WHAT YOU SAY!!
Due to my complete ineptitude at bringing The South to E2, I will attempt a remedy by inviting E2 to The South.
That's right! Come celebrate with your fellow noders in the land of NASCAR, pickup trucks, Sun-Drop, red clay, Southern Comfort, pecans, pine straw, Cheerwine, Waffle House, and the Confederate flag. Not to mention the most important of all beverages, sweet tea.
The skinny
Hosted by yours truly and several other volunteers, the entire E2 populace is welcome (and any friends, relatives, or business associates thereof). Be sure to /msg me with an RSVP so I can have some idea of how many to plan for. The list will be posted.
Date and Time
Arrivals will be welcome starting early on Friday, August 17, 2001. The mass exodus will occur on Sunday evening and everyone will be expected to hit the road by Monday morning, August 20.
Events
In no particular order.
Food
See Panamaus' writeup below for details.
For Sunday's dinner, we will travel down the road one of two Blue Ridge Parkway eateries, depending on general consensus. The typical clientele at both establishments has an affinity for leather and Harley-Davidson motorcycles but are not members of the Altamont security task force.
Sleeping
If you're the kind that needs one, bring a sleeping bag, air mattress and/or tent. We've got space inside and outside to keep yourself and your belongings.
Grooming
Yes, the cabin does have indoor plumbing with running water (both hot and cold). Unfortunately, we will need to have water restrictions in effect during the weekend. The cabin is served by a single well which will have trouble supporting full usage by a plethora of noders. Showers (read: the Navy kind) will be available on a limited basis, drinking water will come from bottles and toilets will be flushed only when necessary. (Remember, there are a billion trees outside.) If the well goes dry, bad things happen. I'm sure those of you who don't have city water understand.
Ground Zero
(deleted street address)
Sparta, NC 28675
(yes, I know it isn't in Mapquest)
(by the way, I don't live there so DON'T SEND MAIL to that address!)
Czeano's (parents') cabin just south of Sparta, North Carolina. It's within walking distance of the Blue Ridge Parkway, the pride of the CCC.
Directions:
Get on I-77 any way possible. If you are North of North Carolina, go South on it; if you are in North Carolina or further South, go North.
If you're going North, take exit 83 "US 21" (be warned, there are many exits for US 21 -- the one you want is a left-hand exit). If you're going South, take exit 84 "CC Camp Road", and go right at the top of the ramp. *Exactly* one mile down CC Camp Road, there will be a ramp on to US 21 North. Take it.
You are now approximately half an hour from the next turn and about 45 minutes from the party. Hang on tight.
Follow US-21 as it goes a long way past little gas stations and stuff, and it will go up and over a big mountain. After the road straightens out, you will pass a few more little gas stations and three miles after the "Roaring Gap Store" you will see a sign for the Blue Ridge Parkway, pointing right. Take a left before you go under the bridge and get on the Parkway.
Go South (this should be a left, but check the sign). The mile marker numbers will be going up from about 230. About 1/4 or 1/2 mile after 237, take a left onto Air Bellows Gap Road. It's a bit hard to see at first, if you get to Brinegar Cabin, turn around -- you've gone too far. (If you get to Asheville, you're fucked. Give up and go home.)
On Air Bellows Gap Road (which is gravel at this part), there will be a hairpin 180 degree turn and then a tunnel that goes under the Parkway. As you go down the hill, the road will transition to a paved part and there will be a driveway on the left and one on the right. Pass these and take the second driveway on your right. It's a brown wooden house (see pictures on party webpage) that is easily visible from the road (unlike the first houses you pass). Pull in the driveway (or park on the street if the driveway's full) and come on inside.
Note: They just painted our street! We now have yellow and white stripes like a normal road! The stripes start *RIGHT IN FRONT* of the party location.
More detailed directions are available on the party website (url removed).
(Lots of people have made comments about this being a long drive for them; that's why this location was chosen. It is equally inconvenient to virtually everyone East of the Mississippi, and even a long drive from the closest airport (Charlotte-Douglas (CLT)) so as to be inconvenient for the Left Coasters. This way, everyone can bitch and no one gets away with a three minute cross-town jaunt!)
The Usual Suspects
(I gave up counting)
Confirmed
Suspected