Oldfeller sez:    Pick your weekend and we can all see if we can match it.   Sounds like you and MM are more familiar with the area than me (first time for me, I think).


Dave sez:   The only weekend that I could not do it....is the June 11/12th weekend.

Subject is to explore the Franklin NC campgrounds and cabins first hand, looking for a replacement for Simple Life (since they upped prices and killed off all their cheap 4 man cabins).


So far Dave has said what he can't do date-wise and we got some "undefined" hits on the other thread that were not clear as to which trip they were ringing in on, so we have moved this trip over to here to keep things "more clear".

Sounds good, let's aim for the weekends with clear weather.

http://www.accuweather.com/en/us/franklin-nc/28734/june-weather/334781?monyr=...

3-4-5 looks real bad now -- worse than 16-17-18 which is worse than June 24-25-26  (both will change some once we get inside the 1-2 week out range as the predictive math used is different and the accuracy goes way up).  

Still, we need some somewhat decent weather to move around in .....

Since it is an easy explore trip I will try to find us a cheap place with an unload ramp and bring the bike on the trailer so as to make sure it works right.

We will try cabins to see what reality is with the cheapie cabins, real reality all the way.

http://kickstandlodge.com/rates.html

Next player is Kickstand Lodge which is close to Bryson (and the Emergency Room we keep visiting with them over-eager younger type new persons).    They have a thing they call the Bunkhouse which has six beds in it at $22 per person.   They show pillows and mattresses in the pics.  Beds and that is it ..... just beds.

This is somewhat vague and offers me chances to misunderstand the pricing (to my advantage of course).  If the interpretation goes the other way it is exactly the same price as Dragon Lodge Apartment #1 which would be not good at all.  Plus, the cancellation policy sounds exactly like Dragon Lodge.  

There isn't any cancellation, period -- you pay when you reserve it.  No money back, period.

So I called Mo to try to get me some better information.   Got her answering machine and we will see what is what when she calls back.   She called back, you reserve the Bunkhouse for the amount you anticipate, you pay that amount and they keep your money if somebody doesn't show up.   If more show up, you pay more.

Dave, what does your local expert source say ????

I am hoping Dave's local expert knows of some better stuff hidden away somewhere deeper in towards Georgia ...... really, I do.

Here is Dean's response:

We have been staying at the Sapphire Inn in Franklin, but probably will not in the future. Getting a little run down.
http://www.thesapphireinn.com/
The Knights Inn in Franklin looks good and we will probably look at it in the future or the Carolina Motel.
http://www.knightsinn.com/hotels/north-carolina/franklin/knights-inn-franklin...
http://www.carolinamotel.com/
In Robbinsville there is the Phillips Motel. I have stayed there and it is a very nice Mom and Pop type motel.
http://phillipsmotelonline.com/
If you go to this web site and look down the right side of the home page there are a lot of lodging choices.
http://tailofthedragon.com/
If you ride the Cherohala Skyway, just as you come off the Skyway on the west end near Tellico Plains, the first deli on the right (going west) is Tellico Kats. Great lunch. Highly recommend.
http://tellicokats.com/

MM, his brother Kent and I assembled at the Kat's Deli on the summer trip 2 year ago....it is a nice lunch place to stop and it has a nice deck that is right on the river.

I clicked on the Nights Inn, a room for 2 adults is $ 65 a night, and they only have 3 rooms left for June 16/17/18.  The Carolina Hotel was $ 70 a night......their screen didn't show the number of rooms available.

I don't have any problem paying those kind of rates for a nice, clean hotel....with a comfortable bed and shower.  I also can rough it a bit more....cabins and a campground style public bath/showers also work for me.  If I bring the trailer.....it is cozy to sleep in and I just need the shower/restroom access.

Well, I could bring my trailer and sleep in it.  I also have some extra foam, and some comfy cots if they will fit in the cabins that don't have mattresses.

For this trip, we could just stay in the cheap place and take some time to look around and see what else is available.

Amazon had sleeping bag sized thick style airbeds for $12.95 (that can be rolled up in with the sleeping bag) and a little 12v inflator for $11  (gotta love them damaged package units from the Warehouse Discount section).  

I have a 25 amp fuse in my lighter socket on my bike, so I am good to let the bike idle while pumping or sucking using the little 12 volt tool.   Looking to fit it all on the Savage and just be mobile.

We need to spit on whether we move each night or not on the explore trip -- best weather is showing for June 17-18-19.

Also, we have 2 extra beds in the cabin at Mi Mountain if someone wants to join us June 17.

So are you looking to wander and find a new place to stay each night....or will we be using Mi Mountain as the basis of lodging for this weekend?

It makes a difference which bike I bring.....I can't haul bedding and clothing on the Savage Cafe' bike.

I only have the Cafe' Savage...the rescue bike was sold to a local women learning how to ride....and she is thrilled with it.  It did turn out to be a really nice looking and great running bike.  I was sorry to see it go - but the sale of the ST1100 and the Rescue Savage financed the purchase of the NT700.

I have the Cafe', the Ninja 250, and the NT700.