OK Folks, I'm gonna' give my honest "skuuterpinions" (opinions... about this year's TRIKE TALK/TOI ANNUAL REUNION 6 in Eureka Springs. Anyone else wanting to post Their opinions here, please feel free to do so....Feedback is ALWAYS a good thing. Please, only give Your opinions if You actually attended the RALLY though....THANKS.....
HOTEL: This Hotel served Our needs much, much better than any of the previous Hotels in Maggie Valley. Reasons: Onsite Restaurant with reasonable prices and really good food. Members could eat 3 meals per day there if They chose to. Large Meeting Rooms on multiple levels (Bingo was downstairs, Meal was upstairs). Large Lobby easily capable of handling lots of Members flowing in to register in nice A/C instead of outside on a sidewalk. Large Parking Lot capable of holding the Trikes and Motorcycles, along with Trucks, Trailers, Cars, and "Miatas".... Nice, Clean Rooms and Facilities. Very Friendly, Competent Staff, eager to please.
They even delivered Lunch to Those of Us working Registration.
You could pull out onto Hwy 62 and go either direction to leave Town or visit Town Eateries, Shops, etc.
Eureka Springs, Arkansas: Fantastic, Beautiful Town. More Eating Places, Shops, Bars, and Entertainment than Maggie Valley. Hwy 62 (Main Drag through Town), takes You to several Fantastic Riding Roads, 21, 187, 16, etc., etc., and over to several Larger Towns if you need some "City Time" while there. Hwy 23 takes You into the "Old Downtown" and Beaver, Arkansas (If You missed Beaver and the Suspension Bridge this time, make sure to visit Them next time), with the other end of 23 taking You to the Pig Trail, and many, many other twisty, scenic roads in the Area. The City itself, including the Mayor (Big Mo, that led us through the Old Downtown, and attended Our Dinner), and the Police Chief (Both are avid Motorcycle Riders)really Love and roll out the Welcome Mat for Motorcycles. This is a really large plus. Prices of Food, etc. is very reasonable at "MOST" Eateries in Town.
There is a Really, Large, Well Stocked Full Service Grocery Store there also (HARTS). Weather is Warm/Hot, but lots of Shady Trees through Town.
Clean, with Old Restored Businesses and Homes.
The Roads: Some Really Fantastic Riding...Scenic, Twisty, and Low Traffic. Mitzie and I rode Very Twisty, and Scenic Hwys 16 and 21 for miles and hours and saw a total of 7 vehicles one day.
Rivers and Lakes...Beautiful...!!! Really good asphalt on most of the roads we have been on. We've also enjoyed some really nice gravel roads in places (I know, not fun to Everyone, but I tend to like em'). Lots of various Historic Sites scattered around on the Roads also, along with an Elk Herd. Great Fishing in the Area too if You decide to bring Your Tackle.
The Area: Fantastic...Very Scenic, with Mountains, Rolling Hills, Beautiful Valleys, Streams and Lakes in all directions.
Lots of Other Small, Beautiful Towns (Kingston and Beaver come to mind) in short ride distance of Eureka Springs.
Fairly Central Location for more Members living elsewhere in the USA than Maggie Valley.
Do, I consider the RALLY a Success, no, I consider It a HUGE SUCCESS......Am I glad It's returning There next year...YES, ABSOLUTELY... We drew Many, Many More New Members with This Location than in Maggie Valley, a Goal that was exceeded, not just met.
Do I wish it was as close to me in Travel Time and Distance as Maggie Valley, of course, in the same selfish way that most of our Other Members on "That Side" of the USA wish it. I know the Roads around Maggie Valley as well as my Home Roads, and can be there in 5 hours, it takes 12 hours for me to get to Eureka Springs....."BUT".....I actually, honestly, enjoyed the RALLY in Eureka Springs more though, and am extremely eager to return.
"Distance from Estill Springs, Tennessee" is my One and Only Negative Part of the RALLY, and that goes away quickly as it's replaced by the grin on my face as I roll into Eureka Springs, Arkansas...bring on the TRIKE TALK ANNUAL REUNION 7 IN EUREKA SPRINGS, ARKANSAS, I'm READY.....pepper pepper pepper