From:Hodge e-mail:hodge@engineeredmaintenance.com
Subject:Smoke Hole Run Update 8-6-10 Date:Fri Aug 6 16:52:14 2010
All,

As promised our Chapter is sponsoring the first of what could be another yearly "Highlands of Virginia Chapter” get together. This event has been planned and scheduled by and with the entire chapters help with over and above participation by fellow members, Richard, Rollo and Bob. This event is replacing the past and “Infamous ‘Natural Bridge Run”.

Check the information and schedules below as you plan on attending a “Run to Remember” or as our friends Del, Dave/Kim, Russell/Bernie, Mike/Sharon, TC, Gary and Wayne from the Massachusetts contingent would say, a “Run to Remembuah”.

The majority of us will be staying in the Honeymoon cabins, HDIHYDTGWM,BITSDLU,ST.....AIKNTYLMT

• Check it out at smokehole.com

• Our “Smoke Hole Run” event starts on morning of Friday August 20, 2010. Quite a few of our “Highlands of Virginia” chapter members will be arriving sometime on the previous day.

• Rides are scheduled for Friday and Saturday.

• Smoke Hole Caverns Resort will be preparing three meals. (See below).

• Meal tickets will be sold at time of check-in. Our riders may choose which meals they would like to purchase.

Meals at the Resort

Thursday – Hamburgers and Hot Dogs. No specific time has been scheduled for this meal. We’ll work with the resort staff when we get on site on Thursday. The price for this impromptu meal has not been established. We have requested additional information from Smoke Hole Resort. Update to come.

Friday – Surf and Turf – Steak and Shrimp Dinner. The price for this meal will be approximately $25.00 each. Smoke Hole Caverns Resort will also provide fresh vegetables from their garden and dessert. Diners need to provide their own beverage. Note: The meal will be served at 6:30 PM.

Saturday – Deep Fried Turkey Dinner. The price for this meal will be approximately $20.00 each. Fresh vegetables and dessert will be provided. We’ll need to supply our own drinks. Note: Supper will be served at 7:00 PM.

Our dinner times were chosen with the day’s rides in mind. We wanted ample time after the rides to relax at the resort prior to digging into dinner.

There are several restaurants nearby for those folks who do not want to partake of the meals put together by Smoke Hole Caverns Resort.

There is a diner a couple miles east of the resort that serves breakfast.

Petersburg WV is about 6 miles away from the resort. They have numerous restaurants.

Part of this meal is working closely with the Chef so we ask that if you can let Hodge know via email to hodge@engineeredmaintenance.com. if you and your girl friend/wife or both plan on going send Hodge a note. That way he can get an approximate head-count for the evening meals at the resort. The chef will need ample time to get the ingredients and schedule his cooking time.

There are grills available for anybody who wants to cook their own meals. Each cabin has a kitchen with a range, stove and refrigerator. Keeping your bellies full should not pose much of a problem.


The Rides

Highlands Chapter has two rides scheduled. We’ve put together route maps for both runs. These maps will be distributed to the riders when they arrive at Smoke Hole Caverns. Hodge can send you a map of the rides before the event if you send him a request i.e., route maps, lunch stops and activities information prior to our run.

Friday’s ride is a short loop through the countryside. It will get us back in the early afternoon, allowing plenty of time to relax by the pool and to gather with our friends as we enjoy liquid refreshments and each others company.

Saturday’s ride is longer and will take a good part of the day. Still, we’ll be back well ahead of the scheduled 7 PM meal.

Flat Head Ed will be driving one tow vehicle. We should have one other trailer available. We’ll make arrangements for a driver prior to the event. With two tow vehicles we should be in great shape.

Cell phone numbers will be provided for the tow vehicle drivers and club officers. Note: Cell phone coverage appears to be a bit spotty due to the hilly terrain.


Hodge has agreed to lead the group on both days. We’ve agreed to keep the speeds down. Much of the road speeds will be limited to 35 MPH or less. There are only a few spots where we’ll get up to our maximum speed of 55 MPH. We all agreed that Hodge would be the best choice to lead us through two runs.

Friday’s Ride – The Short Loop - Starts at Smoke Hole Caverns Resort and makes a 45-mile loop on Smoke Hole Road and Route 220. We’ll have stops at the Hermitage Inn Restaurant in Petersburg and at Top Kick’s Military Museum. We’re planning a 9:30AM start time for Friday’s run. That will put us in Petersburg in time for a leisurely lunch. It will also give us ample time at our next stop at Top Kick’s Military Museum. We’ll be back at home base in the early afternoon.

Saturday’s Ride – The Long Loop - Starts at Smoke Hole Caverns and heads west towards, Harman, Davis, Parsons and on to Elkins for lunch. We’ve reserved a room at C.J. Maggies for our noontime meal. We’ll head east out of Elkins to Seneca Rocks for a view of the sites and some photo ops. We’ll leave Seneca Rocks and head back to Smoke Hole Caverns Resort. This loop is approximately 130 miles. We’ll be in the saddle for about 3-1/2 hours. There is one short section on the return route that is divided highway. We’ll keep our speed limited to 55 MPH. We’ll be back on two lane roads pretty quickly.

Remember to reserve your rooms early. This year’s run is going to be a blast. We hope to see all of you there.

Smoke Hole Caverns Resort Phone: (800) 828-8478 or (304) 357-4442
HC 59 Box 39 (Mailing Address)
Seneca Rocks WV 26884-9500


Directions: Smoke Hole Resort is based 8 miles southwest of Petersburg, WV, on Highway 55 on the banks of the North Fork of the South Branch River. (Unfortunately, the resort doesn’t have a physical address that you can MapQuest). Smoke Hole Caverns Resort is about 3/4 Miles west of the village of Cabins, WV. The best I could come up with was to use Google Earth with the following coordinates: (Latitude and Longitude)

38 59’34.00” N 79 12’58.23” W

If you copy and paste these coordinates and post them to Google Earth it should land you right at the resort entrance. You can convert the view to Google Maps from that page.

Website: http://www.smokehole.com/index.html

Early Arrival : Thursday August 19, 2010
First Official Night: Friday August 20, 2010
Second Official Night: Saturday August 21, 2010
Checkout: Sunday Morning – August 22, 2010

I will continue to send out updates,If you mention the Highlands Chapter and bring cash they will give you a Hillbilly discount.

I look forward to seeing you there!

Hodge