000; edited 1 time

After some quick checking
1. Only hotel in Marion near Hungry Mother with acceptable reviews is:
https://www.gfmhotel.com/.
Rooms look available and prices start at $120/ night for one double bed. It is across street from where we went to dinner last visit.

2. Breaks Interstate Park is full too.

3. Natural Bridge state park has availability of both cabins and rooms in lodge.

What are people's thoughts? Take a look at hotel web site. I can call hotel in Marion for group rate possibility.

EDIT.
For clarification of those not at gathering, Natural bridge state park address is Slade, Kentucky. SE of Lexington. Closest town is Slade, KY.

https://parks.ky.gov/slade/parks/resort/natural-bridge-state-resort-park?gclid=CjwKCAjw4ayUBhA4EiwATWyBrr28zDiK5Qf-qdIJmVere4E9vGvxS5JKiO3pXOGPpuWH4RkUmBG7cRoCTLkQAvD_BwE

Last edited by Fuzzy on Mon, 23 May 2022 19:28:24 +0000; edited 1 time

sounds like Natural bridge it is

That hotel looks a bit fancy for scooter trash.

and quite pricey

I vote natural bridge as well. A plus is that it is only 230 miles from my house.

Here is one more option inspired by OAD. (He was not at gathering for a vote but can give input )

Natural Tunnel state park in Virginia about 30 min north of Kingsport, TN. It is at the southern end of the rides we did from Breaks so we would ride some of the same roads with out the long drive from I-81 for the wimps trailering up. At the moment there are cabins available. We would of course ride Dragon Slayer that we missed in the Breaks gathering. Close enough to consider riding Back of Dragon one day. Don't know how fun the roads between are though.

https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/natural-tunnel

I vote natural bridge. Let's do it!

made a room reservation at the natural bridge state park. $100 a nite for a double bed rm for myself and TNsooner. 8-11 sept

they have a full service restaurant and breakfast on the weekends .

edit and they have wine and spirits too.

Got home on Sunday about 9:30 am. Adding a few photos that I took on the rides.






We had such a fun time riding the tar snakes.

I went to reserve a room, but for some reason no lodging shows up. We are talking about natural bridge state park in VA, correct?

Do you have a link or did you call?

No Kentucky. Go back and see edit to my post.

Apparently no one looked at natural tunnel state park option.

That's why I'm confused (happens often). Your post is Natural tunnel state park. The posts after that were Natural Bridge and OAD said he reserved a room at Natural Bridge. Just trying to figure out which park everyone is talking about.

I vote for Natural Tunnel State Park as it is near to the roads around Breaks and as Fuzzy said has other roads that are good in the area.

We are getting ahead of ourselves making reservations before working people get home to read the thread and have a chance for input.

Also as I expressed at Gathering, although there are plenty of good roads around Natural Bridge KENTUCKY, and it should be site for future gathering, I can't promise that I will be able to get up there before September to verify both rides and I won't lead the group on a ride I have not been able to check out. If we commit to there someone else needs to commit to leading at least one day of ride.

Natural Tunnel is adjacent to southern edge of our Breaks rides, and close to Kingston, TN so we have doable routes. I have since ridden Dragon Slayer and can comfortably incorporate that into a ride.

We can take a day or two to gather input before committing.

Map screenshot shows Natural Tunnel state park. Yellow circle to top is Breaks Interstate. Yellow circle to bottom is end of I-26 in Kingsport where we ate at seafood restaurant on Friday ride.





Last edited by Fuzzy on Tue, 24 May 2022 00:53:04 +0000; edited 1 time

Natural TUNNEL looks good to me.

well since hungry is out this was the back up , what's to wait on for making reservations.

kingston is 1.5 miles from where I live and is not close to kentucky, i think fuzzy is referring to KINGSPORT near Bristol area.

https://www.greatmotorcycleroads.com/kentucky
https://www.rever.co/common-tread/explore/motorcycle-roads/us-routes/kentucky
https://tro.bike/motorcycle-touring/maps/usa/kentucky/hillbilly-triangle-ride/

Good catch I-26 goes to Kingsport.

Glad to hear that you all had a good time and that the weather cooperated with you.

Thanks for asking about me, Mike.

As to the Sept ride, I go for the one in southern VA, not the one in KY. I think I should be able to make that one, esp. if rooms aren't $200 a night.

Here is another get together, courtesy of some of the folks on adv rider. Not trying to take anything away the original and best gathering, but I know some of you might like to ride with a group more than twice a year. From what I read, these folks like to do miles like we did ten years ago (200+ a day). But they don't really schedule big group rides, so maybe we could get together with them at the same time, enjoy their company in the mornings and evenings, but ride our own rides.

https://www.advrider.com/f/threads/2022-beat-the-heat-planning-thread.1531963/

OK,
A little more research.

1. Natural Tunnel cabins are not quite what we are used to, and lodge is a group thing, not individual rooms for rent.
- 2 Bedroom cabins are a queen and bunk beds in second bedroom. $150 per night. So max 2 people if no sharing of queen and no one in top bunk.
- 3 Bedroom cabins are a queen, 2 twins and bunk beds in third room
- No linens provided.

A good option in area is Quality Inn in Big Stone Gap, VA. 4.6 stars on Google and rooms starting at $89 / night. Joining their program gets the lower rate. https://www.choicehotels.com/virginia/big-stone-gap/quality-inn-hotels/va295?adults=2&checkInDate=2022-09-08&checkOutDate=2022-09-11&ratePlanCode=SAPR2

Big Stone gap is 40 minutes from I-26 Kingsport, TN according to Google Maps. It is at the southern end of Dragon Slayer. It is at southwest edge of rides from Breaks gathering so we have pre-ridden routes. I can call and see if there would be a discount for group rate.

I recommend this for fall gathering.

Thoughts?

Input?

natural bridge near slade has great accommodations. breakfast available on site, BBQ joint 1.5 miles away, has lodge rooms or cabins at great rate. new area to ride.

Yes, but who is going to recon the rides as Fuzzy has on several occasions said that he has a tight calendar and would not be able to ride all the routes around the Bridge.

sounds like your volunteering to.

BIG STONE GAP, VIRGINIA

Had a few phone conversations last night and we have alignment for the fall gathering at the Quality Inn at Big Stone Gap, Virginia.

We have 8 rooms set aside with a group rate of $89. This includes 2 king bed rooms and 6 rooms with two queen beds.

Phone number of Hotel is 276-523-5911

Group is "MP3 Gathering"

Group rate is $89 plus tax per room

Hotel has breakfast.

Here is a link to the new thread for fall. CANCELLED—Fall Gathering 2022 - Sep 8-11 - Big Stone Gap, VA