2023 East Coast Fall Rally

[DR.GTS.DUCATI.FAZER Dave]

Having just re-read the 2022 thread I latched on to the "continued Dwindling" and "may not continue".  Having been absent the past several years, my heart has been there but my finances and availability have not. I think the base reason it dwindles is a lack of focus, not of the members, but of a rally point conducive to the close knit comradery of the days with a campground. 10 or 15 of us on the same property, a campfire to sit around and bench race telling half or full drunken stories of our past year and future dreams was as much the draw for me as the riding, hence the Porsche when I had no truck available for 2 years. We left Tellico for better morning starts and end of days to keep from driving into the sun but failed to find a home on the other side of the areas roads to base out of. The group returned to Tellico having no place to have the campfire and drunken stories that is also affordable to those of lesser means. Its a great group of people of varying speed, style and skill. Maybe I just start making the Boone Rally for the fire and camaraderie and drag along an fj to make sure one attends. The Group is made up of such a great group of persons that FJ was not MANDATORY for a rider to be welcomed into the fold of friendship, Ducati Scrambler, Dual Sports, or whatever. Most had FJ in their history even if an FJ was not part of their stable currently. Sure, bringing an FJ and keeping the bikes history is important but for me, so was the friendship extended by you all, East coast, West Coast and everywhere in between.

I hope 2023 gives me the blessing of time and finance to attend at least one if not four events.

[Mike Ramos]

Good evening everyone,

What are the latest developments re: the 2023 ECFR...?

Ride safe,

Midget

[Motofun]

Hey Mike, how are you doing?
The ECFR starts 9/12 through 9/17.  So far I know Cary/Dean/Steve have a cabin, so does George and also Nancy and me...Others I'm not sure about.  We're at the cabins located on Rafter road.  I forget the company name "Mountain View cabins?", however the phone number is 423-519-2000.  Post up what you're thinking about, perhaps there's extra space in one of the cabins?
It's been 10 years since the last go 'round.   

[zero26tb4u]

MD and I are in and will be arriving on the 12th.

[Motofun]

I called the cabin rental folks in Tellico regarding the recent flooding issue.  The cabins are still OK.  The Cherahola is currently closed 4.5 miles up due to road collapse.  The TennDOT says it's under repair and should be temporarily fixed by the time we get there (here's hoping that they work faster than PennDOT!).  There are back roads around the outage but may require some serious gravel/dirt riding.  I didn't check on Rt 360 which is the back way to the dragon.

[carey]

Jack,  I don't know where the mile markers start, but 4.5 miles up from the Cherohala/Rt 360 intersection there are two different work arounds.  The one off of Rafter road is labeled route 525.  I'm thinking this is a county road and not a state, so it may or may not be paved. 

The other option is off of River road.  There's a left turn before you get to the Bald River Falls, called Turkey Creek Road.

[Motofun]

Still no recent update (as of 9/1/23) on the cherahola skyway opening.   

[carey]

I got this message from Mountain View Cabin rentals

Hey there, our website is down for maintenance . Our phone number is 423.519.2000

[gdfj12]

Hmmm, I called and confirmed our reservation yesterday. Kris and I will be there on Wed.

[Bill_Rockoff]

I don't know where "Cabin 5" is, hopefully it's a little closer than those little orphan cabins I stayed in last time. But "Cabin 5" is where I'm staying.

Looking forward to it a lot, can't wait to see you-all.

[Bill_Rockoff]

Home in an easy very-pretty 3+ hours. Very little traffic, cool and cloudy with a bit of sun peaking through. Nice ride home.

Great to see you, Norbert, Carey, Jack, Nancy, George, Kris, Dan, MD, and Dean.

Steve Conklin, sorry I missed ya this time, I was a Friday arrival. But I owe you a meal.

It was cool and cloudy with a bit of rain Friday and Saturday. It must have rained Sunday, because roads were wet when I left.

Norbert, I hope that tire is good to you today, and maybe tomorrow. IDK if we can expect "Tuesday" out of that one. ("those belts are steel, right? Isn't steel durable?")

[Motofun]

Nancy and I made it home about 6:00pm...jeebus I hate rt81 through all 323 miles of Virginia!  Anyways rode all 5 days with no real rain, just a minor sprinkle.  A great ECFR all the way around.

[carey]

Nancy and I made it home about 6:00pm...jeebus I hate rt81 through all 323 miles of Virginia!  Anyways rode all 5 days with no real rain, just a minor sprinkle.

Made it home about 7:30.  I detoured through WV, on I-77 around Wytheville, only had to drive I-81 about 75 miles.  Only added 7 minutes to my trip.

[gdfj12]

Kris & I made it home by 2pm. It's nice being only about 3 hours from the rally locations.    It was another good rally for the records. we got in rides on the 4 full days which was good. Now to find some more riding time around home.