OK, it's 8:30 pm and I am sitting in the common area with 15 new friends at the KSL! Got here about 3 this afternoon just before a small shower blew thru. About 8 or 9 other bikes here and the weather ain't really too bad. Went to Ceasers Head, and Mt Mitchell on the way here from Greenville and hit about 3 miles of light rain coming past Ashville, but my pantlegs were dry in 10 miles.
Going to Wheels Thru Time tomorrow, and try the Mexican restaurant in Robbinsville.
A week of clear weather in the mountains of NC in the summer is just too much to ask, best just to set a loose schedule and ride toward the blue skys.

So...are we going to start another "Rescheduled KSL Trip" thread and try to set-up another tentative weekend for those of us that can sneak away with a couple of day's notice when it looks like we have a break in the weather?

Yep....the weather folks got this one wrong....and so did I.  I kept looking at the weather radar the last few days and although I could see some rain here and there - most of the area down there was dry.

I need to check a few things before I can recommend some potential dates for July - but I suggest the 4th of July weekend should not be an option.

In an attempt to reschedule a KSL "group" ride for sometime in the near future:

I can't go this weekend (June 22nd - 25th), and the following weekend is the beginning of the July 4th "megaweekend", and it is likely not a good weekend to be riding down there unless you like lots of traffic and slow moving motorhomes to negotiate.

I could go the 6th - 9th, or the 20th - 23, or the 27th - 30th.

The weekend of the 6th-9th could be filled with folks who took their vacation after the 4th.  Let's make an attempt to go on the 20th-23rd, and if the weather forecast is bad try again the next weekend on the 27th - 30th.

Bump to the top again.

Let's just say I am now thrice bitten and twice burned right now and I am fairly cautious now about "predicting" weather in that area.

I am refining my risk level at 30-40% chance of occasional showers being my max risk level -- more than that (or perhaps a lot more hours duration at somewhat lower risk) shows that something system-wise is coming in or going out and the entire thing is then seen by me as "dubious".

Weather forecasts more than 3 days out are a mere crapshoot, and the stuff 1-2 weeks out gets redone (and totally changes its tune) just about daily.   Not really worth talking about.

Key takeaway is we just used to EXPECT to get rained on at least 1-2 times.   That was good enough for the pre-cell phone era, but our current attempts to cherry pick the weather have been LESS THAN SUCCESSFUL because what is currently available on the internet really isn't very accurate.

I will put in vacation for the 19th-23nd and see what sort of response I get.


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Badwolf isn't coming this time so we don't need the bunkhouse.   Dave isn't bringing his big tent because his wife has a broken wrist.  

We are likely going to wind up paying for several little tents, so let's at least consider trying MM's Cheoah Point half price campground near Robbinsville.  

Kickstand wants $20 for the tent and $5 for each additional person in the tent so that is $30 per night per tent full.   MM's magic card cuts that price in half (or less) at Cheoah Point Campground.   It has showers and toilets and is only six miles away from Robbinsville for entertainment and eating.

Kickstand is "moderately mid-price" sort of not very expensive place (but Dave feels the service given is well worth the price).   Kickstand cost for 4 people in 1 tent is $35 a night .....4 people in 2 tents is $50 a night.  

Meatball that at roughly $10 a person per night plus meals and you got all your trip planning all done give or take a bit that is.

$7.50 for a Cheoah night or $35 for a Kickstand night is four times more expensive  (if the Cheoah numbers using MM's card are real, which still has to be seen to be believed).   Power to your camp site can be had for an additional $5 at Cheoah Point which gets you up to only half as expensive compared to Kickstand.

While I am working, these sorts of numbers are sorta meaningless to me too.   When I am retired, the full penny pincher mode has to kick in, big time I am afraid.

On the 19th I could go to Cheoah Point for a night and reality talk to the folks about the $7.50 to $10 campground powered, shower equipped spots using Mike's card.   And I will also cruise the entire place looking at some of the larger FREE primitive spots for 60 foot RVs on the north shore of the lake (well away from roads and car noise).  

For example, could a multi-tent motorcycle group take up just one of these larger free RV spots ??? (the one right next to to the toilet facility for example).    

You don't know until you ask.    We would need the space as we haul bike trailers, etc.

A small generator exists somewhere in our group, and running it for a few hours in the evening can get all those various devices charged back up for those who lack a 12 volt plug socket on their bike.  

We do need to verify we got Cell Tower support up at the lake .....

We don't necessarily need to do this on this particular trip as I can do it on a half way stop on the trip to MM's  Farm in August.

Magic card is for: pass holder and occupants of a single,private non-commercial vehicle OR one motorcycle OR pass holder and three persons (16 and older) where per person fees are charged.

strait off the back of the card ... The fine print ...  


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I'm  "Ok"  with any place .    I like the Dragon camp ground too.  

Its only for a few days anyway , so the cost is not enough to fret much about.

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I feel safe leaving my camp around any bunch of Bikers !     the shanteea lake area is kind of isolated .  

Shanteea lake fees