Fall Colors 2015

[touringman]

Hello everyone, We are getting close, and I want to encourage everyone to book your room asap. As of this morning our block of 35 rooms for Thursday is sold out. This has never happened before! There are 11 rooms left for Friday, and 6 left for Saturday. I am contacting the other hotels behind the QI to attempt to block 10 more rooms for all three nights, and I'll let you know how that turns out. Please bring and wear your MSTA name tag. The other group will also have name tags, and conversation will be much easier that way. A few have let me know that they will join us at Del Sol for dinner Thursday night, but far fewer than the 35 I made reservations for. The same thing happened last year, and we ended up with extra people that were forced to sit elsewhere. Letting me know if you are coming will alleviate some of the problem, but still won't guarantee a seat for you, because seating will be on a first come - first served basis. The best way to assure that you'll be with the main group is to let me know, and be there early. Reservations are at 6:30. Thanks, and I'm looking forward to seeing you there! Syd

[RichGrab]

Looking forward to my first FCR with my brother Steve. Glad I reserved us a room on Saturday, as had I waited till Monday, I'd have clearly been out of luck. Looking forward to meeting you Syd, and enjoying once again) the fine roads of the area.

[stevegrab]

Syd,

I'm a bit confused, your block of rooms for MSTA members is full on Thursday, but some openings on Fri/Sat? So some people are going to be there only Thursday, but not Fri/Sat?  Or did you have 35 rooms Thursday, and more Fri/Sat ??

PS  Yes glad my brother booked a room.

[touringman]

You are correct Steve that I made a block of 35 rooms for Thursday, and 45 rooms each for Friday and Saturday. It seems there is a larger number coming in early for Thursday, as well as an inproportionate number that are skipping Fri., and coming in Sat. This has never been a problem before, but due to the equally large block of rooms for the FJR group, there is absolutely no flexibility for late bookings. I spoke with group sales manager, Matt, at the Hampton Inn directly behind the QI this afternoon. He allowed us to hold 5 rooms until Sept. 18th for the MSTA. Two of those are two Queens, and three single kings. It's a very nice hotel but these rooms run $130 per night, reduced from $145. The rooms are under "sporttouring" if you wish to grab one. I also have calls in for the Fairfield and Holiday Inn, and will announce what I come up with. All will be higher than the QI. Sorry for any inconvenience, but I'm doing all I can. Thanks, Syd

[wardie]

Just booked a room with a king for Friday and Saturday. Looking towards my first FCR. Larry aka Wardie

[touringman]

Glad you got it booked Wardie!! See you there. Syd

[DirtFlier]

[So some people are going to be there only Thursday, but not Fri/Sat?]

Syd has a group dinner on Thursday at a Mexican joint in town.  Last year we were too late so missed it but will plan to make it this year! 

Many (most?) people will be there Thursday afternoon and depart on Sunday morning.  :-)

[touringman]

Hold the busses!! I just talked with Jo McMahan, who generally handles things for me at the QI. One of assistants told me yesterday that we had no more rooms available for Thursday. He evidently had no idea what he was talking about, because Jo says we do have rooms for Thursday. Please call asap, and nail down your rooms. Please call between 8am and 3pm, and ask for Jo McMahan, if you want to make sure your reservation is handled properly. I have also reserved five rooms until the 18th at the Hampton Inn, directly behind the QI. There are two queen rooms with two beds, and three king rooms.The cost is $130, reduced from $145. We are getting a deal at the QI! Syd

[DirtFlier]

Boy, you sure know how to sweet talk the women!   

[touringman]

Try to tell that to my wife Tosh!

[stevegrab]

Try to tell that to my wife Tosh!

Bring her to Lewisburg and we'll all sing your praises to her

Hopefully they straightened out the other staff members giving false info, not everybody will see the info here or be able to call at some specific time. Amazed that with hotel systems being computerized that somehow a person at the desk can still get things wrong.

My brother had no problems and said he talked to a friendly lady named Pam when he called.

Here's to hoping it is a little warmer this year, I think it was below 40 both Saturday and Sunday mornings (recall frost on my top case, and a chilly first hour drone down I-64 west at below the speed limit to avoid freezing).


Let us know if you did more about the distillery tour, if we need to sign up in advance or will that be done at registration.

[RichGrab]

Try to tell that to my wife Tosh!

Here's to hoping it is a little warmer this year, I think it was below 40 both Saturday and Sunday mornings (recall frost on my top case, and a chilly first hour drone down I-64 west at below the speed limit to avoid freezing).


Let us know if you did more about the distillery tour, if we need to sign up in advance or will that be done at registration.

40 - I can handle that for a bit. Give me a chance to try out my new warm gloves and liners. No electric, hope it ain't much colder than that! 

[banjobart]

When our West MI squad left on that frosty morning last year a pickup truck passed us once we got off west I-64 and started north on I-77. We followed him to Marietta at 90-95 MPH. I-77 is a fun road when riding fast. It was the Autobahn in WV! I have the urge to go faster when it is cold to get there sooner and return to warmth.

[qman8]

When our West MI squad left on that frosty morning last year a pickup truck passed us once we got off west I-64 and started north on I-77. We followed him to Marietta at 90-95 MPH. I-77 is a fun road when riding fast. It was the Autobahn in WV! I have the urge to go faster when it is cold to get there sooner and return to warmth.

We had sleet last year just north of Lewisburg on Saturday!  That was fun!  Very glad I had Gerbing liner and gloves!!!  Not sure how I survived before I bought that stuff!!!

[RichGrab]

When our West MI squad left on that frosty morning last year a pickup truck passed us once we got off west I-64 and started north on I-77. We followed him to Marietta at 90-95 MPH. I-77 is a fun road when riding fast. It was the Autobahn in WV! I have the urge to go faster when it is cold to get there sooner and return to warmth.

We had sleet last year just north of Lewisburg on Saturday!  That was fun!  Very glad I had Gerbing liner and gloves!!!  Not sure how I survived before I bought that stuff!!!

You can only get so cold. I had to ride once in October in Salt Lake City (luckily my bike was at my girlfriends house, came out after dinner at here place to find car with a flat and no spare) so rode home about 15 miles or so on I-80. When I got home, I took a hot shower, and wrapped myself in a blanket sitting under the heater vent. Took about an hour to get my temperature back up. And I only had a leather jacket, helmet, gloves and jeans (all my other gear was at my house). I'm hoping for the best, planning for the worst and that way I'll be prepared for most anything. And if it snows, oh well guess I'll have to take another day off work.