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Here it is almost time for Fall Colors Ride, and I’ve been quiet as a mouse! I know that’s unusual for me, so I’ll tell you why. I just discovered within the last two weeks that the restaurant at the Inn at Snowshoe is being closed permanently! That means no breakfast, no dinner, and no bar. They couldn’t even quote a rack rate without the restaurant. Not that it would matter, because we can’t rally there without one. At first I was really upset, with such a short time to find a new venue, or face having to cancel the event. With the help of others, a new venue has been booked that I’m feeling very excited about! This is living proof that adversity sometimes opens doors that you otherwise wouldn’t try. For 2012, Fall Colors is moving to the Quality Inn in Lewisburg, WV. This hotel was on Galen’s short list originally for Fall Colors, as well as Star 2009. It’s located at the intersection of 219 and Int. 64, about 1.5 hrs. south of Snowshoe. It’s very accessible from Interstates 77, 79, and 81, or you can still ride the back roads. Check out the Google map, and click on the hotel icon for descriptions and pics (https://maps.google.com/maps?oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&ie=UTF-8&q=quality+inn+in+lewisburg+wv&fb=1&gl=us&hq=qual ity+inn&hnear=0x884c476dbc8dcb17:0x33249664b1748d4 7,Lewisburg,+WV&cid=0,0,5145674544311808024&ei=xmY kUI6UF4GQ6wG-xIHYAw&ved=0CAsQrwswBg. There are 45 non smoking doubles blocked for the 5th and 6th, and I went on and blocked 25 for Thursday the 4th as well, at $71.99 per night. I’m going to be there on Wednesday. The official AMA sanctioned event is the 5th and 6th, but all are welcome to extend one of the last events of the season as they wish. An extensive Continental Breakfast is included in the room rate, and there is a restaurant and bar located in the hotel. Breakfast is served between 6am and 10am. The restaurant stops serving food at 9pm, and the bar stays open until midnight. Other dining within walking distance includes Ruby Tuesdays, Applebees, Shoneys, a Japanese Steak house, Subway, Mexican, and probably others. The restaurant in the hotel is too small to feed us, and the caterers too expensive, so we are going to be on our own this year. The fee has changed accordingly, with members and MOH paying a flat fee of $10. Life and sustaining members will pay $9.00. Any new members will have to pay the $25 membership and $10 event fee, but they will receive a voucher to attend a future event for free. Registration will be as scheduled on Doug Pippin’s web site in the link below, but we don’t know where in the hotel yet. I will get that nailed down, and let you know. There will be a pre-ride meeting at8pm Friday night wherever we hold registration. The GM has offered to set up a bike cleaning station with buckets, hoses, a canopy, and rags. If you reserve your room with a credit card, you may cancel up until 6pm the night of your arrival.
If you aren’t familiar with the Lewisburg area, I think you are in for a pleasant surprise! Lewisburg is located in Greenbrier County, and these folks don’t allow any grass to grow under their feet. Check out the web page at http://greenbrierwv.com/ for events and the online visitors guide. A few of the things that are happening on our weekend are:
- Powder Ridge Registered Skeet Shoot.
- You can’t miss the Buck Brannanan Horse Whisperer Clinic.
- First Friday After 5, which occurs in quaint downtown Lewisburg the first Friday of every month. Merchant open their stores for special sales and sidewalk sales, often with refreshments. Food is everywhere, and there is live music.
- The 8th Annual Freshwater Folk festival with crafts, food, and live music is just down the road in White Sulphur Springs.
- I also hear that there’s a huge flea market going on at the old Fairgrounds down the road.
We’ll still have paper and gps routes. Some will be the same as last year, some will be altered, and some will be new. I hear unsubstantiated rumors of something in the way of dual sport route(s) as well. Galen has graciously agreed to work on these. Please check out Doug’s web site at http://msta-se.com/fcr/, print out or electronically send your registration to me, and prepare to have a good time! Please let me know if you have questions.
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