2010 END OF SUMMER RIDE-Mentone, Al

[perdido key]

Does anyone know if a date has been set for this years rally?
Cabin fever has set in with 13 degrees outside.
Looking at the Eureka Springs Ar rally sept 15-18, 2010.
Also Barbers AMA superbike races Sept 24-25
Barbers Vintage Event Oct 8-18

Thanks All

[Chiefmas]

No, but I suggest the 10th thru the 12th!! Anyone else??

[tarmacburner2]

End of Summer Ride - in England these rides are usually about three days after the Start of Summer Ride. Although in Scotland the two are often combined into the one ride if a suitably fine day actually occurs.

Cheers,

[HO-DO]

September 17 – 19, 2010

We will be going from Gadsden,Alabama up to Falls Creek Falls State Park in Tennessee. The route is as follows. There will be four waterfalls along the way to see, plus the Natural Bridge near Sewanee.
There is a campground at the beginning and end of the route. There are motels/hotels at the beginning and a state park lodge at the end for those not wanting to camp. This will not be loop route. Del

Route: http://tinyurl.com/yk73drt

City Parks, Noccalula Falls, Curves, Sights, Little River Falls, State Parks, DeSoto Falls, A Natural Bridge, Fall Creek Falls, 6 hours, 185 miles

1. Start in Gadsden, AL home of Noccalula Falls: http://www.cityofgadsden.com/Default.asp?ID=51
Camping and lodging are available.

2. Next on the route just outside of Fort Payne, AL – The Little River Falls: http://www.nps.gov/liri/index.htm
This section of the route will include a ride along the western rim of the Little River Canyon. This is a really fun section of road with beautiful views of the Little River Canyon.

3. Stop three along the route is at DeSoto Falls located between the DeSoto State Park and Mentone, AL: http://www.squidoo.com/desotofallsalabama
Between Desoto Falls and Fall Creek Falls the route follows a familiar road that goes through Suwanee, TN with a stop at the Natural Bridge just south of town.

4. Destination – Fall Creek Falls State Park, TN: http://state.tn.us/environment/parks/Fa ... s/lodging/

[dsweet]

Does any one do a beginning of summer ride?

[Chiefmas]

So much for our EOS ride!!

[cmn1771]

Im looking forward to an End of Winter ride . it only got up to 20 freaking degrees today. i need to ride before i go nuts!

-matt

[scout58]

So does this mean that you are taking Mentone totally out of the equation?

[Chiefmas]

Apparently!! We need to get this locked down now!!
Anyone for an End Of Summer at MENTONE ride??

[fuzzyquilter]

For us, we love seeing the folks, but this one is going to the places we have been several times. We personally (Chiefmas & myself) would like to see somewhere new. There is more to Alabama than just that area, maybe go more west, or south?
Also, the weather is a factor. Last year we spent most of it in the cabin with Les and Shirley. Not that we don't want to be with Les and Shirley, its just 4 people cooped up that long get on each others nerves.

[HO-DO]

We wanted to do something different, so we came up with the ride described above. From Nocalulla Falls to Falls Creek Falls via Little River and Desoto and Sewanee. The route could go through Mentone, but we were not planning on a stop there. This was discussed at the end of last year's ride at the dinner Saturday night. The vast majority present liked the proposal. As for going to places someone has been before, sorry, but it would be impossible for us to select a route that is virgin territory for everyone. As for the weather and being cooped up last year, that was your decision. We went on the 175 mile ride with two other scooters, and a few people went on the short ride, too. I would love to be able to control the weather, but as much as I have tried in the past, I have failed to do so.

[andyman7931]

Count me in if the schedule allows it. I have a much farther hike to the starting point this year, but a few extra scooter miles can be fun
Since last year's ride I bought some good rain gear
I just want to say thank you to HO-DO for organizing this.

[TechArtGuy]

Rain or not I'm in ( was one of the three for last years 175 mi ride ). Should prove to be an interesting route though got to convince the boss to allow me more time then just a Friday off. Won't be seeing me on the 400 this year as i have a 650 now. But as I see it, we're all a group at the beginning and all a group at the end so who knows.

[scout58]

I am very disappointed that you have made the decision to move the ride to Gadsden and excluding Mentone. This ride was started as a way to share the beauty of this small town and the surrounding area as well as the love for scootering.

[HO-DO]

I will discuss this with the other members, but simply put, any drama and we are out. Anyone interested in discussing this in private, email us at dchaad@mchsi.com.

[DLR]

I've got to agree with HO DO. It's not real easy to plan this event each year. It's not like you just pick a weekend and everybody shows up and sits around a parking lot. There were many planning meetings last year to make things happen. Following the 2008 ride, a few riders volunteered to pick up the planning to keep the event alive. They are all from the Huntsville area. I suspect that it would be a lot easier to plan for an event locally than it is to plan and run one 70 miles from here. In any event, I also suspect that the current volunteers/organizers wouldn't be upset if someone else wanted to take over the planning and keep the rides originating and ending in Mentone. Anyone who has strong feelings about this and would like to jump in and take over should let it be known right away. Otherwise, I think this year's planned ride looks like a good one and I am looking forward seeing everyone there. I hope we can all get on board and give the organizers some credit for the work they are doing.

[fuzzyquilter]

Didn't mean to upset the apple cart, I was just expressing how I felt. I do not like riding in the rain, it is dangerous.

[HO-DO]

Please be aware that Ho-Do is no longer associated with North Alabama Scooters, NAS. Therefore, please do not contact me about the rally. Holly and I do hope to make the rally if it happens, no matter who or what organization puts it on. Ride safe!

[A B Normal]

I would love to go. I'm most likely going to be going through Mentone in the next week or so on my way to Cartersville, GA. Last time I went there was construction between Valley Head and Mentone on 117. I would hope that it's finished as it has been about a year since then.

[cmn1771]

Im putting this on my calendar! Ill have a new Burgy by then ! The last ride there was really fun. I hope to see familiar faces and meet new friends as well.

-Matt

[TechArtGuy]

Ok, so....which exit ramp am I gonna have to lean towards in September?

[Keith Frye]

Anyone know the status of this rally?

[A B Normal]

Anyone know the status of this rally?

I haven't heard anything other than I ran into one of the few members of NAS (who seemed to be a great fellow on a Silverwing) a and it sounded as if the group had died from lack of interest and support but wanted to see the ride reborn.

As an addendum to my last post in this thread about the road conditions on 117, the construction (a new bridge) is complete and the road is great for scoots!

If anyone out there is interested in seeing this ride or a similar ride reborn, I would be happy to help in the organizing as I know the area fairly well and have had experience in herding cats in other special interests gathering venues.

[HO-DO]

Holly and I will also help if necessary. I do not know if the NAS is still around or not, but we can still get this rally going if there is enough interest. We could do the same ride as last year [long route, no more short route on Saturday, but of course a short ride Friday afternoon], or do the Falls-to-Falls ride mentioned above. However, I know that the plan to change the route did not sit well with some people, inlcuding the rally's founder.

Just let me know what you want. A B Normal, you are more than welcome to take over this rally as far as I am concerned. If no one else objects, I say go for it. If you or anyone else doesn't want to take over, I will do it like last year. Will be glad to help like we have in the past.

As a side note: Holly and I will be with Harry Potter this Saturday in Orlando!! For us HP fans it will become the pilgramage that must be taken [placed on the old bucket list!]

Ride safe, Del

[chrisw]

I'm pretty sure the Charlotte group would love to attend! We had a great time last year despite the rain, it was a pleasure meeting people, the festival in town was fun, even the 6.5 hour saddle time from my house to the hotel was fun. A day on the Burgman EVEN in the rain is still fun for me! If you're looking for a show of hands....mine are up.