2016 Smoky Mountain Dogwood Rally

[jetmechmarty]

April 15-17, 2016 is the date for the Smoky Mountain Dogwood Rally. It will be held at Two Wheels of Suches in Suches, Georgia. Now would be a good time to make a reservation. At this time, you can reserve without payment. Let's make a good showing in 2016!

Mike Davis has make up some rally pages, so have a look!
http://www.facebook.com/TheDogwoodRally/
http://twinster.650wiki.org/Dogwood.htm

This rally has been going since 2002. 2016 marks the return to Georgia. I hope to have this gathering placed on the 650 Society calendar.

 

[jetmechmarty]

I believe there are a bunch of us in the Atlanta area. Why not take this opportunity to get together? Two Wheels of Suches is also just two hours from Chattanooga.

 

[ThatXS650Guy]

I'm in. Hopefully the 650 is up and running.

 

[jetmechmarty]

I'm in. Hopefully the 650 is up and running.

If it isn't, show up anyway. If you have something else, ride it!

 

[grizld1]

Made a reservation at TWOS yesterday, Marty. I plan to overnight Th. in Franklin, NC and drive in Friday A.M. Any plans/timelines for Friday activities?

 

[Gordon in nc]

Hey Marty,

I've been sorta quiet for a while but still checking in from time to time. Back in the middle of November I went to the doctor (one of those urgent care places because I didn't have a primary doctor) to get checked out because I had been having some "minor" chest pains for about three weeks. They did seem minor, they wouldn't last long, didn't hurt much but they did kept coming back. Well.......long story short....trying to eat myself to death "almost" worked and I ended up having open heart surgery complete with 5 bypasses . It's taken a while to get back to feeling normal but today the temps were in the low 60s and the XS had been sitting there all this time......just waiting for someone to come along and give it a go. Sooooo....I rolled it out of the garage, turned the gas on, enricher (sp?) on, kill switch on and turned the key one click.......pushed the button (that thing has really spoiled me) and it fired right up. Oh boy I'm back in the saddle. Only stayed out a hour or so but had a blast.

Needless to say......I have the 2016 Smokey Mountain Dogwood Rally on my calendar and I'm looking forward to it. I had planned on having a nicer XS to ride this year....but that's going to have to wait and I'll have to get by with the ratty B model.

If there's anything I can do to help just let me know.

I'll see ya there.......a much lighter (35-40 lbs) Gordon in NC

 

[ThatXS650Guy]

If it isn't, show up anyway. If you have something else, ride it!

I will but every other bike I have is a Kawasaki

 

[Gordon in nc]

I'll be in Cabin #8......look for a ratty 1975 XS650 and a continuous flow of beautiful dancing girls. shouldn't be hard to find.

I couldn't put my poor XS through another embarrassing trip with the cooler bags....so I won't be camping this time.

See ya'll there.......Gordon in NC

1975 XS650B......ratty but loved
1975 XS650B......parts bike

 

[jetmechmarty]

We are on the calendar!

http://twowheelsofsuches.com/event/dogwood-rally/?instance_id=46

 

[lakeview]

I'm thinking on making a reservation tomorrow. I would be on the V-Strom. Google says it's about 15 hours.

 

[jetmechmarty]

I'm thinking on making a reservation tomorrow. I would be on the V-Strom. Google says it's about 15 hours.

For a 15 hour ride, I think I'd pick the V-Strom, too. I look forward to seeing you there!

 

[lakeview]

Is anyone on this site going down for this from southern Ontario? I had intended to ride down on the V Strom alone, but have decided not to do so without company. I could tow down with the better half, but she questions what she would do in rural Georgia for 2 or 3 days surrounded by old bikes and older riders. (We don't see eye to eye on hobbies)

 

[jetmechmarty]

Is anyone on this site going down for this from southern Ontario? I had intended to ride down on the V Strom alone, but have decided not to do so without company. I could tow down with the better half, but she questions what she would do in rural Georgia for 2 or 3 days surrounded by old bikes and older riders. (We don't see eye to eye on hobbies)

lakeview,
It's possible that you might have a lucky break this time. 15 miles south of the motorcycle resort is the old gold rush town of Dahlonega. April 16 & 17 is the annual Bear on the Square Festival. Every bed in town will be taken and there will be a lot of folks and a lot of stuff to see and do. Offer this up to your better half, and do it soon.

Even without the festival, the area offers a lot. Dahlonega is the center of the first North American gold rush in 1825. There are historic sites associated with that. We have lots of restaurants, shops, and museums. Even better, my wife doesn't give a hoot about old bikes either. She just now offered a girl's weekend to her. Robin has a law practice in Dahlonega. This could work out!

BTW, I am originally from Jamestown, NY (about 65 miles from Buffalo) In 2002 I rode my XS650 to my class reunion from south of Atlanta. There and back was about 2000 miles by time it was over. I packed my tent and sleeping bag and had myself a private adventure. It was a great time!

 

[lakeview]

I reserved a cabin just now. With the weak dollar the US$55.00 US turns into C$79.00!!

How I get there and who comes with me, if anyone, are not yet determined. I will update as it reveals itself. The baseline is me alone on a V-Strom, at least it's a litre bike so I can try to keep up with the 650's.

 

[jetmechmarty]

We're just two weeks out. For those interested, I'll take y'all to a renowned local barbecue on Friday evening. I'll be checking some new sights out tomorrow.

 

[Gordon in nc]

Looking forward to it Marty. THANK YOU for going to all the trouble.

Gordon in NC

1975 XS650B with pretty new shoes and "maybe" a set of hard bags

 

[jetmechmarty]

I took this photo today. I forded two streams on my Moto Guzzi getting out. All in all, a good ride. I look forward to sharing with the group. Fording streams will be strictly optional.

 

[Gordon in nc]

Not too shabby a bike for what you paid for it. Can't say I've ever known of anybody using that model as a DUAL SPORT!!!!

It does look like the mountains are starting to come back alive....it's beautiful up there.

See ya soon.....Gordon in NC

 

[jetmechmarty]

OK. We are one week away. From Atlanta or Chattanooga, our rally site is just two hours away! Why not join in the fun?

Beds at TWoS are sold out. Optional lodging may be available less than a mile away at High Valley Resort.

I expect to show up before 4P on Friday and I'll wear the yellow Society shirt.

 

[jetmechmarty]

I'm almost ready!