Modern Vespa

Little Switzerland is the tentative plan for the final weekend of September.

Ponydrvr is going to call Mike at Skyline to discuss rooms and rates before we finalize - he should be able to post reservation info soon.

Hopefully the WIMPs will return to our fold.

It'll probably rain.

Thanks eeyore

Sweet!

Message deleted.

Good, it's the weekend after Wisconscoot again

I'll look forward to hearing where the group is staying, and I'll talk to my parents about it when they get back from their week of Campers on Mission...

Mark

"The nicest thing about the rain is that it always stops. Eventually." - Eeyore

Fall Gathering room information:

Skyline Village Inn
12255 N Carolina 226A
Spruce Pine, NC 28777
Phone: (828) 765-9394

Owner: Mike Thrift

We have 12 total rooms blocked, 5 double beds, 7 single beds all on the front patios. The Single rooms are $112- $7= $105, Double rooms are $134 - $7 = $127 per night. The rooms are being held until June 30. He has a 7 day cancellation policy.

Make your reservations early and often!

Thanks for organizing Ralph - I have booked a room.

Kilo and I have booked a room (Rain or shine ).

Joking aside, we are both really looking forward another Gathering. Skyline is a great place to stay, the twisties are awesome, and the fellowship rocks! [Let's just hope no flat tires this time around! And if so, OAD and the crew can do another redneck tire change in the parking lot!]

Ditto on the kudos - Thanks Ralph!

Will there be a get together in the Midwest.

Check out this event, happening the weekend before:

Wisconscoot 2018 Sept 21-23

There should be at least a couple of MP3 riders, though it's way too early to know what bike I'd be bringing, and probably the same for Madison Sully...

But, I plan on making the trip down to NC from even further away than you, so it is doable...

Mark

We've got our reservation in. Definitely looking forward to taking a few more passes on the Diamondback

The gatherings have all been in the southeast for 2 reasons. One is the organizers live there and can plan the rides. Two the mountains in the region make for some great riding.

Also understand that the gatherings started 9 years ago to get MP3 riders together and have had as many as 17 MP3s at an event. Other riders were always welcome. The recent small gathering had a Indian Chief, Honda Goldwing, Honda CTX and Kawasaki Versys.... no Mp3s but all of us used to have one. Previous gathering I think had one MP3. The attraction now is not fellow MP3 riders but fellow riders of anything. The agenda is good riding during the day and good fellowship the rest of the time.

As people join the group they have expanded the region. For example PonyDriver has pulled us north into Kentucky a couple times. Froggieposition took us to Virginia.

Come join us. The last agenda item at each gathering is to chose the time and location for the next one. You might convince us to let you lead one closer to you. It is a bit of work to scout routes, lodging, food and such; but if one has the time it is fun work.

We just booked our room.

Just left voice mail message with Mike T. to book single room for the Gathering.

Thought I would bump this up.

Also, I think one of our regular participants may have had her bike stolen after a trip to the store. Nor is that your weekly cheese puff supply?

It's been so Wet in Georgia, considering trading one of my bikes for a Jet Ski.

Keith,
Marietta, GA

Hey, I only brought those to two gatherings... However, maybe I should check my supply

So all those other times were leftovers?

yup know we know how we are treated.

Have ride plans been made yet? We're trying to work out when we need to leave from home...

Mark

same as always. Fri/Sat

There were no leftovers if I recall!

However, you can sleep well tonight, I FOUND MY SUPPLY!!!

Nice!

Now I'm getting excited ! ! !

Unfortunately, we have to cancel Sorry we're going to miss you all yet again.
Hopefully our schedule will be freer for the next time around in the spring.

had a nice visit today from TnSooner. We were discussing the gathering over lunch and I told him I was on the fence for it in 2 weeks, just have a lot on my plate at this time with trying to get into the new house and with the passing of our beloved Jake this weekend, I don't know if I could make it in 2 weeks. he laughed and said its 3 weeks, I went no its the weekend of the 21-23. he said NO it the next weekend 28-30. I went well thats it then I am definitely out as that my nieces wedding weekend I i will be in Beloit WI for it.

Sorry folks, but I know Ya'll will have some great rides and some excellent after ride cocktails talking trash about me. just make sure ya'll post some good pics please.

That's too bad, OAD.

Hey, you could always come north a week early and join up for Wisconscoot...

thanks for the offer but if I did that who would finish the work on our new house.

Could someone please give me some info on the "gathering" at little Switzerland?
I'm new here, but I've rode there before, I might go if it's open to all.

it is open to anyone who wants to come. further up the thread is more info on accommodations .

most folks arrive thursday

Friday is a ride day normally starting out around 9 am and NOT SCOOTER TIME.

When times are set it means that time. not 20 or 30 min later.

Saturday another day ride

Sunday everyone bugs out to go home.

days rides are normally as follows:
gassed and ready to ride at the appointed time, not arrive and then declare oh I need gas. there will be 1-2 gas stops during the day with a lunch stop and some break stops spread through the day. typically get back to the hotel 4-5 pm

These rides are rides and not for lolly gagging. Rides are at a moderate paced in mountains so they are work. also for this reason scooter below 250cc are not typically invited as most of them struggle climbing mountain terrain, not to say there has not been less cc scooters with highly skilled riders who can push the limits of smaller scoots ride in the group.

Here is info on where we are staying. The room block is no longer applicable, but you might still be able to book something. You can also stay elsewhere, but we do stick to pretty strict departure times each morning.

Thank You for the responses!
I'm not familiar with the term "not scooter time"???
Ummm, I've rode enough quick paced trips down there I'll sit this one out. I didn't buy a scooter to go(relatively) fast on- I got other machines better suited for that.
Maybe if you have a "flower sniffin'" tour I'll tag along sometime.
Have a good time!
Oh, if you find yourselves up in Johnson City, Cootie Browns is about as good as a restaurant gets.

Scooter time - many of us have been on scooter rallies or events when "7:30 departure" really means we might be underway by 8:30 or 9:00. Our group came together, in part, because our friends prefer more structure, and really we prefer more riding and less walking around admiring bikes and BS'ing. Hence, when we say "not scooter time", that simply means we ARE leaving at the time we say we are leaving.

As far as pace of the ride, we ride twisty roads and we tend to ride reasonably aggressive. However, 250's have no problem keeping up with our pace. We plan 1-2 gas stops, a lunch stop and 1-3 other stops for tourist crap or interesting things (water falls, rock formation, dam, whatever). Our primary purpose is to ride, not tour. We'll go 175 - 225 Miles each of Friday and Saturday, and are usually back at motel by 4 or 5.

we don't ride fast , we ride steady and enjoyable, we don't putt putt.

It's okay to say that you're worried it's gonna rain.

Speaking of rain, let's hope the hurricane making landfall in your neck of the woods doesn't mess anything up. Last year at this time, part of the BRP was closed near Little Switzerland due to hurricane damage & cleanup...

Mark

Shhhhh. Don't bring up Flo around KiloVictor. He seems a tad sensitive about it.

Schools here are closed for three days, I do not know yet when I will make it to the gathering. Friday afternoon maybe, Saturday morning? I definitely can't take an additional day "off"...