It's that time of year again - dates for ST.N National (preliminary discussion)

[DredheadV2.0]

The 2008 ST.N (inter)National will be held in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, per the 4-year rotation thingie.  Everyone who attended in '04 had a blast, except for Basket, who was "attacked by a cougar."  Once we get four potential dates hashed out here, there's going to be poll to pick the winnah.

As in previous years, it will not be an anonymous poll (you will post stating your date preference), and sockpuppet votes will be discounted.

Per tradition, obvious choices present themselves: June 10th/11th, June 17th/18th and June 24th/25th fit the "June, and mid-week" criteria.  There's usually a push-back from people in the education field regarding the earlier week.  Earlier in the year seems to work well for regional events (ESTN on Memorial Day, etc) but not so well for the (inter)National meet.

This discussion will run for a few weeks, then we'll begin the polling.  It would be best to have the date set before the new year, so people can plan their vacation time accordingly.

So - tell us what dates you think would be best, and why.  

[miles]

Well, the two earlier dates wouldn't work for me because of the school issue.  Also, they fall pretty close to our West Coast Regional (5/30-6/1), and it's hard to get two chunks of time off in rapid succession.  My vote would have to be the latest of the three dates, if those are the only choices.


miles

[DredheadV2.0]

My vote would have to be the latest of the three dates, if those are the only choices.


miles

They are the only choices until someone suggests another.  So - suggest another date, and rally people to your cause.

[Corbeau]

I have to start a sub-forum... "Educators of STN (and not of the MSF-RiderCoach kind)".

So, obviously, the later the better for me. (hint: four-letter month that ends in 'y') But I know I'm part of a very small minority of STNers who have to take their vacation at the same time as 1/2 of.

[Capirex]

Hasn't been mentioned yet but the ideal week for me would be the first week of June.  Ill be at Miller for the WSBK races until 6/1 and could hit the national on my way back East.
I would guess others will be in the same boat?

[basket]

Firstly, let me say this. I had a blast in 2004.
 
Now, I like June because it is not too hot yet. I like early june cause the kids are all in school still, meaning less traffic and lower motel rates. I like the June 10 week because my SO does not have her wee ones that week so she can come with me. The Elkhart Lake superbike races are on the June 6-8 weekend and we would like to hit them on the way down.

I hate cougars.

Bill

[Stargzrgrl]

I like the later dates in June as The Super Munchkin™ is still in school the first week of June.

And Bill, I know where the cougars live.   I can take you there so you can bribe them with nanaimo bars and poutine.  

[JoBu]

I'd prefer the earlier dates due to the munchkins still being in school, but quite honestly, I'm good with all three.  I'm just looking forward to my first ST.N National.    (Does this put me in the dreaded "undecided" category?).

Cheers,

Joe

[RickC1957]

May :headscratch:early June July I do the annual run with Jammin, TCrides, Kaos968, Gasguzzler and others....August I'll be doing China:D Is September too late? I did the area in May this year with Gypsy8...it was so humid I can't imagine what it would be like in late June or July.

Sorry I'm babbling, I'll go sit in the corner now

[veefer800canuck]

The 2008 ST.N (inter)National will be held in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, per the 4-year rotation thingie.  

Kin sumbuddy clue me into the "4-year rotation thingie" please?  

[garry]

Rick brings up an interesting question, what is the weather like that far south in mid-June?

I guess any of the three options work for me. If I had to pick, I would go later in June rather than earlier to help with teachers getting free, plus leaving more room between the national and ESTN08 in late May (wild speculation).

[RickC1957]

Rick brings up an interesting question, what is the weather like that far south in mid-June?

I guess any of the three options work for me. If I had to pick, I would go later in June rather than earlier to help with teachers getting free, plus leaving more room between the national and ESTN08 in late May (wild speculation).

Garry just an FYI....I can handle the heat....humidity sucks

[Guy]

Garry just an FYI....I can handle the heat....humidity sucks

The humidity is not bad, the trick is to not stop. At all. Ever.

[Stargzrgrl]

The weather down there wasn't so bad when we were there in '04.  I think we had temps ranging from mid 60ºF in the mornings and evenings to about mid to upper 80ºF mid afternoon.  

I don't remember how humid it was as I don't think it was all that bad.  

[stefrrr]

The Eureka Springs Chamber has a calendar of events. I'm up for any of the weekends. Whichever has as little traffic as possible is my vote.

[Tyrroneous]

The weather down there wasn't so bad when we were there in '04.  I think we had temps ranging from mid 60ºF in the mornings and evenings to about mid to upper 80ºF mid afternoon.  

I don't remember how humid it was as I don't think it was all that bad.  

Aside from a little rain on the way up and on the way back, I thought the weather was just about perfect.  The humidity was certainly tolerable, but then again, I'm from Mississippi.  

I think once you start creeping into mid-late July the weather (heat and humidity) would start to get on the unpleasant side and could certainly be a factor in many people deciding to attend.  I've been riding up there in August before and, of course, it was darn near unbearable.  The worst part about that trip was that I was camping, so there was no break from the heat and humidity.  


D'oh!  Forgot to mention a date.    Put me down for an early June timeframe...although I'm flexible.  

[Huron52]

I'll add my two cents....(Canadian of course)  For me there is Friday the 13th in Port Dover that I gotta go to and then the weekend after that I'll be in the East Coast of Canada.  I suppose I could miss the 13th but not the east coast.
 Plan it and I'll see if it fits in.

[maddjack]

My 2 cents is the later dates work for me,it helps space some of the other stuff going on .
Question has a hotel/motel been picked or will it also be a point of disscussion on a seperate thread?

[miles]

I'll add my two cents....(Canadian of course)  

What's that- about a US Nickel these days?

[Mrs. DantesDame]

Kin sumbuddy clue me into the "4-year rotation thingie" please?  

1st Meet - Custer, SD
2nd Meet - Eureka Springs, AR
3rd Meet - Montrose, CO
4th Meet - Canaan Valley, WV

Rinse and repeat.


Also, tradition holds that the Nationals are during the middle of the week, giving all riders 9 days to get there/back, with a day "there" for riding/socializing/drinking. Plan accordingly!