NOVEMBER event - Lake Lure, Nov 15th

[talon]

OK, the plan is to hit up Lake Lure on Saturday, November 15th for some late season driving. We'll get a reasonably early start from Charlotte and then head up to the mountains. for lunch and some gorgeous roads. At that point, those that want to return can convoy back, while the remainder will do dinner and spend the night, returning on the Sunday.

We have looked into one hotel already, the Lake Lure Inn.  They have plenty of rooms for the night of Nov. 15.  The main inn standard rate is $155/night plus tax.  The motor lodge is $129/night plus tax for standard or $149/night plus tax for the suites. 
http://www.lakelure.com/lake_lure_inn.php

We can also research cheaper options if that suits people. The thought is to get 4 or 5 folks to commit and see if we can get some sort of discount. We'll also make sure that the rooms can be canceled if it looks like the weather is against us.

Please respond if you are in, and if you plan on spending the night. As always, I'll keep updating this post as we work out convoy details, times, locations, etc...


Charlotte area contingent will meet at the Cashions gas station off I77 at exit 28 of  (our usual spot)

We'll meet up with everybody else at the Burger King off of I40 at Exit 132 (Right in front of Walmart).

I still need to figure out timing.


Overnighting
Talon
Burple_X
JnC

Day Trip
alilbrit
s4esprit
bobselise
carolinatrophy
Sisko99

[Burple_X]

Deb and I will be there.  And I will check around this weekend and get more lodging options.  I'll post what I find.

[JohnnyQuik]

Dammit.  I'm going up to Fairview next week, 10 minutes from Lake Lure.  Wish it was two weeks later, and I would have been able to sneak out for a drive.  Anyway, you can be in Asheville in less than 30 minutes from Lake Lure down Alt 74 which is a pretty decent driving road, so finding a place to stay shouldn't be too hard.  If someone wants to do something special, check out the Wintersun Suite at www.innatwintersun.com which is 15 minutes or so from Lake Lure.

[alilbrit]

Joanne and I are in the Day Trip - thanks for accomodating that!   

Looking forward to it.

[talon]

excellent! Look forward to seeing you two again.

[S4 Esprit]

Count me in for the single day trip.  Mel will be out of town...does anybody have a girl I could borrow?     Just Kidding! 

[Burple_X]

Now that we've met Mel, you can't come without her.  Tell her to change her plans.. or else! 

[Sisko99]

Just did a quick search....and found this place: http://www.chimneyrockinn.net/

Looks pretty good...and a bit less pricey for those that care about that. 

Also found this...a German B&B.  Said that the Winter Rates go into effect on the 15th. http://www.gaestehaussalzburg.com/rates_info.html

[BobsElise]

I'm in for the day trip.  Any idea of what roads you are going to hit up?  74-A and 9 are pretty good and in the immediate area.  We could hit up 151, 276, 215 as well.  Some of the far western sections of the parkway are closed now unfortunately, but we can work around that.

[carolinatrophy]

I just ran the Carolina Trophy road rally out of Lake Lure, so I have tons of awesome routes, and they are already typed up, all set to go as "rally routes," with mileages, road names, tulip descriptions, etc.  If we leave from the Lake Lure Inn, I have the routes DONE.

Also, because we based the Carolina Trophy out of there this year, they may give you guys a better rate if you mention my name.  Call and speak with Amber Middlebrook in group sales, and mention my name - Paul Misencik with the Carolina Trophy.  I plan to hold the Carolina Trophy there again next year, and she knows that, so they should give you guys a deal on rooms I hope.  (I can't stay the night that night, but I plan to come up and do the drive.)

Again, I have great routes - totally, 100% done and typed up as rally road books.  I can bring as many copies as we need.  If anyone needs to call me about anything my cell is (70) 351 2087

[carolinatrophy]

Incidentally, one of the routes I am thinking about runs up the back way from Lake Lure to Little Switzerland - with some amazing and little-known roads.  No traffic, good tarmac.  We could break for lunch in Little Switzerland, and then in the afternoon run sorta east and down out of the mountains, around some really cool lowland routes, and it ends up in the Rutherfordton area.  Very, very, very cool roads.  And although it's a longish day in the saddle, it's not brutal by any means.

[Burple_X]

Paul, my idea was to meet the Charlotte crowd (and others coming from the south) somewhere around Statesville and work our way to Lake Lure.  Since wives/girlfriends will be involved, I'm not looking for 8 hours of saddle time in the Lotus.  They tend to get a bit testy when that happens.  I'd like to hit Bat Cave around 3pm so everyone could stretch their legs and look around a bit then have time to check in and clean up for dinner. 

I appreciate your offer and maybe we can use your rally maps to create a tour map with the destination being Lake Lure instead of Rutherfordton.  I'm fairly familiar with all of the roads in that area since we've lead numerous Porsche Fall Tours to most of the destinations mentioned in this thread.   

[carolinatrophy]

No worries!  Whatever works!  I'm just going up and back for the drive, so I couldn't care less what we do...

[carolinatrophy]

So, wait... what day is the actual drive?  I thought it was the 15th, but after re-reading your post it sounds like you're planning on just sorta taking time and getting there for dinner.  Are you planning on doing that Friday, then spending the night and driving on Saturday?  Or getting there Saturday dinner time, spending the night and driving on Sunday the 16th?

I'm confused...

[Burple_X]

Meet Saturday morning, driving during the day Saturday (just not 8 hours), arriving late afternoon in time to cruise around Bat Cave then do dinner and spend the night.  Sunday we'll take another route and work our way back towards home.