| Author | Message | ||
     Hughlysses |
It’s on! July 24, 25, & 26 at the Skyline Village Inn in Spruce Pine, NC. We just confirmed our reservations with Mike today. A couple of other Badwebbers have already booked as well. Complete details on the thread in Storm Fronts: http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/37/ 866854.html?1593134104 Hope to see you there! | ||
| Hughlysses |
Bump... For those of you that haven’t been up lately, Mike & Lynn are still the owners/operators, although the Skyline is still for sale. Most if not all rooms have been upgraded with “mini-split” cooling and heating units which are much quieter and more efficient than the old window units. North Carolina is still in “phase 2” of coronavirus restrictions for another 2 weeks at least, and wearing a mask in public is currently mandatory. Homeplace Brewing in Burnsville moved to a new, much larger location and they’re up and operating and they now have a regular food menu. Micatown Brewing in Marion is also operating. The Skyline is serving breakfast 7 days/week and is serving dinner M, TH, F, Sat, and Sunday if requested by guests. | ||
| Twig |
Hi Hugh, I’ll be headed down on Thursday. As usual, really looking forward to another trip. See you soon ! | ||
| Hughlysses |
Hi, Mike! Glad to hear you’re coming. | ||
| Hughlysses |
Bump... Looks like most of the nearby restaurants are open, but many are doing takeout only. | ||
| Hughlysses |
It’s not looking like I’ll do a t-shirt order this year, but that could change. I believe I have a few left over BITA 9 caps I’ll give away (see below) and I’m gonna try to get some stickers made up.  | ||
| Hughlysses |
3 weeks from now, I hope to be re-enacting this scene, maybe with a little more space between us...  | ||
| Pwnzor |
That is a motley crew if ever I've seen one. | ||
| Hughlysses |
^ That it was.  | ||
| Tootal |
A very nice evening indeed! Actually, I think Motley is Vern's middle name.. | ||
| 86129squids |
" maybe with a little more space between us..." Yeah, Vern might cut one...  | ||
| Hughlysses |
I’m planning to have decals made this year; here’s what they’ll look like courtesy of Kevin at Yetees Design:  | ||
| Pwnzor |
That looks awesome | ||
| Etennuly |
Am I being enticed or harassed ? It can be so hard to tell. Ima gonna see what I cando! Brad.... You getting off your butt for this trip? | ||
| Etennuly |
Hugh I like your decals. Are there going to be a small size for on the bike? | ||
| Hughlysses |
^ Posting from phone or iPad is not conducive to appropriate image size selection.  I hope you and Brad can make it down! | ||
| Hughlysses |
How would you like to stay at the Skyline as long as you want, rent-free! I think most of you that have been to this meet know this already, but Mike and Lynn have had the Skyline up for sale for a year or so. They’re ready to really retire: https://innforsaleblueridgeparkway.com/ Meanwhile, everything’s the same so hopefully we’ll have another great meet. | ||
| Hughlysses |
ONE week to go to #10. The twisties are calling! | ||
| Hughlysses |
I’m loaded and ready to head up in the morning. I have a new bike transport rig this year. I bought the trailer used a few weeks ago and spent a lot of hours on it since getting it ready. Installed bigger wheels and tires and new bearings, painted the deck plywood, trimmed the corners, painted it top and bottom, and added ~30 carriage bolts to fasten them down properly. Installed a Pitbull Trailer Restraint System plus a couple of tie downs and a cheap chock at front (“suspenders and a belt” principal). Bought a folding aluminum ramp for loading and added a toolbox for holding gear. Upgraded the tongue from the stock 2-1/2” wide, 2” tall open-channel to a piece of 2-1/2” x 2-1/2” x 1/8” square tubing. This is stiff enough to support the loaded trailer with the trailer jack; the stock tongue would twist 30 degrees with the trailer empty. Pics:   | ||
| Tootal |
Looks good Hugh! I was really hoping I'd make it this year. I was just going to ride the Harley instead of trailering the Buell but now the coil shot craps. I ordered a new one but it's not going to be here soon enough. Then I found out that a friend and co-worker is retiring next Thursday and I want to be there for that. So all ya'll have a great weekend! Maybe next year! | ||
| Hughlysses |
Sorry you won’t make it Greg. | ||
| Tootal |
Me too! I was looking forward to a good shake down cruise after my fuel injection conversion and riding the parkway and even seeing all your crazy asses again!  | ||
| Hughlysses |
So after your friend’s retirement, hop a plane to Asheville, we’ll come pick you up, and you can rent a bike from Mike!  That applies to anyone; Mike (the hotel owner-operator) has a fleet of rental bikes from dual-sports to cruisers. | ||
| Tootal |
I really don't want to deal with flying right now. I'd probably have to fly to Alaska first, then Dallas, then Jacksonville to Asheville!  | ||
| Hughlysses |
^ I don’t blame you for that at all. I can’t think of a worse place to be cooped up while trying to avoid sick people than on an airplane. We made it up today with no issues. The hotel seems pretty full tonight. Mike says business has been decent this month and food service is running as if hotel were fully booked. Most restaurants in the area are doing takeout only. Mountain View restaurant just across the road closed permanently a couple of months ago. Tough times for the restaurant business. | ||
| 86129squids |
"Tough times for the restaurant business." Yep. I'm, grateful, blessed, to head to my powdercoating job after I sleep. | ||
| Hughlysses |
A couple of improvements of note: 1- Mike’s rebuilt the deck area; it looks nice.  2- highway NC-226, the slightly less twisty of the 2 routes up the mountain to the Skyline has been repaved. It had some really bad places in it last year where they had attempted to repair it. This year, it’s smooth as glass. Headed out to try it shortly. | ||
| Hughlysses |
We’re having supper at Homeplace Brewing in Burnsville tonight. They relocated to better digs since last year. Here’s a pic I took earlier today when I rode over to check it out.  | ||
| Hughlysses |
As of last night, looks like we have at least 5 people confirmed for the meet; hopefully we’ll get a few more. I had a great ride this morning. I went down the mountain to Marion, around the north side of Lake James, took NC 181 up to the BRP, and the BRP back to Little Switzerland. Lots of great twisties, cool temps, and nice scenery.  181 is a fairly amazing road: wide, 2-lane road up the mountain with tight sweeping turns and numerous passing lanes. You can maintain 55 MPH without being crazy but you do get some serious lean. Pics from ride back on the BRP.   | ||
| Hughlysses |
 day to go... Tootal was on his way here yesterday when he unfortunately discovered his Harley was stuck in sixth gear as he entered a construction zone in Indiana. He headed back home. Now he needs to fix the transmission AND replace the clutch.  Looks like a rainy day here so I will probably take a break from riding. 3 straight days of twisties on the EBR has got me aching all over. Gettin’ old is hell, but it beats the alternative. Hope to see a few of you tomorrow or Saturday. |
