MATG July 23~25th, 2010

[ride4two]

Made reservations for "the Gap" in July. There were no rooms available at Fontana so I opted for a B&B, http://www.appalachianinn.com/. They have five rooms. I passed it on to one of our other TMR members about room availability there and now there are two couples from TMR lodging there. I initially booked a room at the San Ran motel in Robbinsville. I will be cancelling that reservation in the am. I saw several bad reviews of that business so... One place that had alot of good reviews and was on the cheaper side was, http://www.twowheelinn.com/. Yeah I know it is a long time off before the gap, but I usually do my planning early. Hope this helps any of you who plan to go.

Glenn

[bladernr]

I actually loved that whole area so much the first time I went out there (MATG XI) that I bought a time share at Fontana Village. We go for MATG each summer, then head back in the fall to watch the leaves change. I think we're switching it up this year and going in the spring, but that depends on my lovely bride's parents and their desire for a family vacation at Myrtle Beach in May. We shall see.

Anyway, the point is, as most everyone knows by now, the local hotels and motels fill up fast for that weekend, but most of them also keep lists in case of cancellation, then the first name on the list gets first shot at the canceled room. So call around and get on the lists if you can't get an actual reservation.

As for me, I've got, I believe, a 2 bedroom cabin and if they didn't mess up the reservation, is a short walk to the parking area where all the vendors set up, and where the most important even it, the Beer Swap So I'll say it now, I MAY, read that MAY, have an extra bedroom in our cabin. We may or may not have my parents along for the week, that's still up in the air due to some things going on with my brother and his kids, but if they bail on us, we'll have an extra room. If it comes to that and I get desperate to fill it, it'll go on the MATG fourms, but BEFORE that, I'll update you guys here in case there's a TMR member in need of a bed for a few nights.

It's still too early to tell though, what the arrangements are going to be for us, BUT, when I know for sure, TMR will get first crack at it.

Cheers
Jeff

[Bntoples]

Got my room at The Phillips. starting Wednesday.

[SPFZRO]

Howdy, all, just wanted to alert everyone to the following email I received today. I suspect many of you also saw this.

This sucks. Hope they can get things cleared up in time. However, there are a lot of other good roads up there...and the comaraderie will still be there.

Miller

P.S. - Yes, I'm still alive! Yes, still driving the (currently very dirty) Miata. Sorry I haven't been around in awhile. The past year or so I've been crazy busy at work (and given the economy/job situation over the past year I certainly can't complain) and have had a number of personal/social engagements that have precluded my attendance at meetings.

----------------------------------------------

Just wanted to send you all a note and let you know about a potential
problem. There has been a rockslide on US-129 (aka Deal's Gap, Tail of the
Dragon) down beside the lake on the Tennessee side approximately 1.5 miles
south of Foothills Parkway.

The TN governor has decided not to accept North Carolina's help with law
enforcement and emergency services and instead has decided to close the
road entirely from the rockslide south to the state line. In other words,
the road is closed entirely. Current estimates are that it will continue to
be closed until July or August.

You can contact the TN governor using this email address:
Phil.Bredesen@tn.gov or by visiting his website at
http://www.tennesseeanytime.org/governor/Contact.do There are phone
numbers and physical addresses for snail mail.

Please visit the MATG forum for more information. I will keep the thread
updated with as much information as I can. I'm also sure that others will
comment or make suggestions as well. I'll also post a map around the
rockslide from the Tennessee side going across the Cherohala Skyway. Here
is a link to the new thread regarding the rockslide:
http://www.gapmiatas.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1048


--
Thanks, the Management at MATG
http://www.gapmiatas.com

---------------------------------------------

[topdnfun]

Bump
78 Days till MATG

It's probably not too early to start working out details about who/where/when. Sounds like there's going to be quite a party Saturday night at Fontana.
I just responded to a post on the gap forum to someone from Greensboro who'd like to join a caravan. I'll be driving out Thursday. Who's in the Thursday caravan?

[Bntoples]

Going up Wed. for the Thursday drive & then my run to Fat Buddies in Franklin Friday morning. Hope to see y'all there.

[Bntoples]

Bumpity bump!!

[topdnfun]

As I indicated at the June monthly meeting I am volunteering to lead the caravan on Thursday. Here's my plan:

Meeting Spot
BoJangles
1209 Laura Village Rd, Apex, NC 27523
Corner of US64 and Merchant Dr.

Time
Meet at 7:00am for departure at 7:30am

We'll take the usual route, 64 west to Mocksville and pick up I-40 at Mocksville. We'll take a break and regroup for the interstate at the BP gas station at I-40 exit 168. We should arrive here just before 10:00am.

Four Brothers (BP station)
1668 US Highway 64W
Mocksville, NC 27028

A couple of people on the gap forum have indicated an interest in joining us at Mocksville. I'm going to make a post like this one over there for anyone who would like to join us.

Lunch
I"m looking for ideas. Marty & I sometimes eat lunch at Fat Buddies in Waynesville but it's 1:00 or 1:30 by the time we get there.

[RedRyderM]

The Tarts and the Knights will meet you for the caravan.........................

[topdnfun]

Rodger

[mia351]

Hey Eric,
Count Carolyn and I in on the caravan. See you then.
Phil

[topdnfun]

OK, four cars so far.

Marty would like to eat lunch at the german restaurant in Black Mountain.
You can't get out of Black Mountain without some shopping.

[topdnfun]

Countdown:
Seven days!

[RedRyderM]

Eric, Beky and I are going up on Wednesday.
Glen and Ruthie are still going with you.

See yawl there...

Safe trip.

Chuck

[Bntoples]

Eric, Beky and I are going up on Wednesday.
Glen and Ruthie are still going with you.

See yawl there...

Safe trip.

Chuck

What time you leaving? I'll be on the road by~8am from Goldsboro which gets me to BoJangles on 64 in Apex ~9:15 - 9:30......
919-738-5321 cell.

[TMR]

Ken,

I think you need to leave before 8am if you want to Caravan with Eric.... the plan is to meet at the Bojangles in Apex at 7am with a departure of 7:30am.....

So..... I think you need to "catch" them on the way....... Basically they are taking hwy 64 all the way to I-40 in Mocksville...

[TMR]

FRIDAY CARAVAN


For all that will be leaving on Friday

The route will be the same... Meet at

Bojangles on Hwy 64 in Apex
1209 Laura Village Rd, Apex, NC 27523
Corner of US64 and Merchant Dr.


Meeting time @ 8AM
Departure time @ 8:30AM

[TMR]

Ken Wyman....... Are you coming to the GAP on the Friday caravan ????

[topdnfun]

Ken,
I think you need to leave before 8am if you want to Caravan with Eric.......

*Slap*
Pay attention kid!
Ken want to caravan with Chuck on Wednesday.

[RedRyderM]

Eric, Beky and I are going up on Wednesday.
Glen and Ruthie are still going with you.

See yawl there...

Safe trip.

Chuck

What time you leaving? I'll be on the road by~8am from Goldsboro which gets me to BoJangles on 64 in Apex ~9:15 - 9:30......
919-738-5321 cell.

Ken, how about 9 sharp at Bojangles?
Chuck
cell 919-332-2524

[Bntoples]

Remember I've got to go another hour & a half farther than you do.... In commuter traffic ;-D ~6.5 hours to Robbinsville from here. & I Would like to sleep a little bit past sunrise. . I'll try, if I'm there then I'm there, if not go ahead & go & I'll try to catch up. If you stop for lunch park close to the street so I can see your car.

[RedRyderM]

Ken, I will try to keep the guys slow.
Maybe I can delay them from leaving till 9:30 or so.

Call me when you get close or I will call you when they decide to leave.

We usually don not stop for lunch until "Fridays" at the Asheville, Biltmore exit.

Chuck

[Bntoples]

Sounds good. See you tomorrow.

[kennyy]

I will be there!!! Yea man!!!
Unfortunately Janet can't get the extra time off due to our daughter Jennifer moving back to NC and us having to go back to NY to move her later this month but I'm self employed and I say what the hell!!! Screw the boss, I'll be there. Now I just have to find a place to crash!
CU all @ Bo's tomorrow!

[kennyy]

I'm in,
I'm stayin at the Freemans Motel and Cottages. Bit of a drive from Fontana but not too bad for a 11th hour decision! Right now I gots to go out and wash the redster,
C u all in the mornin!

[mebirkle]

Have fun everyone! I'm so jealous... hopefully I will be able to go one of these years. I know y'all be representing TMR properly out there. Have a beer and a tight corner for me!

[RedHot]

Well everyone, the Mazdaspeed is OK. I had a Ford Focus Wagon go over into my lane as I was turning a 90 degree turn on Hwy 28, south of Fontana Village. I definetly was shook up, but not damage to the miata or me. Here is the link to photos from MATG:

http://rides.webshots.com/album/578247849xHWYCd

[RedRyderM]

Got to be careful with those BumpStops...........

Glad you are okay.

[kennyy]

Jen,
Glad you and the car are OK, thanks for the great pics of the weekend!!!
I had a great time, ended up doing just under 1000 miles for the weekend. Much mo fun than the 1700 miles I did the weekend before in a rented minivan back and forth to and throughout NYC and Long Island! Wish I could have hooked up more with our crowd but considering it was an 11th hour decision to go I was happy to see anyone from our group at all. It was great to see Ruthie and Glen also, havn't seen you folks in a bit. Next year I have to book much earlier at Fontana and participate in Ken Yarrows drive too. Ended up doing the Dragon twice over all and got pulled at the end of the second run, no ticket just a really good toung thrashing in front of about 30 bikers . The rest of the weekend consisted of more local roads (thanks JR!) and getting a good buzz on Sat eve with the owner of the modest "hotel" I ended up staying at and a bunch of bikers from Canada. Overall what a great time! Chuck, I have a couple of really good pictures of you "not participating" in the group photo...kind of like you "not modding" your car as well as one really good one of Gary "in the bucket" taking pictures. I'm not nearly as good as Jennifer at posting pics however and you all might have to wait untill the next meeting for hard copies.

Thanks again Gary for the invite...You know it's been fun when you've got a good coating of spent rubber on top of your rear bumper when you get home!
As always a great TMR outing!!!
Cu all soon,
Ken

[Bntoples]

Well I gotta give ya credit Ken.... I passed freemans ~6 times & didn't see your car once. ;-D

I had 65 cars on my run this year, overall a good run.
Thursday, Heritage tour, Friday, my run, Saturday, Cherohala, Dragon loop with an ice cream stop in Tellico Plains, Saturday night? chilled, Done drivin'. Including up & back ~1600 miles.

The Jewel turned 200,000 miles last Tuesday night on US 70 in Goldsboro on my way home from work. She turned 100k miles 5 years ago on NC 28 on my way home from MATG. Kinda cool really how MATG played a part.......