| Author | Message | ||
     Jerry_haughton |
Bart, our room at the LaQuinta in Phoenix the first night of SpringFast was $110. the Montecito Lodge does things a little different than most places, in that their room rates include meals, and they charge per person instead of per room. yes, factor OUT the food and the price is still higher than the Days Inn in Show Low, but it has nothing to do with being in California, and everything to do with being a very neat place to stay that happens to be literally surrounded by Sequoia and Kings Canyon Nat'l Parks. the "coolest place in the world" comment was just me and my enthusiasm, nothing more. agree that it's on the back of a bike, and the roads from the ThunderDome to the parks and back (and the ones IN the parks) are some of the coolest i've ever ridden. btw, Friday night of OktoberFast, should you change your mind, your lodging, food, and beer costs you zero-zip-nada, and if you hang around Monday night the same deal applies. put another way, for a four-day riding weekend you get two nights free lodging, two nights free booze, and four days/nights free food outta the deal. for $198 ($99 x 2)??? a bargain. for me 'n D to do SpringFast wasn't cheap: 1100 miles of fuel for my truck, 900 miles of fuel for the bike, three nights lodging, many meals, booze, and eight days (combined) off work, two of those days (Sat and Sun) being ones where we both make extra $$ if we DO work. but the memories are priceless, and we had the grandest time, and neither of us would hesitate to do it all over again. not trying to twist your arm here; you're the one who has to decide whether Oktoberfast makes any $en$e. if the numbers don't pencil out for you (or anyone else, for that matter), well, i understand. hope to see you in October. | ||
| Charlieboy6649 |
If I don't have orders or duty, I'm planning on being there! That is a deal Bart!  I just paid $100 a night @ Ontario and their net didn't even work  | ||
| Warp2 |
Gotta make this trip happen somehow. | ||
| Unibear12r |
With two nights at FB&D's place and two at the Lodge it averages out to fifty bucks a night. That's very close to what Springfast cost me for lodging after room sharing and I didn't think that too bad. Factor in the (lack of) food cost at the Lodge and it's better yet. The Dome's carpet is comfy but if you can bring a cot & bag do what I do & sleep under the stars outside. Plenty of covered space if it happens to be one of those rare rainy nights but its unlikely to be cold or wet. | ||
| Al_lighton |
If I recall, last year there were some grumblings in advance of oktoberfast how much the lodge cost at Montecito. I also seem to recall a lot of comments AFTER Oktoberfast how inexpensive Montecito was for what you got. Al | ||
| Wyckedflesh |
For me honestly, that IS alot from my perspective, but then again, if it hadn't been for all of you pitching in for the fuel on the chase truck and for Don picking up the room, I would not have been able to go at all. Then for me also there is the perspective that, well, I don't know if I could honestly deal with going on a ride as an intended participent and drive chase once again. My mind might change in the next few months, I don't know, it was all good to drive chase for Springfast because I didn't look at it as a participent, but as a host and as with everyone else, the chase truck was added insurance. Sure we could have gotten by with out it, but you know the rule, if you don't have it, you will need it. We had so many tool kits it was like Al said at the begining of the ride "Anything special I may have, would mean a repair that isn't going to be done on the side of the road." So basically, I have to decide if this is something I want to do from the seat of a chase truck, or if it is something I might be up for physically. If I have a bike and am physically able it might be something I could pull off, but I honestly won't have a clue for a few months. Your right, at $50 a night, that isn't bad, unless $50 is half a triple tree that you need  So I wil have to wait and see for this year. Now I have a much better idea of what to look forward to cost wise, and I know for certain its something I can lay the ground work for next year starting now. Atleast have it already on the books for next year. | ||
| Ebear |
Factoring in the cost to get to Wofford Heights and a $ 50.00 a night bill to sleep...with the worth of several days and nights alongside the most outstanding people you've ever ridden and partied with....makes me see that this is the LEAST EXPENSIVE riding trip I've ever encountered and BY FAR the best value in quality motorcycle riding and friendship.All the other venues,whether they be racing,riding or just plain ('rithmetic!)relaxing and sightseeing PALE SIGNIFICANTLY in that light!!!...I,myself find this ride comes when things are tight in the budget area but the worth I get from this experience outweighs any concerns of money spent for a long time after.Thanks to the inimitable Ferris and Denise for this experience I so much look forward to each year!!!!(my 3 cents!)  | ||
| Unibear12r |
Many of the roads that we were on last week during the CAMS ride are the same ones for Ofast. They are all great roads but a first happened for me on one while(trying to?)keeping up with Timbo. I was having to brake so hard into the corners that at times I was lofting the rear wheel. The XB was just sweet the way it handled. | ||
| Reindog |
Montecito Lodge is a little pricey but after you factor in five (or six or seven) included meals and that your accommodations are practically inside Sequoia National Park, the sting is a lot more bearable. After ones first or second visitation to the Hurl Deck, price will be the last thing on your mind. Throw in the absence of events like the Southwest Fest, Show Low house of Overbilling for dinner and it begins to seem like Montecito Lodge is practically free. Heck, it will begin to feel like they are paying you to stay there | ||
| Sandblast |
I have two kids and cant afford it. I am coming anyway. Thank heaven for Visa! Seriously, I have spent more money this past year on stuff I have already forgotten about than I did at Oktoberfast, which I'll probably never forget. And hell, my wife has spent more money on stuff I'm sure I never even knew about! Somebody fetch my motorbike, I'm going riding!!! | ||
| Wyckedflesh |
And hell, my wife has spent more money on stuff I'm sure I never even knew about! Remind her she still owes me for last month  thats a joke so don't kill me for my humor | ||
| Usroute66 |
I just booked my room for the two nights. If you don't share a room, it's coming in at almost $150 a night, which includes tax, title fee, license fees, transfer fees, 9-11 fees, room tax, Arnold tax, local tax, fuel tax, deer feed tax, bear crap clean up fees, environmental wacko fees, etc. Now, compare this - I am spending $100 a night at Motel 6 in Monterey for Laguna Seca, plus all the taxes added which will come in at around $120 per night. The Lodge gives you a free meal and breakfast included. Scenery, riding, and friends are thrown in free too. And if you stay Friday night at the Dome, that is free too. If you drink beer with strange names in very dark bottles and comes out like used motor oil, that's free too!  | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
Scott, where did you come up with the $150 a night figure??? the rooms are $99 a night (plus tax) per person, regardless of how many people stay in the room, i.e. room "sharing" doesn't factor into the equation. also, to repeat for those who haven't yet stayed there, included in Montecito's room rate are ALL your meals, i.e. breakfast, lunch, and dinner AND 24-hour access to a very well-stocked kitchen. | ||
| Usroute66 |
That was the price Christene told me i would pay...$129 per night, plus 10% tax and some kind of Forest Fee. | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
Scott, my bad. i see in my notes the $129 for single-occupancy, but had spaced on that since i assumed everyone would be bunking with someone. my apologies. i assume they get extra for a single as an enticement for folks to double up, thus freeing a room they can rent to someone else for $99/$129. don't know anything about a "forest fee" -- i have a call into Christine to get an explanation. me 'n D have decided to spend BOTH nights in #134. this will free up one of the upstairs bedrooms in Dandy's cabin, which you can call your own on Sunday night. this'll save you $30, plus put you where you wanted to be all along. peace. | ||
| Usroute66 |
Jerry, I am fine where I am. The extra dough doesn't bother me. Ebear may have Cheryl, and they can utilize the other room too. If Tom and his wife want, they can also utilize a room. So, it will all work out in the end. Due to my reputation of excessive snoring after excessive drinking, LOL, others will also appreciate my taking a seperate room. That's why at Laguna Seca I never have roomates. | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
sounds good. | ||
| Unibear12r |
Scott snoring doesn't bother me. I'll room with ya if you want. If not Scott then perhaps someone else needs to team up. Thirty bucks a night difference is quite a bit. | ||
| Unibear12r |
Forest fee sounds like one of those taxes that local governments like to tack onto motel/hotel rooms out here to raise funds off tourism.  | ||
| Dino |
Charlotte says we're interested in a room at Dandy's cabin if one is available. What's the deal on that? | ||
| Dino |
Never mind, I just caught up on my reading and noticed that it's one night only. Char says she'd rather not move. FB, when Char and I asked last year, we were told that we did qualify for the packed lunch. Can't remember off hand what package or special deal that was supposed to be with, but it wasn't for us. | ||
| Usroute66 |
Unibear...sorry to say, Sandblast has 1st reservation on the snoring room. He has been forwarned. However, I will keep you posted of his intentions.... Sandblast, U better get the "money controller" to work and call Charlene. | ||
| Unibear12r |
No problem 66. | ||
| Firemanjim |
Glenn,I'm up for sharing a room--- | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
FMJ, just be aware that at SOME point during the night, when Glenn is approximately 3-1/2 sheets to the wind and literally aglow with adult beverage, he is quite likely to sincerely and with the utmost conviction implore you (and everyone else) to stop drinking. (gasp!) and, if he is true to form, he may actually still have both bear-paws wrapped firmly around the boozes-du-jour during his pitiful yet passionate presentation. i think you're probably capable of the correct response in this situation, so just consider this a heads-up. ps: if Unibear (or anyone else, for that matter), breaks out a large, fairly ornate bottle of vile-looking hooch with liberal flecks of gold floating amongst it... ...RUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! pss: if you guys DO share a cabin up there, ya might consider drawing him a rudimentary map back to your digs, or he's likely to end up at someone ELSE's cabin at 3 in the morning, trying fervently and with great determination to open the wrong door and curl up the wrong den. Glenn, do you know where your wallet is today??? | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
 Glenn Dolph, ladies and gentleman!!! --photo by Bartimus (Message edited by jerry_haughton on May 08, 2005) | ||
| Unibear12r |
Your on Jim! ( Don't worry I'm not that bad, well most of the time anyway.  ) 'sides I think I'd like to remember more of the party this time after hearing what I "missed" last time! Jerry- Yes I have my wallet today! Careful there now or you'll be discouraging people from feeding the bears! | ||
| Ebear |
OK!!!!!!I HAVE TO KNOW!!!...Did Unibear REALLY wake up on that lawn in his boxers,still holding his Negro Modelo after drooling on his own shoulder all night?????Unibear..!!! bad bear!...bad..bad Bear!!!!! | ||
| Reindog |
Holy crap, FMJ is gonna be front and center at the Hurl Deck this year??!!!!!!! This is starting to get out of control. | ||
| Unibear12r |
No Ebear, just to give you an idea how it went, that's the BEFORE picture not the after!  |
