Bandit Alley
RALLIES, RIDES & EVENTS => Events/Rides/Trips/Trackdays/Schools => Topic started by: PeteSC on May 16, 2005, 12:08:46 PM
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I probably won't set a date until this fall, but where would you like to see the rally next year?
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Although I have not been to the others, I voted for a return to Willville. It's got to be closer for us Northeasterners by quite a bit and I don't think we really even began to explore all the great roads in that area. If I HAVE to go all the way down to ride the Dragon, I suppose I could still get motivated to show up. :monkeymoon:
Besides, I'm having biscuit withdrawl already!
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I would return to Willville.....but if you want to go to Kansas (where I might have an edge) that would be ok too.... :motorsmile:
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Yeah, there's no MAJOR advantage to any of the locations, with the exception of the distance some people would have to travel.
TWO has a great atmosphere, and wonderful food onsite.
It's a little over two hours to the Dragon.
BRMC has OK food on site, is a little closer to the Interstates, has good roads nearby, and is an hour and a half, (or less) from the Dragon.
There are a few more places to stay around the Dragon, now. Once you get tired of the Dragon, you still have to ride a bit to get to good roads, and there's more traffic.
I kind of like most of us staying at the same place, which allows more 'social' opportunities. The campgrounds kind of promote this....
I don't have any major preference....
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Because this was our first year, it will always be special. Sigh........
But seriuosly, we really liked Willville. We loved the parkway (again) and we loved the little rides around. Thanks to Gary and Dianne from Wilkesboro for a sweet ride Saturday afternoon. Thanks to all who made us feel welcome, and the Robinsons for some rubbed off luck. We vote for Willville. DO we get two votes?
Roy and Sherri
Brantford / Hamilton, Canada
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Just checking to see if I get a vote every time I post a reply.
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'parently not.
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How about later in the year so the rain chance is lower?
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That's a possibility, Paul, particularily if we have it at Willville.
Meadows of Dan has a little less tourist traffic, but I bet it cranks up a bit after Memorial Day.
The May dates are mostly based around the fact that the Smokies gets pretty congested after Memorial Day, and most of the favored locations see some sort of large bike event every weekend.
There's also the factor of family obligations, and vacations, etc, once the rug rats are out of school.........
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I don’t know if it was by accident or design but you picked a good weekend as far as not having a lot of motorcycle traffic in that area. Last weekend was Myrtle Beach so most of the East Coast bikes were at Myrtle and left the mountains to us. Good call. And as far as rain in Virginia. You’d have to go to July or August before you’d have a dry weekend. May and Willville is fine with Susie and I. Had a great time met great people and are now officially Robinson Riders !!!!!
:motorsmile: :motorsmile:
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Had a great time met great people and are now officially Robinson Riders !!!!!
:duh: :shock: :roll:
(It ain't official unless you have one of 'those' shirts......) :stickpoke:
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Willville is fine by me, wish I had been able to stay all weekend this time, bad thing is I have vacation available to me as of today :duh: oh well, 1 week late. Next year I'm definately making the whole rally, I had a blast the day and a half I was there this year :motorsmile:
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I haven't voted yet, but I'm leaning towards Willville partially because I haven't been there yet. How do the roads around that area compare to NC and TN roads?
I agree about the great atmosphere at TWO, but BRMC has a better variety of great roads to travel to and fro the campground. It's also close to the winding roads north of Ashville (a big plus), but it is a little more expensive. I would also be willing to try out one of the other camprounds in the NC mountains.
We probably couldn't do it at a BOSS ralley, but I would like to do a roaming tour of southern Appalachia like you had mentioned in the past, similar to what we did in Colorado. We could maybe meet up at TWO, stay there a couple of nights, then ride up to BRMC and stay there a couple of nights, then head up to Willville or another campground for a couple of nights, then work our way back to TWO.
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Craig, the Floribama Riders club does something like that each spring.
The roads around Willville aren't 100% as intense as some in western NC, but there's a lot less traffic, and some lovely shorter sections.
You're never quite on 'boring' roads, since everything twists and turns a bit. It's very nice riding.....and a lot less traffic.
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Craig, we did 180 miles on Saturday with 95% twisties. Hardly any traffic and a section they called a mini dragon. I loved it. And there are still more roads to ride that we didn’t get to. But that’s just my opinion you’ll have to ask the others what they thought.
:motorsmile: :banana: :congrats: :lol: :toocool:
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i thought the roads around willville were good. maybe not as good as two or robinsville but nice. the weather is as it is most of the rallies wet! i would do willville again and if we had better weather we could find more good roads im sure. there are some good roads we hit and im sure there are alot more in the area.
mike
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Willsvile is ok with me but romer is so nervis about banjo music now. to bad we could not talk that guy in to playing the bajo down at the camp :motorsmile:
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I like willville because it is closer for the Yankees who come. I hope this counts as a vote because I don't know how else to vote.
Bob Davies
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I hope this counts as a vote because I don't know how else to vote.
:shock: Click in the little white dot, then click the "Submit Vote" button. :duh:
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Campgrounds do promote more socializing. But some hard lodges can do the same. The dates are good to avoid heavier traffic. After schools out, the roads get more crowded. Campgrounds are cheap but there is real bed space available for under $25 a day in many places and for a real pillow, sheets and an indoor head. The extra $14 a day is worth it to me.
I was not blown away by the roads in Floyd County, but they were entertaining. There are equal or better roads everywhere. I will say that there are better support facilities such as restaurants, bars, etc. in many other places. And the idea of a travelling show is not a bad idea. Willville had a nice feel and so does TWO, BRMC and dozens of small motor lodges across the Blue Ridge. I would say without hesitation that Pickett State Park on the TN/KY border is a great place offering outstanding value, comfort and social space. Roan Mountain State Park in TN is another place that has a lot to offer. The roads in both of those areas offer something for everyone. Neither of those two suggestions would require much, if any, extra drive time for long distance attendees.
Don't decide so early and review some of the possible options.
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Mid-June would be a tad bit easier for me to make it next year. I can make any of those locations.
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I figured the roads in Virginia wouldn't be as intense as many of the NC/TN roads are, but it sounds like they're good enough to spend a couple days on. I had been wanting to venture a little further north anyway. Had I made this last rally, I was going to zig-zag through GA, NC and TN on the trip up there and back. Also, I was planning on going a little further north and just barely touch into WV and come back down through eastern KY. The rally would have kinda been like a resting point for me.
Lloyd brings up some valid points though. I'm sure there are plenty of great places to hold a rally. Also, while I prefer camping, I wouldn't mind staying at a cheap lodge too. Especially, if my wife ever follows through on her threats to come with me. Wherever y'all decide to have it, I'll do my best to make it and probably do my own roaming tour. Unless of course, some of y'all want to actually plan a roaming tour sometime next year.
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Im not going to vote yet until I do a lil research on it . I love T.W.O. Suches the most . BRMC I've only beed at once , it was nice also. I would prefer to be a little farther south than V.A. Im a Northerner and I dont mind riding down a little further to get to better roads as long as the traffic isnt to bad . This rally Im going to leave earlier and come via more scenic roads instead of slabing it . I like the idea of BRMC I think the most , almost as nice as T.W.O. , less traffic and a lil closer to the better roads . Plus if I remember correctly they were washed ou a while back due to flooding . They could probably use a little of our business to get going again . :motorsmile:
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i vote for southern ohio ! lots of good roads. there are plenty of places to camp, and i would say that the roads are equal to if not better then willville. then we could call the rally b.o.n.e.r (bandit owners north east rally) manny came up with that one last year? what do ya say.
mike
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Maybe, but how hard is it going to be to get people to willingly come to Ohio? :duh: :monkeymoon:
I figured WV was a hard enough sell for the bulk of our attendees. :beers:
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Ohio? Isn’t that a Pittsburgh suburb? :annoy:
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Ohio? Isn’t that a Pittsburgh suburb? :annoy:
So is WV for that matter! :stickpoke:
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How about us Aussies, why don't you all travel over here........
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How about us Aussies, why don't you all travel over here........
Believe me, it's on my list of things to do! I'm just waiting for another Qantas to come thru that offers us Boeing employees a discount on airfare for the delivery flight. It would also be a big plus if that happens during our winter!
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It would also be a big plus if that happens during our winter!
That depends on where in this wide brown land of ours you intend to visit, and how hot you want it to be......
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Hey, I'm open. BRMC would be nice since I haven't been there in a while, and they've cleaned/fixed it up a bit. There are actually more places near the Gap, now, and we haven't been there in 3 years.
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It would also be a big plus if that happens during our winter!
That depends on where in this wide brown land of ours you intend to visit, and how hot you want it to be......
Probably where the twisty paved roads are - and some beaches away from urbia. It's always nice to show up at work in the middle of winter with a nice tan when everyone else up here has turned pale from the lack of sunshine.
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The NSW South Coast would probably be what you're after........
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Then inland towards gods road, the loop around the big hill is always fun, (its our highest mountain, but our kiwi mates reckon its only a bloody foothill) criss cross the great divide from the coast heading north, should see ya having fun, then again tassie is a blast too.
Oh yeh I forgot, :boohoo: there is a wedding up there in those foothills new years day 2006-2007, well at the top of that foothill. And daily rides for a week, from boxing day onwards. Come on down folks a Bandit alley wedding. :duh:
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Mick, that sounds good, the ride that is.......
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It would also be a big plus if that happens during our winter!
That depends on where in this wide brown land of ours you intend to visit, and how hot you want it to be......
Probably where the twisty paved roads are - and some beaches away from urbia. It's always nice to show up at work in the middle of winter with a nice tan when everyone else up here has turned pale from the lack of sunshine.
You guys get sunshine out there??? :stickpoke:
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We Robinson Riders spent two weeks in July 2005 at the Iron Horse Lodge in Stecoah, NC right outside of Robbinsville. There is camping, rooms, and cabins with nice restrooms/showers, etc. Breakfast and dinner available every day and nice folks running the place.
Riding in that area is great, as most of you know - The Dragon, Hwy 28 AKA The Excalibur, not far to BRP, Wayah Bald Road and the infamous 711!
You can also ride down to Helen, GA for some riverside margaritas and watch the tubers float by - some have been known to flash their...oh well, I know you guys would rather ride than see tuberhooters!
My vote is for IRL. :beers: [/color]
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Hmmm, tuberhooters... there's something to give serious consideration to! :lol:
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Tuberhooters...mmmm. Those sound good to me! And you guys said the Robinsons were only good for winning all the prizes at the raffle! :banana:
:beers: and :bouncy: now that is a winning combination!
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We Robinson Riders spent two weeks in July 2005 at the Iron Horse Lodge in Stecoah, NC right outside of Robbinsville. There is camping, rooms, and cabins with nice restrooms/showers, etc. Breakfast and dinner available every day and nice folks running the place.
The Iron Horse would be a nice venue. Like Rob said there are accomodations available to fit any budget AND it is close to great, long roads. Willville was quaint, BRMC is rustic, TWO is great and I wish Lwayne or Claudia would pipe up about Pickett State Park, which is a jewel on the Kentucky/Tennessee border.
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Lloyd, you stayed at the Iron Horse?
It's not to 'cruisery'?
May be time for the Gap area again.
Sorry, will set something up in a couple of weeks.
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Lloyd, you stayed at the Iron Horse?
It's not to 'cruisery'?
No i have not stayed there and wouldn't you classify the Bandit as a cruiser? Albeit, a sport cruiser. :-))))
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Pete, it's about to late for this rally, but do some research on shady valley, tn. I try to ride up there about every weekend I'm off and usually through the week some too. hwy. 421 out of boone, go through mt. city, then it gets twisty. opens back up that's shady, take a left it's 91? twisty. Take a right it runs you up into damascus va. about 10-15 min. away. You can jump on 58 there and head toward willville, or run west toward kentucky. If you stay on 421 out of shady it runs towards bristol, it's curvy as hell too. When you come out of mt. city going over, there is a sign reading "warning truckers switchbacks next 22 miles, please consider alt. route" It's like our deal's gap up this way as it's only about an hour ride away, I can come up with loop after loop off of this place. You can jump over to boone run 221 down to 181 or jump over to 19e. Ride the parkway back towards asheville. Ride 88 over towards west jefferson(awesome road) 194 up into banner elk.
http://www.motorcycleplayground.com/Roads/hwy91/shadyValley.html
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I'm hovering between the Iron Horse, and BRMC.
The IRon horse puts us on familiar turf, and there are plenty of motels in RObbinsville.
BRMC has been fixed up since the flood, and also has great roads..........
I'll decide pretty soon......sorry about the delay.
I'll have to see if the Robinsons are allowed back at the Iron Horse, first..... :grin:
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Pete, are you planning on doing this in the Spring or Fall?
BTW, you must have really been an internet pioneer back in 1969. I'm guessing it wasn't called Bandit Alley way back then.
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I am in the process of requesting my leave and planning implementation dates for projects, so I would really like to see the dates nailed down...I'd really like to meet up with y'all this year...if the dates don't fit my schedule, that's my loss, but my calendar is starting to fill and I'd like to plan AROUND them!
On a related note: CMT ABATE (Tennessee's ABATE org) is planning a "Waking The Dragon" event on June 2-3, from what I've heard, traffic over that way gets pretty heavy on the weekends from May on.
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I can’t imagine the amount of work involved in planning and setup for the rally but the sooner we pick a date the more people can plan to attend. If there is any thing I can do to help please let me know. Wisconsin Mike
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Seneca Rocks the best riding I've seen on the East Coast.
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Hey Shredder, I've ridden out around Seneca Rocks several times and I don't know that I'd say its the best IMHO. Its good riding, especially on Rtes. 33 and 250.
There's plenty of other roads I enjoy riding also. Just a few:
Blue Ridge Parkway
Cherohala Skyway
Rte. 16 in So. VA
Rte. 58 in So. VA
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I have some buddys riding down to the tail of the draggon toward the end of May. (18th?) I was hoping the dates would colide so I can ride down with them and hit the rally too.
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They might. I waiting to hear back from BRMC. That's around the time I like to hold the rally. Not so much traffic, and it doesn't conflict with family vacations, etc.
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There's plenty of other roads I enjoy riding also. Just a few:
Blue Ridge Parkway
Cherohala Skyway
Rte. 16 in So. VA
Rte. 58 in So. VA
Gary, HWY 58 from Independence to Damacus is one of my all time favorite rides. And 16 up to Hungry Mother is a fine road as well.