2nd Annual Motorcycle-Journal.com Ride

[stp1971]

Ok,,, so now the riding season is nearing the end (for some of the members here) and we are rapidly approaching a new year. Some of the highlights thus far this year has been the rides to Thunder Beach, Bike Week, Thunder Beach part two, and Strugis. We still have Biketoberfest to come and a few more in the works.

But the highlights thus far this year pertaining to members of this forum mostly have been the First Annual Motorcyle-Journal.com gathering,, aka- The Dragon Slayer Gathering and just in the books Outlaws Asheville Trip.

The same weekend we had the Dragon Trip was the same weekend of Motorcycle-Journal's Ride Days which featured local rides from across the globe.

But if we are going to make this an annual trip/ gathering then we need to start planning right now. Keep in mind I started planning the June Trip in January/ February and it took alot of planning to pull it off. We almost did not get the reservations needed since most of the town was already booking out and the size of the group we had. The sooner we start thinking of the next trip the better.

So what I am asking is if there is anyone who knows of a great riding and vacation destination that we can make the next trip to??? Keep in mind that we will need accomodations, activites outside of riding, nightlife, food stops for the long rides, fuel stops pre-planned in advance, and the area needs to have things to do that will satisfy everyone's tastes.

In planning the last trip we did pre-planned runs of the routes, mapped them and briefed the Road Captains, made sure we covered the shortest range of the bikes (no more than 80 miles the last time) and we planned scenic overlooks for photo ops and chances to get off the saddle for a break.

I also enlisted the help of my riding group to help run the policing of the ride and keep the group flowing smoothly. We also had a very in depth safety brief planned in advance which covered all the rules we needed to impose in order to keep everyone safe. If you are going to police the ride it helps to have a group like the Misfits available that rides together frequently because they know how each other rides and knows all the signals required to keep everyone together.

If anyone is interested in sponsoring this event next year please post your ideas here. Keep in mind that whoever sponsors this event needs to be a local person preferably or live in the region to make all the arrangements.

I have had people that did not even go on the ride with us this last time ask me if we were going to do it again next year. This is great advertising for this site and it was great advertising for our riding club as well. We made our presence known that weekend on the trip and the sight of all of us riding back into Gatlinburg was quite impressive.

If no one is interested in sponsoring this next year and everyone would like to do it again in Gatlinburg then let me know. I will be happy to work on setting it up again since 75% of all the work is already done. But I know there were alot of members that were not able to make it since it was too far away so I would like to make this a roaming event if possible so that others will have a chance to attend.

So post away people and maybe we can make this a sticky in order to get the ideas flowing in here for next years event. Let's make it a bigger better event then we had back in June!!!!!

[drgibson]

Stuck.

[stp1971]

Once we get some ideas together then we could put a poll together or something to determine the location. I personally would not mind doing Gatlinburg again myself. I know alot of the Misfits would be willing to do it as well. That would help alleviate the policing required so everyone else can just enjoy the ride.

But I'm game for other places also.

How about some ideas folks????

[drgibson]

We need to shorten that ride up some it left little time to socialize.

[viper94bite]

we could ride the amazing corn fields of nebraska. See every color of corn from gold to yellow. lmao. oh and deer and turkeys will cover the wildlife portion.

[stp1971]

Originally Posted by drgibson

We need to shorten that ride up some it left little time to socialize.

I was thinking more along the lines of spending maybe an extra day there. Make it a Thursday Gathering. Maybe do the ride on Friday (that way the Saturday traffic won't be there), hangout on Saturday and ride around locally possibly. Maybe even ride across the Smokies over to the National Motorcycle Museum that Sunny wanted to go check out last time. That would be a laid back ride of about 50 miles one way. Then everyone head back early Sunday.

If we plan it right then we could all party lightly like we did the night before on Thursday night. Do the ride on Friday getting back that evening and more partying. Early ride to the museum on Saturday morning then back a little after lunch. Then we could party and hangout to see the sights Saturday evening as well.

Plus we could do some arrangements on evening reservations versus trying to find somewhere at the last minute.

Just an idea.

[viper94bite]

psssst! sean! you might wanna change your sig to say 2007.

[Trapper]

Ain't it the north's turn? NH, Mass, Vermont, etc.?

[Funkmon]

Northern New York has some great roads. So does Michigan, but it'll be a little too cold up here. So, unfortunately, it might need to be in the south again.

[drgibson]

I'll go North if I don't have to go to far east. They might lynch me.

[BlaznBlu]

I'll cast a vote for Gatlinburg. The hotel was great, covered parking, pool, restaurant, great bars within walking distance. There are a TON of great routes throughout the area.

I think the Misfits did a wonderful job with the road duties, and would really like to be in a ride with them again. I did not feel any apprehension on the ride under their lead, and I think that is of utmost importance when you have such a large group going together.

Since most of the planning of the route is done, I think that Gatlinburg can be a great staging area. I honestly wasn't overly impressed with the Dragon (like Rae said after finishing it: "when do we get to the Dragon"). I had a much better time on the other roads, riding through the Pisgah and Natahala forests.

I would also really enjoy an extra ride day. I think your idea is really a good one Sean (wow, did I just say that?). Big ride on Friday, and maybe two separate excursions on Saturday (like a group for the museum and another for the Dragon, both of which could do some shorter local trips as well).

I'm up for anything, but would definately like to make Gatlinburg an annual trip. Whether or not it is for an official "Motorcycle-Journal Annual Gathering/Ride" is another question.

[stp1971]

Hey post away,,,, if there are some good routes up north but maybe in July or August time frame us weak/warm/hot/wimp blooded Southerners wouldn't mind going North. But we really need someone to do all the road trip planning and scouting ahead of the trip is a must.

Nothing suxs worse than a group of twenty bikes having to do U-turns in the middle of a route and even worse someone running out of gas because we missed a critical fuel stop. But I'm game for whatever. Although the Gatlinburg would be fun again. The question is would we have as many attend this time around???

C'mon people,,step up to the plate and let's get some ideas.....

Oh yeah,,, 2007 not 2006,,oooppss!!!!! Thanks Jeff!!!

[tnichols]

My vote would be for Gatlinburg again.
With the help of the misfits, roadgaurds, and everyone involved, I was able to just spend my time enjoying the ride without the worries of navigation, fuel stops, help if I ran into problems, or anything else. Basically I just let prepared my bike for the run and enjoyed the ride. It was the most relaxing trip I've had in that area of the state.
I do think we need to get together earlier to allow for more "social" time and mabe a day where some smaller groups can split off to visit some tourist traps.
The hotel we stayed at was perfect, don't change that.

And for next year's trip....Count me in for any help needed.

[dragbar]

I vote for Gatlinburg again as well. Even though it's a tourist town, I found the town a bit relaxed. So many freaking roads to ride....love that hellbender 28.

And regardless if the big ride is Friday or Saturday, I'm adding extra days regardless. Would like more time to stop inside the park and such as well.

[stp1971]

So four votes for Gatlinburg and one vote for somewhere up north.

C'mon guys,,if there is anywhere else you wanna go then speak up and be ready to plan it out. I talked to a couple of the Misfits and they said they would be on board with going along again. I vote for the Gatlnburg as well personally because of the wide variety of roads and things to do. The non-riding spouses that went along last year had a good time doing their thing and even the non-riding riders that came along had a good time. So there is plenty to do.

But I am thinking a short ride across the Smokies to the National Motorcycle museum would be great. If we do this right and work out the details then I am sure the people "Up North" could have plenty of time to save their pennies to make it this time. Hint Hint. But if we have another destination that would be fun and not cold we can go north as well.

[Jerryzuki]

Well, I selfishly vote for Gatlinburg partly due to the close proximity to me. But there are so many great places to go and things to do for the guys and the gals as well. Hopefully I will be able to spend more time with you guys the next trip (I had to break away half way through the ride this year).

[Louis]

Originally Posted by Trapper

Ain't it the north's turn? NH, Mass, Vermont, etc.?

This idea gets my vote!

[intimid8er]

Originally Posted by Trapper

Ain't it the north's turn? NH, Mass, Vermont, etc.?

Americade maybe?

[Apertureguy]

I'd love it if you guys headed up this way. There are many fine roads up here with some very decent twisties, but the best part is the views.

From watching the Falcons swoop over the Hudson River to cruising through phenominal looking farm & horse country. Babbling brooks, raging rivers get traversed via covered bridges filled with charm. The air is sweet and pungent and constantly changing depending on the foilage you're passing.

Additionally...there are all the services you could ever need. Easy access to hotels, B & B's, numerous restaurants, mechanics, etc...

The leaves are just begining to change...it's been wickedly gorgeous!

I'd be more than happy to meet up with you folks...provide history and stuff about the area...make suggestions depending on the need...and of course to ride!!

[stp1971]

Originally Posted by Louis

This idea gets my vote!

Well then who is going to plan it????? We need someone to step up with a plan and then we can all propose the plans to the masses. I think if we could get several ideas together with a rough schedule of events/ride plans then we could make a better decision where to host the event this year.

I'd like to make it an annual event and not a sporadic happening. Or we could also just make it the second annual ride days events. That way if there were several locations in different parts of the country then people could choose which event to attend.

But personally I like the idea of one single event that way you have more of a unified gathering. We could make the single event the premier event of ride days like we did in June. And the ones that could not make the trip could also ride locally that day to be part of the ride days National event.