Is it to early to start a thread and plan a rally for 2010? I mean if we plan early enough maybe we can all mange to get time off, save a few pennies and get our bikes together and ready to roll.Maybe it is just wishful thinking but I miss all the people who attended the rally at the Gap this last year. A day does not go by that I don't have a chuckle or a smile just thinking about the time I had. Ol'Grey1, Grumpy and myself have been on a few rides this summer and have been great. Just thought I would toss it out there and who knows!

Made this a sticky!!

forgive my ignorance, but what is a "sticky"?

Jealous already....runs off and counts money.

Q.1 What is Sticky thread?

A.1 A thread that always remains at the top of Page one even if new threads are posted...

Exactly... Like a "Yellow Sticky" note...

Yup, seriously Paul... I'm sure you've got so much money you can start making EVERY rally instead of every other one!!

Jezzz, I wish Mike, I wish.

I was informed that my group was going next year with or without me.
And since I'm the member here (and zx12dak) I took that as I'd better plan.

Sheesh nothing like twisting a guys arm...

I was informed I should plan to do better to control the weather though!! :-D

So if this went down, what is everyone thinking?

When....

and Where??

Anyone been to this area? It's in Arkansas. I heard the roads are pretty sweet. Here is a link to a hotel in the area.

The HUB - Mid America's Motorcycle Resort - 870.743.4062

I have made a personal commitment to be at the next rally, so count me in!!

That looks like a good spot for rallying..

this place is 3 miles from the Cherohala outside Robbinsville.
The Smoky Mountain Mansion. North Carolina weddings, vacation rentals, retreats, reunions, or gatherings. A true Smoky Mountain experience awaits!

We got married there a few weeks back. it has like five or six bedrooms wit private baths. Also has a basement that will easily hold 20 air mattresses. has game room with pool table, hot tub. 3 car garage, pavillians....They rent to motorcycle groups all the time she said.

That looks too nice for us.

WTF? Is everybody getting married? Two of the biggest opponents on here of that particular institution have gotten married this year, lol! Cupid must be riding a bike. Ok enough thread jacking!

Good thought Jeff to be posting this way early. Too many no shows this year for one reason or another. Count me in for a spring(May) 2010 rally. Not maybe, not tentatively,........you can put my name in green.

Hey Jellis, we need to find out more about this area. Sounds promising. I've never been there myself.

It's hard to beat Western North Carolina though.

Damn,

I am so jealous, but 2 kids in college leaves ones pocket kinda empty..

I miss you guys..

Let me stop before I get mushy mushy..

Count me in!

Maybe if people put their name up then don't show we should beat the shit out of them at the next rally? Just thinking out loud.

Uh oh. I'm not putting my name down and black cat myself. I've missed 3 out of 6 rallyments. (Missed the 3 becuase 1. Mom passed away ; 2. daughter birthed a boy; and 3. Debi had gall bladder surgery). Henceforth and moreover, I'm not putting my name in the hat. I'm just going to show up and hard!

That's a little extreme, don'tcha think, Paul??

My parents just had a rally there on their Yamaha Venture so will get more info. I have heard that the roads are pretty sweet tho. I do love Deal's Gap but after several trips there I'm looking for somewhere else. Plus if we meet in Northern Arkansas then maybe more could possible make it.

Jeez, Phil, you're gonna have to change your screen name to MickeyRooney....or LizTaylor if you wanna mix things up, bit I digress...LOL

...but, congrats again !

florida has some nice roads too. I saw a turn between here and Miami one day....

It's all those weapons you let him play with when he was over here! He's trigger happy, lol!

I am worried I just read Barbarians post and I am hoping I read it wrong but did he write QUOTE " I'm just going to show up and hard!" this from a man with pee pee thingies on his valve stem. He gets a room to himself.

Bugly lover! Bugly lover!!!!! Yeah, I specified it! Now wutcha gone do son?

No sh*t... Where's my goddam BanHammer??

me like!

That's what she said!

2010 would be a good rally to attend. I'm feelin the urge already.

It would be great to see you guys back next year, Paul!! I hope it works out that you can do it...

We are certainly looking at it Mike, just waiting to see what comes together.

I've ridden that area and it's decent, but nowhere near as good as western NC/eastern TN area. Another bike group I'm involved with (I help plan our annual rallies for that group) scouted this exact place and were all pretty underwhelmed with "The Hub." Just sayin... I'd love for it to be in the NC/TN area again, especially since i had to bail this year (laaaaame me).

As far as different ideas, N. Georgia has some really killer riding. Two Wheels Only (aka TWO) is a motorcycle only campground in Suches, Ga that hosts a number bike/make specific event. Stayed there once or twice and it's cool - mostly camping though.

I just did an event in Elkins, WV and there is some really killer riding in that area. I scouted the roads and organized the routes for that group, so I'm fairly familiar with the area now. That general area is pretty popular for various riding groups. Very little traffic, hardly any cops, and lots of twisty goodness. A number of groups also base themselves a little further south in Marlinton, WV too.

Just a couple of ideas is all.

Yeah I heard about some nice roads in N. GA and I think that would be pretty cool too. It really doesn't matter to me because I plan on going where ever for another rally!

It's a great experience meeting the folks on here... I highly recommend it!!

+3. Btw, I see the little Kiwi-boy found the smilies.

Barbarian can't wait to see you hope you make the rally in 2010. I am planning on it no matter where it is. Not sure what I will riode but the Triumph Sprint is looking mighty sexy right now. If I still have the BUSA that may make it way to the gap. But I am trying to sell both the busa and the triumph 675 so we will see.

Nice choice you got there Jeff, I get to choose either a Honda or a HD.

So wheres it gonna be at? I don't really care, the Gap is cool but it would be nice to do it somewhere different too.

Did too.

Busted!

The biggest down side to discussing this now is I WANT TO GO... NOW!

Another beautiful day outside and here I sit inside.

Maybe we should compile a list of potential places to go and start
gaining info on each place.
Maybe narrow it down to a handful then cast a vote.
Personally, I REALLY like Deals gap area but am completely open to other
good riding places as well.

Central is probably the best bet as you might start losing people if it goes
too far one way or another.

I will never forget the PNW rally I went to. Wish I had made it back before I moved.
Everyone should consider attending it. Likely no one will regret that choice.

I can't wait that long either. I'm leaving Sept 4th and coming home sept 13th. I95 to north Carolina South Of the Border. Then making my way up through Voz's backyard to the Blue Ridge parkway in Va. I'll be riding it down as far as 276. i've ridden all the Georgia roads , gap roads within 250 miles as well as the BRP to cherokee. So from 276 I'll pass through Waynesville NC and pick up 2009 to Erwin Tenn, make my way to shady valley in Tenn and hit some of Virginia's finest while I'm at it. Then running back down south, then east, and west --NC 209, NC 80, State Route 181, US 321, NC HWY 88,NC 194, and 221, VA 58--until my time runs out. My last day will be a family reunion outside Greensboro, NC. Then hoping back on I95 for 450 more miles of interstate. I'm doing it all camping off the bike--no hotels except staying one night with my parents at the end.

Our helmets are in Chicago why don't we have the rally there?

In a park or something.

That West Virginia idea is a pretty good one. Especially if we have someone there that knows the roads.

With all due respect to the City of Chicago and the Great State of Illinois, I will try to answer your question...
1) Too much traffic
2) Too much law enforcement
3) No curves
4) No elevation changes
5) Expensive accomodations

There's more reasons why Chicagoland would suuuuuuuuuuck for a rally, but I can't list them all here because of the limited size of the internet...

NOTE - The above unsolicited editorial opinion is mine, and does not necessarily reflect the opinion(s) of management...

Sweet as Mike,

We don't care where it's at, so long as the roads are great and it rains alot.


I have to say after our drive back last trip I'm really pissed off I never made it to a Black Hills rally, the scenery and roads there are frickin awesome, as you would know.

Are we looking at about the same time of the year?

Status?

Yeah, Status??

Anyone other than me find it hard to believe we're making 2010 plans !??

Hey Paul. I have a nice Triumph for you to ride if you come this way. you need to make it to Chicago and ride down with John,terry and myself. I have one of those triumph rockets and you are welcome to ride it. I know you are all into the Harley thing so you might feel right at home on it. but for me its the sprint hands down.

Thanks Jeff, thats a great offer! How could I turn that down.

You have mail btw.

I could probably get a couple of extra bikes available.
Possibly even get my Duc down there for you to ride.

Bryson makes a good base for that area, ... on the southern side of the Smoky Mtns just on from Cherokee.

Just got back from another blinding ride which took in Savannah, GA – Boone & the Appalachians, the Blue Ridge Parkway, Smokies, Deals & the Cherohala. Met a fellow zx12.org rider... (greenzx12 [??] & his m8 on an SP2 from Michigan) on the NP trail over the top of the SMs. An RV had exploded, blocking the road for 5 hrs – the propane gas cylinder went up. I believe everyone was OK. We followed the flatbed that went up to collect the wreck... [it was totaled].... & edged our way to the front of a very damp queue.









Never a dull moment! =oD
Kinda screwed things up for the day, but it all worked out fine in the end.

Would love to do a Spring run but would find justifying the cost difficult.
Have fun. Stay safe.

Damm, tb!! Ya'll blowed it up!!

You shoulda made more noise about your visit... We've got members that live not too far from that area, & some coulda met you for a cuppa!! Maybe next time!!

The guy I did exchange a few words with said he knew you, Goo.

As it happened, just missed out on a zzr.com rally by a week... but again it all worked out as the area received a deluge of rainfall never before witnessed, and by riding east we managed to avoid it... I also had to replace my rear bearings on the Saturday and was recovering from alcohol abuse so would've missed it anyway... plus I'd have had to do it again when the wife arrived and the thought of doing that long Florida – Atlanta slog kinda put me off.

Anyway, it's an incredible area. I can't think there's a duff road anywhere – Tennessee, N&S Carolina and northern Georgia are just superb... I'd move out tomorrow if I could.

Will probably concentrate on Tennessee, Kentucky & Alabamie on the next ride.

That guy's a liar & I can prove it!! J/K!!

You come over a couple times annually??