August 14-16, 2008 5th Annual Miatas at Mentone  Sponsored by Rocket City Miata Club MORE SUMMER FUN ?  YOU BETCHA !  I CAN'T HARDLY WAIT ! The Rocket City Miata Club out of Huntsville, AL, has, once again, issued an invitation for  the Music City Club to "Come On Down" for a visit and some fun on top of Lookout Mountain in Mentone AL. For those  of you who are unfamiliar with the topography of Lookout Mountain, it starts in the northwest corner of Georgia (just south of Chattanooga) and extends almost 100 miles down into northeast Alabama. It rises about 1,000 feet above the valley on both the East and West and provides some great vistas, some cooler temps and some outstanding Miata roads. For the past three years, our friends at Rocket City have planned and sponsored a weekend on the mountain, involving several Miata clubs around the South Central U.S. Per http://www.rocketcitymiata.org/news.php?extend.76, the event this year will run from Friday, Aug. 14 to Sunday, Aug.16. As with 2008, the event headquarters will shift from downtown Mentone, to DeSoto State Park Lodge (800-568-8840), 265 County Road 951, Fort Payne,AL (http://www.desotostatepark.com/) about 5 miles south of Mentone. We have reserved a couple of new two-bedroom Log Cabins in the park, as well as (9) rooms in the Lodge for your convenience. The rooms will run from $72 to $75 per night + Tax and the Cabins will cost $115 per night +Tax, both with a two night minimum. Desoto Lodge offers a great place to relax end enjoy the natural beauty of the park. The facility also includes a large outdoor pool & a nice restaurant serving breakfast, lunch & dinner. Check out their menu at the Desoto website above. NOTE: You do not need to contact the Lodge or Restaurant, as your reservations will be coordinated by the Sands. No room/cabin deposits will be required. We would ask that, once you commit, if your plans change, please notify Gray or Candy at once. Otherwise, the room/cabin is your responsibility. For those who will be heading down on Friday morning, we'll be meeting at the Shoney's at I-24 & Exit 81B in Murfreesboro for breakfast at 9 a.m. and taking off for Mentone at 10 a.m.    We'll run down to Sewanee and then drop down off the south side of the mountain on Hwy 56 down into nNorth Alabama, where we'll pick up AL 117 into Mentone. We'll check in, have some lunch, meet any other club members already assembled, chat a bit and possibly go for a swim. A nice late afternoon run down to the Little River Gorge will probably get us in the mood for dinner at the Mentone Springs Hotel, 6114 Hwy 117, Mentone, AL (http://www.mentonespringshotel.com/) at Caldwell's (256-634-4040). This is fine dining in a beautiful restored Victorian Hotel, which also happens to be the oldest hotel in Alabama, built in 1884. We have a group reservation for (30) at 7 p.m. CDT. The chef at Caldwell's is outstanding. We will be able to order from the full menu. Saturday morning will bring some options regarding several road trips around the area. The drives start at 9 a.m. and will leave from the DeSoto Lodge. At 9 a.m. CDT, Doug Bloomberg will lead the Little River Canyon drive extended from previous years. This promises to be a more laid back, leisurely run available for those who like to see the scenery and smell the flowers. You will drive to the end of the canyon on some great Miata roads and some extreme elevation changes.  Then back the same route, stopping at the overlooks. Then back to Mentone via Crest Ridge Road, with lunch available in Mentone. As usual, the Chattanooga Scenic City Club will lead it's "highly spirited" romp across, around and through their favorite mountain roads.  And, Frank Rosebery will have a 1:30 p.m. CDT departure to the Sequoya Caverns, for a great "cooling off" cavern tour and Miata ride. There will be other runs, possibly to Sand Mountain -- times and leaders to be announced. Saturday evening, we'll enjoy dinner at the DeSoto Lodge Restaurant. This is an opportunity for all the various clubs participating to meet & greet over some more great food. Snacks and drinks will be available all day, provided by 'Hiley Mazda of Huntsville'. Door prizes will be given to registered participants all day long and during the dinner hour. We'll be returning to Nashville on Sunday morning. This is usually a wonderful way to spend a lazy weekend during the "dog days" of August and enjoy "all things summer" in the South. Jerry Hammock will be looking for a cold Watermelon and some fresh 'Maters somewhere along the way. If you want to come along, just let Gray or Candace know at (graype@bellsouth.net) or (615-794-0852). LIFE, WHAT A RIDE !