Gatlinberg 2008??

[Rainman]

Ok...maybe ya'll have already been discussing this on another thread and I just haven't found it, but is anyone planning the big get-together (Gatlinburg or elsewhere) for 2008 yet?

NO - this doesn't mean that I'm volunteering - I'm only asking if someone ELSE has decided to step up and put this on this year. I think Sean and I have decided to retire and let someone else run this show. While we had an absolute BLAST the last couple years with ya'll, it's also an awful lot of work and now that Sean's a married man....well...ya know I just don't think he has as much time on his hands. Besides, I don't know if he'll be back to riding anytime soon. When I talked to him a few days ago, he was telling me his knee's still pretty busted up from his honeymoon wreck on the Harley.

I'm still laughing over the good time we had last year on top of Corkey's, but if we ever do that again, I want to bring some beads to toss out.

Anyway...if someone else is planning on putting something together, now's the time to get started on it. It takes MONTHS of planning to do one of those events and have it come off without any major problems. Depending on where it's at, I might be interested in coming along and maybe bringing a few of the guys up from Georgia.

BTW - I've left the Misfits club. I'm still good friends with most of the guys ya'll probably remember from the club (including Sean) and still ride with some of 'em, but the club was just headed in a different direction than I wanted to go and I decided it was time to part ways. It was amicable and I wish them the best of luck in the future. In other words - not much has changed except that I don't wear their patch anymore.

Catch ya'll later,

Rainman

[Rickster]

Hey Rainman, nice to hear from you. Thanks again for helping me pick up my Road King when I tipped over in the parking ramp the first morning last year,,,,,,,,,,, dam those disk brake locks.

I haven't seen any talk of a planned ride this year, and I'm not the one to be doing the planning, trust me, it would turn out bad, but Im game for a get together if someone else wants to step up and plan something.

My trip this year is loosely planned to leave St Paul July 31, stop for a few days at the Sturgis rally, than head west to Red Lodge Montana for a few days, than down to Pikes Peak for a day or two, than west again to the Grand Canyon for a short stop, than meander to the north east with no perticular stops in mind, and be back in St Paul on Aug 17th.

Right now I have one other person going along with me, but I'm sure she wouldn't mind if someone/anyone else wanted to come along.

If someone else wants to plan something for a different time frame, I have plenty of vacation time, so just say when & where, and I'm good to go.

[frostbitevinnie]

I want to take off for a week or so this summer just trying to decide where to go. Deal's Gap? Maybe.

[busa-boy33]

I want in on any Tenn ride you guys do. So please count me in if one of these rides are put together.. I am there if you guys don't mind a busa in your midsts..lol

[frostbitevinnie]

Originally Posted by busa-boy33

.. I am there if you guys don't mind a busa in your midsts..lol

Do it got 2 wheels?

[busa-boy33]

Well.. yes... I finally got the training wheels off .. lol.. I LOVE TENN!! Home away from home up there and it would be super cool to meet some fellow MJ'ers.

[frostbitevinnie]

I definitely want to go but don't care to make that long ride alone. I have not been to this area of TN but did spend a couple of months working in Huntsville, TN. Beautiful country! Maybe someone from MN, WI, IA, ND, SD, IL would like to hook up along the way? My dates are wide open just have to figure out how to finagle around the wife since she hates riding. Hopefully I can send her and my daughter to CA for the same week.

[note to self, get 2.5gl G-tank]

[Thundurburd]

Every month or so I get down to Kentucky for business reasons. This summer I plan on trailering my bike down and swinging over to Deals Gap or that general area for a few days. It would great to meet up with some MJ'ers if possible.

[busa-boy33]

well someone get this thing organized and spread the word and lets do this.. I've never done a meet and greet before so I'm all about it..

[frostbitevinnie]

Originally Posted by busa-boy33

well someone get this thing organized and spread the word and lets do this.. I've never done a meet and greet before so I'm all about it..

Scotty for President, YEAH!!!

[busa-boy33]

boooooooooooo

[themeatmanlandry]

burg. It's Gatlinburg, not berg. Just thought it was worth mentioning.

Here I was gonna' go until I realized y'all can't even spell it.

[tricker]

Originally Posted by frostbitevinnie

I definitely want to go but don't care to make that long ride alone. I have not been to this area of TN but did spend a couple of months working in Huntsville, TN. Beautiful country! Maybe someone from MN, WI, IA, ND, SD, IL would like to hook up along the way? My dates are wide open just have to figure out how to finagle around the wife since she hates riding. Hopefully I can send her and my daughter to CA for the same week.

[note to self, get 2.5gl G-tank]

i think tis be a bit too long of a ride for me right now... haven't built up my riding tollerance quite yet

[wildwolf]

Originally Posted by frostbitevinnie

I definitely want to go but don't care to make that long ride alone. I have not been to this area of TN but did spend a couple of months working in Huntsville, TN. Beautiful country! Maybe someone from MN, WI, IA, ND, SD, IL would like to hook up along the way? My dates are wide open just have to figure out how to finagle around the wife since she hates riding. Hopefully I can send her and my daughter to CA for the same week.

[note to self, get 2.5gl G-tank]

Next time you're coming to Huntsville, let me know. I'm in it generally 6 or 7 of the 7 days of the week.

I also live ~9 miles south of the TN/AL border.

[busa-boy33]

I need mountains... I NEED them.. get me of off this forsaken coast line.. bah!

If'n it where not for my family (parents) that I am helping right now.. I'd be living so deep in the mountains that you would have to pipe in the sun light..

ugh... i hate this coast... HATE IT!!

[palanon]

I've been thinking of sponsoring a ride in. Bike Week ( Laconia Bike Week ) is the oldest bike week in the nation.

Once a year, NH turns into biker heaven for 10 straight days. Everything from the Loudon Classic races to the hill climbs are to be had. Washington Mountain is even closed to motorcycle traffic only. It's,,,well,,, a little nut's actually.

My shop is only a half hour from Loudon and the other festivities. I could probably put up a dozen or so camper trailers and twice that in tent type hard cores. Plenty of hotels and State Parks within 5 minutes of the shop.

If there was enough interest, I'd organize a ride in. It would have to be a full on "member ride in" to make it worthwhile. Heck, we even have trucks to use as chase vehicles and to run people back and forth to hotels and " Drinking Events ".

Heck, I'd even have our uniform company make up T-shirts and patches for the event.

If the Hell's Angel's can "Iron Butt" ride from California to attend, you'd think our members could manage to come.

Just a thought, I'm willing to organize and host it if people are willing to come.

[frostbitevinnie]

My tentative plan: Leave St Cloud 5/23, noonish, and arrive outside of Rockford, IL or as far as I can get that day (500 mi). Spend the night in a podunk town in IL. Try to make Deals Gap on Sat 5/24. I am not sure of the exact miles from here to there, probably in the 1400 range so sat would be a 900 mi drive. Long drive so maybe another stop over at my aunts house in So. Fulton, TN. That would be another 500 to 600 mi from Rockford. Then make it on Sun. 5/25. Play it by ear from there. Probably leave on 5/29 or 5/30 and head back home.

So if this schedule fits anyone in my five state area lets hook up and find some twisties!!

[Thundurburd]

Vinnie, I think you and whoever else is going to make a full week of this should make the call as to when. I'll try to schedule my trip for work in KY the week before. I'd probably ride with you guys for only a few days and it's possible I might not be able to get this coordinated with my work schedule anyways.

[Rickster]

Originally Posted by frostbitevinnie

My tentative plan: Leave St Cloud 5/23, noonish, and arrive outside of Rockford, IL or as far as I can get that day (500 mi). Spend the night in a podunk town in IL. Try to make Deals Gap on Sat 5/24. I am not sure of the exact miles from here to there, probably in the 1400 range so sat would be a 900 mi drive. Long drive so maybe another stop over at my aunts house in So. Fulton, TN. That would be another 500 to 600 mi from Rockford. Then make it on Sun. 5/25. Play it by ear from there. Probably leave on 5/29 or 5/30 and head back home.

So if this schedule fits anyone in my five state area lets hook up and find some twisties!!

If you take all freeways it's 1025 miles from St Paul to Gatlenburg, so add 50 miles from St Paul to St Cloud, and another 30 miles from Gatlenburg to Deals Gap, and you are looking at about a 1100 mile trip, if you really want to you could do it in one day.

Both times I rode down there, I took two days for the trip down, and found that I was able to get far enough on the first day that it only took me half the second day to make it the rest of the way, and I was able to get a short ride in after I checked into my motel.

On one of my rides back I did it all in one day, but it took 18 hours, and I was quite tired by the time I got home.

I wasn't planing on going down there again this year, but lately my son has been showing some interest in making the trip, so if he can afford it, I might be able to go along with you. Put me down as a maybe.

[frostbitevinnie]

That would be great if you guys could make it. I was planning it for the end of May mainly to be sure not to miss my sons graduation (I think that will be in early June, fingers crossed) Also, being somewhat familiar with the heat and humidity in TN I was thinking that late May would not be too hot.

So, if these dates work for you guys then lets do it. I would like to do it in two days since I really don't enjoy being in a hurry on a vacation. I could leave earlier on Friday, swing through MPLS/STP via 94 then maybe we could meet Thundurburd in or around Madison, Janesville, Beloit? Then I39 to 51? I57 to I24 to I75? Maybe there is a better way I just know that I don't want to get anywhere near Chicago!!

I ordered the 2.5gal G-Tank tonight so I am getting pumped!!! Cabin fever has now turned into a full on infection and the only cure is to ride!!