• May 2-4, 2025 (Accommodations can be made for early bird arrivals and late departures)
• Little Switzerland, North Carolina on the Blue Ridge Parkway
• Maps and Directions

Little Switzerland, North Carolina is about 14 miles north of Marion, NC at the intersection of Rt. 226 and the Blue Ridge Parkway. This will be the base for organized (and not so organized) rides with great roads on and off the Blue Ridge Parkway (like Route 181, Double Island, 80, Roan Mt, etc). This location is about 3.5 hours west of the Raleigh/Cary area via Interstate, less from the Durham side of the Triangle, more if you take more northern or southern routes west. Although Spring Ride is billed as a weekend event, many folks arrive on Wednesday or Thursday… and some stay through until Monday.

This event has been very successful every year…with average attendance around 40 people. A few folks show up Wednesday, about 25% of participants arrive on Thursday…and the rest arrive mostly during the day on Friday with the remaining arriving by Friday night…with the occasional rider/s showing up Saturday. Some folks show up as early as Monday and some stay through until Monday. Rides are informal and, normally, riders split into small groups of 2 to 6 based on the type of riding they enjoy…with some folks riding by themselves and some groups of 10 or more occasionally venturing out. Most riding groups will travel at a relaxed pace, with a couple of small groups running more aggressively. If you are a newbie…don't worry…there will be rides for you, too! This is a great opportunity to shrug off the winter chill, reacquaint ourselves with each other, share food and drink and meet and ride with new TriDoDs and friends. Some bring their non-riding spouses/significant other…some bring their kids…some bring both…and both are always welcome!

In the past, we have stayed at the Skyline Inn, Mountain View Motel, and the Pine Valley Motel. In 2005 (Spring Ride X) we moved to Big Lynn Lodge. We've been at Big Lynn ever since and it will, once again, be our primary base of operations.

The lodge grounds offer an awesome 40 mile view of the Catawba River Valley; with rocking chair equipped porches and several well-placed benches to enjoy the scenery.

The staff takes great pride in their food service and everything is home cooked and served at individual tables. Daily breakfast features eggs-to-order, Belgian waffles, homemade pancakes, bacon, sausage, fresh fruit, cereal, juice, coffee, and more. Dinner includes one entree, potato, two steamed vegetables, fresh baked bread, garden salad with homemade dressings, and a sinful desert. Guests enjoy the magnificent view from the atrium dining room. Special dietary requests will be honored when possible. They serve modest portions and offer second helpings (if you behave and ask nicely).

Big Lynn Lodge is informal. In addition to regular motel rooms, they have individual cottages, and grouped cottages. All accommodations have porches and private baths. All rooms have cable television and air conditioning/heat.

• Big Lynn Lodge website
• Contact Big Lynn Lodge for current room rates.
• THESE RATES DO INCLUDE BREAKFAST, DINNER AND MEAL GRATUITY, BUT DO NOT INCLUDE TAXES OR MAID GRATUITY.

Here is a map of the lodge/layout (click on image for larger image):

Big Lynn Lodge
Box 459 Hwy 226-A
Little Switzerland, North Carolina 28749
Reservations: 828-765-4257

Everybody will be responsible for making their own room reservations and coordinating roommates if needed. Response is always large and demand for rooms high… so it is important to make your motel reservations as soon as possible to assure that you get the room/rate you want.

CALL the motel, let them know you are with the TriDoD group (depending on who answers the phone, you might need to identify yourself as being with the “John Hite Group” as “TriDoD” sometimes doesn't ring a bell) and make a formal reservation for whichever room will suit your needs for the appropriate number of nights. DO NOT TRY TO BOOK ONLINE for this event, phone calls only. If you don't get a live person on the phone, leave a message and they'll call you back within a few days. If you are sharing a room with one or more other folks…only one of you will need to call and reserve the room.

If your plans change and you cannot attend, please call the motel to cancel your reservation and then post to the list so that if somebody needs a room they can call and reserve it. “In the event that you need to cancel, please do so 7 days prior to your arrival date. There will be a $20 cancellation fee. If you cancel within 7 days of your arrival date, you will lose your deposit. Sorry no refunds for early departure.”

Once you have made your reservation, please drop me a line off-list and let me know that you are attending and who else, if anybody, is in your group. I just need to keep a head count.

If you are staying at Big Lynn, breakfast and dinner is included in the cost of your room. For lunches, you will be on your own.

• Breakfast Hours: 7:30-9:30 am
• Dinner Hours: 6:00-7:30 pm
• Morning coffee available starting at 7:00 a.m.

There are mini-fridges in every room. Ice is available on-site (ice machine located behind cottages 101/107).

• Limited selection available on-site.
• Alcoholic beverages can also be purchased up the hill at the Little Switzerland General Store (https://switzerlandcafe.com/about.html) or a couple miles down the road at WalMart (https://goo.gl/maps/qJfA6WYBfgxzttmD8) or a little further down the road at Ingles (best selction) (https://goo.gl/maps/ouQNHQtFuBhwmGpX7). There is an ABC store a little down the road from WalMart (https://goo.gl/maps/etwJUGMg1mqftZq49)

• Please don't use room towels to clean your bike. The lodge will be provide rags for this use…just ask.
• On-site Laundry facilities are located behind cottages 101/107.

Weather conditions are usually quite variable during the early spring in the Blue Ridge mountains of North Carolina. Spring Ride is being conducted as a rain-or-shine event. There will be no rain dates or postponements, schedules make this impossible. We all hope for warm weather and clear skies, but it is wise to make sure that ALL riders and pillions prepare for the possibility of cool and/or wet weather by bringing proper riding and rain gear. Generally temperatures are in the 50's - 60's during the day and 40's - 50's at night. Sometimes it gets up into the upper 70s….sometimes it is down in the mid-30s.

Almost every room has a specific/numbered parking space assigned to it. Please use the appropriate space. DO NOT PARK IN SOMEBODY ELSE'S SPACE. If you are trailering, there are places to unhook your trailer and store it near the rear of the property. If you need help figuring this out, ask.

• John/Erin Hite
• Martyn Wheeler
• Bill Jennings
• Mike/Mel Ragsdale
• Alan Call
• Kevin Hawkins
• Karen Salemi
• Mr. Bill/Fredneck
• Russell Pearlman/Dave Sumner
• Dave Dutton
• Kevin/Briggs Greenwood
• Jason/Sarah Fennell
• Ed Green
• Mike Beavington
• Jeff Timblin
• TJ/Mel Drake
• Tom/Pauline Biggs
• Mark/Meredith Bergman
• Eric Franco/Jon McKenney
• Richard Bryan/Clint Boney
• Rob Rosen/Alex
• Mark White

Direct all questions to the KotSR!

Spring Ride is dedicated to Fred Castrovinci.

“Fred Castrovinci is an ordinary human and is famous for little.”

Those are his words. I think that everybody who knew Fred would agree that he was far from ordinary. And famous? Well, if you consider the number of people he touched with his sincerity, humor, and love…i'd have to say that he's one of the most famous people I have ever known.

Fred rode away from this world on Friday, May 13, 2005.

Canopy of Green
The cool crisp air
and new Spring leaves
We’re biking down the Parkway
under a canopy of green.

Memories of past rides
flood my mind with joy
brothers and sisters of one spirit
Some are here and some are gone
But all are ridin’ with me
under a canopy of green.

“High Collision Area”
Yes, this marks the spot!
The esses are ahead
bike flowing left then right
Ridin’ down the Parkway
under a canopy of green.

Best friends in a line are
flowing through the curves
downshift and pin the throttle
Feeling the motor respond with
8, 9, 10,000 screaming delights
Blastin’ down the Parkway
under a canopy of green.

We’re in the flow
like the rhythm of a song
The engine is the melody
And the road provides the beat
Memories are the words
Past, present, future all are one
Ridin’ down the Parkway
Under a canopy of green.

~ Dick Peterson - Reflections of SpringRide 2011

Dick rode away March 28, 2018.