Deals Gap run

[tricker]

wait.. if there are three rooms.. crap i'm the youngest. i guess i get floor

[Rickster]

I just called them, and the cottage with 3 rooms has just one bed in each room, I'm sure each of us is going to want separate beds, so that wouldn't work.

They do have a 4 room cottage that has 5 separate beds, but it's more money, $175 a night.
There single rooms have 2 beds each in them and rent for $60 a night.

I was thinking the cottage would work out good because than we wouldn't have to all gather at a different location to B.S. and plan our day, but it might not be worth the extra money.

We need to find out for sure how many are going before we can plan on room rental.

[Thundurburd]

Robbinsvile NC sounds good, it's near Deals Gap and also at one end of the Skyway.

Rickster, I sent you a PM.

[tricker]

i'm young yet.. i can couch it.. so if there's a couch i'm game for that. I like the cottage idea

[Clint]

I'd likely have a tent and sleeping bag with anyway, so I can use the floor. Depends on what we do on the way down, I guess. Is anyone else thinking of camping?

[Thundurburd]

I've been thinking all along that I would get my own room. Unless we find a cabin or something that would work out good for a group, that's probably what I'll do. For now I'll wait and see how it works out before I do anything. As it stands now with an odd number of people that might be the easiest anyways. Just give me a heads up and I make my own arrangements.

Trust me guys, you will thank me for this.

BTW I said an odd number of people, not a number of odd people.

[frostbitevinnie]

Sounds like a good plan to me.

We should maybe assign duties to individuals. Lodging, best route, times to meet and where, etc...


The route. I assume that Clint and I will ride together to meet Rick (if Rick is going that is), then we meet Adam? Then????

I did call Phillips and reserved a three bedroom cottage. It has enough to sleep 5 comfortably. The rate is $175/night+tax. The man said I should get it now as he expects them to be full by the end of next week.

So, that's done and I suppose we could fit more in the room if someone brings a bag.

Anything else?

Just throwing stuff out there.

[frostbitevinnie]

Originally Posted by Thundurburd

BTW I said an odd number of people, not a number of odd people.

The one thing I aspire to be when I grow up is to be odd.

[frostbitevinnie]

Almost forgot. I reserved the cottage for 5/31>6/3 so four nights.

[Thundurburd]

Vinnie,

Just to be clear, what nights did you confirm?

Thanks,
-Mike

[Edit] Oops. Like magic they have appeared. Nevermind.

I'll be leaving from near Bowling Green, KY, about four hours to Robbinsville and trailering my bike there.

[frostbitevinnie]

I chose the 31st assuming we would not make it in one day. Can we make it in one day? For me I calculated 1075 miles. And Clint and I will be leaving 1st? I also assumed that we would all meet up along the way and ride together, except for Mike.

[Rickster]

So far it looks like we have 5 members interested in this little clam bake, Clint (RowdyRed), Vinnie (frostbitevinnie), Adam (tricker), Mike (Thundurburd), and myself (rickster), but ShonR was making some noise a while back about wanting to hook up with us so there may be at least one more, and it sounded like a couple of the Misfits might want to join us too.

How about it guys/gals, anyone else want to chime in and declare an interest in going?

For you guys that haven't done any traveling by motorcycle before, you need to budget between $100, and $125 a day for gas food & lodgings, that's assuming 40 mpg on regular gas, sharing a room, and two thirds of your meals at fast food places. A 6 day trip can be done on $500 but you should budget at least $700 to be safe.

Clint, I'm not against camping, but if you are sharing a room, the savings is only about $15 a night. I've found motel room rates (with two double beds) to run $50 to $75 a night, and a lot of places will bring a roll away in for a 3rd person for an extra $10. Camp sites will run you $15 to $25 a night per tent, unless you don't want to use the shower, than you can find them for $10. I usually carry a tent with me, but it's only for emergencies.

[Rickster]

Originally Posted by frostbitevinnie

I chose the 31st assuming we would not make it in one day. Can we make it in one day? For me I calculated 1075 miles. And Clint and I will be leaving 1st? I also assumed that we would all meet up along the way and ride together, except for Mike.

It can be done in one day, I did it, but it's an 18 hour day from St Paul (1025 miles), so figure 19 hours from St Cloud, oh wait a minute, I was only figuring to Gatlinburg, Robinsville is at least an hour further, so figure a hard 20 hours from St Cloud. I'm pretty sure Trickers butt on that sport bike he's riding would be very dead.

Also, I was riding alone, a group always slows you down, so add 2 to 4 hours to that time.

[tricker]

1k miles in one day? whoa nelly is about all i can say to that.. I'll tuck in the skirt, put down the hand bag and wipe away the makeup for this one then... To meet up with me I'd get to Tomah and wait for you there. (via mapquest giving me the most direct route from st cloud to nc..)

That is about all i can add to this topic at this point cause i'm out of caffeine. All i need for the bike is new tires (current ones wouldn't last the trip and that would suck) and a quick check up by the stealership..

[tricker]

Originally Posted by Rickster

It can be done in one day, I did it, but it's an 18 hour day from St Paul (1025 miles), so figure 19 hours from St Cloud, oh wait a minute, I was only figuring to Gatlinburg, Robinsville is at least an hour further, so figure a hard 20 hours from St Cloud. I'm pretty sure Trickers butt on that sport bike he's riding would be very dead.

Also, I was riding alone, a group always slows you down, so add 2 to 4 hours to that time.

Rick... thanks for the consideration of my bum

[Rickster]

No problem, that long of a day would be hard on anyone.

[Clint]

Originally Posted by frostbitevinnie

The man said I should get it now as he expects them to be full by the end of next week.

What else would he say?

Originally Posted by Rickster

Clint, I'm not against camping...

I hear you. Sometimes camping adds to the experience, but not if it's in a parking lot along the interstate (see my 2006 ride report).

I don't want to do the ride down in a day. I'm not up to trying a IBA ride with a group I don't know. No offense, but it's tough enough with one or two close friends. You don't want to throw a bunch of unfamiliar riders together for something that strenuous. It doesn't sound very safe (or pleasant). I'd be up for 5-600 per day travelling and about half that in between.

[Rickster]

Originally Posted by frostbitevinnie

Sounds like a good plan to me.

We should maybe assign duties to individuals. Lodging, best route, times to meet and where, etc...


The route. I assume that Clint and I will ride together to meet Rick (if Rick is going that is), then we meet Adam? Then????

I did call Phillips and reserved a three bedroom cottage. It has enough to sleep 5 comfortably. The rate is $175/night+tax. The man said I should get it now as he expects them to be full by the end of next week.

So, that's done and I suppose we could fit more in the room if someone brings a bag.

Anything else?

Just throwing stuff out there.

As far as duties go, I run a Garmin Zumo GPS, so I can be of some help with routes.

We also need to get together and PM each other our cell phone numbers in case we get separated during the ride.

[Clint]

Here's a starting point.

St. Cloud to Robbinsville

States map (for those of us weak on the southeast)

BTW, I have family in Chicago (Orland Park) if that should prove beneficial.

[Rickster]

I'll ride any route you guys want to go on, but I know from experience that going through Chi Town will take longer. The faster route is to turn south at Madison on 39 and follow it to Bloomington before heading SE again on 74 to Indianapolis. I know it's a little longer, but trust me when I tell you it's faster.

Ask any trucker, and they will tell you that Chi Town, New York, and L.A. are to be avoided at all costs if your in a hurry, D.C. and Philly are almost as bad.