Maggie Valley 2017 Rides

[Chaplain Dave]

As it looks like a lack of interest for the arboretum it is cancelled

I'll be heading west on the blue ridge and thru the park heading back north

Great rally great people great time.

Looking forward to next year hopefully at a different hotel

Hi Bro, it is going to be hard to find a motel that is as clean and well maintained for the price as the Best Western, and to me, there is no place quite like Maggie, although perhaps we are running out of ride possibilities. I like the Fontana Inn (Fontana, NC) at the Fontana Dam and the start of the Dragon ride at Deals Gap, but at $133 +/- a night, it is a mite expensive. (However, Sevierville & Pigeon Forge activities are less than 70 miles away.)

I think we should poll the interest for another motel or another location while you have trikers available to cast their neigh or yeigh vote, and get some kind of immediate overall consensus as to what to do next. If you have the dinner we talked about, it might be a good topic to discuss over dinner. Either way, it would be nice to have plans in the works for the next gathering before the close of this gathering.

Sorry about the long distance advice, but it is what it is! I would rather be there on a trike!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Best regards,

Chaplain Dave

[bikerbillone]

Agree with Brother Dave, always good to get input. Gonna be difficult to find a price like Best Western, Maggie Valley, and those folks are very polite and accommodating. Just saying, getting into and out of the tourist world of Gatlinburg, Pigeon Force, Gatlinburg, that's a whole nother program. Parking can be a nightmare there as well.

[JohnnyB]

As I'm leaving now I'll throw this out

Oak Park Inn -waynesville price pretty much same and within walking distance of downtown

[Chaplain Dave]

As I'm leaving now I'll throw this out

Oak Park Inn -waynesville price pretty much same and within walking distance of downtown

I hate being stuck here with input for what is going on there!

I like being where the action is!

That said, I like to instill sanity and order in what I do, therefore I ask if there is someone there who can take charge of what Johnny B threw out yesterday? Should we change to another motel or hotel in the Maggie area? If so, which one? Should we opt for an entirely new gathering watering hole? If so, where?

I would like to see some conclusion to the above questions BEFORE our TT gathering for 2017 is history. If nothing can be concluded, then I strongly suggest that we stay in the same town and at the same motel next year. An open discussion of the issue on the Forum should not be necessary - and will not be necessary - if the issue is addressed now. I pray that someone there will pick up this ball and run with it! AMEN!

Irma is raising havoc with gas availability and travel to and from Florida. A friend in Daytona spent 2 days on the phone trying to find a motel and ended up with a motel in northern Georgia! But traffic is already such that he is not sure that he can get there! So if you are headed south, take your time, and go west to go south! 5 out of 7 tracking patterns for Irma show the hurricane heading north along the coast line and following I-95, I-75 and I-26.

Ironically, the Tri-Cities area up here in Tennessee is in Irma's cross-hairs, and that is where Sara and I live! I have been praying for everyone else, but I guess we need your prayers also.

Be safe and be blessed!

Chaplain Dave

[bikerbillone]

I'm with you Brother Dave, and I'm quite willing to go wherever in 2018, but at this late date it might be difficult to grt a consensus. Perhaps letting it ride until the 2018 gathering and have a meeting? Just a suggestion, maybe Zook will chime in with a thought since this is his forum.

[Chaplain Dave]

I'm with you Brother Dave, and I'm quite willing to go wherever in 2018, but at this late date it might be difficult to grt a consensus. Perhaps letting it ride until the 2018 gathering and have a meeting? Just a suggestion, maybe Zook will chime in with a thought since this is his forum.

I tend to agree with you, bro. Many trikers have probably already left for home and/or our getting ready to leave with Irma pressing everyone's schedule. I wish the venue topic had came up early on when everyone was present, it is probably a dead issue now.

I agree that during the 2018 Gathering we should hold a town hall type meeting to discuss the issue and have spontaneous active and personal feedback from everyone.

I see 2 important issues here, one is the ride issue, the other is the "out front" meetings that go on every evening. Personally, I look forward to our evening meetings as much as I do for the rides. Our evening meetings seem to thrive wherever we gather, so a 2018 rendezvous for us at Maggie is not a bad thing. It is not as if we MUST go someplace else!

I understand why those planning our rides are ready to go someplace else for our Gathering, they are running out of idea's for rides. On the other hand, I see many trikers taking off with other trikers to create their own rides, not because they don't like the group ride, but because they want their own ride with their friends.

I feel we have a GOOD thing going thanks to Zook and Marge, and I would like to see the essence of our Gatherings continue. What essence? It is the heart felt emotion that comes from our attending triker Gatherings with those who have similar interests and those whom we can like & respect, have great talks with, have great fellowship with, take great rides with, and develop great memories with.

Folks, thanks for the memories! It is not the location but YOU who makes me want to come back next year!

Chaplain Dave

[ol' school]

Well said Chaplain Dave!

[bikerbillone]

Yes Brother Dave, provocative post for thought. I've been to many m/c rallys as I suspect others on this forum have as well. I totally enjoyed MV 2016, the friendliness and chat of trikers at the end of the day. Perhaps during the time to next Maggie Valley, folks familiar with the area can throw out thoughts and links for discussion when we meet again. One of these days Millie and I will take a Blue Ridge Parkway trip and simply do some 'flower sniffin' and take in the scenery. One could ride that thing forever and find new scenery every time. That not a suggestion for consideration, that ride does not lend itself to a base camp. Just honorable mention, that's all.

[rwhgme]

Changing the subject to today's 215 & 276 ride..John..MANY THANKS FOR LEADING!!! What an outstanding ride!! We had so much fun!!

[jjvw]

If we change motels, it should be for access to different rides. We can get same or better price in Blythefield VA, with great rides.

[JohnnyB]

Maggie is a great area -definitely want to come back to area

As far as hotel I'm done with Best Western

We block off a lot of rooms so people can be together and sit and bs

When they put group members in a back building I see it as not giving a hoot about the group.

[bikerbillone]

Holy Smoke, apparently not like the 2016 ride in, that's not good. We need to be reasonably together so we can just exit the room, sit and chat.

[Chaplain Dave]

Maggie is a great area -definitely want to come back to area

As far as hotel I'm done with Best Western

We block off a lot of rooms so people can be together and sit and bs

When they put group members in a back building I see it as not giving a hoot about the group.

John, I see this as a misunderstanding at the management level. I didn't see the 2016 manager there, so perhaps they have a new manager who does not know our needs? I can see the gals at the front desk selling rooms without the guidance of management and if that is the case, then motel management should be advised of our desire - our need really - for everyone to be in the front section first level. Should there be too many trikers for the first level, then at least put them on the 2nd level in the front, not out back.

At our forum discussion level we can only have a conversation re: this that goes nowhere, therefore Zook & whomever representing our needs should unequivocally and explicitly inform motel management of our expectations and our needs for 2018.

I pray that everyone arrives home safely and is not be challenged by Irma. Unfortunately Irma might eventually center on the Tri-City area of Tennessee - which is where we live! UGH! However, our mountains, lack of warm ocean water, and cooler temperatures (46 last night) do not agree with hurricanes, praise God for that!

Be healthy & blessed!

Chaplain Dave

[bikerbillone]

Egads Dave, never thought of that, sounds like a reasonable explanation since 2016 went so well.

[Marc H]

I agree from what I heard mistakes were made.I would say with a full hotel they did what they could to handle it and cause the fewest problems they could.That said once it happened there was no way to really fix it.I've only been twice but from what I remember in the past we have even had folks in hotel next door as overflow.As awesome as it would be for us all to be in the main building bottom row it just isn't possible.With that said I do understand given how early the reservations were made by those affectted why they feel how they do.

[JohnnyB]

First off Judy and I had a great rid through an almost empty park Thursday morning - simply beautiful

ran 600 miles in all Thursday not quite home

always great seeing everyone both new and old with the hope the new friends become old ones.

I was the first to call and reserve a room and ended up in back. Complained when I checked in - nothing she could do asked for manager told I am. Complained again next day same story even tho people downstairs in front were leaving - no offer to move us Management was aware and did not care they were full why should they?

I'm sorry but I do not see this as a misunderstanding.

Ill be back to Maggie Valley next year but not at that hotel think I'll go back to Oak Park Inn in Waynesville - I've stayed there in past - not very far all rooms on one floor in a J shape so we'd all be looking at each other, room for trailers walking distance to shops and food places in downtown area

I can be on Blue Ridge in 20 minutes

it truly is a great area to ride so many choices I could spend a month plus during the week is a great time to explore the park or just go fishing.

[2Paps]

Most of you who attended this year's gathering know that I left for home (West end of the panhandle) Thurs. am. My wife was trying to prepare the house for the possibility of Irma turning west and attacking the panhandle and needed the support. I left MV about 0820 with temperatures in the mid 40s and arrived home about 5 pm CDT with temps in the mid 80s! I didn't encounter any rain, the bike ran great and gas was available everywhere I stopped. Traffic gave no indication there was a crisis brewing but southbound I-85 in Atlanta had a portion that was either 1st/2nd gear or do 80 mph to keep from getting run over! Thanks for a great time, looking forward to next year.

Now that I'm home the wx folks tell us we probably won't get any rain, just a bit of wind, nothing serious.

Pray for all who live on the FL peninsula whether they sheltered in place or not.

Hope y'all get home safe.

Ed

[ol' school]

Most of you who attended this year's gathering know that I left for home (West end of the panhandle) Thurs. am. My wife was trying to prepare the house for the possibility of Irma turning west and attacking the panhandle and needed the support. I left MV about 0820 with temperatures in the mid 40s and arrived home about 5 pm CDT with temps in the mid 80s! I didn't encounter any rain, the bike ran great and gas was available everywhere I stopped. Traffic gave no indication there was a crisis brewing but southbound I-85 in Atlanta had a portion that was either 1st/2nd gear or do 80 mph to keep from getting run over! Thanks for a great time, looking forward to next year.

Now that I'm home the wx folks tell us we probably won't get any rain, just a bit of wind, nothing serious.

Pray for all who live on the FL peninsula whether they sheltered in place or not.

Hope y'all get home safe.

Ed

Glad you got home safe. We are home too.

You and yours are in our prayers along with all in Florida with Irma on the way.

It was great to finally meet you. MV was a blast!!!

[Charlie in nc]

Changing the subject to today's 215 & 276 ride..John..MANY THANKS FOR LEADING!!! What an outstanding ride!! We had so much fun!!

Certainly ENJOYED the ride, Janice says that I MUST pay attention to the road, and not be distracted!! Charlie

[2Paps]

Glad you got home safe. We are home too.

You and yours are in our prayers along with all in Florida with Irma on the way.

It was great to finally meet you. MV was a blast!!!

Thanks for the prayers. They are deeply appreciated.

After having to wait a year and a half, meeting you and Becky was a real pleasure. We'll have to do it again next year. Perhaps we'll even get the opportunity to ride together.